What would you build with my pile of parts??

[Arya Ebrahimi]

Well, I have accumulated too many vehicles/parts/projects and I need to consolidate them so I can play more and agonize over "finishing projects" less.

The vehicles/parts I have:

- 1994 FZJ80(have title)

• 215k miles(motor is very tired and burns a LOT of oil)
• Moldy interior Rig has been parked in the weeds for 2 years and apparently the roof has been leaking and ruining the insides.
• 4.88's and e-lockers
• ARB Bullbar(currently installed)
• Snorkel(NIB, not installed)
• 4" FOR Gen II Lift(NIB, not installed)

-1986 Mini-truck(have title)

• 22RE/AW4/D300(twin-sticked & 4:1s, but no HD outputs)
• SAS'ed/Longs/hub gears/4.88s ARB front and welded rear
• 38 TSLs on steelies
• Warn 9500Ti winch

-1978 FJ45 tub(imported from AUS, no title)

• RHD tub only
• No hood/grill/fenders/windshield/top

-1978 FJ40 carcass(have title)

• Rolling frame(partial axles, springs, frame)
• tub(worthless except for firewall)

- Other misc parts that I have laying around

• L92/6L80(6.2L "LS motor" and 6-speed auto)
• FZJ80 axles(front and rear, not locked, stock gears)
• 35x12.50R16 TrXus MTs(5, but 2 are on my camper)
• 2 extra sets of FZJ80 wheels
• 1 set of 15x10 Steel wheels
• FJ40 bib
• FJ40 bezel

So here are my basic needs/requirements

• Must be road trippable and "street legal"(historic tags in MD = no inspections/emissions)
• Must be comfortable for me, GF, and 2 dogs
• Must be a capable wheeler, but doesn't need to be extremely hardcore capable
• Must be fast()

I have my own ideas of what to do, and am basically stuck between two general concepts, but I want to hear what my fellow cruiserheads/addicts have to say

I am totally open to swapping bodies, fabrication, buying additional parts(obviously) etc. I have a tube bender, Torchmate, press brake, welder, mill/lathe, and other general tools at my disposal. I will likely scrap/sell whatever extra parts/pieces are left over.

You have a blank canvas, go!

[Wilson]

Is the 45 a pickup or troopie?

Edit- I should seek council with my own pile of parts.

[Arya Ebrahimi]

Originally Posted by Wilson

Is the 45 a pickup or troopie?

Edit- I should seek council with my own pile of parts.

LOL, I had a feeling you would make your way into this thread.

45 tub is from a pickup, no bed though.

[Wilson]

45, l92, 6l80e..... Just need an atlas and some tons my favorite 45 is a tan one I've seen every year at snt with an aluminum flat bed and roof top tent.

80's are cool, but your motor is too much for one (and any of your axle options, IMO). Mini trucks are good for whoopin' on but will never be "cool" or "badass" according to my wife. 40's are "cool" and "badass" but not as "cool" or "badass" as a 45 (according to my wife). Welcome to my struggle as well

[Wilson]

I may be a rig whore and undcisive, but it has been shown today that Dima is worse!

[Scooterloo]

"With what you have": Keep the 80 axles, ditch the 22re, run the aw4/300, sell the L92/auto to fund a 3rz/3.4 swap, use the 45 and tube it to look like a 45 and not a buggy. Sell all other shit to fund tires and suspension.

[Wilson]

Originally Posted by Scooterloo

"With what you have": Keep the 80 axles, ditch the 22re, run the aw4/300, sell the L92/auto to fund a 3rz/3.4 swap, use the 45 and tube it to look like a 45 and not a buggy. Sell all other shit to fund tires and suspension.

Get on with your ration and logic.... swing by my house

[lildave]

Originally Posted by Wilson

I may be a rig whore and undcisive, but it has been shown today that Dima is worse!

now thats fawking funny, poor Dima gets pick on in every thread i swear.

[RustyNailJustin]

Originally Posted by lildave

now thats fawking funny, poor Dima gets pick on in every thread i swear.

X2

[TBItoy]

sell everthing except 6.2/6l80e, 45 tub, and 40 title.

buy tons (no fancy shit, 60/14 with decent lockers/shafts, run deep backspaced wheels), atlas, other parts.//

build tubed out 45, titled as the FJ40.

[Flatty]

OW!!!!! That hurts. I swear, some day I will be back on the trail. I just need some time in the garage.

With that said, I would build the 45 and get a bed. You can part out most of what you have, and make some cash. Pick up a LS motor, some tons, auto tranny, and put it all under the truck which you can title as the FJ40 (run the 40 frame horns). You can build a custon canback top for the bed and throw the dogs and gear in tehre. You have room for yourself and the old lady in the cab.

Dima

[Arya Ebrahimi]

Originally Posted by Wilson

45, l92, 6l80e..... Just need an atlas and some tons my favorite 45 is a tan one I've seen every year at snt with an aluminum flat bed and roof top tent.

Got a pic?

Originally Posted by Wilson

...Mini trucks are good for whoopin' on but will never be "cool" or "badass" according to my wife. 40's are "cool" and "badass" but not as "cool" or "badass" as a 45 (according to my wife). Welcome to my struggle as well

I tend to agree with your wife



I'm surprised no one has suggested putting the 45 tub with a fabbed bed on the 80 chassis and upgrading the front axle.

I originally intended to put the L92 in the 80 for a go-fast camping rig and then build a buggy with the remainder of the parts using the 45 tub, extra 80 axles, and random crap from the mini-truck. However, I have come to realize that in the past 3 years I have wheeled approximately 8 times, and the cost to fun factor of a buggy is ridiculously high. Thus my dilemna.

[bsilva132]

Pretty sure Wilson is talking about Mudrack's 45

[Booger Weldz]

Put the spare 80 axles(addlocking hubs, 5.29s, lockers and some aftermarket knucles/steering from billybob) and 86 minitruck drivetrain into the 40 frame and put the 45 body on it with a cool tube bed. Sell everything else.

Or

Put the 45 body on the 80 chassis w lift coils and 35s u have, add a real 3link front suspension and beefier rear lower links. rebuild the motor (yuck)...

Either way, i didnt get the 'fast' part of ur equation addressed sorry... That motor and 6 speed is awesome, but u need to sell everything to get a different set of axles(chromo 35 spline and 9.5+'' ring gears) to deal w it...

[Wheelingnoob]

I would 45 tub on FZJ80 chassis with 3 link front, L92/6L80 w/aa adapter to split case, diamond 9.5 front axle with 80 outer birfs and hubs, 37-40's with bead locks. Take the title from the 40 and use it on the 45 tub to register whole deal.

Sell off rest of the parts to fund build.

[SKULLYOTA]

looks like the general consensus is to just build something, but most importantly use the 40/45 tub for street legality and vintage registration purposes

[77WarPig]

give the 45 tub to me, after you have put the l92 and trans in it. take all the other stuff to the srapper.

that solves all the problems?!

i would keep the engine for sure! and make a tubed 45 with serious power, but i would run like 35's on it and pick my kid up from school in it. 45's are the sickest rig as it is-then you build one and its on.

pics please!

[Toyoland66]

I would build 2 rigs from the list you have

Rig 1, expo rig:
Strip the 80 interior of carpet and seats, bedline and install suspension seats
Sell the e-lock axles as a package with the actuators, switch, etc
Install V8 and 6 speed plus an atlas
From the spare set of axles you have run the rear stock with gears and locker, build a custom front with a ruff stuff 9.5 housing, 80 inners, birfs, and knuckle balls out. Sell the HP third and buy a 9.5 third, gear and lock to match rear
Install the other 80 junk you have
Run the 35's on stock rims

Rig 2, trail rig:
Drivetrain from the mini, tub from the 45, whichever frame 40 or mini is in better shape, bunch of tube

Sell the rest.

[Arya Ebrahimi]

Originally Posted by Wheelingnoob

I would 45 tub on FZJ80 chassis with 3 link front, L92/6L80 w/aa adapter to split case, diamond 9.5 front axle with 80 outer birfs and hubs, 37-40's with bead locks. Take the title from the 40 and use it on the 45 tub to register whole deal.

Sell off rest of the parts to fund build.

Well, I've been pondering this for many days longer than this post has been in existance, and I think the above plan is more or less what I have settled on.

It's all starting to gel in my head, but I'm thinking of a cross between Waggonner's Project X, D'Animal's 45, IPOR's FZJ40 and zornff's 40.5. I basically want(need) a stretched 45 cab(I'm 6'3") with a factory looking bed(yet to determine the style, swb vs lwb).

80-series chassis/suspension should prove plenty stout and stable for the power of the 6.2L and the lightweight of the 45 body. The axles may give me some grief, but they're relatively easy to upgrade in the long run. I like how low the FZJ40 is and how the front axle is in the "stock" location for a 40/45. That should allow me to utilize the stock 80 wheelbase and still have a decent looking bed. If I have to, I don't mind stretching out the rear of the 80 with longer rear links.

For those that have used the 80 chassis, what have you done for a fuel tank? I was thinking of adapting a JAZ "Jeepspeed" fuel cell. Should fit behind the rear axle and between the rear frame rails quite nicely and it's a pretty good sized cell at 32 gallons.

Anyway, I'm rambling and this won't be a fast build, nor one that gets started immediately, but I'm going to start actively collecting parts ASAP.

[Wheelingnoob]

For a gas tank I would look into a Chevy Blazer 34-45gallon tank for the rear. I have been idly planing something like that for my FZJ80 aux tank. I have not started measuring anything yet but they look like they will be really close. Nice thing for you about that is its a NOS tank, they are cheap easy to get and have all GM fuel hangers and pumps.

[LOWBUDGET]

i would build 1 super srtong mini buggy and one crew crawler. you got a lot of parts man.

[the freeak]

I think he sold the mini truck... so scratch that from the poll.

[Arya Ebrahimi]

Originally Posted by the freeak

I think he sold the mini truck... so scratch that from the poll.

Yup, the mini-truck has been sold.

I'm still turning ideas over in my head. I've more or less scratched the 45 idea and settled on either building the 80 or building an 18" stretched 40. The next question with regards to the 40 is whether to use the 80 chassis/suspension or just go full on custom frame etc.

I've also considered picking up one of GOAT1's IBEX chassis' and adapting the subframe/firewall forward tubing into a 40 body and doing my own cage to tie the rest of the chassis together. The IBEX chassis has a lot of really cool design features that I like and my drivetrain would drop right in.

[Wilson]

Originally Posted by Arya Ebrahimi

Yup, the mini-truck has been sold.

I'm still turning ideas over in my head. I've more or less scratched the 45 idea and settled on either building the 80 or building an 18" stretched 40. The next question with regards to the 40 is whether to use the 80 chassis/suspension or just go full on custom frame etc.

I've also considered picking up one of GOAT1's IBEX chassis' and adapting the subframe/firewall forward tubing into a 40 body and doing my own cage to tie the rest of the chassis together. The IBEX chassis has a lot of really cool design features that I like and my drivetrain would drop right in.

My latest drawing greatly resembled a 40-clad ibex. We've decided to make a few changes to the mini and keep the 80 as-is.

[Arya Ebrahimi]

Originally Posted by Wilson

My latest drawing greatly resembled a 40-clad ibex. We've decided to make a few changes to the mini and keep the 80 as-is.

No matter what you do to the mini, it will still be a mini