'60 series frame swap - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

cruiser guy · 12-31-2005, 08:28 AM

I decided to take the "bull by the horns" and ELIMINATE rust from the frame of my '82 BJ60. I was somewhat encouraged to do this by my buddy who also has a BJ60 of similar vintage and who broke the spring mount right off the frame due to rust!

I located a rust free BJ60 frame here in Central America last spring and brought some RustBullit to paint it with when we returned in the summer.

I was finally able to arrange to get the swap happening the week prior to Christmas vacation. Drove down to Tegucigalpa, Honduras on the 11th of December in preparation to start the swap first thing Monday the 12th.

I'll post up pics of the whole operation but remember, this is Central America and the shops are NOT equipped like they are at home.

cruiser guy · 12-31-2005, 08:34 AM

Here are some pictures of the truck prior to the work and of the frame trouble spots. There will be more frame pic's later once the old frame is out from under the truck.

You can see how good

the body mount bolts looked!

cruiser guy · 12-31-2005, 08:50 AM

Up with the body! Out comes the old frame on day two! There was nice wobbly supports holding up the old body and we had to air down the rear tires just to get the frame out.

cruiser guy · 12-31-2005, 09:00 AM

Out comes the frame! Scary stuff when you look at how it's supported.

RustyNailJustin · 12-31-2005, 09:35 AM

Wow that looks like a sketchy operation.

DHONDAGOD · 12-31-2005, 09:40 AM

looks like your enjoying your Christmas holiday...

is that thing being held up by a 4x4 post balanced on a floor jack?

chris

cruiser guy · 12-31-2005, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DHONDAGOD

looks like your enjoying your Christmas holiday...

is that thing being held up by a 4x4 post balanced on a floor jack?

chris

Yep, jacked up on a 4x4 balanced on a floor jack! Scary, but like I said, shops here are generally not nearly as well equipped as at home.

For pics of the Christmas vacation in Tikal, Guatemala check out http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/default.aspx?f=10&m=27511
This trip was AFTER the frame swap and all went well so I'm happy!

cruiser guy · 12-31-2005, 03:56 PM

Here's some more pics as we are swapping stuff to the new frame. You can see the body supported on a 2x6 at the rear and just behind the tranny area.

cruiser guy · 12-31-2005, 04:06 PM

Now the problem is "How to transfer the engine/tranny/transfer to the new frame WITHOUT a hoist?"
YES, they did remove it with the pipes and chain/rope and a bunch of guys!

And you guys at home talk of "booty fab", you ain't seen nuthin' yet!

RustyNailJustin · 12-31-2005, 05:31 PM

You sure dont hesitate to take a cruiser off its frame.
Where do you get all the helpers? Guatemala Mofia?

cruiser guy · 01-01-2006, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RustyNailJustin

You sure dont hesitate to take a cruiser off its frame.
Where do you get all the helpers? Guatemala Mofia?

Actually, I'm serious, this IS a professional mechanics shop in Tegucigalpa, Honduras and all the guys except me and the guy where I was staying are his employees. It's relatively standard. Some shops will be better and some even worse equipped (dirt floors etc.). Shops like we're used to at home are only found at places like Sears.

cruiser guy · 01-01-2006, 07:54 AM

Here's the engine going into the new frame. We decided that an engine hoist was a good idea so they searched one out from a neighboring shop. There is even a picture of me one of the guys took.

cruiser guy · 01-01-2006, 08:08 AM

Frame was back under the truck at the end of the third day! Then I could rest easy again as the truck couldn't fall off the supports any longer.

DHONDAGOD · 01-01-2006, 09:51 AM

that is so awsome! scary but awsome..

hey, post some pics of the daily common things that we all take for granted here. things like the shop, average home, gas station etc.. its interesting what and how other people live in other parts of the world. makes everything we have here seem a little better by proportion...

chris

cruiser guy · 01-01-2006, 11:28 AM

Here's the truck back on the frame getting finished up. The fourth day was basically putting everything back together.

Chris, if you'd like some pictures of travels in Guatemala, I've got some posts on the www.4wdtrips.net site. Some of the destruction from Hurricane Stan. You can PM me and I can let you know more if you want. I'll be in California in mid-February.

cruiser guy · 01-01-2006, 06:12 PM

Here's the finished truck and the team, less me, that did the work! Complete frame swap in 4 1/2 days!
No more rusty frame issues for me for at least 20 years!

89s rule · 01-05-2006, 11:41 AM

wow you are one brave sole. Looks like some of the stuff I might try to do at my house, but even scarrier!

Mad props.

cruiser guy · 01-05-2006, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 89s rule

wow you are one brave sole. Looks like some of the stuff I might try to do at my house, but even scarrier!

Mad props.

Hey, it got the job done and now there is NO rust on my frame! I know folks at home likely have better facilities in their home garage but when a mechanic here makes $20 - 30 a day you can't expect alot more. I'm happy, it worked well and they were careful (well as careful as one can be given the circumstances

)!

dieselcruiserhead · 01-07-2006, 08:55 PM

That is really pretty damn cool. Congrats and very cool that you swapped your frame in Guatemala!

DHONDAGOD · 01-07-2006, 11:01 PM

how much to bring the hood thats hanging on the wall in the second picture with you?

cruiser looks good! see you in feb!

chris

cruiser guy · 01-08-2006, 05:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DHONDAGOD

how much to bring the hood thats hanging on the wall in the second picture with you?

cruiser looks good! see you in feb!

chris

I would if I could but it's a little big for airline baggage

. I'm flying north and driving south with another teachers truck from Washington state once I'm finished my business in Vancouver.

I e-mailed you on your school e-mail account but no response yet.

12-31-2005, 08:28 AM	#1 (permalink)
cruiser guy Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Member # 25339 Location: Mokanji, Sierra Leone Posts: 235	'60 series frame swap I decided to take the "bull by the horns" and ELIMINATE rust from the frame of my '82 BJ60. I was somewhat encouraged to do this by my buddy who also has a BJ60 of similar vintage and who broke the spring mount right off the frame due to rust! I located a rust free BJ60 frame here in Central America last spring and brought some RustBullit to paint it with when we returned in the summer. I was finally able to arrange to get the swap happening the week prior to Christmas vacation. Drove down to Tegucigalpa, Honduras on the 11th of December in preparation to start the swap first thing Monday the 12th. I'll post up pics of the whole operation but remember, this is Central America and the shops are NOT equipped like they are at home. Attached Images __________________ '82 Toyota LandCruiser BJ60 3B AXT turbo, factory A/C, factory PTO winch, rear Aussie locker. From Vancouver, B.C., Canada! '67 Toyota LandCruiser FJ45LV being restored by my shop class c/w 3B and turbo, H41 low range 4 speed, as well as minitruck disc upgrade!

12-31-2005, 08:34 AM	#2 (permalink)
cruiser guy Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Member # 25339 Location: Mokanji, Sierra Leone Posts: 235	Here are some pictures of the truck prior to the work and of the frame trouble spots. There will be more frame pic's later once the old frame is out from under the truck. You can see how good the body mount bolts looked! Attached Images __________________ '82 Toyota LandCruiser BJ60 3B AXT turbo, factory A/C, factory PTO winch, rear Aussie locker. From Vancouver, B.C., Canada! '67 Toyota LandCruiser FJ45LV being restored by my shop class c/w 3B and turbo, H41 low range 4 speed, as well as minitruck disc upgrade!

12-31-2005, 08:50 AM	#3 (permalink)
cruiser guy Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Member # 25339 Location: Mokanji, Sierra Leone Posts: 235	Up with the body! Out comes the old frame on day two! There was nice wobbly supports holding up the old body and we had to air down the rear tires just to get the frame out. Attached Images __________________ '82 Toyota LandCruiser BJ60 3B AXT turbo, factory A/C, factory PTO winch, rear Aussie locker. From Vancouver, B.C., Canada! '67 Toyota LandCruiser FJ45LV being restored by my shop class c/w 3B and turbo, H41 low range 4 speed, as well as minitruck disc upgrade!

12-31-2005, 09:00 AM	#4 (permalink)
cruiser guy Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Member # 25339 Location: Mokanji, Sierra Leone Posts: 235	Out comes the frame! Scary stuff when you look at how it's supported. Attached Images __________________ '82 Toyota LandCruiser BJ60 3B AXT turbo, factory A/C, factory PTO winch, rear Aussie locker. From Vancouver, B.C., Canada! '67 Toyota LandCruiser FJ45LV being restored by my shop class c/w 3B and turbo, H41 low range 4 speed, as well as minitruck disc upgrade!

12-31-2005, 09:35 AM	#5 (permalink)
RustyNailJustin Moderator Join Date: Dec 2001 Member # 8568 Location: Klamath Falls,OR,Fruita,CO,Montrose,CO, Posts: 7,019	Wow that looks like a sketchy operation. __________________ 2012 KOH Team CrossedUp, ADS, Artec, Mike Klensin and Justin Reece. 9TH Place. 2011 LCQ to KOH Team CrossedUp Mike Klensin and Justin Reece. We finished 40th 2010 KOH Team CrossedUp Mike Klensin and Justin Reece. 2009 KOH Team 435 Finished 35th.First Full Frame/Full Body To Finish KOH. TLCA# 5305

12-31-2005, 09:40 AM	#6 (permalink)
DHONDAGOD Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Member # 34369 Location: CENTRAL CALIFORNIA Posts: 3,132	looks like your enjoying your Christmas holiday... is that thing being held up by a 4x4 post balanced on a floor jack? chris __________________ [COLOR="Magenta"][QUOTE=Earl_of_Burl] Q: What is Hell? A: A place that is without God. Q: How do you find God to avoid Hell? A: Through his son, Jesus Christ. Q: What does this mean to me? A: If you are living your life without accepting Jesus Christ as your personal savior, you are on the road to Hell.[/QUOTE][/COLOR]

12-31-2005, 03:56 PM	#8 (permalink)
cruiser guy Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Member # 25339 Location: Mokanji, Sierra Leone Posts: 235	Here's some more pics as we are swapping stuff to the new frame. You can see the body supported on a 2x6 at the rear and just behind the tranny area. Attached Images __________________ '82 Toyota LandCruiser BJ60 3B AXT turbo, factory A/C, factory PTO winch, rear Aussie locker. From Vancouver, B.C., Canada! '67 Toyota LandCruiser FJ45LV being restored by my shop class c/w 3B and turbo, H41 low range 4 speed, as well as minitruck disc upgrade!

12-31-2005, 04:06 PM	#9 (permalink)
cruiser guy Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Member # 25339 Location: Mokanji, Sierra Leone Posts: 235	Now the problem is "How to transfer the engine/tranny/transfer to the new frame WITHOUT a hoist?" YES, they did remove it with the pipes and chain/rope and a bunch of guys! And you guys at home talk of "booty fab", you ain't seen nuthin' yet! Attached Images __________________ '82 Toyota LandCruiser BJ60 3B AXT turbo, factory A/C, factory PTO winch, rear Aussie locker. From Vancouver, B.C., Canada! '67 Toyota LandCruiser FJ45LV being restored by my shop class c/w 3B and turbo, H41 low range 4 speed, as well as minitruck disc upgrade!

12-31-2005, 05:31 PM	#10 (permalink)
RustyNailJustin Moderator Join Date: Dec 2001 Member # 8568 Location: Klamath Falls,OR,Fruita,CO,Montrose,CO, Posts: 7,019	You sure dont hesitate to take a cruiser off its frame. Where do you get all the helpers? Guatemala Mofia? __________________ 2012 KOH Team CrossedUp, ADS, Artec, Mike Klensin and Justin Reece. 9TH Place. 2011 LCQ to KOH Team CrossedUp Mike Klensin and Justin Reece. We finished 40th 2010 KOH Team CrossedUp Mike Klensin and Justin Reece. 2009 KOH Team 435 Finished 35th.First Full Frame/Full Body To Finish KOH. TLCA# 5305 Last edited by RustyNailJustin; 12-31-2005 at 05:32 PM.

01-01-2006, 07:54 AM	#12 (permalink)
cruiser guy Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Member # 25339 Location: Mokanji, Sierra Leone Posts: 235	Here's the engine going into the new frame. We decided that an engine hoist was a good idea so they searched one out from a neighboring shop. There is even a picture of me one of the guys took. Attached Images __________________ '82 Toyota LandCruiser BJ60 3B AXT turbo, factory A/C, factory PTO winch, rear Aussie locker. From Vancouver, B.C., Canada! '67 Toyota LandCruiser FJ45LV being restored by my shop class c/w 3B and turbo, H41 low range 4 speed, as well as minitruck disc upgrade!

01-01-2006, 08:08 AM	#13 (permalink)
cruiser guy Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Member # 25339 Location: Mokanji, Sierra Leone Posts: 235	Frame was back under the truck at the end of the third day! Then I could rest easy again as the truck couldn't fall off the supports any longer. Attached Images __________________ '82 Toyota LandCruiser BJ60 3B AXT turbo, factory A/C, factory PTO winch, rear Aussie locker. From Vancouver, B.C., Canada! '67 Toyota LandCruiser FJ45LV being restored by my shop class c/w 3B and turbo, H41 low range 4 speed, as well as minitruck disc upgrade!

01-01-2006, 09:51 AM	#14 (permalink)
DHONDAGOD Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Member # 34369 Location: CENTRAL CALIFORNIA Posts: 3,132	that is so awsome! scary but awsome.. hey, post some pics of the daily common things that we all take for granted here. things like the shop, average home, gas station etc.. its interesting what and how other people live in other parts of the world. makes everything we have here seem a little better by proportion... chris __________________ [COLOR="Magenta"][QUOTE=Earl_of_Burl] Q: What is Hell? A: A place that is without God. Q: How do you find God to avoid Hell? A: Through his son, Jesus Christ. Q: What does this mean to me? A: If you are living your life without accepting Jesus Christ as your personal savior, you are on the road to Hell.[/QUOTE][/COLOR]

01-01-2006, 11:28 AM	#15 (permalink)
cruiser guy Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Member # 25339 Location: Mokanji, Sierra Leone Posts: 235	Here's the truck back on the frame getting finished up. The fourth day was basically putting everything back together. Chris, if you'd like some pictures of travels in Guatemala, I've got some posts on the www.4wdtrips.net site. Some of the destruction from Hurricane Stan. You can PM me and I can let you know more if you want. I'll be in California in mid-February. Attached Images __________________ '82 Toyota LandCruiser BJ60 3B AXT turbo, factory A/C, factory PTO winch, rear Aussie locker. From Vancouver, B.C., Canada! '67 Toyota LandCruiser FJ45LV being restored by my shop class c/w 3B and turbo, H41 low range 4 speed, as well as minitruck disc upgrade!

01-01-2006, 06:12 PM	#16 (permalink)
cruiser guy Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Member # 25339 Location: Mokanji, Sierra Leone Posts: 235	Here's the finished truck and the team, less me, that did the work! Complete frame swap in 4 1/2 days! No more rusty frame issues for me for at least 20 years! Attached Images __________________ '82 Toyota LandCruiser BJ60 3B AXT turbo, factory A/C, factory PTO winch, rear Aussie locker. From Vancouver, B.C., Canada! '67 Toyota LandCruiser FJ45LV being restored by my shop class c/w 3B and turbo, H41 low range 4 speed, as well as minitruck disc upgrade! Last edited by cruiser guy; 01-01-2006 at 06:14 PM.

01-05-2006, 11:41 AM	#17 (permalink)
89s rule Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Member # 37146 Location: Due West, SC Posts: 161	wow you are one brave sole. Looks like some of the stuff I might try to do at my house, but even scarrier! Mad props. __________________ '99 4runner with some stuff '95 T100 x-cab

01-07-2006, 08:55 PM	#19 (permalink)
dieselcruiserhead Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Member # 12758 Location: Park City, UT Posts: 4,651	That is really pretty damn cool. Congrats and very cool that you swapped your frame in Guatemala!

01-07-2006, 11:01 PM	#20 (permalink)
DHONDAGOD Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Member # 34369 Location: CENTRAL CALIFORNIA Posts: 3,132	how much to bring the hood thats hanging on the wall in the second picture with you? cruiser looks good! see you in feb! chris __________________ [COLOR="Magenta"][QUOTE=Earl_of_Burl] Q: What is Hell? A: A place that is without God. Q: How do you find God to avoid Hell? A: Through his son, Jesus Christ. Q: What does this mean to me? A: If you are living your life without accepting Jesus Christ as your personal savior, you are on the road to Hell.[/QUOTE][/COLOR]

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