Joined
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1,495 Posts
Well here we go again...After my last two year build, I needed a little break from a long term project. I ended up selling my buggy and buying a Rzr 900 xp.
It kind of ruined me as far as trail wheel'n was concerned. We could go to Moab and run every trail there in about a quarter of the time. They are an absolute blast and a lot easier on your body. I did miss the fabbing and creating part and had an idea in my head for quite some time. My wife's Uncle gave us a 1967 FJ40 many years ago and I always wanted to turn it into something cool. My buddy Gary built a FJ45 on an 80 series chassis many years ago, and I always thought it was a great idea. The chassis is beef, it's linked, coiled, full floater, high pinion,...most of you know the rest...
I had bought an 80 chassis a few years ago, but there it sat until Gary's misfortune. He had built another Cruiser FJ60 on an 80 chassis and it was sweet. An hour into his first drive and older gentleman smashed into the Cruiser and it was on it's lid, totaled.
It took about eight months to finally talk Gary out of the remains, but persistence prevailed.
So here's a brief description of my next project...
FJ40 sitting on an 80 chassis with a 100 series engine and tranny.
40 inch tires sitting low, hot rod paint job and some cool detailed touches ( I hope)
I was going to build my own tub, but the more I thought about the time involved, the more I just wanted to have it made. I contacted Todd at Aqualu and started explaining what I wanted. At first he probably thought I was just another moron on the phone, but as we started working on a design, the marketability peeked his interest. I wanted a tub that would fit on an 80 chassis like a glove and retain the 112 inch wheelbase without a huge rear overhang. After a few weeks he started sending me pictures of a 18" over tub designed to sit about half an inch over an 80 chassis and pick up the two mid stock body mounts. The rear tubs are raised up high so I can make tube flares to accommodate the 40 inch rubber. Raised tube fenders will be made for the front as well. Pictures are with 33 inch shop rollers for initial setup.
It kind of ruined me as far as trail wheel'n was concerned. We could go to Moab and run every trail there in about a quarter of the time. They are an absolute blast and a lot easier on your body. I did miss the fabbing and creating part and had an idea in my head for quite some time. My wife's Uncle gave us a 1967 FJ40 many years ago and I always wanted to turn it into something cool. My buddy Gary built a FJ45 on an 80 series chassis many years ago, and I always thought it was a great idea. The chassis is beef, it's linked, coiled, full floater, high pinion,...most of you know the rest...
I had bought an 80 chassis a few years ago, but there it sat until Gary's misfortune. He had built another Cruiser FJ60 on an 80 chassis and it was sweet. An hour into his first drive and older gentleman smashed into the Cruiser and it was on it's lid, totaled.
It took about eight months to finally talk Gary out of the remains, but persistence prevailed.
So here's a brief description of my next project...
FJ40 sitting on an 80 chassis with a 100 series engine and tranny.
40 inch tires sitting low, hot rod paint job and some cool detailed touches ( I hope
)I was going to build my own tub, but the more I thought about the time involved, the more I just wanted to have it made. I contacted Todd at Aqualu and started explaining what I wanted. At first he probably thought I was just another moron on the phone, but as we started working on a design, the marketability peeked his interest. I wanted a tub that would fit on an 80 chassis like a glove and retain the 112 inch wheelbase without a huge rear overhang. After a few weeks he started sending me pictures of a 18" over tub designed to sit about half an inch over an 80 chassis and pick up the two mid stock body mounts. The rear tubs are raised up high so I can make tube flares to accommodate the 40 inch rubber. Raised tube fenders will be made for the front as well. Pictures are with 33 inch shop rollers for initial setup.
