What to do with a rusty rhino?

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will
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What to do with a rusty rhino?

Post by will » Mon Jul 03, 2017 9:40 pm

Hi guys, a few years ago I bought a lifted sj with the intention of having some fun in it but then life got in the way.
car small.jpg
car small.jpg (167.2 KiB) Viewed 8176 times
It's sat under a tarp until the other day when I thought I'd better have a look at it again.
Well, time hasn't been kind and the tin worm has struck with a vengeance.
The front and back arches have disappeared, the sills are shot and the rear floor has big holes in it.
wing.jpg
wing.jpg (149.59 KiB) Viewed 8176 times
rear arch.jpg
rear arch.jpg (144.03 KiB) Viewed 8176 times
sill.jpg
sill.jpg (134.24 KiB) Viewed 8176 times
inner right.jpg
inner right.jpg (153.94 KiB) Viewed 8176 times
inner left.jpg
inner left.jpg (142.16 KiB) Viewed 8176 times
My welding skills are only good for big stuff, never done body work before and to be honest I don't have the time.

The rest of the car is ok, chassis is solid and engine, gearboxs etc are all it excellent condition.
The wheels and tyres are like new.

SO, what to do.
I think its way too good to scrap, I just don't have the time or inclination to do/get the work done.

Anyone out there interested in a project????

Will

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Re: What to do with a rusty rhino?

Post by SlimGrim » Mon Jul 03, 2017 10:03 pm

I like the wheels! What kind of lift has it had may I ask?
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ScottieJ
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Re: What to do with a rusty rhino?

Post by ScottieJ » Mon Jul 03, 2017 11:38 pm

Long time no see! Haven't seen that truck since billing a few years ago!

Looks like it's all the usual rust you get on Sj's.

TBH it's either weld it or break it to make any decent money back out of it I would think.

Wouldn't be hard to do box section sills and and a virtual lift to save the body.

Tin tops are getting rarer so someone might buy it to restore but you would be best selling all the mods, wheels and tyres seperatly.
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Re: What to do with a rusty rhino?

Post by SlimGrim » Mon Jul 03, 2017 11:44 pm

Judging by those arches (non rusty parts) the bodywork apart from the bad rusty areas looks really tidy, so provided it's just some really nasty areas and a whole lot of good, should be an easy resto jobbie
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Re: What to do with a rusty rhino?

Post by ScottieJ » Mon Jul 03, 2017 11:53 pm

Unfortunately I can guarantee it'll be a bit worse than it looks once you dig into it.

The outer body mounts at the front of the rear arches will probably need doing unless you are very lucky
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Re: What to do with a rusty rhino?

Post by will » Tue Jul 04, 2017 7:50 am

Hi Scotty, yes it's been a while.
How much time and more importantly money do you think it would take to get it back to reasonable?

Slimgrim, it's got a 8" calmini lift, 2"body lift and 35/12.5/15s

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Re: What to do with a rusty rhino?

Post by Anton » Tue Jul 04, 2017 11:51 am

I really like that machine, I hope it can be saved!!!
1985 SJ413VX (SJ50V) with SPOA, rear disc brakes, 31x10.5R15 Kaiman Malatesta tyres, an MOT and a lot left to do!

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Re: What to do with a rusty rhino?

Post by Rabid Rhino » Thu Jul 06, 2017 1:52 am

Northampton to Chipenham, less than 100 miles.
I've seen Scotty repair worse and this certainly looks well worth saving.
It seems like a prime candidate for one of his virtual lifts.
Maybe sell the body lift to help fund some of the resto.

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