LJC 160

Got an vehicle build underway? post up pictures and tell us all how its going!

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Rabid Rhino
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LJC 160

Post by Rabid Rhino » Mon Apr 23, 2018 6:48 pm

This is the 3rd restored LJ80 I've had form it's builder Leigh Catherick (initials: LJC) in addition to an 8" lifted Vitara.

As Victor Kiam used to say..... "I liked my RHD LJ160 so much, I bought another one".

There's been a few negative comments posted here about the builder so I just want to add a positive note from my perspective and experience with the guy over the last 25 years of knowing him & him helping me.

I had this rig built for me back in 2001 & immediately exported it to my farm in Portugal where it was used as a my holiday toy when I'd go over there but mainly as a work horse by the farm workers where it would carry around about 1,000Kg at a time of picked dry fruits piled high in 50Kg bags from the fields back to the farm over fields & on roads or even drag tillers & harrows around the fields supporting the Ford tractor. Its even been used as an emergency hatchery for chickens and we've lost count of how many farm cats have had their litters in it.
It passed the Portuguese import inspection and after about 3 years of having to drive 150 miles to the border into Spain every 6 months to avoid Portuguese registration, I registered it out there. It went on to pass 10 years of Portuguese vehicle inspections where each time, all it needed was putting on stock size rims & tyres to comply as they're quite picky out there on mods and keeping stock wheel base dimensions.

Vehicle...........1981 LJ80
Body..............Wide Body Conversion by Leigh Catherick in 2001
Engine............1600 Vitara
Gearbox..........Samurai 5 Speed
Transfer Case....SJ410
Prop Shafts.......Custom by Leigh Catherick
Suspension.......SPOA with Front Shackle Reversal
Axles..............Front: 413 with Vitara Diff
....................Rear: Vitara Hybrid: Narrowed.
Wheels...........10x15 Steel Bead Locks
Tyres..............33/12.50/15 Parnelli Jones Dirt Grips cos they have my initials on the tread. Who else has personalised tyre treads ?

Just over a year ago I shipped it out here to the US for my crawler
US customs singled it out for inspection including an x-ray, which it passed so they were happy with it registration legality.
For the different terrain I decided to have a few mods made over the winter 'cos this is 'Murca and we do things big.

The new mods are as follows

Carb..........Toyota 3K
T Case........4.1:1 Samurai with Heavy Duty Front Output
................Rear Drive Shaft Disconnect
................Mighty Kong 2
Rear Axle....Longfield Half Shafts
................Trail Tough Rear Disc Brake Conversion with Subaru 1981-82 Wagon calipers. Need 1" spacers to clear
................ARB
Front Axle....RCV Half Shaft
................ARB
Suspension...Front: 3 link with Panhard
................Rear: 4 Link
................14" ProFender Remote Reservoir Coil Overs
................PAC Racing Springs
Winches......Viper 5,000lb Front & Rear
Fuel Tank....Custom Aluminium
Protection...1/8" steel front and rear bumpers with matching rock sliders

We gave it a shake down this weekend at Zuwharrie and it performed really well without the ARBs hooked up.
There was also no time to fit the fiddle brakes as its getting a bit cramped on the short transmission tunnel but they will go in one way.

This is still a work in progress and I think the fine tuning is going to be the biggest hurdle but any advice will be appreciated.

Pics to follow as soon as I figure out how
Last edited by Rabid Rhino on Sun Jun 10, 2018 12:15 am, edited 8 times in total.

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timwilks13
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Re: LJC 160

Post by timwilks13 » Mon Apr 23, 2018 8:17 pm

:worthless:
Looking forward to seeing some progress!
1986 SJ410 - Furry dice, new window winder.

10 kinds of people in this world, those who understand binary and those who dont.

if you can read this you're too close to the monitor, sit back and save your eyes!!
My build, formally Trotters build.

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ROBBIE
I spend far too much time on here
I spend far too much time on here
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Re: LJC 160

Post by ROBBIE » Mon Apr 23, 2018 9:51 pm

What Tim said
Sid James gone but never forgotten
Jimny 1.6 not as good as an SJ but still good

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Rabid Rhino
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Re: LJC 160

Post by Rabid Rhino » Tue Apr 24, 2018 2:32 am

Unloading from Portugal
Unloading from Portugal
Attachments
Loaded in England with pillows
Loaded in England with pillows
Unloading in the USA
Unloading in the USA
Unloaded
Unloaded
It came over with another British friend
It came over with another British friend
Still need to get it down
Still need to get it down

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Rabid Rhino
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Re: LJC 160

Post by Rabid Rhino » Tue Apr 24, 2018 2:50 am

Once unloaded at Aftermarket 4x4 & registered it was off to the builder Paul of Paul's Fab to start the build. It was in good hands as he's done a load of work for Dennis Anderson's Grave Digger Megga Truck team.
Attachments
Suspension removed for axle placement
Suspension removed for axle placement
Rear axle top bracket shows pretty spectacular welding
Rear axle top bracket shows pretty spectacular welding
Rear chassis mounts don't look to bad either
Rear chassis mounts don't look to bad either
Links went on soon after
Links went on soon after
Hope you can see them
Hope you can see them

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Rabid Rhino
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Re: LJC 160

Post by Rabid Rhino » Tue Apr 24, 2018 3:03 am

Front suspension fabrication next
Attachments
Needed clearance for the extended wheelbase for a better approach
Needed clearance for the extended wheelbase for a better approach
Done
Done
Just checking
Just checking
Yep, fine
Yep, fine
Front locked into place & linked
Front locked into place & linked

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Rabid Rhino
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Re: LJC 160

Post by Rabid Rhino » Tue Apr 24, 2018 3:12 am

Onto the shocks.
Rear first......
Attachments
Rear shock hoops
Rear shock hoops
Braced across the bed
Braced across the bed
Coilovers in. NB: Remote reservoir not in its final location.
Coilovers in. NB: Remote reservoir not in its final location.
Last edited by Rabid Rhino on Tue Apr 24, 2018 3:33 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Rabid Rhino
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Re: LJC 160

Post by Rabid Rhino » Tue Apr 24, 2018 3:20 am

Onto the front units.
Attachments
Front strut turrets
Front strut turrets
I really like the reservoir mount
I really like the reservoir mount
Checking droop.
Checking droop.

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Rabid Rhino
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Re: LJC 160

Post by Rabid Rhino » Tue Apr 24, 2018 3:25 am

Suspension done at Paul's so back to Aftermarket4x4 for everything else.
Attachments
Ride height ?
Ride height ?

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Rabid Rhino
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Re: LJC 160

Post by Rabid Rhino » Tue Apr 24, 2018 4:11 am

Back at Aftermarket4x4
Attachments
Gratuitous F450 pic
Gratuitous F450 pic

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