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ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: YellowZR2 on October 26, 2008, 04:54:05 PM

Title: Is it sacrilege to body swap ?
Post by: YellowZR2 on October 26, 2008, 04:54:05 PM
I'm thinking about using a 4door suzuki something, I need around a 95" WB or so give or take a few inchs and putting a different body on top.
It would sort of be old world german styling meets more modern japanese engineering.

I want to put atleast 33's under it and do lockers F/R, lift, roll bar, winch, and be able to use most every feature of the suzuki (pw/pl/tilt/cruise/4wd/auto/pm/AC/r-defrost...ect..)

Well anyway I will be attempting to get he major components in the coming months and hopefully get something started this spring.
Title: Re: Is it sacrilege to body swap ?
Post by: idaholwb on October 26, 2008, 06:20:01 PM
 It wouldn't be sacrelage at all. I have been kicking around the idea of making a cab out if a 2 door and putting it on a 4 door frame with an offroad style flatbed. I think it would work very well.
Title: Re: Is it sacrilege to body swap ?
Post by: YellowZR2 on October 27, 2008, 02:20:52 AM
  I have been kicking around the idea of making a cab out if a 2 door and putting it on a 4 door frame with an offroad style flatbed. I think it would work very well.
Thanks.
Your body swap sounds interesting also.

I have wanted a 4wd convertible bug for many years and I think The 4door suzuki chassis would work great under it.
Title: Re: Is it sacrilege to body swap ?
Post by: urbanwheeler on October 27, 2008, 08:29:15 PM
put the 2 door body on a 4 door frame, and make a pickup truck bed for it ;D. That would be awesome, a sidekick pickup 8)
Title: Re: Is it sacrilege to body swap ?
Post by: Drone637 on October 27, 2008, 08:32:13 PM
I have seen a few pictures of a VW Golf on a Samurai frame.  Looked pretty good.  :)

As for your bug, get an old VW Van 4wd and put the drivetrain in the bug.  Keep it all stock VW.  :P
Title: Re: Is it sacrilege to body swap ?
Post by: YellowZR2 on October 28, 2008, 12:56:11 AM
I have seen a few pictures of a VW Golf on a Samurai frame.  Looked pretty good.  :)

As for your bug, get an old VW Van 4wd and put the drivetrain in the bug.  Keep it all stock VW.  :P
I'd love to do that but have you seen how much those old syncro vw vans sell for besides I like the suzuki engineering for the most part.
Title: Re: Is it sacrilege to body swap ?
Post by: mcbrat on October 28, 2008, 06:09:36 AM
a sammy frame fits perfectly between the unibody frame rails of a '80-'89 subaru hatchback....
Title: Re: Is it sacrilege to body swap ?
Post by: Drone637 on October 28, 2008, 08:50:57 AM
a sammy frame fits perfectly between the unibody frame rails of a '80-'89 subaru hatchback....

Now that would be an interesting ride to use when you go to a Subaru Wheeling Club event.  On another note, bobbed Subaru wagons are interesting creatures. 
Title: Re: Is it sacrilege to body swap ?
Post by: mcbrat on October 28, 2008, 08:47:31 PM
my friend that did it, is in Yakima.

yeah, there's a good bunch of modded soobs up in the PNW....
Title: Re: Is it sacrilege to body swap ?
Post by: jzap on October 29, 2008, 05:43:37 PM
A few years back a guy got generally favorable comments at Zukimelt with the "Spit-n-urai", a Triumph Spitfire body mounted on a Sammi frame...  ...and it did pretty well on the trails too.

Pictures here...

http://www.off-road.com/trucks4x4/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=277442
Title: Re: Is it sacrilege to body swap ?
Post by: urbanwheeler on October 29, 2008, 07:21:15 PM
I have seen a few pictures of a VW Golf on a Samurai frame.  Looked pretty good.  :)

As for your bug, get an old VW Van 4wd and put the drivetrain in the bug.  Keep it all stock VW.  :P
I'd love to do that but have you seen how much those old syncro vw vans sell for besides I like the suzuki engineering for the most part.

Yeah, I would say for $14,000-30,000 you could buy a much better 4wd than a synchro vanagon(aka underpowered, slowest vehicle on the road, breaks down, etc...looks cool though :P)
Title: Re: Is it sacrilege to body swap ?
Post by: mcbrat on November 04, 2008, 10:05:31 AM
here's the pics of the soob body...
http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/photos2/data/500/DSC04919.JPG

http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/photos2/data/500/DSC04922.JPG

frame fit inside the soob rails, but he had to lengthen the frame 13 inches...
and he did a spring over axle.
Title: Re: Is it sacrilege to body swap ?
Post by: YellowZR2 on November 04, 2008, 11:22:49 AM
here's the pics of the soob body...
[url]http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/photos2/data/500/DSC04919.JPG[/url]

[url]http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/photos2/data/500/DSC04922.JPG[/url]

frame fit inside the soob rails, but he had to lengthen the frame 13 inches...
and he did a spring over axle.
I like that also.

Thanks for the picture links.

I blew the auction on the perfect convertible bug, oh well there are others just not as good for that money.
I'm just gonna keep on the lookout.
Title: Re: Is it sacrilege to body swap ?
Post by: Drone637 on November 04, 2008, 11:57:44 AM
Did he cut down a wagon or actually use a brat?
Title: Re: Is it sacrilege to body swap ?
Post by: mcbrat on November 04, 2008, 06:06:32 PM
it was actually a 2 door hatchback (shorter wheelbase by 3-4" from the Brat and Wagon.  he then cut the back of the hatch off, and welded in the back wall of a Brat to make a "HatchBrat" :)