[MrRocky]

okay, finally aquired enough parts to make some headway with my lwb
and will be fitting a nissan engine. I have to fab engine and box mounts as well as move the transfer 120mm back, fit hydraulic clutch and move the handbrake also.
My question to those of you that have undertaken such an involved project before is should i take the body of to do the majority of the work or battle away with it on. I was thinking of getting the donk sitting in the engine bay roughly where i want it, marking the most rearward point of the engine in relation to the firewall on the chassis then take body of and start with the engine and box fitment.
I realise the body will have to be on for some stuff i just think i can do the big stuff faster and better with the bod off.

what do ya reckon ?

[SierraDan]

You should be able to get everything right the first time in terms of clearances with the body on.

[MrRocky]

yeah i know that, just thinking about grinding the transfer mounts, crossmembers and so on... of the chassis. Not alot of room there with the body on and i'd like to do it neat.

[smiffkid]

get it set up then take body off, gives room to move, then finishing touches with body on,
considering all the wiring is goona be exchanged

[Fatzook]

Body off. I have done the same mods on my ute and it was so much easier with the cab off.

[Gwagensteve]

Cab off.

It takes a few hours, but that's more than made up in every other job being easier to do, and easier to do properly- for example, welding the gearbox crossmember in, or aligning the gearbox and transfer.

In fact, I'd even pull the axles so you have a bare chassis, then all your welding can be done "in position" - no need to weld anything upside down, for instance.

Makes for a much higher standard of build.

Steve.

[MrRocky]

thanks guys that confirms my thoughts off it comes