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[w3526602]

Hi,

We took the Jimny in for welding a couple of days ago. The man said he would probably patch, rather than fit a new front panel. We forgot to ask for an estimate.

On the assumption that it won't last for ever, I wondered if a Jago Geep body shell would fit. I'm behind the times ... Jago now make a body called an ANUS. What a strange name? If the censor decided that body parts are unacceptable, try saying "an ass" quickly. Once you are down to a four letter word, Google "JAGO **** images."  Somebody has beaten me to converting a Jimny.

It's an interesting little shell, designed to fit an 80" wheelbase, but they appear to do a truck-cab version that should fit anything. 

602

[w3526602]

Hi,

Link! .... http://mbozakzn.co.za/gallery.html

LR element? I think itb was the Zuke forum who said it made the Zuke look like a Land Rover, but no mention of Series.

I wonder how price of the shell compares with an S2 bulkhead?

I'll get my coat.

602

[w3526602]

Hi,

And here's the mention of Land Rover.

https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/suzuki-jimny-body-kit-land-rover-defender/

I will say no more. Promise.

602

[w3526602]

Hi,
 
just one more ... https://forum.suzukiclubuk.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=6357

I'll get my coat

602

[Scimike]

If you can weld you can get anything to fit anything in my opinion. Is it worth the effort?  probably not in the majority of instances.
This one interests me as I really wanted a Willis Jeep, but can't afford a real one. So maybe when my Jimny body rots away I could make a replica, keep me happy. Won't be the first thought
https://www.bigjimny.com/index.php/home
Scroll down for the start of a Jimny / Willis Jeep love child.

[Porkscratching]

Presumably you get into the insurance sharks & dvla 'modified vehicle' territory with some of this malarkey

[Wittsend]

Here you go ... you can stick any old body onto a Land Rover chassis and a "Q" plate is yours for the taking.

[w3526602]

Hi Wittsend and others,

Hi,

A surprising result to my "wrist-slapper" (English is a living language). Food for thought.

Whatever ... phone call from the MOT centre, who I had asked to do the necessary repairs. "It's going to run into four figures just for the drivers side. We suggest that you abandon the job. There will be no charge for the work so far!" I think they deserve my future business. May I mention their name on the forum?

Two problems!

 The four (maybe five) chunky tyres. I'd be loath to let those go at a bargain price.

A1. So buy another Jimny!

Q2. What to replace it with?

Another Jimny! I'd love to, but regetfully it was almost as difficult as The Aunt, for Barbara to climb into. (Her knee replacement operation has been cancelled ... we are not sure why. ) Turn it in as Scrappage ... £2000 seems easy, and I've seen £3,000 offered (once)

It's time I got my hands dirty again - I haven't touched a spanner since we moved, last June. So Keep the Jimny, let my artistic urges loose on building a new body. (I wonder if an S1 tub could be cut and shut? Probably easiest to chop it behind the seats, fit a wooden tub. Fabricating an S1 bulkhead is not difficult ... I've already done it twice.I

I did once ponder, for only a few minutes, about fitting a Series 1 front half onto a 2CV. But lets not talk about that.

A early Jago Geep body would make more sense.

Keep the Jimny tp play with. Buy myself a Clunker to run about in when Barbara is off doing her Grandmother chores. I like that solution, but sensibly, it should be a full five seater (to carry the whole family) with room for Wilkie and a wheelchair. Hey, would the wheelchair fit in a roof box? Hmmm! Perhaps I need a 109" something or other. Fuel consumption is not an issue ... Barbara's new iX20 has only done about 2500 miles since she bought it in June last year, and I have only tanked the Jimny once, plus a couple of can fulls since I bought it. Fixed overheads are a different matter.

Answers on a post card.

602

PS. Somebody here, a few months ago, suggested a French hack as being easy to clamber into. Cheap? Can they repeat, please?

[Formerlyjeremy]

I've got a Ford Focus estate - which is surprisingly easy to get in and out of - it was the first thing I noticed when I bought my first one. One's first impression is that its high and there's no struggle to get your feet in.

The first was a 1600 - which has a lovely Yamaha designed engine that revs for ever.  It came to an end when it needed a few things for MOT, 2 tyres, exhaust, a rear wheel bearing - and the cambelt was due for replacement.  It had done 150,000 miles - and I could get one in good condition with much less mileage (like 90K less) for about what the first one would cost to repair.  The second is a 1.8 - the engine is a bit gruffer - and doesn't seem much faster than the 1600 but has aircon and has only done about 60,000.

Apart from re-wiring the tailgate (as Ford don't use flexible wiring) and replacing the starter the 1600 cost me nothing in repairs for 18 months and always started well.

Overall observation - things feel 'big' which I suppose tends to be a Ford characteristic and is comfortable quiet and pleasant to drive.  Suspension feels nice most of the time but Ford design incompetence shows when its challenged by bad bumps - its not uncomfortable then - just a bugbear of mine as I feel that after making cars for 110 years mankind should be able to make suspension systems that cope - after all the rubber suspended Mini could even if it was restless on good surfaces.

Fuel consumption seems good - I suppose the 1600 was doing low 40's and the 1.8 is slightly worse.  The aircon is nice - and the 1.8 also has a heated front screen (the element is visible if I wear reading glasses)

Would I buy another - yes if the right one was there.  Both are around 2003.

[rustylandrovers]

There was a guy not too far from here selling a fibreglass jeepalike kit car body a while ago. Can't remember the brand, bit I think originally it would have used Ford Sierra parts. Something like that would make a good rust resistant body to slap onto a Jimmy chassis. It was one piece, so would be easier than (for example) a series one body.

I almost bought that one I saw for sale, but I already have too many projects so had to let it go.

[Worf]

Hi 602. If you fancy taking up sailing, you could of course turn the Jimny into this 
http://www.timdutton.com/4wd.html

[Porkscratching]

You'd have to paint it up like something out of the Wehrmacht..

[w3526602]

which has a lovely Yamaha designed engine that revs for ever.

Hi,

I dumped my Scimitar GTE in Robin Rews front garden ... which apparently didn't please him, (but he got over it.) It must have used 50 gallons driving from Swansea to Towcester. Pour petrol into the rad, then drive as far as I could before it stopped running out the exhaust tail pipe.

He built me a stormer of an engine out of bits he had lying around his shed. Stamp on the loud-pedal at 20mph in first gear, and listen to the screech from the back tyres. It gave 30mpg pulling a caravan round Devon and Cornwall.

Then one day, I was late for trekking, so gave it some welly out of my side street. 45mph in first gear ... roar ... pop ... silence.

The fibre cam-gear teeth had all fallen off. Sob! No more taunting Escorts away from the traffic lights. The plot was to give the GTE just enough welly to let them think they were staying with me. Then when their nose dropped as they dipped the clutch ... I floored my loud pedal. Sheer joy!

One day, on the M4 in South Wales, I looked up through my sloping windscreen, made eye contact with two police sergeants leaning over a bridge. My speedo said 130mph. Naughty!

I'm older now, 

602

Oops! Maybe not everybody knows that the Scimitar used the Ford V6 engine, both Stuttgart and Cologne, depending on year.