Thoughts on building an offroader

Hi, new guy here

I have been thinking about building an offroader based on the Jimny. It's not supposed to be streetlegal.
As of now I have a few questions:

Are all Jimnys (from'97) coilsprung, or are the earlier models with leafsprings?

How strong are axles, joints etc.? My plan is to use a BMW E30 2.0 engine with auto-transmission.
I know its a bit heavier than the Jimny engine, and longer also. But since this is only for offroad and I'm planning on relocating the radiator, I think it will fit

And, what size tyres are you running for hardcore offroad?
Think I'm going for and EMU suspension, but are 33" tyres too big? Perhaps Simex Jungle Trekker or Interco Boggers

Hope you can help me out

Thanks,
Tom

all jimny's are coil spring

for extreme off road i would say the stock axles and shafts are too weak and an upgrade to hilux axles would be sensible.

Thanks to both of you

I'm not planning on using the body. Only frame/chassis, axles, suspension etc. And then build some kind of rollcage.
Also one of the key elements of the build is that it must not exceed 1100-1200 kg since I can only pull 1800 kg with my car, and I need to transport the offroader on trailer

How much heavier is these Hilux axles?
I thought the Hilux had independent front axle with torsion bars?

Tom

Ps. Sorry for my lack of technical terms in english

The most common in Greece are the land cruiser 70 axles , nissan patrol axles and mercedes G axles.

take a look to a jimny with lc axles here

mercedes axles here www.jimnyclub.com/forum/index.php/topic,5624.0.html (translate from greek)

patrol axles here pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=829727

Thank you very much.

But the Link with LC axles are missing