Chassis strength

Heya, peoples.

I'm thinking of getting an old cat C Jimny for a re-body project (Willys MB Jeep replica GRP body, no floorpan - so I'd have to keep the Jimny floor), but someone told me that the chassis on Jimnys are weak. I have an SJ413 mud-plugger on 31's I could rebody, but I wanted a few of the mod-cons on a Jimny.

I was most interested in ABS - but I've been told that early Jimnys don't have that. And I'm not buying a nice new(ish) Jimny and cutting the body to ribbons to build a road legal toy.

The advantages left are airbags (although they probably won't mean much after fitting multi-point harnesses) coil springs and PAS.

So firstly, is there any truth to the assertion that Jimny chassis' "tear" easily? I can't find any evidence of people talking about it when searching google, zukikrawlers, difflock, suzuki-forums.co.uk, here, google - anywhere, for that matter.

But I thought I'd make sure and ask people who know Jimnys inside out - you lot!

And secondly, do the airbags need switching off for hard offroading? I'm pretty hard on my SJ, and don't see myself going any easier on a JimnyJeep.

Thirdly, the wheel bearings on SJ's are at their limits with 31" tyres. Anything larger and you just eat bearings. Is that true of Jimny's? Can they handle, say, 33x12.5's?

Thanks everyone!

Hi was reading your plans on difflock last night and having a smile at a plastic body fitted on a Jimny chassis. Fantastic idea Old school looks on coils

What body are you thinking of ? Jago Jeep ?

I think the replies you had on DL were pretty good re chassis strength although removing the body would I should think allow more twisting which could in turn create more problems. Were you thinking about fitting a roll cage which would help replace some strength.

I asked about the air bag and off roading when I got my Jimny and was told they are computer controlled which will not go off during normal off roading although you could quite easily unplug them for off roading under the center console, but I never had a problem.

The only thing I would say before you get to far involved check that you will be able to get an MOT if your going to use it on road as the net is tightning on modded cars and I am sure a rebody on a PLG now means a IVA test.

If its a Jago body your going to use have a look on the Jago owners club site as a couple have been grafted onto SJs already. I have A Jago tucked in the garage if you need any measurements ect.

Keep us posted as I love the idea