No rust and LIGHT! If I had money to throw around I'd start with the alum body, and build the baddest Sammy around!
thats basically what I want to do. the no rust part would be SWEEEEEET. lotta money, but in my book, I'd call that a well worth it purchase to build an almost immortal toy.
"an almost immortal toy"
?? Do you remember how easy it is to crumple your Beer can? How easy it is to bend off the tab on your Beer can? Set a Beer can on the propane burner and watch it melt. Aluminum is light and strong, good for things like airplanes and show cars. Aluminum does not perform well when introduced to foreign objects like rocks and trees. You are starting with one of the lightest 4X rigs commercially sold. $3500 would make a Sami go with things like ARB's, double TC's, 4-links, winch, new tires, and
more power.
I can weld up a tin body (with torch or wire feed), but you need a TIG or Spool Gun and Argon to weld aluminum.