It has begun.... (SOA progress pics) - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

theferg · 08-17-2003, 04:18 PM

Finally started the SOA on my 60. After a looooong time of researchin' and gathering parts, it's goin' on! Parked her in Mike B's (aka Mixmaster) shop last Wednesday. The front axle was off Thursday and disassembled. On Friday, the housing was taken down to Cruiser Outfitters in SLC for the cut-n-turn. Yesturday, I went to town with a wire brush and wire wheel cleanin' up the frame. Though I wish I could take everything off and completely sandblast and powder coat the frame, I don't have enough time to do something like that--school starts back up in one week! Anyway, I got as far as hangin' the front springs. I am also installing 80 series electric lockers front and rear, though my FF rear hasn't arrived yet, so it's gonna be locked up front and not in back.

Anyway, here's some pics:

theferg · 08-17-2003, 04:19 PM

Mike B wrenchin'...

theferg · 08-17-2003, 04:20 PM

Nothin' but jack stands:

theferg · 08-17-2003, 04:21 PM

Another.

theferg · 08-17-2003, 04:22 PM

Front springs hung.

dieselcruiserhead · 08-17-2003, 04:23 PM

Lookin' good Ben, nice!

theferg · 08-17-2003, 04:31 PM

It really is going quite well. Should have most everything cleaned up and ready to start going back in tomorrow. Don't worry, more pics to come.

Thanks so far to Mike B (Mixmaster), Cody M (CruiserGreen) for all the wrenchin' and the moral support

(parts cleaning) and Kurt and Spunky at Cruiser Outfitters for the assistance and all the great info...hmmm, went from waiting for one axle from them to both axles!!

And Andre for the good chats as well (and the recommendations). Went with W arms. They look great--thanks W. Probably everyone on here needs thanked as well. Pretty much everyone has been helping me. Henry C for giving me a dream...

. Dave T for the hook-up on the axle shaft... C-Dan on IH8MUD 80 series tech for all the other hook-ups and deals on parts...

theferg · 08-17-2003, 04:39 PM

It's gettin' stock springs all around with some leafs removed and a long leaf added. W at Over The Hill 4X4 high clearance steering arms. Don't know what shocks yet... Gonna be ridin' on some 35 inch something or others... (anybody know of any good deals on tires?) And of course the electric lockers front and rear. Does anybody else have as much fun as I do workin' on Cruisers?

Radd Cruisers · 08-17-2003, 04:46 PM

Ya, and I do it for a living every day. Can be frustrating at times but mostly fun, I like the custom stuff but mostly do cruiser repairs and factory restorations.

Looks great, how you dealing with the e-locker in the rear? Must be throwing in a FF and getting custom axles front and rear.

Rob
www.raddcruisers.ca

theferg · 08-17-2003, 04:56 PM

Yep, gettin' a Toyota FF rear, but also using stock Toy long spline axle shafts as well--front one used from an HJ60, rear one brand new through a Toy dealership in Albq, NM.

Radd Cruisers · 08-17-2003, 05:02 PM

I have a factory new E-locker sitting in the shop waiting to go, I am surprised that you found that axle locally as I was told the European stuff cannot be purchased in the US or Canada?

Lots of good articles on the e-locker stuff and how to protect them from water.

My personal favourite is the guy who built a set of cable actuators for the E-lockers.

Good luck

Rob

dieselcruiserhead · 08-17-2003, 05:14 PM

Cool, can't beat a $50 high steer setup. When you get a chance, snap some photos of those steering arms. If you can't post, email to me and I'll throw them on the web somewhere... It might deflate the highsteer market a little bit when people learn about these, I guess spread the wealth (though I personally am SUPER happy with my Marlin H-S setup)...

Andre

mixmaster · 08-17-2003, 09:49 PM

Thought I would snap a pic of W's steering arms while I was out in the shop today, pretty damn good for $50 if you ask me.

It will be awesome when it is all said and done and we don't have to drive down to Sandy twice a week and we can work on my rig finally now that I have my welder back.

mixmaster · 08-17-2003, 09:50 PM

I guess I could actually post the pic now.

Mr McGee · 08-17-2003, 10:04 PM

are those bent with heat?

mixmaster · 08-17-2003, 10:09 PM

Hmmm, not sure, I would assume so however.

theferg · 08-18-2003, 04:55 AM

Sweet. I almost called you up to have you get a pic, but I thought you were probably out draggin' main again...hehe

. Yep, they are heated up, bent, and cooled super slow--though there is probably more to it... There's some threads here somewhere about W's arms. He runs them on BIG Cruisers with BIG tires, so I figured they must be pretty damn strong... Plus, for the price, they couldn't be beat. And my Cruiser is not gonna be some gnarly rock crawler. It will only be runnin' puny little 35s...

wngrog · 08-18-2003, 05:39 AM

Those scare the shit out of me, just like the "cut in half and reweld" Pitman Arms.

I understand being on a budget, but skimping on brakes and steering components effects others on the road, not just you.

Sorry, off my soapbox now.

dieselcruiserhead · 08-18-2003, 08:31 AM

The concept certainly scares the crap out of me too, but once I saw a whole bunch of them on most of the rigs from Oregon that were at CM03 I felt a little more confident about them to the point where I was about to run a pair myself. They have never had a set break, Helocat runs them on his rig with his 35s or 36s or whatever they are, and there are over a hundred pairs out there, none have supposedly ever broken or cracked. I spoke with W extensively about them, I guess they heat them just to the point before they turn red, throw them in a vice and clam the crap out of them (so they dont bend simply and loosely), then toss them in the sand box, cover them with sand, and let them cool over a couple days. And I guess that's why they last... I'm not too familiar with W and they said, "hey we want them to be safe, if one ever shows signs of breaking or cracking we'll immedialy stop making them. But I guess it hasn't happened yet, so to each and to his own. At this point, I'd probably run them myself...

Toygeek · 08-18-2003, 08:53 AM

Don't mean to hijack the thread, but where can I get those arms? I've seen a set a guy did in his garage with a torch and :o no way! But this sounds cool. Could one replace a double arm with these?

More than anything who do I call? Don't know who "W" is.

dieselcruiserhead · 08-18-2003, 08:56 AM

You might have seen that crazy red and black "55" that runs around with the "Suspension by W" sticker on the side of it:

Yes they should take place of your double arm...

http://www.overthehill4x4.com

mavric · 08-18-2003, 10:52 AM

I run W's arms and suspension, never had a problem with it.....other then the damn hypershackles that im cutting off.

mavric · 08-18-2003, 10:55 AM

oh yeah heres a great shot..... http://www.overthehill4x4.com/images/suspension3.jpg

I think travis is still workin on the website (greenweeny79)

chef · 08-18-2003, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dieselcruiserhead
Cool, can't beat a $50 high steer setup. When you get a chance, snap some photos of those steering arms. If you can't post, email to me and I'll throw them on the web somewhere... It might deflate the highsteer market a little bit when people learn about these, I guess spread the wealth (though I personally am SUPER happy with my Marlin H-S setup)...

Andre

Uhhh, $50 hysteer arms? Details man! Pix fersure!

chef · 08-18-2003, 12:09 PM

Oh, I guess I should read the whole thing before I post, sorry...

08-17-2003, 04:18 PM	#1 (permalink)
theferg Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Member # 15144 Location: Wandering the Wild West Posts: 705	It has begun.... (SOA progress pics) Finally started the SOA on my 60. After a looooong time of researchin' and gathering parts, it's goin' on! Parked her in Mike B's (aka Mixmaster) shop last Wednesday. The front axle was off Thursday and disassembled. On Friday, the housing was taken down to Cruiser Outfitters in SLC for the cut-n-turn. Yesturday, I went to town with a wire brush and wire wheel cleanin' up the frame. Though I wish I could take everything off and completely sandblast and powder coat the frame, I don't have enough time to do something like that--school starts back up in one week! Anyway, I got as far as hangin' the front springs. I am also installing 80 series electric lockers front and rear, though my FF rear hasn't arrived yet, so it's gonna be locked up front and not in back. Anyway, here's some pics:

08-17-2003, 04:31 PM	#7 (permalink)
theferg Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Member # 15144 Location: Wandering the Wild West Posts: 705	It really is going quite well. Should have most everything cleaned up and ready to start going back in tomorrow. Don't worry, more pics to come. Thanks so far to Mike B (Mixmaster), Cody M (CruiserGreen) for all the wrenchin' and the *moral* support (parts cleaning) and Kurt and Spunky at Cruiser Outfitters for the assistance and all the great info...hmmm, went from waiting for one axle from them to both axles!! And Andre for the good chats as well (and the recommendations). Went with W arms. They look great--thanks W. Probably everyone on here needs thanked as well. Pretty much everyone has been helping me. Henry C for giving me a dream... . Dave T for the hook-up on the axle shaft... C-Dan on IH8MUD 80 series tech for all the other hook-ups and deals on parts... Last edited by theferg; 08-17-2003 at 04:41 PM.

08-17-2003, 04:46 PM	#9 (permalink)
Radd Cruisers Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Member # 14670 Location: Nanaimo BC(Island) Posts: 1,107	Ya, and I do it for a living every day. Can be frustrating at times but mostly fun, I like the custom stuff but mostly do cruiser repairs and factory restorations. Looks great, how you dealing with the e-locker in the rear? Must be throwing in a FF and getting custom axles front and rear. Rob www.raddcruisers.ca __________________ Ride it like you stole it.

08-17-2003, 05:02 PM	#11 (permalink)
Radd Cruisers Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Member # 14670 Location: Nanaimo BC(Island) Posts: 1,107	I have a factory new E-locker sitting in the shop waiting to go, I am surprised that you found that axle locally as I was told the European stuff cannot be purchased in the US or Canada? Lots of good articles on the e-locker stuff and how to protect them from water. My personal favourite is the guy who built a set of cable actuators for the E-lockers. Good luck Rob __________________ Ride it like you stole it.

08-17-2003, 05:14 PM	#12 (permalink)
dieselcruiserhead Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Member # 12758 Location: Park City, UT Posts: 4,651	Cool, can't beat a $50 high steer setup. When you get a chance, snap some photos of those steering arms. If you can't post, email to me and I'll throw them on the web somewhere... It might deflate the highsteer market a little bit when people learn about these, I guess spread the wealth (though I personally am SUPER happy with my Marlin H-S setup)... Andre Last edited by dieselcruiserhead; 08-17-2003 at 05:23 PM.

08-17-2003, 04:19 PM	#2 (permalink)
theferg Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Member # 15144 Location: Wandering the Wild West Posts: 705	Mike B wrenchin'...

08-17-2003, 04:20 PM	#3 (permalink)
theferg Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Member # 15144 Location: Wandering the Wild West Posts: 705	Nothin' but jack stands:

08-17-2003, 04:21 PM	#4 (permalink)
theferg Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Member # 15144 Location: Wandering the Wild West Posts: 705	Another.

08-17-2003, 04:22 PM	#5 (permalink)
theferg Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Member # 15144 Location: Wandering the Wild West Posts: 705	Front springs hung.

08-17-2003, 04:23 PM	#6 (permalink)
dieselcruiserhead Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Member # 12758 Location: Park City, UT Posts: 4,651	Lookin' good Ben, nice!

08-17-2003, 04:39 PM	#8 (permalink)
theferg Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Member # 15144 Location: Wandering the Wild West Posts: 705	It's gettin' stock springs all around with some leafs removed and a long leaf added. W at Over The Hill 4X4 high clearance steering arms. Don't know what shocks yet... Gonna be ridin' on some 35 inch something or others... (anybody know of any good deals on tires?) And of course the electric lockers front and rear. Does anybody else have as much fun as I do workin' on Cruisers?

08-17-2003, 04:56 PM	#10 (permalink)
theferg Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Member # 15144 Location: Wandering the Wild West Posts: 705	Yep, gettin' a Toyota FF rear, but also using stock Toy long spline axle shafts as well--front one used from an HJ60, rear one brand new through a Toy dealership in Albq, NM.

08-17-2003, 09:49 PM	#13 (permalink)
mixmaster Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Member # 15618 Location: Logan, Utah Posts: 621	Thought I would snap a pic of W's steering arms while I was out in the shop today, pretty damn good for $50 if you ask me. It will be awesome when it is all said and done and we don't have to drive down to Sandy twice a week and we can work on my rig finally now that I have my welder back. __________________ Mike Bodrero '68 FJ40, '79 & '71 FJ55, '93 FZJ80 www.wasatchcruisers.org

08-17-2003, 09:50 PM	#14 (permalink)
mixmaster Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Member # 15618 Location: Logan, Utah Posts: 621	I guess I could actually post the pic now. Attached Images __________________ Mike Bodrero '68 FJ40, '79 & '71 FJ55, '93 FZJ80 www.wasatchcruisers.org

08-17-2003, 10:04 PM	#15 (permalink)
Mr McGee Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Member # 9216 Location: Kimberly, Wisconsin Posts: 1,830	are those bent with heat? __________________ Nick Hietpas...1985-2003 Rest In Peace

08-17-2003, 10:09 PM	#16 (permalink)
mixmaster Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Member # 15618 Location: Logan, Utah Posts: 621	Hmmm, not sure, I would assume so however. __________________ Mike Bodrero '68 FJ40, '79 & '71 FJ55, '93 FZJ80 www.wasatchcruisers.org

08-18-2003, 04:55 AM	#17 (permalink)
theferg Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Member # 15144 Location: Wandering the Wild West Posts: 705	Sweet. I almost called you up to have you get a pic, but I thought you were probably out draggin' main again...hehe . Yep, they are heated up, bent, and cooled super slow--though there is probably more to it... There's some threads here somewhere about W's arms. He runs them on BIG Cruisers with BIG tires, so I figured they must be pretty damn strong... Plus, for the price, they couldn't be beat. And my Cruiser is not gonna be some gnarly rock crawler. It will only be runnin' puny little 35s...

08-18-2003, 05:39 AM	#18 (permalink)
wngrog Moderating Midget Join Date: Jun 2000 Member # 1154 Location: Canton, MS Posts: 22,056 Blog Entries: 4	Those scare the shit out of me, just like the "cut in half and reweld" Pitman Arms. I understand being on a budget, but skimping on brakes and steering components effects others on the road, not just you. Sorry, off my soapbox now. Attached Images __________________ Nolen Grogan 1997 FZJ-80 Land Cruiser, 37's 2010 RZR-4 www.cottonlandcruisers.com www.rockmidgetphotography.com USAF Veteran 1988-1998 GOD Bless America

08-18-2003, 08:31 AM	#19 (permalink)
dieselcruiserhead Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Member # 12758 Location: Park City, UT Posts: 4,651	The concept certainly scares the crap out of me too, but once I saw a whole bunch of them on most of the rigs from Oregon that were at CM03 I felt a little more confident about them to the point where I was about to run a pair myself. They have never had a set break, Helocat runs them on his rig with his 35s or 36s or whatever they are, and there are over a hundred pairs out there, none have supposedly ever broken or cracked. I spoke with W extensively about them, I guess they heat them just to the point before they turn red, throw them in a vice and clam the crap out of them (so they dont bend simply and loosely), then toss them in the sand box, cover them with sand, and let them cool over a couple days. And I guess that's why they last... I'm not too familiar with W and they said, "hey we want them to be safe, if one ever shows signs of breaking or cracking we'll immedialy stop making them. But I guess it hasn't happened yet, so to each and to his own. At this point, I'd probably run them myself...

08-18-2003, 08:53 AM	#20 (permalink)
Toygeek Registered User Join Date: Oct 2000 Member # 2046 Location: Sparks, NV Posts: 729	Don't mean to hijack the thread, but where can I get those arms? I've seen a set a guy did in his garage with a torch and :o no way! But this sounds cool. Could one replace a double arm with these? More than anything who do I call? Don't know who "W" is. __________________ 1987 Dodge Raider - Stock except for 30" tires 340K miles and counting

08-18-2003, 08:56 AM	#21 (permalink)
dieselcruiserhead Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Member # 12758 Location: Park City, UT Posts: 4,651	You might have seen that crazy red and black "55" that runs around with the "Suspension by W" sticker on the side of it: Yes they should take place of your double arm... http://www.overthehill4x4.com

08-18-2003, 10:52 AM	#22 (permalink)
mavric Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Member # 18408 Location: bend oregon Posts: 240	I run W's arms and suspension, never had a problem with it.....other then the damn hypershackles that im cutting off. __________________ 1972 fj-40, lockrights front and back, 383 stroker with sm420, dual optima red tops, SOA..... If at first you dont succeed, then you should try skydiving

08-18-2003, 10:55 AM	#23 (permalink)
mavric Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Member # 18408 Location: bend oregon Posts: 240	oh yeah heres a great shot..... http://www.overthehill4x4.com/images/suspension3.jpg I think travis is still workin on the website (greenweeny79) __________________ 1972 fj-40, lockrights front and back, 383 stroker with sm420, dual optima red tops, SOA..... If at first you dont succeed, then you should try skydiving

08-18-2003, 12:09 PM	#25 (permalink)
chef Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Member # 13912 Location: columbia, mo Posts: 2,493	Oh, I guess I should read the whole thing before I post, sorry... __________________ Visit [url]www.tlca.org[/url]; TLCA Member 6235 TLCA Prez Emeritus

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