Project - Get this FJ40 trail worthy

[Gotboost]

I traded for this 1970 FJ 40 a little while ago. Currently the setup is Chevy 350, sm465, np205, 3/4 ton axles locked front and rear, 39.5 tsl's. I really don't have a ton of money to throw at this as of yet. But today I started sanding to try and see if or how bad the rust might be.

On the way home


No real rust was found on this section


I decided on Khaki flat. Here's a picture of the test corner.



More to come. I plan on lowering the rig down 2"ish. Next on the list is to build a new track/anti wrap bar. I also need to move the trans and transfer up about 5".

[Gotboost]

I got tired of grinding and painting for the moment so I decided to start on another part of the project. Get the crappy wanna be fuel cell out of the back and put a back seat back into it.

Pulling the old stuff out. Here's the pile



I got this back seat from my father in law. It's an old cj5 one that someone had built into a speaker box. The box replaced the back panel and the box was made of aluminum and then was coated with like rhino lining inside like 2' thick. So the seat was like #150. In and mounted.



Seat installed in the back. My tool box fits but I have to stand it on end. Maybe I'll get the upright ammo cans and put 2 behind the seat instead. I still need to clean up the back and put some sort of a backing on the seat.




Next is to mount the stock gas tank in under the passenger side seat. I picked this up yesterday from Jiggle Booty's friend.

[Gotboost]

Pulled the passenger side seat out and put the gas tank in where it goes. Now i just need to figure out some gas tank straps.

Anyone have any fj40 gas tank straps laying around?

[Gotboost]

Update from working on the FJ this week.

Took these blocks out of the back not sure what the guy was thinking when he put these lift blocks in. Obviously they were starting to fail.


This is the make shift anti wrap bar that was in the back. It made the rear end wrap worse with it and made the back squat like crazy. This is getting finished being rebuilt tomorrow with a 2 point Y.


Another look


The transfer case was next on the listto fix. It hung way down under the frame.


Cut and started jacking up the transfer.




Action shot


Mount made and then my phone went dead. I need to buy some new rubber mounts for this thing. They were hammered.


Still on the list for tomorrow is to finish the amti wrap bar, pull the front end apart and lower it down an 1 1/2" like we did the back. More pictures and work to come tomorrow.

[Gotboost]

Another update.

We worked on the anti-wrap bar again today.

The bracket I made for the rear end.


New cross member weld in and ready for the anti-wrap


The fabricator of the build. A buddy of mine Brett helping me out and getting some stuff knocked out.


Brett welded up the rear bracket


Finishing up the new bar setup


All bolted up and ready to go.


Loaded on the trailer and headed for home.

[Gotboost]

Reviews after the build on the rear. I can't believe how well it worked. Before the Fj would squat down 4-5" in the back. Now going forward or back the rig doesn't squat at all in fact the front almost feels like it wants to wheelie.

I still haven't flexed it yet to see if it will work or not but it should. It has hime joints on all three point and has a swing shackle mount to the front.

Next is to lower the front down 1-1.5" and move it forward 6"ish. But i think I might wheel it a little first and work on a list of things to fix.

[Gotboost]

I like it so far. Here's pictures from this morning on the neighbors flexing stump.

[Slowerthanu]

Looks like you need some new spring pads onthe rear axle, those look scary.

Haveyou pulled the padding off the cage to see if it in fact bent up instead of cut and butt welded?

Looks like you are fixing all of the po's mistakes.

[Gotboost]

Originally Posted by Slowerthanu

Looks like you need some new spring pads onthe rear axle, those look scary.

Haveyou pulled the padding off the cage to see if it in fact bent up instead of cut and butt welded?

Looks like you are fixing all of the po's mistakes.

Yeah the spring pads were a home made deal from PO. Right now I'm going to run them their pretty stout.

There isn't any padding on the cage and appears to me to be an aftermarket weld together cage. I plan on adding another hoop towards the rear of the rig and then tie it back to the middle hoop.

Yeah that's the problem alot of times buying an already built rig. You get to fix stuff that's not right instead of doing it right the first time.

[Gotboost]

A couple of pics of it currently. Took it out a couple of weeks ago and put it to a good test.

Put Hummer double beadlocks and a soft top on it. Ready for snow season I think.

[Gotboost]

Besides upgrading to a dana 60. I need rewire the rig, finish the front end paint job, and wheel the shit out of it (or trade it for a 4runner). 40 years of people owning it has seen better days on the wiring.

[jedrattle]

Don't trade it! 4runners are cool but they don't have the personality of a cruiser! I had a runner and now have a cruiser. I hate the 22r motors anymore! Even though I drive one everyday('90 4wd pu)....I drive it while day dreaming about a motor swap!!LOL Just fix it a little at time and enjoy!!

[brokenparts]

Originally Posted by Gotboost

Besides upgrading to a dana 60. I need rewire the rig, finish the front end paint job, and wheel the shit out of it (or trade it for a 4runner). 40 years of people owning it has seen better days on the wiring.

Just buy a painless kit and be done... I wish I had done that when I rewired mine without a harness. Lesson learned.

[Medusa]

A number of the Cascade Cruisers like to do snow runs NE of Vantucky. I am about finished moving my shop to its new home -- The Fargher Lake Franken Cruiser Laboratory, so I should be ready for some snow wheeling very soon.

[peesalot]

Good news Jack.

[Gotboost]

Originally Posted by brokenparts

Just buy a painless kit and be done... I wish I had done that when I rewired mine without a harness. Lesson learned.

I have been looking at buying a 7-10 circuit kit off ebay. I don't about the painless just a little expensive for this unemplyoed broke ass. But It's in the cards somewhere. Just need to quit spending money on guns and I could throw more towards this rig.

[Gotboost]

Originally Posted by Medusa

A number of the Cascade Cruisers like to do snow runs NE of Vantucky. I am about finished moving my shop to its new home -- The Fargher Lake Franken Cruiser Laboratory, so I should be ready for some snow wheeling very soon.

I do know a couple of the cascade cruisers guys. Although I haven't gotten involved with them yet. We also do snow runs north east and east of Vancouver.

Yota Army guys are who I've been mainly wheeling with.

Originally Posted by jedrattle

Don't trade it! 4runners are cool but they don't have the personality of a cruiser! I had a runner and now have a cruiser. I hate the 22r motors anymore! Even though I drive one everyday('90 4wd pu)....I drive it while day dreaming about a motor swap!!LOL Just fix it a little at time and enjoy!!

You know whats funny is I've been talking to my buddies about doing a 22re, 5 speed and dual toyota case setup in the FJ40. It's not like I care if it'll do 60+ down the freeway. But it crawls pretty good with the setup it has right now. (6.55 first gear helps) Im just hate paying the gas bill with the v8.

[TxCruzr]

Originally Posted by Gotboost

I have been looking at buying a 7-10 circuit kit off ebay. I don't about the painless just a little expensive for this unemplyoed broke ass. But It's in the cards somewhere. Just need to quit spending money on guns and I could throw more towards this rig.

EZ Wire http://www.ezwiring.com/wiring_harness.html

Great kit. There's a ton of guys on here and mud that have gone with this kit.

[mike b]

x2 on ez wire,I used the mini 20,nice harness&small fuse block fit in place of stock block
Mike

[peesalot]

I think you need at leats 20 circuits, well thats if you want each item on it's own fuse.

[Gotboost]

Why 20 cicuit? I figure headlights, tail lights, wipers, fan, radio, cb, gauges, maybe on board air. Simpler the better.

[ChevotaSS]

keep the cruiser. 4 runners arent nearly as cool. yours reminds me alot of my 1st cruiser i built.