[BELMONT148]

I thought that I might start posting my progress since build is starting to look better. I started out with a 71' frame and tub that someone else started to build. They put a 2f, 4 speed tranny, and transfer case from a 78'. All of the body work was done by my good freind. He is starting to learn body work and he got this one pretty much smooth and primed for me.

It came with the rear SO'ed and in the front they put on like 4" longer shackles. Needless to say, the front got redone. I started a post showing my front axle build over in "hardcore". You can check it out here: http://forum.ih8mud.com/hardcore-corner/110827-custom-40-axle-build.html

Here's a picture of the axle finished. It just lacks the draglink. I can not put it on until I get some 1" wheel spacers. The Tundra rims are about 4.5" of backspacing and the tire hits the draglink, but nothing else.

[BELMONT148]

I have almost completed my saginaw power steering, and the front hangers and springs are done. I just need to roll the axle under it and bolt it up. I have not had any help in a while, so it will have to wait until this weekend. Once I get it attached I can see what kind of length I am looking at for driveshafts. I will be getting those from High Angle driveline.

I got a steering column from a 78' so I could use a pillow block to support the shaft, but I ended up useing a bearing from Kurt @ Cruiser Outfitters. I got my slip shaft from Borgeson and my joints from Summit racing. The joints are a steering gear spline to 3/4" DD, and a 1" DD to 3/4" DD both made by Flaming River. My box is an AGR Super Box 2. And my mounting plates were courtesy of Poser.

I cut off the mount at the end of the steering tube and I made a mount out of 1/4" steel to mount to the original mounting holes. I didn't want to have to cut the firewall in case I wanted to put the origanal back on.

[BELMONT148]

Pics of box mount and springs.....

[Chip B]

Looking forward to seeing your progress. Keep up the good work

Long live 71's!!!

[BELMONT148]

I picked up a 71' hardtop from Chip B, thanks bud, and I am going to restore it for winter driving. I have a top from a 78' but the trouble to make it work isn't worth it. I wanted to keep my rear half doors, and I like the older style front doors better. The fiberglass is cracked, so I am going to use the top from the 78' with the sides and hatch from the 71'. I do not have any front doors, so I will be on the lookout for some. The glass is all there, so I will be removing them and replacing the seals once everything is painted.

Here is some pictures of it now. Very soon it will be rolling. But before I can drive it there is still many parts left to buy. I need a set of two piece headers, my carb rebuilt, a couple of brake lines, driveshafts, paint, rhino lined interior, and a full cage. Maybe it will be ready next summer. 'fingers crossed'

[BELMONT148]

Here is how bad the front end was. The caster was out so bad that when I hit any little rut in my yard it would yank the steering wheel out of my hand. I can't imagine what kind of death wobble you would get at speed.

[numtel]

Are you planning on keeping the wheelbase stock? Truck is looking good but you might want to get some real jackstands.

[M3TAL D0RK]

nice to see the work, keep us posted

[kbill45]

I have completed 3 saginaw conversions. On 2 of them I made spud shafts from rag joint to box shaft. I havn't seen a conversion like yours with the box that far into the cross member. Are you going u-joint sthaight to the bos shaft?
If so I am certainly not opposed to going without that $$$$ spud shaft.

[camcruiser13]

kbill i also stuffed my box in as far as i could. if you look at where his bumper is he has taken a few inches off the fromt, better approach angle.


the work looks good keep the pics rollin

[BELMONT148]

Numtel, no I am estimating about 6" in the front and 4" in the rear. Whats wrong with my jackstands? They are good enough to hold up a house aren't they? Just kidding, my jackstands were being used while I was building my axle, they are going back under it before I put the axle back on. I have not crawled under it since it has been on blocks.

Thanks M3TAL, the springs worked out great.

Kbil45, yes I have used a splined u-joint to 3/4" double d. The shaft is close to the motor mount, but it worked out perfect. It really put a smile on my face once it all came together. This is my first on everything.

Thanks Camcruiser, I have seen your postings and your work looks good as well.

Will update once I get the axle and tires mounted. Then it is time to mount my shocks, or should I wait and do that last once I see how it flexes. I have 14" bilsteins, and I was going to mount them with a % of up travel left when the vehicle is as rest and go with it. Should I wait and see how much down travel I need first?

Jeremy

[BELMONT148]

Well here is some more progress that I made over the turkey day break.

I mounted my power steering pump and pulley. And I cleaned up my steering wheel and mounted it. The wheel and coulumn is from a 78' and I was thinking of mounting my turn signals on the column and then trimming the column cover and see how that looks. I really would like to keep my original signal switch, because It looks like a pain to switch it out.

Maybe later I will get one of those tilt cruiser columns for IDIDIT and get a turn signal on it.

P.S.
The pump bracket, pulley, and belt came from Lance at Iron Pig Offroad. The pump is an 80' and later GM pump with o-ring fitting that i got my parts supplier.

[BELMONT148]

I got the raer tires mounted and it definately looks like I am going to be trimming fenders. Good thing I just picked up an old set of TJ flares that I will be painting and mounting later.

I mounted my front axle and realized that I did not like how far forward it was. I had mounted my front hangers 4" further forward by mounting them on the bumper and then I had flipped them for the shackle reversal. This put my drag link mount on the axle more forward than my pitman arm mount.

So off they came and I decided to take them apart, paint everything, drill the military wrap leaf, and coat them in slip plate. Paint really makes a big difference on the looks of things.

I really like the stance now. Drag link should be parallel with the tie rod.

My arms that I got from Luke caused my tie rod and drag link to hit the springs so I am waiting on him to send me his extended height arms. He is really great to deal with. Swapped them out no problem. I'll start painting my tie rod and ends and be ready to button up the front when they arrive.

I have all my brake hoses for the front, so I am now just waiting on the arms.

Jeremy

[BELMONT148]

Calling it a night at 12:30.

This how she looks for now.

This angle makes it look like I have some major pimp lean going on, but it is not.

[apeterson]

looking great!

[BELMONT148]

Still waiting on my arms from Luke.

I just ordered some more new parts. A 2 piece header from Man-A-Fre (on sale). And I just sent my carb off to JimC.

I bought some ceramic paint to paint the engine and manifold while I was in there. And Jesse at High Angle is making me a long slip front and CV rear.

All of this should be here by Christmas. A nice big present for me would be to start my cruiser again after sitting for a year.

[BELMONT148]

Well, I got my extended arms from Luke today, and they work perfect. Thanks Luke! Now I just have to send him the other arms back. Added some paint and called it done for now. Just waiting on driveshafts and my header.

Jeremy

[BELMONT148]

I don't know if anyone has noticed my signature, but I have decided to name my FJ40 Evelyn. Eve for short. Pronounced E-V. My wife and I are expecting a child in April, and I was waiting to find out if it is going to be a boy or a girl before I named the Cruiser. We were thinking of naming it Evelyn if it was a girl. But the Dr. said it is a boy, so the Cruiser gets the name.

For those that are interested, we were thinking of Landon for a first name, and my wife actually suggested Orion. She knows nothing about the AA transfer case, just thought that was interesting that she liked that name. Maybe I am converting her brain to a cruiserhead and she doesn't realize it.

O.K. enough chat. I have received my headers, and over the holidays I should be getting my carb back. Soo, I should be able to get the power steering hooked up, the brakes hooked up, get the headers and carb back on, torque everything up, check fluids, and fire her back up. If the driveshafts come in next week, I may even be able to test her out in the yard. Wow, I get goosebumps just thinking of the possibility of driving her.

Later
Jeremy

[mikesc]

You look like you are making some good progress. I really want to get down to the beach and check it out and get those seat brackets. I have had to do some things to make room for the tub I just bought. I will be picking it up this weekend. I am going to make it down after the first of the year if nothing else. As a side not, my first son is named Landon as well.

[BELMONT148]

Well Christmas has gone pretty well. I received my headers from Man-A-Fre, and got new bolts for the manifold from SOR. I cleaned up the intake manifold and painted it with high temp. ceramic paint. Polished aluminum I believe is the color.

Installed the manifold and headers. These are awesome. I recommend them to everyone. They were so easy to install. I used the gasket that came with them and put a dab of black RTV on all corners of the openings. I then put red lock tight on all the bolts and studs and torgued them to about 50lbs.

The front header tube came really close to my saginaw pump bracket, but it doesn't touch.

The headers definately solved my problem of the hanger bolt hitting the collector. This should be the solution to anyone running a header set up with a shackle reversal.


Jeremy

[too tall]

pix are for sissie's, trix are for cruiserheads silly. Post em'up let's see that thing in the woods.

[BELMONT148]

Don't worry Too Tall, will have pics of it out of the barn soon. Kinda hard to get in the woods without a carburetor.

Lots of progress today, and looking forward to those driveshafts on wednesday. Will post pics tomorrow hopefully when my star is updated.

Jeremy

[BELMONT148]

Just waiting on my carb. So I cleaned up the shop a bit. Made a huge difference. I actually want to hang out in there now, even if I am not wrenching.

Got a new tool chest for Christmas, hence the reason for cleaning. Now all tools have a home. No more sitting on the ground getting tripped over. My inlaws also gave me a really sweet work stool. It has hydraulic telescoping and is really comfy. My back apreciates it alot.

Jeremy

[BELMONT148]

I received my power steering hose parts form PSC. They are exactly what I expected, quality!

They went together really easy. You have a large collar that threads onto the hose until it bottoms out. Then you have a threaded nipple that you attach to the collar. As you tighten it the nipple goes into the hose and swells against it as you tighten it. I could not get it to thread until all the threads are gone so I am hoping it is tight enough. I will know if it leaks, then I will easily pull them off and tighten them in a vise with a cheater bar.

The cool thing about these is that if you get a bad line, chaife it, or cut it for some reason, you can get some high pressure 3/8" hose and replace it. A quick $10.00 fix instead of replacing a $50.00 hose.

Jeremy

[BELMONT148]

Got the Ford shock towers mounted and put the Bilstein 5125 14" shocks on. Getting the tires back on and seeing the shocks on really makes me want to go drive through my pond with this thing! Getting close can't wait to start her up!

Jeremy

[tucker74]

Looking good man ... so close -



Tucker

[BELMONT148]

Got the front toe-in adjusted. Connected my drag link. Mounted a new pinion flange. Thats about it for a quick hour of tinkering tonight. Couldn't mount my new front output flange until my brake drum comes back. Need the rear driveshaft to hold so I can take off the stake nut on the front. The rear shaft comes in tomorrow. Got the front long slip with no cv today.

Jeremy

[BELMONT148]

It's been a while since I have had an update, but progress is still happening. Probably the most exciting progress was starting her up after sitting for over a year. I got my carb from Jim and it fired right up! It was awesome!

I then proceded to install my driveshafts. The front went on smoothly thanks to the pinion and front output flanges that I got from Jesse at H.A.. The back took a little longer. I had recently bought a fine spline 4.11 third with an aussie locker in it, and I first had to install that. It was a little harder than putting in the front locker, because it was already installed in the third. I had to uninstall it to assemble it with the axles in one at a time in order to get the c-clips placed. No biggie, but at least I know how to put one in and remove one now. Once all that was done and new gaskets were placed on, I proceded to put on the rear driveshaft. The pinion flange did not match the driveshaft.So I ordered a multi-drilled one from Kurt, but I ordered the wrong one. So I simply drilled the pattern I needed into it. It is now triple drilled. It is close, but can be done.

While I had the rear apart, I cleaned and painted Poser's bracket's and painted my calipers. I installed new brake lines and hoses on the rear and front. The hard line on the frame is giving me a hard time removing it from the old hose. So I have not bled them yet. I may just replace the whole line and call it done.

I then turned my attention to the power steering again. I wasn't happy with the angle that my pump at, so I called Lance at Iron Pig and talked to him. It turns out that I ordered the wrong pump. So I ordered the right one and it now leans a little more upright. It also has the return line bent to the side, no more worrying about it being to close to the headers. It is a flared style pump, and my old one was o-ring. So what to do with the new line that I just got. Aha! I bought a rebuildable line. So I just drove 4 miles to my local hot rod shop, bought a $5.00 5/8-18 to -6an fitting. Whala, a custom o-ring to flare high pressure line. I can also switch back at any time. I also bought one for the box as a spare, in case my box went out and all I can find is a flare style replacement. While I was running lines and purging the air out of the system, I decided to add a cooler to the system. $42.00 at the hot rod shop, and everything should work great now. Got home and hooked it all up, and presto, 1 1/2 years from conception it has power steering. I say that because that is how this whole build got started, I wanted power steering. Here are some pics to feed your addiction of cruisers.

Jeremy

[BELMONT148]

More....

[rjcruiser]

Looking really good!!! One piece of advice....get the thing done before the kid comes. Once you have a little one, they take up a lot of the time you used to spend in the garage.