Aussie 1978 FJ40 Buildup

Twisty · 02-11-07, 04:24 AM

After reading about it in this thread
http://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series-tech/7049-say-no-twin-stick.html

I did the 2wd low mod today. Really easy to do, and should be pretty useful!
Heres a pic of the xfer leaver and the bracket that you modify. The lever is in 2wd high in that pic. If you remove the metal to the right of it, you can then acess 2wd low.

Looking up at the bracket from below. To get it off just undo the nut you can see in the middle of the pic

and this bolt..it was a bit of a prick to get to, but got it easily enough in the end.

The bracket out of the truck.

with the section removed.

Installed back on the truck with the lever in 2wd low. (i only had silver paint)

Shift pattern is now.
2H--2N--2L
4H--4N--4L

Twisty · 02-11-07, 04:26 AM

Finally got around to getting Kane from Komited Kustoms to make a bracket for me so I could fit my new Skyjacker shocks to the front (they fouled on the steering link). Just used to bits of plate with holes 50mm between centres....Bolted this onto the old shock tower, then did a couple weld along the top to stop it pivoting. Worked a treat for a temp fix until the p/steer gets underway.

Had to trim a bit of the inner guard out. Just did to vetical cuts and then folded the panel up.

The welds.

I also had to extend the bumpstops as the new 35" TrXus MT's on 15x10s fould on the front guards badly. So have lowered them 75mm with some RHS....Really didn't like having to do this, but I don't really want to hack the guards. Will pull them back out once I get the tube front guards done.

Heres a pic off the front almost at full stuff....it was just resting on the bumpstop, and had about an inch clearance to the guard....So when on tracks with the bumpstop compressed somewhat, it should just clear the guard.

Lastly the rear shocks fitted, I thought these were going to be a little long, but after flexing it with them fitting, then just top out when the rear tyres start rubbing on the tubs.

Just got some minor trimming to do to the rear guards, and it's all ready to go for its first trip Landcruiser Park next weekend! Can't wait!!

Twisty · 02-18-07, 12:33 AM

Heres a few pics from the weekends trip to Landcruiser Park.....had a awesome time, and the truck performed better then I expected, specialy since it has no lockers. Sort my first time offroad with no lockers, and its heaps of fun, really need to pic the right line. Was planning on just putting some cheap auto lockers in, but I think I will hold off for now, so I can learn to drive without them.

The TrXus MT's performed awesome too!!! I can't fault these tyres yet! Awesome traction on all surfaces, even wet and slippery rocks!! Can't believe these tyres aren't really that popular yet.

Heres some pics!

This on the camp road side track...The real camp road is crazy now, with holes big enough to swallow the hole 40....

Twisty · 02-18-07, 12:34 AM

Cruiser Canyon

Twisty · 02-18-07, 12:37 AM

Twisty · 02-19-07, 05:22 AM

Some more pics that a mate got on the weekend.

Camp

This one came real close to some panel damage.

Twisty · 03-04-07, 08:09 PM

Some pics from the weekends wheeling out at the Glasshouse Mountains.

Had the TrXus MTs at 12psi....they were working great, they bulged out nicely.

Twisty · 03-04-07, 08:10 PM

Twisty · 04-04-07, 03:43 AM

Phew pics from a Glasshouse Mountains trip I did with the 4wd Monthly Forum last weekend.

I had a shocking run in the mud, first time I got bogged.

Twisty · 04-04-07, 03:43 AM

2nd time.

Gotta love the fake beadlocks for trapping the mud in.

And heres a vid.

BladeRunner80 · 04-04-07, 09:01 AM

That is a sweet cruiser!

How do you like your Skyjacker's? I installed a set on the back, doing the front next.... I haven't really had time to take it out since I upgraded them, but they seem much nicer then the blown Ranchos I pulled out.

Sporin · 04-04-07, 10:37 AM

Great looking truck. The TrXus MT's are quite popular in the US now, especially the Northeast were I live.

90 Weight · 04-04-07, 11:20 AM

quick question...I have 35 12.5 also...and in your flex pictures it appears that instead of hitting the rear quarter panel when its flexed...it seems to just slide right behind it without rubbing or causing any damage..where as mine would bump up and bend my rear quarter panel metal....

how is this? did you do anything special to get that kind of clearance without cutting

great looking rig.

Twisty · 04-04-07, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MOUNTAINCRUISER

quick question...I have 35 12.5 also...and in your flex pictures it appears that instead of hitting the rear quarter panel when its flexed...it seems to just slide right behind it without rubbing or causing any damage..where as mine would bump up and bend my rear quarter panel metal....

how is this? did you do anything special to get that kind of clearance without cutting

great looking rig.

Thanks mate, nothing too special has been done as far as I know. One of the previous owners has cut the rear wheel arches out to the top of the tubs....Then welded in the metal flare you can see. They look pretty good, but I'm going to cut them off and install some TJ flares when I do the spring flip. The tyres also rub pretty bad on the drivers side one at the rear as they made the wheel arch opening 1" smaller.

I can get some close up pics of them if you wanted.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sporin

Great looking truck. The TrXus MT's are quite popular in the US now, especially the Northeast were I live.

Thanks mate. I still cant fault them yet....they are an awesome tyre!

Quote:

Originally Posted by BladeRunner80

That is a sweet cruiser!

How do you like your Skyjacker's? I installed a set on the back, doing the front next.... I haven't really had time to take it out since I upgraded them, but they seem much nicer then the blown Ranchos I pulled out.

Thanks....I didn't expect much of the skyjackers since they were so cheap, but so far I am really happy with them. I'll be needing longer shocks all round when I finally do the spring flip front and rear and do custom shocks mounts, and will be getting another set of them for then.

Twisty · 04-06-07, 03:47 AM

Phew more pics from last weekend.

Twisty · 04-06-07, 03:48 AM

Twisty · 04-06-07, 03:48 AM

camcruiser13 · 04-15-07, 10:31 PM

some fun pics

kingoftf · 04-16-07, 05:43 AM

Nice Cruiser,
at least not only a Poser vehicle like many others.

The best Cruiser here on Tenerife is this one, BJ 42 and the owner and his wife are very enthusiastic in Trial competitions.
Highly modified:

brooksy · 04-16-07, 06:13 AM

Very tidy rig kingoftf !!

Twisty might be holding off on his progress as I haven't heard from him in a while. We will all be meeting up at LCMP in a couple of weeks so some ideas might come out of that

brooksy

Twisty · 04-16-07, 06:18 AM

Yeah, very cool rig kingoftf!!!!!

As for you getting your hands onto my 40 brooksy, it looks like it will be delayed for quite a while now since Loz and I bought a block of land today.....so there goes all the mods I had planned for this year.

But I am having the time of my life in it the way it is, just wish I'd get my act together and atleast get the powersteer conversion sorted

brooksy · 04-16-07, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Twisty

Yeah, very cool rig kingoftf!!!!!

As for you getting your hands onto my 40 brooksy, it looks like it will be delayed for quite a while now since Loz and I bought a block of land today.....so there goes all the mods I had planned for this year.

But I am having the time of my life in it the way it is, just wish I'd get my act together and atleast get the powersteer conversion sorted

Congratulations mate, where abouts did you grab a block. Lauren would be stoked with having your own bit of Paradise.
Don't you just love debt !!

brooksy

Twisty · 06-30-07, 10:03 PM

Well since the 4Runner is getting retired to offroad use only, the FJ will be becoming the missus's and mine daily driver. Loz got warned about the 35's and tyres outside the guards a phew months ago by the Dept. of Transport, but we haven't really used it since then as the clutch shat itself. It's all back on the road now, and we decieded to get some 33's for road dutys and I'll keep the 35" TrXus MT's for offroad.
So as usual, Ryano from Fourbys ( www.fourbys.com.au ) done a deal that was too good to refuse and the FJ now wears a bling set of 15x10 Mickey Thomson Classic Locks with 33x12.5 MTZs.

First off a pic of it wearing the 4runners 17s and 35's! I really like it on these wheels too! But the offset didn't work to well with the leaf springs and std. 40 steerign setup.

The new tyres/rim....the rims are actually 2nd hand, there were ryano's personal wheels, and I've borrowed them twice in the last couple years to run 37's on the 4runner.....now I've ended up buying them.

Am stoked how it come up, looks a lot more legal now, and brakes a lot better. It goes in to Kane at Komited Kustoms this week to get the 80 series power steering conversion then thats about it. Once the 4runner gets stripped it'll get its dual batterys, stereo, amps, sub etc

turbo42 · 06-30-07, 10:59 PM

Looking good Twisty...

It is pretty ironic that the 40 is getting to be the DD and the 4 Runner is getting to be the offroader.. backwards to most.

You are gunna love Power Steering :>

brisveganbj42 · 07-02-07, 12:41 AM

Hey twisty...

keep the updates coming re: the 80 series box.. i'm keen to hear how it goes and if any issues are encountered.

What circumstances were the incidents with teh DOT? just daily driving? I guess the tyres would of been the easiest thing to spot and unless you own a 40 you'd be hardpressed noticing the suspension bits..

cheers,

Andrew

Twisty · 07-02-07, 04:13 PM

Yeah Andrew, they didn't say anything about the suspension, just warned he that the tyres were too big, and outside the guards. The TrXus's are a bloody big 35" so they do stand out a fair bit.

Am heading down to Komited Kustoms this arve to see how the p/steer is going.....will get some pics if there is anything to see yet.

Twisty · 07-13-07, 05:27 AM

Some pics of the 80 series power steering conversion that Kane from Komited Kustoms done for me this week. Running a 75 series column, 75 series intermediate shaft, 80 series power steering box, 75 series drag link and tie rod, with 60 series king pins fitted to the swivel housings.

Still gotta sought a new battery position, am thinking a sealed AGM in the back, shock mounts (on the hunt for F250 shock towers from the states, impossible to get in Oz), wiring of the 75 column and trimming of the inner gaurd to suit everything.

Big thanks to Fester at All Four x Four Parts for supplying all the bits for the conversion.
http://www.allfourxfourparts.com/

Chassis has been plated each side, and crush tubes for each bolt hole.

75 series column installed...will get more details pics later. sign on the steering wheel is to remind me there is no water in the radiator.

bj42turbo · 07-13-07, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kingoftf

Nice Cruiser,
at least not only a Poser vehicle like many others.

The best Cruiser here on Tenerife is this one, BJ 42 and the owner and his wife are very enthusiastic in Trial competitions.
Highly modified:

Is there a link to this truck some where

BJ

p.s sorry for high Jack

Twisty · 08-27-07, 05:00 AM

Heres some more pics of the completed p/steer conversion.
The shows the std. 75 series firewall plate bolted to the std. 40 series plate, and also the std. 40 series bracket which was welded to the 75 series column.

Same again

Everything bolted up. You can see why the std. battery tray gets taken out with how much room the new steering shaft takes up. (Steering shaft is a slightly modified std. 75 series one)

Twisty · 08-27-07, 05:01 AM

Drivers side - 60 series king pin (arm on the swivel hub) with 75 series tie rod and ends. 80 series power steer box has a 80 series tie rod end which is screwed into a std. 75 series drag link

Passenger side - 60 series king pin (arm on the swivel hub) with 75 series tie rod ends in a 75 series drag link and tie rod.