[Josie'sLandCruiser]

Hi All:

Yep, it is my turn to do the "Rig of the Week" thread.

Unfortunately, I've had some trouble with some digital photo files sent to me from some friends so I won't be able to use some of their great pics. I have hobbled-together some photos to give you guys an idea of what my rig is like.

To start the thread, this first pic is to clear-up the source of my MUD "tag." "Josie" is my dog, who loves my FJ40! She will hop into it at any chance, I suppose because she does not want to be left behind!

More photos to come shortly!

-Alan

[Josie'sLandCruiser]

Hi All:

Crap! Now my photos are too big to post!

I'm a newbie to digital cameras, so this might take awhile to figure out.

Sorry for the "false start!" Check back later for more photos.

Regards,

Alan

[bull]

Your photos are uploaded..post away

[randle]

do it alan, yeah!

[Doug_S]

Alan, we want to see some more info about your "ride". Damn the photos for now. Give us the info anyway.

[Moe R]

That's hott! And the rig looks pretty good too!

[Josie'sLandCruiser]

Hi All:

O.K. - lets' try this again!

Until I get educated on photo re-sizing, BULL has generously offered to host my oversized JPEGs!

Where do I start? I bought this 11/73 FJ40 in December 1997. The seller told me that he had got the rig as a "parts car" and brought it back to life. It has been a real learning experience on both mechanics and the evolution of the 40 Series.

Here is a photo of the engine compartment. The PO had swapped-in a '78 2F engine, but had the alternator still on the driver's side, ala a "F engine." In this pic you can see that I relocated the alternator to the passenger's side with a 2F bracket when installing the Saginaw power steering pump (donated by a '76 K5 Blazer) using a bracket purchased from JT Outfitters.

-Alan

[Josie'sLandCruiser]

Hi All:

I've done a number of modifications to the rig over the years; I never knew what a "project rig" really was until I got one of my own!

The first thing I had to repair on the rig was in February 1998 when the original gas tank sprung a leak. Unfortunately, I was cheap and "saved" $50 buying the aftermarket poly gas tank instead of the OE steel tank; lets just say I've had the gas tank in and out of the truck a few times over the years!

One of the first modifications I did was install an Old Man Emu suspension on the truck. In this photo you can see a rear spring, shock, and greaseable shackle.

-Alan

[Quazii]

I feel like I got that teaser from the anchorman befor the commercial break

Looks good so far I'll check back after the commercial break

Chris

[Josie'sLandCruiser]

Hi All:

Well, soon after installing the OME suspension my cash flow dropped drastically!

The rest of my "build" of this FJ40 has been under a strict, tight budget.

Switching from the stock front drum brakes to front disc brakes was one of the first mods on this 40; I used a '78 frontend "donated" by a CDN. spec BJ40. A friend helped me re-build and re-assemble this front axle with an older 4.11 ratio third member.

After 'wheeling the rig for awhile with open differentials I decided to install a locking differential in the rear axle. As much as I'd would have liked to install an ARB Air Locker, Toyota cable 'locker, or a Detroit, lets' just say those choices would not fit into the budget!

I settled on a Lockrite "lunchbox" 'locker after reading some recommendations from 'Cruiser mechanics that I respect; it is still in my rig after five plus years and is working well.

One of the "budget" mods I did some years ago was an idea I "borrowed" from my friend Kevin. He found a weird piece of five inch by three inch by 1/4 inch steel angle iron, and used it to fab-up some heavy-duty side steps. I used a piece of four inch by four inch by 1/4 inch steel angle iron to make some side steps; see this photo for a better idea.

-Alan

[Josie'sLandCruiser]

Hi All:

So, over the last few years I added a Saginaw power steering conversion, and an Aussie-import H41 four speed transmission. My friend Mike Reardon was a major part of these projects; without his help and guidance they would have never come together so well.

Both of these mods have been well worth the effort!

-Alan

[BladeRunner80]

Hey Alan, looks good. How was the pizza and beer on Tuesday? Wish I could have made it up, but stuff came up!

[1phrogguy]

Good idea to write the oil change mileage on the filter, I am going to start doing that.

[Josie'sLandCruiser]

Hi All:

Well, the biggest project I've ever done on this rig was replacing the rear 2/3s of the body tub, which happened about three years ago.

A couple of my buddies hassled me about 'wheeling so much with just the stock "roll bar." I had come to the conclusion that the rig had some bondo on it; I had no idea!

Before installing a roll cage I stripped-down the rear tub to repair body rot. It was in much worse condition than I realized. Large holes from severe rust, and one post of the roll bar was corroded at its' base - if I had rolled the rig the roll bar probably would have just folded-up!

Initially, the plan was to repair the body tub with welded-in patch panels of OE Japanese sheet steel (donated by the roof of a '77 FJ55 I helped part-out) but the original rear 2/3s of the tub was just too badly rotted-out.

I was able to secure a rear 2/3s 40 Series body tub from a local man with a Land Cruiser "boneyard." The donor was a 1968 FJ40 that while not exactly 100% straight is very solid (late '60s sheet metal is thick!)

Associated with the rear 2/3s body tub swap was repairing rust damage to the rear frame. A buddy with a Toyota-based buggy that is most generous with his welding skills and time replaced and beefed-up the rear crossmember and frame. See these photos for the frame repairs.

Regards,

Alan

http://toymoco.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/DSCN0068.jpg[/IMG

http://toymoco.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/DSCN0067.jpg[/IMG

[Josie'sLandCruiser]

Hi All:

O.K. - that did not work right! Let me try it again!


-Alan

[Josie'sLandCruiser]

Hi All:

After the rear frame repair, rear 2/3s body tub swap, and roll cage install I needed to figure-out a spare tire carrier. I don't like the idea of hanging the tire off of the body tub once they are 33 inch or larger, so a frame-mounted carrier was the plan. Also, oversize tires start sticking-out from the body tub when using the stock off-set 40 Series spare carrier.

I bought a homemade swing-away tire carrier, with a centered mount for $40 from the guy who did the rear frame repairs. Another friend welded it onto the new rear crossmember and fabbed-up a simple latch mechanism for it. Although not especially pretty or fancy looking, it works just fine!

Regards,

Alan

[Josie'sLandCruiser]

Hi All:

Here is another pic of the rear spare tire carrier.

-Alan

[Josie'sLandCruiser]

Hi All:

Last Spring I decided to *finally* replace the dead drum brake booster in my FJ40. With the help of MUD I decided on using a Toyota 4wd mini-truck brake booster and a '92 V-6 master cylinder. These fit just fine, but had to adjust (shorten) the throw rod on the booster to work correctly.

As part of the project I also installed longer brake flex lines on both axles (I used those 5 inch longer than stock lines that come cheap from NAPA) and did the typical "Monte Carlo" rear disc brake swap as well.

For the RDB swap I researched on MUD and the archieves of the LCML to figure out part numbers, etc. I was probably able to do the swap for about US$300 I'd imagine, using all new parts. Turns out I mounted the calipers upside down, but my (tube buggy) friend's Snap-On brake pressure bleeder worked like a charm to get the air out of the brake lines!

In this photo you can also see the low profile u-bolt plates I bought several years ago from "Land Cruiser Advanced Handling" (LCAH) in Albany, Oregon.

Regards,

Alan

[Josie'sLandCruiser]

Hi All:

A few minor mods I did last summer was in the cargo area of my FJ40.

The first thing I did was mount a $25 plastic storage box (from Loew's) to the floor right behind the front seats. Now I don't have to worry as much about my tool box "disappearing" from the truck!

Another item was to "install" (very loose use of the word!) a rubber mat on the cargo floor to protect the paint and cut-down on rattles and squeeks. This is one of those mats that are used on the floors of restaurant kitchens - it is thick and tough and cost $20 at Home Depot.

Finally, I used a five foot piece of pre-perforated angle iron to make a pair of tie-down rails that I bolted to the tops of the wheel wells.

See the below photo for more info.

Regards,

Alan

[bull]

[Josie'sLandCruiser]

Hi All:

So, I have no photos of the work I've done on the rig so far this year!

I've installed an Aussie Locker in the front axle along with a pair of "Longfielded" mini-truck Birfields. This is a bit "overkill" for many of the trails I run each year, but it does work great on very rocky and/or muddy trails!

I also had a buddy with an air-powered cut-off wheel (and a better eye than I) trim-out the rear wheel wells to cut-down on tire rub.

So that is it! Oh course, I've left stuff out (selective memory!) so go ahead with any questions!

I'll leave you folks with a pic from a trail run a couple years ago. It shows my rig after the rear 2/3s body tub swap but before trimming-out the rear wheel wells.


Regards,

Alan

[Hobbs]

I like your truck. And I'm gald you got your rust/roll bar mounting squared away!

I also like your spare tire rack. I could see that set-up being expanded to carry a cooler, gas cans, ect. Keep up the good work!

[FJFOOL]

Nice right-up, Alan, and you've made a nice rig! I love these ROTW's seeing how these vehicles are all so personalized. I bet Josie DOES love it!! Alex

[mustardfj40]

Hi Alan,

I like the nice rig and the story of how it came back to life from a "part car"! Good Job!

Nice shackle angles on the OME springs! Mine were almost vertical back then.

Hope to see the rig in person someday

/td

[scouthead]

Cool truck. I like the rear carrier and reverse light setup.

[Josie'sLandCruiser]

Hi All:

Thanks for the compliments, guys!

There are a few things I never mentioned about the truck.

It runs on 33X12.5R15 BF Goodrich MTs on plain jane white wagon wheels (15X8 inch.) I have a 9,000 lb. rated Superwinch electric winch mounted to the front frame rails using a thick "boiler plate" mount I bought from Man-A-Fre many years ago.

The seats are from a '94 Chevy Camero, and the mounts are a custom affair welded-up by one of my buddies. I also have an old Con-Ferr brand center console with a CB radio mounted to it.

When doing the rear disc brake swap I included a Wilwood porportioning valve in the rear brake circuit, using metric-to-english adaptor fittings from Earl's. For some meager on board air under the hood is an old ARB compressor with a simple, homemade wiring harness.

The soft top is a Kayline FastTrac model, which has suffered some 'wheeling damage (trails are *tight* up here in the PNW) and features some ugly repairs!
When doing the rear 2/3s body tub swap I could not find a color match with the faded blue on the front of the rig, so I rattle-canned the whole truck a slightly darker shade of blue. Makes for easy touch-up of trail damage!

Have a good weekend!

Regards,

Alan

[65CRUISER]

Nice rig, I like the work you have done.

[mplatzer]

looks good

[mrjay2u]

I really like the spare tire holder. Nice rig.

[Wayneraintree]

Nice rig! I also have camaro seats in my pig.... very comfortable!