ROTW bustanutley

[bustanutley]

Alright Gents and Ladies,

My father bought our 12/69 cruiser back in 73 as the second owner. My first clear memory of the cruiser was near marble CO where my pops broke the T-case in half (something that is far too common with our family) and we had to get towed off the trail by a CJ. My pops was pissed, I was 5 or 6. My brother inherited the cruiser when he was 16. He took some classes and learned some body work on it. He drove it through high school. I inherited the cruiser 4 years later, at 16.


The truck in pretty rough running condition, and had some trouble keeping it running well the first few years. My father wanted me to know how to turn a wrench although that wasn’t his forte., Mike D aka treeroot was always willing to lend a hand and some advice. At 17 my pops got me a new Carb: webber 38/38 the old one just didn’t work right, solved a lot of problems but ran rich. I didn’t properly tune it for a few years. New 2.5” suspension came some time later and some 33x9.5s later still.
The beginning of the demise of my truck came the last day of senior year of high school. A group of friends and I were out at a local hang out called the pit, being dumb accompanied by dumber I ended up on my roof. This was a very embarrassing moment.


Fast forward to half way thru freshman year of college I met my buddy nate who turned me on to rockcrawling and pirate4x4. From pirate I found IH8MUD which at the time was just a page of links for different things you can do to your landcruiser. I decided the first thing I wanted was to go slower, so I headed to a junkyard over spring break and found myself a sm420 out of an old bus. Lockers came Sophomore year, I had the front quite a while before the rear. I also did some rust repair this year. At this stage my 40 was known as the sleeper, locked front and rear, low gears manual steering 33x9.5s, to the untrained eye looked stock but went everywhere, I kinda miss that version.



Junior year I did the PS swap. Senior year I did the SOA with the fj60 axles, and stretched the wheelbase. First year out of college I did the best thing for my crusier, buy a cheep ass DD. Next I built a Cage and some new tires. At this point I hooked up with the HGC who wheel like I do. They stick my cruiser and I into spots that it shouldn’t fit! Now into my second year out of school I did an even better thing for my crusier, bought a truck and trailer. And that brings us up to current.

It should be noted that up to this point, everything done to my FJ40 has been on a very strict budget, it is almost completely built out of Junkyard parts.

Current Specs:

12/69 FJ40
Original F-155, it has been re-ringed once and once fully rebuilt, balanced and blueprinted bored 60 over by my uncle Tom, during my father’s ownership.
Webber 38/38 Modified by myself for offcamber performance
Rebuilt Sm420 that uses Mike Smyth adapters on both sides
3speed t-case when in one piece
SOA, SR 102” Wheelbase
Stock Cruiser springs up front flipped, outboarded 1.25” per side
XJ Springs out back
FJ60 axles front and rear 30 spline longfields and coarse spline 4.11 diffs till the explode
Marlin 1.5” wheel spacers
Lockrights both ends
Square Drive shaft up front
Marlin hysteer fj80 ends throughout.
Hydro assist PSC 1.75” ram
4.25 turn 3 bolt Saginaw box, ported for hydro assist. All steering related accessories out of an XJ: box, collapsible shaft, high and low pressure lines, box mount spacer.
Pitmit arm off a Wagoneer modified by marlin to fit an fj80 end.
Ham Can PS pump out of AMC Eagle, fitted to F with smog pump bracket
’75 FJ40 steering Column
Mini truck Break master, booster and firewall lines to convert to 2 circuit system.
Cage designed and built by yours truly, utilizes Metaltech A-pillars, Tied to frame in 6 points
Corbeau Baja SS Seats
RCI 5 point belts, only 2 points installed
Skid bent from DOM and covered by 1/4" plate
Warn m8000 winch
HGC sticker
Oh and 40” IROKs on 17” steel wheels with 3” BS

Heres the only shots I have of what it looks like currently Sodak a few weeks ago, I'll get a side view tonight



Future plans?
Short Term
Fix busted t-case
Build an engine cage
Stretch the wheelbase a few more inches
I will probably weld the rear and mayhap get a full Detroit for the front, my front lockright is giving me troubles.
Beadlocks, can’t keep the damn tires on the rims!
Wheel it!

Long term
2UZ dual cases?
Linked up?

[bustanutley]

random wheeling pictures









and just for cam

[72cruiser]

still lookin sweet nutley...

and now for the stupid question: how do you like the 40s?

[bustanutley]

I can't comment too much on the 40s yet, I only have one day of wheeling on them, I broke my t-case on hal johns and didn't have a spare so it ended my memorial day weekend early. I can say I really like how much bigger they are. The height difference between the 40s and the 37s is huge. The 40s measure 40 and the 37's, well, didn't. I ran 6psi, and I think they would be happier at 4

[Isotel]

Nice Writeup Bro, I like your truck even more now that i know the back story!

Gota Love a 40 on 40's, Makes my truck look like a little toy, How wide is it with the 60 Axles and the Spacers?

now get rid of that dam Cruiser T-case..

[bustanutley]

Random Build pictures

rust repair



little sad since lots of it has since been cut or munched

Front end


Cage

[bustanutley]

I'm not sure how wide it is, i'll take a measurement tonight.

I really want to axe the crusier case but I have been exploring options and none of them are cheep in any sense of the word, and I can get cruiser cases for a price nearing free. Right now i'm averaging one t-case a year. With thoughts of motor swap in the future I have been talked into just leaving my drivetrain intact until I figure out a master plan.

40 to the third power is when the stars line up

[72cruiser]

Originally Posted by Isotel

Nice Writeup Bro, I like your truck even more now that i know the back story!

yeah, agreed...that's really cool about it bein your dad's old truck.

[wesintl]

I always did enjoy wheelin with you on JC during our days off. Looks good Z.

Since i'm not on any hard core trails with you, hows that carb run at the angles you throw at it?

[bustanutley]

I miss Tuesday wheeling for sure. Carb works better than most, it runs on its side and it ran on the exit to upper helldorado, it bogs a little on steep inclines when you need to GIT IT but I have one more trick up my sleeve that will hopfully remedy that. I might even post it.

[toyo40]

nice write up. I hope some day my young son grows up to love his father's fj as much as you love yours.

[Josie'sLandCruiser]

Hi All:

Thanks for doing a "ROTW" thread - I've always wondered about the history of your rig!

So, I know XJ rear leaf packs are long, but how long? How do they compare to rear FJ55 spring packs in length/width?

Regards,

Alan

[Josie'sLandCruiser]

Hi All:

So, I have to ask: have you tried any of the so-called "t-case savers" that are out on the market?

I would suggest switching to the later "split" type t-case case but that would require using a different adaptor to the Sm420. Another somewhat cheap option might be a third model Dana 18 t-case (off-set to the rightside, and should bolt-up to a SM420.) I suppose an Orion 3.0 is probably the easiest (but not the cheapest!) solution.

Good luck!

Alan

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[quote=bustanutley;2246972]

<snip>

I really want to axe the crusier case but I have been exploring options and none of them are cheep in any sense of the word, and I can get cruiser cases for a price nearing free. Right now i'm averaging one t-case a year. With thoughts of motor swap in the future I have been talked into just leaving my drivetrain intact until I figure out a master plan.

[bustanutley]

Here are some pictures of how it sits currently. Notice the dangling front shaft, i'll update the side view to show how it is when fully assembled and how the skid sits. Pretty impressive clearance given the constraints.




Here is my new skid I made a few months ago, it is working out really well

[bustanutley]

Originally Posted by Isotel

How wide is it with the 60 Axles and the Spacers?

looks like it measures 78" to outside of tire.

[bustanutley]

Originally Posted by Josie'sLandCruiser

So, I know XJ rear leaf packs are long, but how long? How do they compare to rear FJ55 spring packs in length/width?

What makes the XJ springs special is that they have a very large offset. They measure 52" long and the long side measures 28.5", that is a 5" offset when you run them backwards. This is adventitious as they don't wreck your departure, while having all the benefits of a long spring. I currently have them set on my spring perch 1.5 forward, so I can stretch the rear end 3" which I will probably do not that I have 40s But it is a bit of work as I'll have to lengthen both my drive shaft and my wrap bar. I am going to push the front forward the 1.5" which looks like the limit of length up front until full hydro happens. The springs are 2.5" wide and making them work with the cruiser mounts is pretty easy. I should also note that I added 2 leafs to my xj packs to handle the weight of a cruiser.

[bustanutley]

Originally Posted by Josie'sLandCruiser

Hi All:

So, I have to ask: have you tried any of the so-called "t-case savers" that are out on the market?

I would suggest switching to the later "split" type t-case case but that would require using a different adaptor to the Sm420. Another somewhat cheap option might be a third model Dana 18 t-case (off-set to the rightside, and should bolt-up to a SM420.) I suppose an Orion 3.0 is probably the easiest (but not the cheapest!) solution.

Good luck!

Alan

I have a t-case saver and have had one since the installation of the sm420. It does its job and doesn't let the cases fail the way they normally do, right down the center. The last one was pretty wild, there was a crack that ran the length of the case left to right, the nose cone and front output was push thru the front of the case by the output gears. To its credit it was driver error, obviously, more than one tire was undercut, and I was on my front driveshaft pretty hard = big boom. The marlin t-case saver may have done a better job holding it together. Unfortunately some of the gears were damaged in the destruction of this case, slowing down the reassembly process.

I have read reports that lead me to believe a dana 18 isn't much of an upgrade, Gears are supposed to fail fairly easy, not to mention my crew would kill me if I put dana parts in my crawler. I don't really want an orion as it would be too deep all the time although a 3.0 maybe a good compromise. If I upgrade I want it to be a case I wouldn't outgrow, maybe a 4 speed atlas or 3speed stak, again $$. The adapter for a split case is as long as running a toybox, which I would like to do but that would make my drive train long even with my stretched out wheelbase. If i did this I would most likly ditch the sm420 and put a h42 in it. But again how long am I going to run the 90psi carbed F-155? I opt for free cruiser cases.

[74fj40]

hey zachh, so your in the ranch now? ive seen your rig alot, im right off vennefford ranch which is a few streets up from you.

[LT]

How are you liking the 40's? I am debating between 40's and 42's. Don't know which one to go with.

[bustanutley]

Thanks for all the comments it has and continues to be a lot of fun.

To follow on the family story, my dad thinks what I have done to the truck is cool. He shows his co-workers and friends pictures from my wheeling trips and I guess those folks continuously shocked by what I have made it do. I have never gotten my dad to come wheeling with me but I think he is going to come out on fathers day to experience rockcrawling firsthand this year. Guess I better get my truck together. He doesn't fully trust me though cause he said he didn't want to ride on the obsticles

[bustanutley]

LT, 40s are good, I wanted to roll with the 42, and although they are barely larger than the 40s, they are big enough that they wouldn't work on my truck. The tread depth difference is significant on the 42s, so if you can swing them, do it. I am tearing up my bib at full stuff as it is, so I need to clearance it, or something. With the fj60 axles, 3" BS wheels and wheel spacers I can turn full lock (no stops) with about 1/4" of clearance on the springs. Springs are outboarded 1.25". Bumpstops in the rear are now the fenderwells, which is not really a bad thing as I was allowing my springs to go in a pretty nasty negative arc before.

[74fj40]

Windsor thats right, I couldnt remeber if it was Goldsmith or Windsor. Will do

[LT]

Originally Posted by bustanutley

Max, stop by sometime man, i'm on windsor.

LT, 40s are good, I wanted to roll with the 42, and although they are barely larger than the 40s, they are big enough that they wouldn't work on my truck. The tread depth difference is significant on the 42s, so if you can swing them, do it. I am tearing up my bib at full stuff as it is, so I need to clearance it, or something. With the fj60 axles, 3" BS wheels and wheel spacers I can turn full lock (no stops) with about 1/4" of clearance on the springs. Springs are outboarded 1.25". Bumpstops in the rear are now the fenderwells, which is not really a bad thing as I was allowing my springs to go in a pretty nasty negative arc before.

Hmmm interesting points. I suppose with my FJ40 axles, with 1.5" spacers I might run into some serious rubbing issues. I know I have more than enough room in the rear with my clearanced fender wells. Perhaps I should just run 'em and hope for the best. I'm looking to do coil overs in the front anyways in the future.

[scouthead]

That thing is sick! The cage looks good, and I love the side shots of it with the little bikini top stretched over it. Doesn't look much like the cruiser in the first few pics... it's been through a lot!

[1phrogguy]

Very cool . Nice work.