[bsmith123]

Well I finally came to the idea to do this as a build up thread instead of random posts here and there. Bout the same time I decided to do a frame off. When I first got it it was going to be a fix up job but the more I took it to metal the more I thought I needed to preserve it as it is and not let the rust monster get to it.

I bought my FJ off EBAY and had it shipped from Calif to florida a process that wound up taking a couple months and a climb of 600 bucks in price after the first shipper dropped out. As usual one guy at the shippers took an interest and got the job done

Here's how UGLY BETTY looked when I got her around Nov 07

[natvet]

great lookin ride, I like the wheels and caps What she look like now??? been 3 months !!!!

[bsmith123]

Not really having a plan I started by removing the bent front bumper and stripping off the frame rails. Then onto to the inside tub work. This gave me a feel for what kinda shape the ol girl was in. The tub was done in POR15 and chassis coat. At the time there was a post on filling the rivets or not to fill them that's why the rivet is circled. I'm on the unfilled hey itsa truck side!

[bsmith123]

Next I put in a HFS 4 inch lift from CCOT. Maybe didn't need to do this at this stage but this was a real motivator for me to get it lookin like a 4wd truck and off those pathetic car tires.

Also gave me a good chance to get a good look underneath and photos of everything for later

Do yourself a favor and have a PB Blaster, pickle fork, tie rod puller, BFH, and propane torch on hand.

Only broke one bolt and that was on of the 12 mm spring pin retainer bolts

Some people say they don't need longer brake lines after I do so I ordered some stainless ones but have yet to put them on

[bsmith123]

well I decide to take the plunge and do the frame off so during the week I worked on the frame to body mounts. The only PITA was the inner two rear body mounts which are hard to get to. just had to use a wrench flipped to clear the support and some pen oil. plenty of squealing and protest from those bolts but they came out and only the exposed top was rusted. The rest of the bolts were shiny clean and cad plated where they were inside the mounts so they didn't break.

Next prep on the cowl, the cables from the heater fan, choke, and hand throttle have to be disco'd at the component end and pulled out inside through the dash. I made sure to label everything for later and take pics for ref. No real PITA just time consuming and the fear of forgetting how something goes back.

I plan to mark both sides of the wiring when I disco them, I used a sharpie perm marker but I bet pen oil can stripp it off so I'll have to be careful. I can read schematics just find but this is a lot quicker and easier if you can keep everything straight.

I also bagged and marked hardware and bits for later

[bsmith123]

just a few more pics from the cowl strip. I still am limited for space but I am hoping the take the body off and support it high then roll the frame out front to work on it then roll it back.

I think I'll enjoy the frame work I have everything I need but will need more tools and a welder for the body so more expense!

The photos show the frame no. the speedo cable pass through and the steering column with the cover removed and the three on the tree shift link removed.

I got the steering wheel off by drilling two holes in some metal strap and running bolts down into the puller holes you see with the horn removed and gave it a couple of whacks right over shaft and presto the wheel pulled off.


That number on the frame is that the VIN? I cant find a tag on this thing anywhere?

[bsmith123]

oh yeah just ordered a 7 window paki top with bows thanks to southbostonfj's group buy. getting mine in KHAKI woo hoo

[DallasFJ40]

Great start. What size BFGs? They are dead sexy.

[bsmith123]

The BFGs are 33 x 10.50, I think they look right and will handle any wheeling I am likely to do

[KOOTENAY KRUZER]

The number on the frame is the serial number, I don't think Toyota used an actual VIN until '81 or '82, this is the number that would have been on the tag on the driver's side front doorpost and would have been used as the VIN. This is the number that should appear as the VIN on your registration.

[Coolerman]

On a 71 look on the passenger side fender for the 'VIN' tag. It will look like this:

[bsmith123]

It's been a while since my last build up post since it takes forever to get the whole frame to metal and really clean. I posted the prep details in my post on POR vs Rust bullet product review.

The last areas to do are inside the boxed areas and since that will be a combo of dremel, hand sanding and sand blasting I left it as a separate job since I needed some progress inspired motivation after all the prep work on the rest of the frame

funny how a little fresh paint can get you all fired up again eh?

Well that's it for now on UGLY BETTY

Waiting for my paki top
dreading the bottom of the tub but once that is behind me everything else will seem easier I'm looking forward to getting the body back on the frame.

The plan is to rust bullet the whole bottom of the TUB and the engine side of the cowl, then top coat with por chassis black or the rust bullet top coat. the engine side of the cowl will get a coat of por15 tie coat primer then epoxy primer then top coated with the hatteras white single stage poly that I am using on the exterior


Hey, rust this Florida ha ha!

[bsmith123]

Nothing to do with FJs but I figure the crowd can appreciate, actually it is FJ related from the view of the struggles we go through trying to budget between the FJ and our other toys

recent frame up on my 99 springer, she is called "the other woman" by "er indoors"

[tmarx]

Very nice !

[bsmith123]

Well I've been working on the frame ever since the last shots--This is a good deal of work but hopefully worth it in the end.

Here's some pics of the frame after 3 coats of rust bullet followed by rustoleum primer followed by por Chassis coat.

The only place left on the frame to work on is under the radiator the pans that cross between the frame rails

The final touch will be to shoot rustproofing in the boxed sections and any areas difficult to touch up with the body installed

I figure 2 to 3 weekends for that then its on to the underside of the body---The only thing I can say about that is I'll be glad when it's over! There's not much good to say about paint stripping especially overhead while ducking under the sawhorses to work!

I am really looking forward to getting the body back on

[bsmith123]

since I know you love pics here's some more!

so progress so far is

tub stripped inside and painted with por 15
HFS 4" lift installed
Body lifted and supported for stripping
frame stripped and painted with rust bullet and chassis coat
New 33 x 10.50 tires

recent purchase
FJ40 diecast model for my desk at work
A score! I found a tire carrier complete and in good shape on EBAY cheap! God that thing weighs a ton don't it?

Lots more to go!

[SouthBostonFJ]

Looking good Bill! Better be done by mid May.

[bsmith123]

I wish, which year?

[chocolatelustboy]

it's always amazing how nicely that POR15 brings up the chassis. Complete makeover... makes her look cleaner, leaner and I could swear it even makes her breasts look larger...

Nice work - good to see the pics. ;o)

[bsmith123]

Watch that endorsement---the wives'll be lookin for the stuff

[chocolatelustboy]

I have plentiful supply and can administer for a cheap rate!

oops, time to un-derail this thread! ;o)

[bsmith123]

Well I was away for three weeks so no posts for a while but I am back at it now and working hard on the tub!

s****ing away on the tub I found the metal in pretty good shape, the whole bottom has it's paint intact probably better than my new car! I think a combo of the Cali climate and also the original undercoating kept it rust free. Even the floor boards were untouched. I have a new respect for the undercoating. Not sure it would have survived so well elsewhere though.

The cowl is mainly stripped now I used a combo of chemical stripper, 3m wheels, and hand sanding. I used a polyurethane stripper and it works ok but stings when it gets on you--nasty stuff.

I began to tackle the bottom which was a combination of grease and dirt and undercoating before you get to the paint!

It's easy to despair at this stage eh? I used a sharp wood chisel and it did a pretty good job. A little is left behind though but I got some East wood undercoat remover on standy, but there is no way around the elbow grease first.

One thing that helps is to take a propane torch to it and heat it a little as you s****e. I tried that when I got worn out and actually it worked really well.

I gave the cowl a wash with MEK and a paint brush and it cleaned out a lot of the gunk on the nutplates and corners and seams.

So still in the hard slog, grungy phase of work and looking forward to just gettting this part over and done!

[bsmith123]

a FEW MORE PHOTOS

[tmarx]

Congrats on the progress. Wish I was that far already...

[Coolerman]

amn! You passed me up! I'm still not working on the tub yet Still futzing with the rear axle and brake lines.

Nice work! It all looks great so far. Do keep posting those pics, gives me something to compare to!

[SD_rdcruzer]

Looks very nice, keep up the good work and you'll be done before you know it.

[thebludger]

looking good keep up the good work

[bsmith123]

Thanks for the good words,

Somehow I feel further behind then when it rolled in all in one piece but I'll feel better about it when the body goes back on and it looks like a cruiser again!

One thing that's helping me out is no serious rust issues to deal with, I've seen some incredible work done on the site but wouldn't want to have to tackle all that myself. But that's the reason I decided to go frame off an get it "saved" in it's present condition.

The second thing is I am deferring all the mods I want to do except the lift. Once it is back together and driveable I'll work those one at a time like Power Steering and Disc Brakes in the meantime I'm reading up!

This is my first resto so I want to get it up and running as soon as Poss

[bsmith123]

Holy Cow --removing the undercoating from the bottom has been a job!

Today it feels like I finally rounded the bend and am close to finishing ---A day or two more maybe to get the bottom prepped.

This has all been done from underneath either on a small stool or sitting on the floor. If I had to do it all over again I think I'd stand the body on end to do it and save the pain of working overhead.

Then again I seem to like doing things the hard way!


Could not find any easy removal method but a sharp wood chisel made the best s****er and using a propane torch softens the really thick stuff.

if it has turned hard it will s****e off clean but mostly not and the corners and edges are a pain. Maybe considering all the labor it would of been worth having it tanked but I want to do as much as I can myself at home.

I purchased some remover called undergone by Eastwood it will not eat away layers but it really helped once the main stuff is s****ed away to get the remaining residue off. I just sprayed it on and wiped it off with an old T shirt and it was a big help in getting the last little bits in the corners.

[bsmith123]

With the bottom done soon I''ll be getting the body back on

I'm hoping for that to happen over the holiday weekend

Then things will be more interesting!

Undercoating kicked my butt good!