Official LandBruiser build thread!!

[ontherox]

Ok so as some of you may have read i got my previously owned and partially built cruiser back a few weeks ago.Found it in the local classifieds a few years after regretfully selling it,and now im planning on going all out on it.

Its a 74 fj40 with fairly low miles (engine has like 30k or so on it).Current goodies are as follows:

Saginaw conversion that i did before selling it.

Front disc conversion that i also did.

Stock f engine (staying there but getting fuel injected).

Stock 4 speed trans and transfer (also staying).

Aqualu aluminum tub bought by the PO .

35x12.50.15 BFG mud terrain KM's.

Hyper shackles ( which im disassembling and using half of as regular shackles).

Now here are my plans for it and what i am currently working on.

Spring over conversion,self fabbed with the help of a few parts that are on the way.

Shackle reversal in the front.

Beefed up frame and mounting points.

Lower gearing in the axles as well as at least a locker in the rear(havnt decided on a flavor yet).

Rear discs and double booster for the brake system.

Rewiring,which i still have a painless kit for from before that i never used.

Winch,again size and flavor?.

repainting,havnt settled on a color yet but im thinking slate blueish grey?

Many other goodies will follow im sure

Ok heres some pics of the progress,i omited disassembly pics to save on some boredome so i will start with finished disassembly.



Just after getting everything off the frame and getting it ready for a mild once over with the sandblaster to get off the bad scaly places.


The worst spot,which really isnt too bad.

After a couple hours running around sandblasting,i didnt totally strip everything since POR likes a little something to hold onto

Here are the new (overbuilt) rear shackle hangers i fabbed up and TIGed together next to the originals,yes it is all 1/4" stock.


Here are some pics of the frame boxing pieces that i made and welded on for the rear.


Rear hanger welded on:

New additional rear member i made to go between the two hangers,just so the rear of the frame isnt totally reliant on the taillight panel for bracing


The kinds of messes i have going on in the shop





That just about it for today but i will be updating as much as i can,im working alot so lately i have money to burn as far as projects go,hopefullly it stays that way,POR-15 and suspension should be next!!

[FineWynsFJ40]

Nice!!! Looks like you've got a really good start on it!

[Copenhagen1]

I like to see owners who get on with it . It looks like you have had a little experience with that welder.

From what I've read today, you might want to get rid of that metal fan on the front of that F engine. That is unless you like living dangerously.

Copenhagen1

[ontherox]

That is unless you like living dangerously.

That i do,i was actually planning on TIGing some old rusty razor blades to the edges as well,oh wait the factory already did

[Silicon 70]

This build looks good

[ojaij40]

I will be watching for the fuel injection upgrade,..I recently purchased a throttle body, wireing loom, and computer off '89 chevy S10 Blazer 4.3, and kit from Downey to put on my stock 1974 F 40. maybe we can compare notes ??

[BigRedFJ40]

you interested in making and selling another set of those rear spring hangers? They look nice and stout!

[rabid]

Those are damn fine hangers. And I was all proud of mine.

[ontherox]

you interested in making and selling another set of those rear spring hangers? They look nice and stout!

I might be,i designed them to use a larger universal bushing available through energy suspension.Let me at least get it all set up first before i start production.

[ontherox]

And for todays update:

Got my perches and u-bolts from ruffstuff specialists earlier,these guys are new to me but man is their stuff sweet.Talk about adding unsprung weight:




Got the rear-front spring hangers off and put them in a different spot!




And my buddies that help me


Oh yea and...

[Josie'sLandCruiser]

Hi All:

Nice work space! I'm jealous!

Great job on the frame boxing!

Best of luck on the build - I'll be following this thread!

I would advise against the shackle reversal, but it appears that you have already gone down that path, so oh well!

Keep the pics coming!

Regards,

Alan

[ohrly?]

Originally Posted by Copenhagen1

I like to see owners who get on with it . It looks like you have had a little experience with that welder.

From what I've read today, you might want to get rid of that metal fan on the front of that F engine. That is unless you like living dangerously.

Copenhagen1

lmao that was the first thing that came into my head when i saw the engine, i was going to post the exact same thing

[Renoron]

Those are some very nice ribbon weld lines you got going on there!

If I could only weld 1/2 that good!

Sweet looking project!

[camcruiser13]

nice work.

ill be following this buildup

[ontherox]

I would advise against the shackle reversal, but it appears that you have already gone down that path, so oh well!

Yeah yeah - i know.I have read extensively on the topic,it seems that the s/r swap is basically like politics,and everyone has chosen a side.In doing the math and considering the physics involved it seems to be something worth doing.The biggest disadvantage i see with it is the extra work involved,however with a stripped frame to work on its not much time for me with the help of the equipment ive got...im thinking that i'll have about 4 hours in the reversal,not bad i figure.

And thanks all for the compliments,i do my best .

Not sure if i will have an update tonight or not since my sciatic nerve is acting up again

[JJS]

Are you up in Maine? If it's not you, I think someone from there had the avatar. If so, you concerned about getting it inspected with an SOA? Looks great. Those hangers are nice fab work.

[SouthBostonFJ]

Originally Posted by ontherox

Now here are my plans for it and what i am currently working on.

Winch,again size and flavor?.

Warn 8274, obviously.

[ontherox]

Are you up in Maine? If it's not you, I think someone from there had the avatar. If so, you concerned about getting it inspected with an SOA? Looks great. Those hangers are nice fab work.

Yup maine it is,we do have some shops that know about the last rule in the inspection manual:

If highly modified,use best judgment based upon engineering quiality.


And even if there were still a problem,i'll just register it as an antique..which it is,then i need no damn sticker lol.

[fj40forlife]

Man i wish i had a hoist like that. would make life way easyer

[ontherox]

Does anyone have any advice as far as having saginaw steering on a shackle reversed fj?? I am wondering about clearance when fully turned,it seems that the leaf spring may hit it when fully compressed but i havnt mocked it up yet to see.I am going to need a different pitman anyway as my current on is too short.Is there a pitman option that will solve this potential problem??

[ontherox]

Ok got some progress for the past couple days,not as much as there should be due to my leg but here it is anyway.

Got the shackle reversal done,took apart my springpacks to derust them and brushed a little grease in between each leaf,also i used half of my old hyper shackles as normal shackles and it worked out sweet.Sorry for the crappy pictures!


Used a piece of stainless tubing fed through the bushings and new shackle hangers i made in the frame to get everything square and perfect before welding,also...as with the rear,the front shackles i have changed to a much larger bushing size.




Crappily taken photo of th overall look after the reversal


If you cant see what this is (damnit!! maybe my monitor just sucks??)its what i did after realizing that my saginaw box was going to have to be spaced towards the inside of the frame by 1/2" (at least without doing a hack job!),due to the front spring hanger.I was going to make a new mounting plate anyways since the one i made years ago was pretty heinous.I think its waaay better and it should work sweet.




Thats it for now.next step is POR-15 von the frame and start the spring over

[TOBASH]

The rear shackle hangers you fabbed ( in the 05/11/2008 post)look solid, but theorhetically can catastropically fail. Toyota placed the hollow round tube for the bushing and shackle screw THROUGH the bent steel and then welded it in, so if the welds failed the hole the cylinder portion of the hanger was in would prevent the shackles from detaching in a catastrophic failure with rollover.

You placed your hollow tubes/cylinders into a groove, not into a totally enclosed hole. If you fail where most welds fail (just around the weld and not the weld itself) you will detach the cylinder/bushing holder from the assembly and roll.

I would reconsider the design if you plan on going hard on this vehicle.

I think your work and welds look outstanding, and I don't mean to insult you here. Please do not take offense.

Best,

T

[ontherox]

You placed your hollow tubes/cylinders into a groove, not into a totally enclosed hole.

I do understand what you are saying.However despite how it looks in the photo,the hole actually is well over 200 degrees of a circle,or in otherwords the tube did have to be fed into the square stock from end to end,it could not be placed in from the top,however the weld does make it look that way.Good thought though.

I think your work and welds look outstanding, and I don't mean to insult you here. Please do not take offense.

No problem,and thanks

[OLDNSLO]

Nice build thread....jelious on the welds!

[ontherox]

Alright next step nearly done.I have got the frame exterior PORed and have got the spring over nearly buttoned up.Ive spent the last few days measuring continuously as well as grinding and laying down a bunch more TIG welds.I have to reiterate just how awesome the stuff from ruffstuff really is,worked out way better than i thought!

Only problem was i got all the way to the point of installing the rear ubolts and realized i never bothered to by new rear spring plates.So a luckily i had some 3/8" plate laying around and an afternoon to spare again so i just made my own

Anyway this is more or less my report for the day.

Ok well photobucket isn't working right now so i'll get the pics on tomorrow or maybe later i guess.