[GLTHFJ60]

Originally Posted by Cruiserdrew

This is a nice build, so I am sorry to hear about all the rust.

You would not believe how pristine these trucks can be here in the Sacramento Valley. Not to brag, but my 60 was bought about 10 miles from my house, lived here for 25 years with no special care. Not a spec of rust. The paint is severely faded from the hot sun, but the metal is good. Not even surface rust on the frame.

FJ62-same story. It still has nice paint on the frame.

Bottom line-you need to move. Better trails out here too. Buy a clean body/frame like Valley Hybrids (Orangefj45) seems to have every other week, and swap in your good parts.


BTW-I was born in upstate NY and lived on the East Coast until I was 20. I remember cars more than 5 years old had rusted out rockers almost universally.

Thanks for the compliments Drew. I have seen a bunch of these rigs from Socal that are pristine and it blows my mind. I don't understand how such an old vehicle can be so perfect, but I guess that's what you get for being in a drier climate.

As for buying a clean body / frame, lynchmob has one for sale that would be PERFECT for a swap ( white body ) but I don't know how to get it from there to here. It wouldn't take long at all to do, move the engine over one weekend, move the axles over the next. The problem is it costs so much to ship from there to here that it almost kills the deal.

I might move to the west coast after I graduate. I love Upstate NY but I think I could go for some year round warm weather. I could seriously get used to being able to wrench outside from March until December.

[TLC Norway]

dunno if it would work for u, but earlier i put an brake cable in a tub of lubes, soaked over the night, as good as new the next day... dig it?

[GLTHFJ60]

Originally Posted by TLC Norway

dunno if it would work for u, but earlier i put an brake cable in a tub of lubes, soaked over the night, as good as new the next day... dig it?

What did you soak it in? WD40 or something else?

[TLC Norway]

Originally Posted by GLTHFJ60

What did you soak it in? WD40 or something else?

yup, i got a tub with all sorts of WD40, 556, a dash of chain-lube and electronic cleaner for theese kind of things... i guess there is some owatrol in there too...

[GLTHFJ60]

So I took the truck to get inspected today and realized a couple of things. First of all, a duct-taped tail light lens will not pass, so I ordered a new one. Also, in NY you need shocks to pass, because they are an essential component of the suspension. I went and ordered some lower shock mounts from Sky Manufacturing which I found in Chicago's build thread. The e-brake still sticks but I don't think that will be a huge deal. Other than that, I think it'll be good.

[EOE_overland]

So what's going on buddy?? . Did they outlaw personal car repair in NY while you were gone? Get shocks on yet, or you still boucin' like a kid on a trampoline?
Hope to see you again sometime soon...

[GLTHFJ60]

Originally Posted by EOE_overland

So what's going on buddy?? . Did they outlaw personal car repair in NY while you were gone? Get shocks on yet, or you still boucin' like a kid on a trampoline?
Hope to see you again sometime soon...

Matt! How's it going man? I don't know of any events until next spring, what's on your cruiser calendar?

Moonshine has had no lovin since I got back north. I've been traveling to random places, having way too much fun, spending all my money, . Still isn't inspected, although I have the shock mounts now. I need to get over to Kevin's at some point to do that.

I only drive her about once a week now that I'm at school so she's taken a back burner.

[GLTHFJ60]

Fall Update:
Went over to Kevin's this weekend to get some stuff done. I welded half of each shock mount onto my rear axle and Kevin welded the other half. My upside down TIG welds suck and his are absolutely incredible. I need to practice more! Got some pics at the bottom.

On top of that, got my dash grab bar installed and welded my windshield wiper back on. Screws fell out of it a couple of months ago on the highway, but I was able to recover the blade itself. Didn't have any screws, so Kevin welded it up for me.




SHOCKS!
I need shocks. I know that the Bilstein 5125's will work but I'd prefer not to spend that much money. Rancho 9k's don't seem to be any less expensive and I can no longer find the Doetsch Tech 8k's for sale anywhere on the internet. Anyone have some used shocks in the 10" travel range for sale?

[GLTHFJ60]

More shock research: Man-a-Fre has a Hecklethorn shock in the correct dimension for the right price - $25 less per shock than the Bilsteins. Anyone have experience with the Hecklethorn shocks?

9136 HECKETHORN HI-PERFORMANCE NITRO 9000 SHOCKS FJ55/60 E-01/90 FT 4 INCHES 15.39-26.29 $49

http://www.man-a-fre.com/parts_acces...d%20Shocks.htm

[Butt Ugly Chuck]

Did you have to make the grab bar mounting pads or did you find a source?

Butt

[GLTHFJ60]

Originally Posted by Butt Ugly Chuck

Did you have to make the grab bar mounting pads or did you find a source?

Butt

Got those used from SOR.

[jeepgod]

i really like the grab bar I need to do that for the wife .

[crzrcrzy]

VERY NICE!!! I just read the entire thread! Great job! Crazy how addicting these cruisers can be. If your ever in the Montana area look me up i'd love to see your rig and go wheelin somewhere. Keep it up man!
Adam

[GLTHFJ60]

Originally Posted by crzrcrzy

VERY NICE!!! I just read the entire thread! Great job! Crazy how addicting these cruisers can be. If your ever in the Montana area look me up i'd love to see your rig and go wheelin somewhere. Keep it up man!
Adam

Thanks man! I definitely want to do a cross country trip, so when I do, I'll make sure to look you up.

Originally Posted by jeepgod

i really like the grab bar I need to do that for the wife .

Exactly why I did it man. My GF loves riding shotgun but she needed something to help her get in. This should do the trick




ANYONE have ANY experience with the heckethorn shocks? These are the cheapest ones I can find, I just can't find anyone who runs them.

[blackandbluefj]

i found skyjacker nitros on ebay under the skyjacker outlet. Says they are blemished i.e. scratch and dent but when i got them they looked great they were the n8060 and the n8079 seems to ride good with them. THey are nitr charged and take up the slack of the soa. Cant remember the price but i know they were dirt cheap.

Good luck

Bryon

[VTCruiser]

I am running Pro Comp ES9000 shocks...Best shocks on the market? No. Cheap with a wide range of sizes at summitracing? Yes.

[GLTHFJ60]

Originally Posted by blackandbluefj

i found skyjacker nitros on ebay under the skyjacker outlet. Says they are blemished i.e. scratch and dent but when i got them they looked great they were the n8060 and the n8079 seems to ride good with them. THey are nitr charged and take up the slack of the soa. Cant remember the price but i know they were dirt cheap.

Good luck

Bryon

Thanks for the suggestion, but I couldn't find anything! I'm no expert at ebay but finding shocks listed with compressed and extended lengths was a pain.

Originally Posted by VTCruiser

I am running Pro Comp ES9000 shocks...Best shocks on the market? No. Cheap with a wide range of sizes at summitracing? Yes.

Thanks a lot, I'm ordering them right now! $90 for 2 shocks shipped to my door. Can't beat that!

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/EX...2/?image=large

[GLTHFJ60]

This week's update:

Got the shocks installed. Makes the ride a bit better Had to cut the tailpipe off in order to fit the shock on. Got a little deeper exhaust note now


Got pulled over the other night. Turns out that my rear harness connector had corroded off a couple of wires, so I had to figure that out today. A couple of weatherproof connectors later, problem fixed. Taking it to get inspected this week!!

[Cruiserdrew]

Still following this.

Just get the exhaust re-routed so it doesn't hit your shock. I think when I had them do that it was less than $100.

Good build.

Rubithon 2010? I can recommend the wagon run.

[GLTHFJ60]

Originally Posted by Cruiserdrew

Still following this.

Just get the exhaust re-routed so it doesn't hit your shock. I think when I had them do that it was less than $100.

Good build.

Rubithon 2010? I can recommend the wagon run.

Thanks for the kind words man! I really want to make a trip out west one of these years, but my class schedule really gets in the way and when that doesn't, the lack of money in my bank account does Where do I find info on the Rubithon? I'll take a look at the timing and see if I can do it.


As for the exhaust, I cut it off right after the muffler. You can see the end in the picture I posted. I plan on making / buying a little turndown to come out the side like Cruisin'FJ60 did on his, but my $$ situation is not conducive to having a shop do it. I saved my tailpipe so I'll probably use it to make a turndown myself.

[alaska60]

Well.......
when you do decide to head west young man, you have a place to stop in Utah ( November - May) or if you really get that wild hair...............Alaska (May - October)

My wife also has a hard time getting in.....I built her a little step that clips on and off my rock slider.
So.........did you pass? (inspection)

[GLTHFJ60]

Originally Posted by alaska60

Well.......
when you do decide to head west young man, you have a place to stop in Utah ( November - May) or if you really get that wild hair...............Alaska (May - October)

My wife also has a hard time getting in.....I built her a little step that clips on and off my rock slider.
So.........did you pass? (inspection)

I'll let you know if I pass tomorrow morning. My appointment is scheduled for 7:30. I don't think they will find anything to fail me on, but we will see.

[Butt Ugly Chuck]

Good luck with the inspection Man!
Butt

[GLTHFJ60]

Originally Posted by Cruiserdrew

Rubithon 2010? I can recommend the wagon run.

Just to bring this up again, I keep watching the videos Mike has been posting up in his build thread and they are incredible. I checked to see how long it would take me to get there. 2800 miles from my house. Piece of cake!

[GLTHFJ60]

Originally Posted by Butt Ugly Chuck

Good luck with the inspection Man!
Butt

Thank you! Hopefully moonshine won't have any issues.

[EOE_overland]

Originally Posted by GLTHFJ60

Thank you! Hopefully moonshine won't have any issues.

When I took the 62 in for my emissions test, I had to sit and painfully watch the tester drive my baby on the treadmill like it was a porsche . In NY, they don't care about the rust? Good luck bud!

[GLTHFJ60]

Originally Posted by EOE_overland

When I took the 62 in for my emissions test, I had to sit and painfully watch the tester drive my baby on the treadmill like it was a porsche . In NY, they don't care about the rust? Good luck bud!

Thanks man. Fortunately they do not care about rust unless it compromises the frame.


Drove up to the station today. First thing the guy said to me, without looking at the truck, is "That thing won't pass." Why? The exhaust is too loud in his opinion. In addition to that, the PS rear marker light is broken, which needs to be fixed. Hopefully I'll have time in between my finals to get it done tomorrow.

[GLTHFJ60]

Just went to every parts store within 15 miles. No one has a side marker light such as those in this thread.

[Butt Ugly Chuck]

Can someone from your local club 'loan' a marker till you pass? Then you can order it from somewhere later.
Butt

[GLTHFJ60]

Originally Posted by Butt Ugly Chuck

Can someone from your local club 'loan' a marker till you pass? Then you can order it from somewhere later.
Butt

At school, my cruiser resources are limited to Kevin Rowland and I bug him too much already, I'm gonna try to hit up a junkyard tomorrow but if I can't do that, I may have to give him a call. We shall see.