Well before I became a cruiserhead I was a 2stroke guy... My idea of a 4 wheel drive was to pull my banshee around and into the Oregon Sand Dunes...
This was my first love... 110hp Cheetah Cub Banshee. SCARY FAST!
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That bike was alot of fun... until I broke my leg in about 3 spots after a nasty accident on the dunes. My wife freaked out and let me know my riding days were over.l I ended up parting out the bike. Jen (my wife) knows that I have the need to tinker with stuff and I've always wanted a cruiser so my search was on...
I found a 1985 FJ-60 that already had a small block, 3" sarfari springs, shackle reversal, and a rear arb....Not a bad littlle rig.
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I was HOOKED! I liked it so much that I ended up selling my almost new dodge to DD it.
First wheeling trip was interesting... this was 50ft into my first real trail. Talk about pucker factor.
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and some help from going the other way...
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After that trip it was evident that a front locker and gearing were needed. So I added a toybox (2.28) and a front ARB.
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New bumper..
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Then 36s on TR beadlocks...
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After I added the 36s I had to do some fender trimming and added some AALs on four corners.
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Then I cut the rockers, added a 1inch body lift, and built some sliders.
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Then continued to wheel:
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__________________ I am offended by reality all the time.
I wheeled SUA for quite some time after that... but I got to a point where the leafs were hanging up on stuff and that got old really really quick. Just so happened that I blew up my rear end ( I thought it was my tranny first). So it was time for the next stage.
SOA, TH350, and 4:1 gears in the toybox.
So with baby on the way and no real room in the garage for a tranny swap and SOA I farmed out the work to "W" at Over the hill offroad here in Oregon. "W" and James are two great guys and I couldn't be happier with the work they did....honest, fair prices, and "W" is especially fun to jab at. He's an easy target being like 160 years old something.
Pics of the build over there:
Front SOA with "W"s custom bent stock steering arms:
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New crossmember:
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TH350 tranny:
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Front half of the split case:
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Looks funny with the SOA and 35s
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You can see that the axle was moved back a few inches in preparation for 39.5s. The wheelbase ended up at 111 (Front was moved and in foward as well). I figured I could cut the quarter easier than cutting into the door.
Back:
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With the 35s on
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39.5s on...
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Next to Redcorn's rig...
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Baby born:
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Track bar:
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Ford towers
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"W"s ghetto arse RTI ramp... man I wish he knew how to use a computer so he knew I called it ghetto.
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__________________ I am offended by reality all the time.
and that's when I knew it was time for more trimming, especially out back:
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and some out front:
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So... she finally came home for a haircut:
Tape going on:
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Lines:
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Chop Chop:
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Cut out a body mount too:
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Neighbor boy came by to see what I was doing and to help.
He stuck the stuff on the wheel stuff and told me it was fixed:
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After trimming it was time to get back out on the trail... Met up with a few folks from this site and our local club "Cascade Cruiser" for its maiden voyage.
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On board air was added...
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__________________ I am offended by reality all the time.
My step daughter holding my baby and her two friends... Can't wait to hand the keys to my girls someday...
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Ok... so now its winter here in Oregon which only means on thing. SNOW WHEELIN!
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This takes us basically to present day.
Latest mod is a pimp SROR rear bumper that is in the process of being built and should have been finished up today but I played hooky and went snow wheelin again. No pics of todays run though.
Rear bumper so far.
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__________________ I am offended by reality all the time.
That is one sweet rig bro!
Ive been watching you build it for a while now! Sounds as if it was a GREAT platform to build on with the small block and arb etc.
Great write up and congrats (belated) on the bambino!
Chicago
__________________ TLCA#16202, KE7VAT
Toyota family:
88 FJ62 (Sold to a good home. Goodbye old friend!)
76 FJ40 "Matti" short for Matilda, "powerful Battler".
"Ya know something Mitchell, you are the biggest pussy I have ever met. You didn't even TRY. How does that make you feel?" 3 o'clock high
Half doors I built. I put the stickers on there originally to try to disguise the non-matching blues but promptly removed the stickers again after looking at them on.
More random:
Vid at Goat mtn... the other side of the hill is about a 100ft drop so I didnt crest it.
Its cool I remember all those pictures from past threads. Trucks come a long way man...Keep up the good work. Hope to get on the trail with you some day. I just read all that stuff in TT from OR. When I end up out in PNW we should plan on hitting the Con. Always wanted to do that trail...
__________________ www.NFCruiserheads.org 2RZ-FE 'D 1983 SR5 Hilux... has had no peers for 50 years...
Thanks guys... Now I'm at a crossroad. I've really taken this waggy to its limit. Now the running gear will out drive the sheetmetal. So, its continue to build by cutting and tubbing (basically build a truggy) or leave well enough alone and start a full on buggy.
So I bought some one tons this weekend... Dana 61 and a dana 70. I'm leaning towards just building a long term buggy project but if I can't wait these will be going under the 60 with coilovers, links and an atlas or 203/205 combo. Of course lots of sheetmetal will be subracted and tube will be added.
__________________ I am offended by reality all the time.
Its cool I remember all those pictures from past threads. Trucks come a long way man...Keep up the good work. Hope to get on the trail with you some day. I just read all that stuff in TT from OR. When I end up out in PNW we should plan on hitting the Con. Always wanted to do that trail...
Yep, Moab is on the list this year and Rubicon the next, whether it be in this rig or a buggy. Hope you make it out here AL... Its a great place to be as long as you can tolerate a few months of snow and rain. Summers are the best!
__________________ I am offended by reality all the time.
Yep, Moab is on the list this year and Rubicon the next whether it be in this rig or a buggy. Hope you make it out here AL... Its a great place to be as long as you can tolerate a few months of snow and rain. Summers are the best!
Well I just got my first degree and in one more year I'll have my second, after that Ill be on my way....I have plans on driving V-wag the whole way over
__________________ www.NFCruiserheads.org 2RZ-FE 'D 1983 SR5 Hilux... has had no peers for 50 years...
This thing is the king of the blue wagons, I love it! Those one ton axles would be sweet, would you cut them dowm or leave them stock width? Dibs on the toybox if you switch drivetrains. Have any other shots of the front hangers and spring placement. Do you just have to redrill the perch and u bolt plate to move the axle forward?
Sorry for all the questions.
rock on zach. great to see you represent the Cacade Cruisers and the NW with a well built rig. I had not seen the half doors till today. very nice stuff.
brokenparts is a lot of fun to wheel with and the type of guy who wouldn't leave you stranded for sure. I look forward to our next meeting, next TSF run and if you make it to Moab a great week on a road trip.
clint
__________________ It's a Jeep thing I didn't understand. So I bought an FJ60 and now I get it.
This thing is the king of the blue wagons, I love it! Those one ton axles would be sweet, would you cut them dowm or leave them stock width? Dibs on the toybox if you switch drivetrains. Have any other shots of the front hangers and spring placement. Do you just have to redrill the perch and u bolt plate to move the axle forward?
Sorry for all the questions.
Dylan
Probaby run them at full width... Wouldnt be that much wider than it is now with my 2" spacers on the cruiser axles. You can go about moving the axles many different ways. You can drill new holes in the springs, flip the springs around, or move the perches all together. As it sits now I'm not too crazy about the shackle angles but it rides smooth enough and flexes well enough that I'm not too motivated to move the perches. Feel free to ask as many questions as ya like! I'll answer all the questions I can... and I'm happy to snap pics of anything you want a closer look at.
Here's some pics I have of the springs and perches... if you want any specfic ones let me know.
__________________ I am offended by reality all the time.
in the last pic you can see how the springs had a lot of arch... they're nearly flat now and there isnt anywhere the amount of wheel well clearance anymore. I'll be trimming more there too.
__________________ I am offended by reality all the time.
that was a fun day Clint. I feel bad for those that got a little road rash... I hope you guys had fun too. I'll never forget you absoultley attacking firebreak 5. That was fun to watch. Cant wait to get back on the trail with you again.
ive always loved your 60 and its been my background on more than 1 occasion (as has several other members rigs) I see my rig getting to the point your is at some day as well and have a feeling that it will at some point turn into a truggy type thing unless my girl will let me start a buggy. we will have to see when that time comes.
get us some more snow wheelin pics!
mel lowe
. Have any other shots of the front hangers and spring placement. Do you just have to redrill the perch and u bolt plate to move the axle forward? 
on 62 springs, 38.5's, Front Aussie, Rear Detroit, 4.56's, 
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