Cory's 94 FZJ80 Build

colsoncj · 04-14-09, 12:27 PM

Ok... so I guess its time to start a thread seeing how the build is beginning and its just the thing to do...
First we need some baseline pics. These ought to do. What it looked like the day I bought it. Most say it was too pretty to wheel, the factory lockers and TJM bumper convinced me otherwise...

colsoncj · 04-14-09, 12:29 PM

So, lets jump to today. My ingenious idea not to wheel it until i had armor didnt quite work out as planned. Currently I've managed to almost completely rip of the front passenger flare, I've scored the front driver's flare pretty good, and did a nice little number to the passenger fender's lower section and the passenger rocker. I also removed the rear bumper corners to prevent them from suffering the same fate as the flares. So now some more pics:

I have also opted to remove the swaybars to help with flex... a move I may reverse. I need to get around to putting them back on and wheelin it some more to see what i think. Also, for the noting, the truck currently has zero lift, with the exception of a 1.75" coil spacer in the front to help level it back for the bumper weight.

I added a Ramsey winch to the front since I've bought it as well... Coming up soon will be some baseline measurements and specs to help measure the changes. Next step (following measurements) will be a 1" body lift with flare removal. This will be followed by custom sliders and a rear winch bumper. Then most likely Hurculining the exterior... I hate to do it cause its so pretty, but it wont stay pretty for long as a trail rig... so Hurculiner will at least keep it looking decent. Plus it will be hard to wash, polish, and buff paint when its being covered with an exo.

Current Measurements:
- Taken with a full tank, the passenger side 3rd row installed, and the spare and a small toolbox in the drivers side 3rd row area, and all tires at 35psi.

sls019 · 04-14-09, 02:05 PM

Welcome to MUD! That is a nice rig you have. Will be watching your build.

colsoncj · 04-15-09, 08:24 AM

Thanks...

Also on the table for a quick install will be OBA w/ 2-4 tanks, front and rear quick connects.

AKcruiserfreak · 04-15-09, 11:33 AM

Look forward to seeing your build!

TK

colsoncj · 04-15-09, 09:24 PM

Baseline pics added....

Also got all the rest of the body lift supplies today... I love working in Maintenance and having contacts with all kinds of suppliers! Makes getting stuff easy and cheaper.

And, the body lift is ready to go on. Radiator mounts removed, ready to be drilled, one side of the truck has the bolts removed, other side has them loosened up. Now its just find the time to jack it up, and install the pucks.

millatruse · 04-15-09, 11:34 PM

Welcome.. look forward to seeing more pics as your truck grows.

colsoncj · 04-18-09, 01:57 AM

Well all the flares came off, with the exception of the rearmost 2. all they lack is just the removal. the door set of flares didnt cooperate, nor did the front drivers flare... i finally decided the hell with it and went to town... flares are off now, and the sheetmetal still looks good, so all is well.

Body lift is also installed. all 10 pucks are in and all 10 bolts are tight. everything is double nutted, with nylock nuts and grade 8 hardware. lower radiator brackets are modified and almost installed (they're in there, just not tightened up). The upper radiator mount is causing some serious headscratching.... im not sure exactly what im going to do yet. i cant figure out how to drill out the new holes without doing some serious disassembly.

I also spent about 2 hours figuring out the wiring schematic for the additions, and then figuring out what parts i needed and where its all going to go. the i get out to the truck and im thinking thats not going to work. The wiring is all still good, now i just need to figure out where everything is going to go. then comes figuring out where the wiring is going to be routed... too much stuff goin in... im seriously wonderin about alternator capacity issues.

I also determined that the place I want to buy the switches from to control the electronics is being REALLY slow at returning emails. IF anyone knows of a good place to get switches that are LED lit with nice labeling like winch, air, rock lights and so on lemme know. And I'm thinking about using some LED lights that autozone has for rock lights... curious if anyone has ever tried them. according to my sources they're only about 14 bucks and decently bright, so i fugure its worth spending the 14 bucks and investigating.

For those that are curious, my wiring nitemare involves the following...
1. Front and rear winch with in cab controls.
2. On board air with pressure switch and in cab master switch to start the system
3. Rock lights, 2 stage. first stage will be just tires, second stage will be tires, axles, and full undercarriage.
4. Front flood lights setup to turn on with the master in cab switch, or be off at all times, or turn on with the bright lights.
5. Rear flood lights to do the same as the front floods except have the ability to come on when in reverse. both these sets of lights will be ran off of seperate DPDT switches where it will be ForcedOn-Off-OnWhenPrompted where the OnWhenPrompted means put in reverse or high beams on. Ought to be some cool stuff.

colsoncj · 04-18-09, 01:58 AM

Heres my wiring for those interested...

Pathfinder · 04-18-09, 09:29 AM

glad to see you put the white letters out. I am going to be doing the same. It seams that everyone else just puts blacks out. I like the retro look. Keep it up. Its looking nice.

colsoncj · 04-23-09, 01:07 PM

Thanks, but I cant take credit for it, the PO put those tires on...

Well, hope to get back started on the cruiser this weekend. I ended up having to take a week "vacation." While installing the body lift I needed to thread a couple of the bolts a little deeper. In doing so I gave myself two blisters at the base of my middle finger and ring finger on my right hand. Well, that quickly got infected and sprialed into blood poisoning... which by the way is not fun. Jump ahead about 4 days and I'm doing better and ready to get back to the cruiser!

colsoncj · 04-24-09, 04:40 PM

Body lift is done!!! everything is all buttoned back up, except some wiring for accessories. I intentionally left it undone until I can get around to fixing ALL the wiring, and add ALL the wiring for the future additions. I'm going to get it cleaned tomorrow and I'll post up some pics along with some measurements!

colsoncj · 04-25-09, 05:55 PM

Body Lift in progress shots.... shoulda posted these sooner...

colsoncj · 04-25-09, 05:59 PM

Body Lift and Flare Removal Measurements, with pics. Also added Initial Measurements.

Post Work:

colsoncj · 05-01-09, 05:06 PM

Well... good news for parts. All my metal for sliders is in my garage. Everything for my rear bumper is shipping out and should be delivered next week. I also ordered all the relays and harnesses for the wiring of the accessories and all of it has arrived. All I'm lacking now is a pressure switch for the air system, all the rocker switches, the LED lights, and some wiring odds and ends. The current goal is to get the rear bumper fab'd and installed. Get the air tanks mounted and ready to be plumbed, and get the sliders fab'd and installed before June 4th. Then during the month of July get the air system finished up along with all the wiring for the lights and rear winch.

I'm also having some engine issues.. the idle isnt working quite right, and its got a little miss to is, so I'm going to give it a tune up and yank off the throttle body to clean and check it all out. Hopefully that will take care of all that. Also going to give the chassis a good lube, change the oil, check the diff fluid front and rear to see if they need changed, and possibly do a brake job.

I've also decided the rear flood lights are most likely going to be mounted in the tailgate. If anyone has any words of advice or comes across any threads where someone has mounted lights in the tailgate of anything, 4runner, cruiser, jeep or otherwise, please post up!

colsoncj · 05-03-09, 12:40 AM

More good news today.... seeing how my rear bumper will have a winch mount, and I was planning on moving my 8.5 to the back, that left me wanting another winch for the front. I figured I'd like to have one at least 10K but preferably 12K or higher. Well, as luck would have it, I am now the proud owner of a brand new mile marker 12K winch which will be going in the front and the ramsey 8.5 will be moving to the back.

I also got the cruiser hauled to the garage where I'll be fabbin the sliders, rear bumper, and fitting the air tanks for OBA.

colsoncj · 05-05-09, 09:36 PM

Got my switches ordered. Ended up finding them here:
https://www.oly4x4.com/viewparts.php...d=1269960&tc=7

although they didnt list the exact combos I wanted on thier website, after talking with them, they could do what i wanted!

also spent a little time working on the sliders today... I'm right now planning on only using 3 outriggers from the frame to the slider base... tryin to figure out if that will be enough, or if i'm goina need to get creative... and holy cow these things are HEAVY. Goin back out Friday to get some more work, I'll try and bring a camera for some pics.

IronYuppy · 05-06-09, 08:13 AM

I'm laughing because I also haver a green 1994, and I also "wasn't going to wheel it before getting armor".

Guess what? I have the exact same body damage!

also, check your intake tube for hairline cracks - that's a common fault that can lead to poor idle (and very difficult to see unless you're looking specifically for it).

colsoncj · 05-06-09, 01:30 PM

lol... i know how it goes.

i'll check for cracks, its on my list.

toyman317 · 05-06-09, 02:31 PM

I'm laughing because I also haver a green 1994, and I also "wasn't going to wheel it before getting armor".

Guess what? I have the exact same body damage!

X3

Tapage · 05-06-09, 03:45 PM

nice corvette in the garage ..

thisilldefend · 05-06-09, 05:53 PM

That was a real pretty mall cruiser...almost as nice as mine

I am partial to green cruisers.
I would have probably beat the crap out of mine too. Instead it is sitting in a comfy garage.

colsoncj · 05-06-09, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tapage

nice corvette in the garage ..

Thanks.. its an 02 Z06. it makes a nice go fast toy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by thisilldefend

That was a real pretty mall cruiser...almost as nice as mine

I am partial to green cruisers.
I would have probably beat the crap out of mine too. Instead it is sitting in a comfy garage.

well, i bought this thing for the sole purpose of a wheelin rig... it just happened to be nice. and come with lockers and a TJM bumper.

Quote:

Originally Posted by toyman317

I'm laughing because I also haver a green 1994, and I also "wasn't going to wheel it before getting armor".

Guess what? I have the exact same body damage!

X3

apparently its a curse...

DuManchu · 05-08-09, 12:03 PM

Hey, I recognize that rig!!!

Nice work Cory, I'll keep watching this to see how the build comes along.

colsoncj · 05-08-09, 11:50 PM

Thanks Andrew! you got any kind of wheelin rig man?

colsoncj · 05-10-09, 08:51 PM

Made a little progress on the rig over the weekend. Got the Ramsey 8.5 out of the front bumper and got the Mile Marker 12K in the front. Still need to wire it up, but at least its in there.

Also got some work done on the drivers side slider. Did manage to get 4 legs on it. I'm pretty confident it will work out all right. I may triangulate a bit, but I dont know if i quite have the room... next weekend I'm trying to get this much done for the other side, then go from there!

All in all, I dont think too bad for my first time building a set of sliders.

DuManchu · 05-11-09, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colsoncj

Thanks Andrew! you got any kind of wheelin rig man?

Not at the moment, but I plan to get another Cruiser in a few years. Sliders are looking good.

colsoncj · 05-13-09, 09:31 AM

Well my initial tire deal (swaping my BFG ATs for a set of MTR's plus a usable spare becuase my current spare is the wrong size...) fell through... kinda pissed, but life goes on. it was one of those i shoulda pulled the trigger when i had the chance, but I stumbled and lost it. oh well.

well, a new deal has presented itself. I may be able to get 4 (still goina have to find a spare again..) Mickey Thompson MTZ's in a 315/75 variety which would move me up from a 33x11.2 to a 35x12.4 . It would wind up costin me around 200 bucks. The MTZs are brand new too. No mounting and balance costs either. Thoughts? (and if you say yes.... got any good leads on a 35" spare?)

CreeperSleeper · 05-13-09, 03:50 PM

I would do it! That's pretty cheap for tires... Any tires. As for the spare, I picked up a wore out 315 on a Tundra steelie for $25.

colsoncj · 05-15-09, 12:00 AM

well... pulled the trigger today. Got a set of 315/75/16 Mickey Thompson MTZ's mounted and balanced and on the rig... now i just need a spare.

I'm also hoping to have my BFGs sold this weekend to recoup some costs... fingers crossed.

I'll get some pics and the updated measurments posted.