New member... Hello there VI. Bit of an intro....

[slowandsteady BJ]

Hey there VI Cruisers. Some of you I have met Jason, Steve, Jeremy, Ken, Jay, (Stump and Kirk) etc...

To everyone else Hello my name is Cam.

The first vehicle I ever drove was my old mans 73 FJ40. Drum brakes, dangle down wipers, and no power steering. Growing up on Saltspring Island it was the ultimate go anywhere mobile. Now many years later I have a 85 BJ60.

The 60 is in the garage at the moment with the back end stripped for some frame repair. Man, I must have removed 30lbs of rust from the frame yesterday, when the iron oxide cloud lifted there I was asking myself what I had gotten myself into?? LOL!

Soon it will be time to turn the corner and start the rebuilding process. One must first go backwards in order to go forwards right???

Once the frame is all patched up Jason and I are going to install gears and lockers which are all in the mail. (hope they dont get lost somewhere in postal ****) Brakes and injectors need some attention next and some fab work on shock mounts as well. Oh yeah and then there is the botched cut and turn I need to try and re-do. Anyone got 10" of lift?? I got an axel with 20 degrees of turn in it. Third member points to the sky at the moment.
It will be a while before I'm ready for the trails with this rig but I can't wait till I can give it a go. See you all out there eventually.

Cam

[lineman_fj40]

Good luck. Man that is bad. I find that a needle gun and ear defenders work well to remove scale.
Jay

[jinzuke]

wow you have your work cut out for you. I know malahat auto has a nice gasser 60 you could get that frame it might be cheap

[slowandsteady BJ]

The good news is the inner face is where all the rust is, top, bottom and ouside face are still OK. Looks really bad in the photos. I'm goung to cut all the inner out, use an epoxy sealer then undercoat the inside while it is open. Then use weld thru primer before I box it all back together. Ill also drill a hole in the bottom by the rear spring hanger to let future grime out. If I wasn't confident with a welder I'd be looking at a new frame for sure. Repairing and improving this one suites the bill at this point seeing as I have more time than money these days! Thanks for the input and comments. Ill post pics once I have it all done.

Cam

[hellbent40]

hey cam,

here is what i did for the rear of my bj60.. give me a shout when you got time

adam

[slowandsteady BJ]

Originally Posted by hellbent40

hey cam,

here is what i did for the rear of my bj60.. give me a shout when you got time

adam

Nice! Where did you get that bent channel? Ruff Stuff?? I like it. I started with the idea of just patching up the frame but now it has snowballed to something more permanent with upgrades all over. LOL. Oh well I'm cool with doing it once the right way.

I need more jack stands..... got any tall ones Adam??

Cam

[Toshi38]

How many sets of jack stands do you need? and how tall?

[slowandsteady BJ]

Originally Posted by Toshi38

How many sets of jack stands do you need? and how tall?

Cheers! I could do with another set of 6 ton jackstands (same as the yellow ones in my first pic) Or taller if possible. I have the yellow ones up on 6x6's which is a bit scetchy so the taller the better.

I'm thinking ill cut my frame infront of the front rear spring mounts and build from there. Or just keep on plating the existing frame...... kinda on the fence. Hmmmmm

Cam

[FLYINGLOW]

Welcome.

I'm interested to see how this turns out.

[slowandsteady BJ]

Well got one side mostly done and the other is .5 way. I need to rebuild some body mounts and install a 2" body lift as well. She's comming along slowly.

Picked up some heated seats today so I'm sure that will interfere with the frame work schedule. lol

Cam

[dslcruzr]

Nice work Cam! What kind of seats did you get?

[Toshi38]

I can't seem to find my big jack stands... I think they're up in courtenay at the moment... i'll see what I can do when I get back

[slowandsteady BJ]

Originally Posted by dslcruzr

Nice work Cam! What kind of seats did you get?

Picked up some grey cloth Jetta seats 2004. I'm going to use E30 BMW switchs with lo and hi (don't need 5 heat settings like the vw) Recaros were my first choice but the jetta ones had a serious price advantage! $100. Some fab will be needed to keep the seat functions working with the cruiser seat rails but nothing too complex.

Originally Posted by Toshi38

I can't seem to find my big jack stands... I think they're up in courtenay at the moment... i'll see what I can do when I get back

Thanks man, Im going to make it with what I have so don't worry.

Thanks

Cam

[hellbent40]

lookin good Cam...

did you use a grinder to cut out all your templates for the new steel??

could of used the plasma.. if you need too...

[slowandsteady BJ]

Originally Posted by hellbent40

lookin good Cam...

did you use a grinder to cut out all your templates for the new steel??

could of used the plasma.. if you need too...

Thanks Adam. I made a posterboard template and then cut the steel with a torch. Its a slow process but I cut two of everything so the next side stuff is all cut. 2nd side will go much more quickly. Well i'm off to the garage to get filthy.

Cam

[lineman_fj40]

Did you do the outside of the frame too if so try an avoid vertical welds or use a diamond plate over the spot. Just info for ya. Did you build it in pieces ie top, bottom, sides.

[slowandsteady BJ]

Originally Posted by lineman_fj40

Did you do the outside of the frame too if so try an avoid vertical welds or use a diamond plate over the spot. Just info for ya. Did you build it in pieces ie top, bottom, sides.

Both the vertical inside welds are in factory locations where toyota did the same thing so i figured it was OK. Yes I also plated the outside and the bottom. I built it all piece by piece. I have more pics but seem to be having trouble posting more pics. seems my attachment folder is full. I tried using a url from photobucket but that didn't work either... WTF? ideas?

Cam

[slowandsteady BJ]

Here is the outside (avoided vertical welds) and the body mounts to replace the rusty ones fabed from 1/8 box tube.

Cam

[crustyBJ60]

look'n good dude!

crusty

[slowandsteady BJ]

Installed a 2" body lift yesterday made from UHMD 2.5" and 2" cylinder stock. Now I have to lower the fan shroud and adress any shifter clearance issues assiotated with the lift. Having the body raised will help me mount the get the upper rear shock mounts as high as possible. Should make for better angles when building rock sliders as well. Next stage is axles.... then seats..... then a center consol of some sort.... will it ever end? lol,


Cam,

[Toshi38]

nope... it will never end... but thats part of the fun!...

[slowandsteady BJ]

I went out wheelin with Jay, Jayson, Tom and Jeremy on sat and sat around and "slothed" on Sunday.

Today I plated the top of my new workbench with some 3/16 steel and it turned out great. Next on the cruiser is a rear brake hard line and new flex lines as well (F&R). Re attach the Fuel line and start thinkin rear bumper.

On and on we go....

Cam

[slowandsteady BJ]

Pulled the rear axle apart yesterday, spider gears looked a bit worn but not too bad otherwise. Not that it matters as everything is getting replaced anyway. Ill get the new bits in and set up a.s.a.p. I'm off to go dumpster diving for steel in town, I'm goung to try to scavange some aluminum at a buddys shop as well.

[jinzuke]

well that looks great. well done Cam

[slowandsteady BJ]

Started on the upper rear shock mount / crossmember. Worked out great with the body lift. I was able to get the angle of the shocks just where I wanted. Ill wait till the axle is on to install it but the mock up looks promising!

Jayson and I are going to tackle the rear diff on monday, once that is done the rear axle can go back home where it belongs. Man it will feel good having the back end together again.

cam

[j_dog]

Looks great Cam, I guess the dumpster diving for steel worked out for ya!


Justin