[smkymntn]

Your rig looks great. Your attention to detail really shows through. She is ready for another 20 years

[boombapslappy]

Super job, Gehn! Man that looks great. Wanna build my 40?

[VTCruiser]

Originally Posted by boombapslappy

Super job, Gehn! Man that looks great. Wanna build my 40?

Thanks!

I don't have much of an update right now. I have been trying to clear out some parts. The old HJ body and frame are getting hauled to the steel yard today. I did get the 62 spring plates and rear shocks installed, and I started on the front shock mounts and rear sway bar brackets which I hope to weld up this weekend. The trim shop is closed this week for vacation, so I hope to get the headliner in first thing next week. Then I can finally get all the glass back in and really start driving it again.

[88chevota]

Gehn,

Wow what an amazing job. Glad to see those axles will get good use!

Tony

[VTCruiser]

Originally Posted by 88chevota

Gehn,

Wow what an amazing job. Glad to see those axles will get good use!

Tony

I'll make sure they do!

[lowtideride]

Looks great...

Awesome job.

[VTCruiser]

Originally Posted by lowtideride

Looks great...

Awesome job.

Thanks lowtide!


The headliner is finally in, so I was able to get the rest of the glass in. The windshield goes in today at 6pm. Hopefully tomorrow, I'll be able to weld up my new upper front shock mounts, and rear sway bar brackets. I also cleaned up and painted my Smitty built bumper to put back on it for now. I'll get pics later today...

[Cruzer_89]

Amazing build, awesome work!

[AGreekBoy]

hey gehn who did your headliner?

[VTCruiser]

Originally Posted by AGreekBoy

hey gehn who did your headliner?

Myers on Church st. just because it was convenient. Only about a mile and half away, an easy drive with no windshield...

[VTCruiser]

Alright, I know I am getting behind with the photos. I'll get some updated shots as soon as I can. I finally got the windshield installed so I have been able to put some miles on it. I drove it to day about 200 miles round trip and it did pretty well. My oil pressure gauge isn't working, so i think I may have a bad sender. It was also running a little warm on the highway. Cruising at about 70mph the temp would creep up to about 2/3rds. Granted, it is in the high 90's today, but this engine is cold blooded. Before I never got it above 1/2 unless I was climbing a mountain, and even then it would barely get to 5/8's. I suspect the radiator is a little stopped up. it's the only thing that's different than before. I also noticed a few pin hole leaks, so it needs to be replaced anyway. Otherwise, it runs great!

[Tooth Fairy]

Looks good. Nice enough work it makes me really want a 60.

[VTCruiser]

It looks like the cooling problem ended up being the temp sender. There are two senders on a 2F and I guessed the wrong one the first time. I swapped it out for the other and the gauge now reads normal. I am going to replace the leaky radiator anyway, and then I'll take it on the highway to test it out.

I also finally welded up the front shock towers and rear sway bar bracket to wrap up the suspension work. Handles like a dream now! For the shock towers I started with the ford F-250 towers, cut them down about 4 inches and the notched and bent them in two places to keep the shocks mounted vertical and avoid an outward rake which also required trimming the inner fenders. I am very pleased with the way they came out and I got a couple inches extra travels to boot.














The rear sway bar is 27mm, so I had to fab up some new axle brackets.

[ashooter]

VTCruiser,

When/if I get my 60 in the next year or two, you can fix it for me!

NICE rig you've got going here, and thanks a lot for sharing all the info and photos! I'm not a 60 guy (yet), but a lot of the stuff you're doing, I never would have thought of... and that could be worth a lot to any Cruiser owner looking to breath new life into an old rig - 60, 40, 55, or 80.

[AGreekBoy]

those worked out very nice man . are you still in town.?

[VTCruiser]

thanks for the kind words guys!

I am now back in VT so I have been busy unpacking and visiting with the family. But the cruiser did GREAT on the way home. No issues what so ever, and I averaged about 21 mpg! I also found out a good way to break in springs is to load them down with 800lbs of payload and drive it 900 miles. Sits pretty level now...!

[eventhough]

did you "break" a spring or did you "break in" your springs?

Glad your trip went well!

[VTCruiser]

Originally Posted by eventhough

did you "break" a spring or did you "break in" your springs?

Glad your trip went well!

i meant "break in". fixed it...

[Lewis]

Some pics! Some pics! Sweet build, almost exactly what I am planning, so now I can just copy you

[VTCruiser]

Alright here are some pics from this afternoon. I took it out on my parents property and tested out the 4wd a little bit. Everything worked just fine. The new 4.11s make a big difference in L4.

[72cruiser]

diggin the pics...is that the same area you took the first pics of the old hj when you got it?

ahhhh, still remember that purple tinting and sweet brown tube bumper. at least the bumper is still there, ha ha.


hope home is treatin you well, say hey to nobu and annie for me.

[Sput]

great job

[1tontoy]

Nice work, man! You did a hell of a job, and quick too....

I got family in VT and I grew up going to VT and ME for the summers. Love it up there.

[lostworldexpedition]

Originally Posted by Lewis

Some pics! Some pics! Sweet build, almost exactly what I am planning, so now I can just copy you

X2 for me...

Thank you so much for this thread it has been very enjoyable. I like that you posted the build summary with links on the first post. Great overland expedition rig.

What are the rest of your plans. The rear storage, RTT, etc.

[VTCruiser]

Thanks guys! I am glad some people have found it helpful. This is just phase 1 of the build, which covers the "infrastructure" of the truck. phase 2 will be the mods and accessories for expedition. Now that the body and chassis are solid, I can turn my attention to the the engine. I need to calculate the exact mileage, but the 1HZ is right around the 100k mark and is due for some maintenance. I'd like to replace the BEB's as a precaution before I get a turbo which will be the next purchase. I may consider replacing/upgrading the clutch as well when the turbo is installed. After that, I'll work on recovery bumpers, armor and camping accessories. I'll leave my storage drawers for now, but if I go with a rooftop tent, I'll probably replace them with a full-height cargo system.

[knorrena]

Great thread. I really admire all your work.

Have you had the chance to use your headlight washers? Do they really clean the headlights?

[VTCruiser]

Originally Posted by knorrena

Great thread. I really admire all your work.

Have you had the chance to use your headlight washers? Do they really clean the headlights?

No I haven't, the reservoir was busted and i haven't gotten a replacement yet. I suspect they'll l work fine though for rinsing off mud, especially if you spray them before the mud dries.

[tman12345]

that thing looks amazing, great job on it.

[GreenMtnTaco]

Wow Gehn, Riding in your rig this last weekend I knew you put some serious work into it, but not this serious. Really impressed. Good hanging out and fishing too. Gonna try to make it down at least a few times before the season closes. Will have to hit the waters again, maybe get you into some good lil wild vt brookies.

[VTCruiser]

Originally Posted by GreenMtnTaco

Wow Gehn, Riding in your rig this last weekend I knew you put some serious work into it, but not this serious. Really impressed. Good hanging out and fishing too. Gonna try to make it down at least a few times before the season closes. Will have to hit the waters again, maybe get you into some good lil wild vt brookies.

Thanks man, glad you made it down. Good luck with classes, and let me know when you have free weekend.