[1973Guppie]

Originally Posted by Wayneraintree

not an expert but:

aren't the DB e-brake only on Monte Carlo or el dorado DB's? I found this




The rear bearings I replaced have reset easily with a socket and light mallet...

yeah I saw that post too but it looks like that is not a great solution as nobody has been able to get enough tension on the cable to make the e brake in the calipers work well. Poser was kind enough to mention that manafre and specter sell a conversion kit that fits a stock fj40/55 ebrake assembly onto the rear of a split tc, it's steep at $500 but I will probably go that route as I don't want to skimp on something like a parking brake, i like my stock ebrake in my 40 a lot, it has worked great for many years with minimal service!

Thanks,

Noah

[1973Guppie]

Originally Posted by Trollhole

I wouldn't put that 3rd in a trail truck much less something nice. Your better off finding one out of the front axle on another cruiser. (they are less used) Can be had for under 200. Might be worth going to a fine spline pinion.

Trollhole, great point on the front diff! I didn't think of that. So, can I just swap in a fine spline 3rd member or would I have to change my current axles to do so? Wondering what year range will work for me and the axles I have currently in the rear? others have said that any fj55 3rd member will work just fine.

I plan to pull apart the front axle this weekend to see if I have any issues with the front 3rd member gears, etc and if there are issues I may change the gearing front and rear. Hopefully though all will be ok with the front axle so I don't have to spend more $ I don't have,

thanks,

Noah

[calfj60]

I have eldo rear calipers and and the modified rear brake and it seems to work good for me...if you ever get north to the LA area let me know...I can prove it to you

[1973Guppie]

Tim,

Thanks! Can you give me some more details on how you set the cable, linkage, etc, up? Pics would be awesome. Mainly wondering how you were able to get enough pressure against the cable. If this is an option I would rather go this route as it would be much cheaper, I believe you can purchase the el dorado brake calipers at any auto parts store? I wonder why jto sells them for so high $ then? something like $400?I wonder if a floor pedal brake assembly could be retro fit to fit in the fj55? A leg would give quite a bit of tension I would think.

Noah

[Trollhole]

Originally Posted by 1973Guppie

Trollhole, great point on the front diff! I didn't think of that. So, can I just swap in a fine spline 3rd member or would I have to change my current axles to do so? Wondering what year range will work for me and the axles I have currently in the rear? others have said that any fj55 3rd member will work just fine.

I plan to pull apart the front axle this weekend to see if I have any issues with the front 3rd member gears, etc and if there are issues I may change the gearing front and rear. Hopefully though all will be ok with the front axle so I don't have to spend more $ I don't have,

thanks,

Noah

I think the fine spline DS bolt pattern is different. But I'm sure other will chime in. If so I think you can just change the companion flange on the DS and be good. I would think and fj40 or FJ55 3rd would work as long as they were 4.11. Again that needs to be confirmed. I also thought a 60 or 62 3rd would work also. Anyone?

[72cruiser]

aren't the 60 3rds 3.73s? i'm a little fuzzy on those details...

[calfj60]

yes stock FJ60 thirds are 3.73 and FJ62 are 4.11

[cruiserloser123]

Any updates on this piggy project? Would love to see the progress....

[dieselcruiserhead]

Noah somehow I missed this. Killer, I love the look of it all painted as well, looks great! Wire wheel, awesome!! Anyway, killer keep us updated!

[camcruiser13]

we need some more pics of the progress made!!!!!

dont make us angry

[1973Guppie]

I was thinking it has been awhile since I updated this thread, work has been kicking my ass so LC time is limited, I plan to soon, suspension is on, axles are repainted and hung, minitruck torn down and all parts repainted, now am putting together the axles. I would like to get the axles done and have a rolling chassis before I update the thread. I am also planning on doing a "picture" thread of a minitruck disc swap. Stay tuned.

a few teaser pics of me and my shop helper. He listens to all my landcruiser nonsense when my wife just rolls her eyes. I am stoked on the build though, every bolt and stud new. It is so nice to work on stuff when my hands don't even get dirty. sweet. some of you guys know what I mean,

oh yeah, I NEED A GOOD FJ55 DASH! PM me if you can help.

later,

Noah

[72cruiser]

soooo clean...

[Buckethead]

That is so awesome.. Keep us posted please.

[REZARF]

Looking great Noah-

Keep it up man, a little each day really makes good progress. Can't wait to see it all come together.

Rezarf <><

[DallasFJ40]

Watch out with the dog. I was installing new springs last weekend and my lab walked off with one of the u-bolt nuts. Looked everywhere and couldn't find it. Couldn't even find a replacement. Had to buy whole new u-bolt with new nuts.

They are good helpers though...

[1973Guppie]

thanks everyone, promise to get pics up soon. My minitruck writeup will be complete so basically anyone can do a minitruck setup by just following the pics. Shop helpers like my dog are good, just wish he had thumbs. I hear you on the taking of shit. He loves shop rags, can't get enough of em.

Noah

[Rick '79 FJ40]

Nice looking dog! I have a yellow lab. He "helped" me put an OEM PS setup on my '79 a couple of years ago when he was still a puppy. I found sockets all over my living room that he had filched. He's a lot better now. He just lays there and goes to sleep. Doesn't even jump when I start cussing at something. I guess he's gotten pretty used to that...

[Eskimo]

Just my $.02, it doesn't look like the chip is on a driven part of the pinion, so IMO you'd be OK. But, with cruiser thirds being $100-150, you could keep it as a spare..

[1973Guppie]

So I am a complete lazy Douche so I don't have too much to report. Finally got the suspension hung, axles rebuilt and converted to discs and some original tires on there with the retro rims which will be replaced eventually with new ones. But for now it is nice to be able to roll the vehicle in and out of the garage.

I also have made some MAJOR changes to my plans for this build. Some purists will probably be pissed but I have decided to go vortec / auto route on this build w/split TC. I basically just decided that if I was going to put this much effort and time into it I really want to use it and for me that means having some nice power and an auto, plus this way my wife can drive it! God help me.

As far as the front disc brake minitruck conversion I will be doing a seperate tech thread and will post it here later when done:

http://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series-tech/137225-minitruck-front-axle-disc-brake-conversion-dummies-faq.html

I would urge anyone thinking of swapping to minitruck discs to just do it. It really wasnt' that bad and with some creative searching you really can find all the info you need. My tech thread is meant to fill in the "gaps" I have found in some of the threads here, mainly pics. My thread will be entirely pics with little wording showing the teardown piece by piece of the mtruck axle and the build back up. Easiest way for me to learn so thought I would put the info out there.

Here are a bunch of pics of the progress and a few of the rotisserie that I am working on building right now. My 1975 drill press crapped out on me so I stopped as I hate using a hand drill. I got the idea from Gumby's build in the 55 restoration section. It basically is just 2 harbor freight engine stands chopped up and fabbed to work as a cradle.

let me know if anyone has any questions, thanks, Noah

rebuilt diffs with new seals / cut off rear 2f engine mounts

[1973Guppie]

frame and suspension, all new hardware and seals

[1973Guppie]

discs and axle done! should stop really well, those are some big calipers!

[1973Guppie]

out in the driveway! neighbors love me, I get a notice every 2 months complaining that my fj40 doesn't "run". it runs just fine, bet if it were a beemer or a mercedes they wouldn't blink an eye, BS.

[1973Guppie]

some more cuz I know you like dirty cruiser porn......

[1973Guppie]

start of the rottisserie, it's gonna be nice, and I will be able to reuse it as it will be adjustable to fit an fj40 (next build) .......

[1973Guppie]

one more....

[1973Guppie]

A few more pics for fun, got these cool stickers from a guy off of ebay, nice score, and a nice guy! here's his email: PEGLEG@echoes.net

cheap, and he can make anything you want!

Noah

[72cruiser]

i dig the rottisserie! goin to have to get another engine stand now, ha ha.


did you estimate c.o.g. of the body top to bottom?
or pretty much just toss on the cross supports where you could put them easily?

i'm not tryin to knock you at all, just curious b/c i'd like to do the same thing, but a 40 body without a top is a lot more bottom heavy and i'm trying to figure out in my head a good set of mounting points on the cowl/firewall...

the rest of the rig looks awesome and clean as always...keep it up

malphrus

[1973Guppie]

Originally Posted by 72cruiser

i dig the rottisserie! goin to have to get another engine stand now, ha ha.


did you estimate c.o.g. of the body top to bottom?
or pretty much just toss on the cross supports where you could put them easily?

i'm not tryin to knock you at all, just curious b/c i'd like to do the same thing, but a 40 body without a top is a lot more bottom heavy and i'm trying to figure out in my head a good set of mounting points on the cowl/firewall...

the rest of the rig looks awesome and clean as always...keep it up

malphrus

http://forum.ih8mud.com/fj55-iron-pig-preservation-society/97506-gumbys-1973-fj55-buildup-2.html

here's the link to gumby's thread, got the idea there, basically just doin it and we will see how it turns out, the engine stand has a pin that will hold the body in place wherever it rotates to, I also plan to extend the stock engine stand outer legs to give it a wider stance. I will post up some more pics later.

Noah

[72cruiser]

thanks for the link...

[69 Pigboy]

Nice work man! What kind of calipers did you use? Are those the Eldorado calipers referenced earlier in the thread? Also, what kind of springs and shackles are those?

Thanks!