1974FJ Rebuild of cruiser.... - Page 5

mtweller · 07-22-09, 09:53 AM

What are you doing for a gas (fuel) tank? Something different than stock?

R

1974FJ · 07-22-09, 10:07 AM

No, its stock. I got one from CCOT, looks awesome!!!! I dont know if you remember, but i had alot of fuel issues before i totaled it that led to a clogged carburetor and filters every couple hundred miles. After i wrecked it i poured out the gas i had left in my gas tank(10 gallons ofcoarse, which was like $4.30 a gallon at that point haha) and it was a dark red with rust chunks in it. I had a large leak in it once that i fixed over a year ago so i knew it had rusted through once.
With the money invested in the diesel, it was a no-brainer to get a new tank that wasnt going to have issues right off the bat.

1974FJ · 07-22-09, 11:18 AM

Well fellas, I got a little creative on my exhaust mounting flange. The hy35w has two different turbine housings depending on the year. Mine has a 4.5" opening that a 45* elbow bolts too. This elbow reduces to a 3.5 exhaust. Problem here is that the elbow only accepts a 3.5 exhaust with a v-band flange that is almost impossible to come by. I could order a downpipe for the dodge year turbo i have and that would give me the flange but it is way too expensive.

So instead, i took the lathe and came up with this...

This is the elbow that my new flange will replace...

you can see how it has the same v-band flange like the elbow does so it can be mounted directly to the back of the turbo.

1974FJ · 07-22-09, 11:21 AM

The flange will reduce the 4.5" opening on the exhaust housing to a 3.5" dia. I left some on the flange to have a nice weld shoulder. The inside of the flange is tapered as to not induce alot of turbulence.

here is how it fits on the housing..

with the band on, you can see the transition from 4.5" to 3.5" here.

jfz80 · 07-22-09, 11:58 AM

Very slick solution. I really like the part where you made it sound so easy.

Cant wait to see this reincarnation.

rutbeer · 07-22-09, 12:16 PM

cracks me up to see all that beautiful lathe work, and then the treated lumber body hoist. Too funny.
Nice work man. Wish I had access to tools like that.

mtweller · 07-22-09, 12:43 PM

Gotta' love that WolfPack ingenuity!! Tell me again why you didn't major in ME????

R

rutbeer · 07-22-09, 09:06 PM

no kidding. You should learn solidworks and get a CNC machine with that talent.

1974FJ · 07-22-09, 09:47 PM

haha, whats wrong with the hoist!? kidding..
I gave ME a try and i can run solidworks pretty decent. im now in agricultural and environmental now, which i thoroughly enjoy!

ramon, how much for the shipping of the MT fenders?

mtweller · 07-23-09, 07:21 AM

Martin, sorry, looked back through email and I apparently didn't communicate w/ MT via email. I can't remember for the life of me what shipping was, but it was reasonable.

R

S4Cruiser · 07-23-09, 03:22 PM

Dude your fab skills are awesome. I've been following this thread and have been amazed with your work each time you update it.

Very nice work!!

1974FJ · 07-28-09, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtweller

Martin, sorry, looked back through email and I apparently didn't communicate w/ MT via email. I can't remember for the life of me what shipping was, but it was reasonable.

R

Ohwell, i reckon i could find out the hard way....oh boy. fyi, my quarter panels already shipped.

Thanks S4Cruiser, im waiting on my bushings for the 55 springs and the rear quarter panels to really get going on this thing. Im getting close to clean up time!

1974FJ · 07-28-09, 02:48 PM

As of today, all three of my pedals are accounted for!!!!
I got my clutch master cylinder buttoned up. The master cylinder im running is for a dodge cummins truck. Reason for doing so is b/c the fj40s MC isnt large enough for the dodge clutch and throw-out bearing im running. This dodge MC is a 7/8th bore.
It was fairly easy to bolt up, it didnt have the same bolt pattern as the cruiser obviously but the shaft would work as is. this dodge MC has two studs coming out of it, which is completely different that the land cruisers. So i made a plate that would allow me to bolt the dodge MC to it then be able to bolt both the plate and dodge MC to the firewall via the three original mounting holes.

Firewall,

Mounting plate (the paint looks like crap b/c i milled this out with raw steel, i mean i could have cleaned it up.........

)

The back side(hole milled to allow for the stud of the MC and its washer and nut)

The 7/8th bore Dodge MC. That rubber boot came off the Land Cruiser MC.....now thats clutch..

1974FJ · 07-28-09, 02:53 PM

Bolted together:

firewall:

This is why i milled a shelf, to allow the stud and nut to stay on the engine compartment side of the firewall(kept me from drilling holes in the firewall).

1974FJ · 07-28-09, 03:03 PM

Now for the throttle.
If you have seen the fj40 pedal assembly you would understand the complications of making it work for something other than the LC carbs. I was able to come up with something that works well. I picked up a throttle cable kit from the "ricers" section of autozone that was perfect! I also picked up a 1/2 rubber hose to cover this braided hose because the hose is really close to my motor and starter.

This black plastic piece comes with the kit and works PERFECT for the original bracket that comes off the injection pump of the 4bt.

The bracket i made off the firewall to hold this throttle cable.

Ready to roll the coal...

1974FJ · 07-30-09, 08:39 PM

Two Thumbs up for Georg (Orangefj45)!!!

Thanks Bud for the extremely fast shipping and your time and effort to get me those bushings.

I got my Fj55 springs mounted today. I had to order some bushing so i could run the factory(fixed) spring pin with the fj55 leaf springs.

I wanted to run my 5/8th bolts on my shackles so i ordered bushing to make that work.

I got 8 total bushings:
4x #289-55-C
4x #289-55-A

I will have pictures later. But i took the shackle hanger and rotated it around so i wouldnt have to run a 6" shackle and have a extremely soft ride. I really wanted the long shackle(so much so that i even made them already) but decided that with the hardtop on and people in the back at times(not to mention trail gear and luggage) that it would be way to soft and just dangerous for the road. Once i flipped the hanger around, i actually didnt get as good a angle as id hoped b/c its now almost straight up and down. But i tell you, these fj55 springs are SOOOOFT..... I stood on the receiver hitch and it settled some so im gonna wait to see once i get everything on the cruiser(seats, cage, tirecarrier, hardtop...) to see what the shackle angle looks like.

erymer · 07-31-09, 01:07 PM

man what an awesome build Martin. been following your progress over at 4btswaps. Can't say enough about how good it looks.

1974FJ · 07-31-09, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by erymer

man what an awesome build Martin. been following your progress over at 4btswaps. Can't say enough about how good it looks.

Thanks! Brad Pitt?

1974FJ · 07-31-09, 11:21 PM

This is how the fj55 springs turned out, not real happy about the angle yet..what you think?

mtweller · 08-01-09, 08:02 AM

Martin, I would move them inboard about 1.5-2" I understand about you not wanting to run the longer shackles, but the point in doing that is to allow for more droop than compression. That is so your rig doesn't sit as high at ride height - lower center of gravity.

R

erymer · 08-01-09, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1974FJ

Thanks! Brad Pitt?

one of my favorite movie characters of all time. He was already taken here.

1974FJ · 08-01-09, 07:09 PM

Ramon, I did the hanger flip and then mounted the springs and saw that the angle wasnt what i desire. I really want to run the long shackle for the help it provides in droop and compression, but in the fact that i dont want that much droop and compression when im going down the highway. Its only tacked in right now, Im going to finish things up and see what i think later but for now i will most likey move it more forward to get more angle. Hows does your behave on the road, alot of body roll? or how bout when you mash the brakes?

I think both him and Edward Norton are pretty good in that film.

1974FJ · 08-02-09, 02:57 PM

Well, i spent my saturday with a grinder and welder in my hand. I finially made the trac-bar!

I ordered some bushing and a ball joint from ballistic fab, sweet stuff! and then i started cutting and fabin'. I First had to make a rear crossmember. I wanted it close to the output of the t-case but i also wanted it removable too. So this is what i came up with... 2"x.250wall with a bend i made for the output

1974FJ · 08-02-09, 02:58 PM

I wanted to make a truss for the rear axle but decided it wouldn't look right, so i came up with something that has an original look(in a backwards upside-down kinda way). I used the idea of the fj60 and fj80 axle housing mini-truss that they have welded on the bottom side of their axles and made my own to weld to the top. This also gives me more to weld too for my trac-bar bracket.

I made one of these for both sides but i didnt get it welded on yet...

1974FJ · 08-02-09, 02:59 PM

So heres the trac-bar i made. very pleased!

southerncruiser62 · 08-02-09, 05:26 PM

Martin, yet again some fab-ulous work, can't wait to see this thing in person.

1974FJ · 08-06-09, 10:05 PM

Well, Greg, i could certainly use an extra set of hands. Come stay at the Hovis resort for a week and lend a hand!!!??

1974FJ · 08-06-09, 10:07 PM

I got my rear hard brake lines done! im pleased. I borrowed a tube bender and a flaring tool to complete this but im pleased. I also had to run the brake lines to the master cylinder too, Im tired of brake lines now!. I mocked up the shock mounts but im going to move the rear shackle hanger so i may move the shock mounts aswell.