Cruiser Additions and PM to keep me busy

[mtweller]

Originally Posted by S4Cruiser

This is probably a stupid question but the leaf sprung 40 suspension is new to me compared to the 80...are all the bushings one size fits all or do I need to get skyjacker specific ones??

Which ones did you go with Brian?

Should be universal. SOR has a VERY broad selection. I doubt you'll have to much trouble removing those, but the 30+ year old ones can be a real SOB.



R

[GarnerFJ40]

Originally Posted by mtweller

Should be universal. SOR has a VERY broad selection. I doubt you'll have to much trouble removing those, but the 30+ year old ones can be a real SOB.



R

No, I ran into that problem with the Pinnacle's I got from Ramon. Spring OD's vary, along with the size bolt (ID) you're going to use. There's two sizes of bolts that are the most popular, and I can't remember the exacts. Now the hanger bushings are the stock size, but also take into consideration the size bolt you're using. I can give you more info (part numbers) when I get home if you haven't bought them/found out yet.

[S4Cruiser]

After some extensive searching and measuring, the skyjacker spring eyelits are a unique size that isn't the same O.D. as other manufacturers or stock. Easy solution, I ordered a bushing kit from skyjacker...evidently they haven't changed their 40 series product in 12 years.

I did end up ordering the shackle bushings from SOR. Front are stock and rear were 5/8" I.D.

[alkaline747trio]

If you haven't found 62 manifolds yet, try opening up your search to all 3FE manifolds. Pretty sure they are the same piece and there are quite a few more 80s being parted out than 62s.

[krzyabncanuck]

Originally Posted by alkaline747trio

If you haven't found 62 manifolds yet, try opening up your search to all 3FE manifolds. Pretty sure they are the same piece and there are quite a few more 80s being parted out than 62s.

Wow, where have you been ?

Besides school.

Have not seen you post on this page for awhile now.

[S4Cruiser]

Originally Posted by alkaline747trio

If you haven't found 62 manifolds yet, try opening up your search to all 3FE manifolds. Pretty sure they are the same piece and there are quite a few more 80s being parted out than 62s.

Yeah I eventually figured out they were the same on the 3FE powered 80s. I found a set in GSO that a guy is going to give me just got to get them when a time works for him.

[alkaline747trio]

Originally Posted by krzyabncanuck

Wow, where have you been ?

Besides school.

Have not seen you post on this page for awhile now.

Well, Cruiser has only been driven once since new years. First my wheel bearings went south on me (apparently dust caps are important and water is bad...oh well, Aisin hubs fixed that) and took out both spindles and a rotor and pads.

After fixing most of those issues I get it on the road to find a terrible death wobble that sent my TREs from bad to worse, made a wet noodle of my tie-rod and drag link, and made my power steering pump puke everywhere. Plus my broken speedo, typical 3FE undersized EFI wiring, and enough little odds and ends to drive me crazy by themselves have taken a toll on me and my wallet (pffft...what wallet?) and have left the 80 in a state of disrepair that a broke college student can't afford to fix.

But I'm going to see about a job today that will take up my entire life, but will hopefully be able to fund my extensive repair list.

Originally Posted by S4Cruiser

Yeah I eventually figured out they were the same on the 3FE powered 80s. I found a set in GSO that a guy is going to give me just got to get them when a time works for him.

Good to hear, free is ALWAYS good.

[krzyabncanuck]

Sorry to hear about the cruiser man.

Wish you the best of luck about the job though. I know too well about jobs taking up most of your time, as do alot of these people on here. I am just glad to have a bit of a life back now after retiring from the military. Too bad i am back at work again now.

[S4Cruiser]

Rear is done, bushings replaced, greasable spring pins installed...now on to the front.

Darn leaf springs are a little more of a pain in the @ss than coils...

[concretejungle]

Nice Jon.

You guys are making me jealous..... i need to start making some money again so i can play with toys. It's tuff having to put everything on the back burner just to make ends meet.

[lt1fire]

Originally Posted by concretejungle

Nice Jon.

You guys are making me jealous..... i need to start making some money again so i can play with toys. It's tuff having to put everything on the back burner just to make ends meet.

I'm with you



Logan that sucks, you're starting to sound like me now.

As for your DW try setting the toe out a little bit. Kyle told me to try this and it actually worked. No more wobble... my steering is still loose feeling but the wobble is gone.
I know that it is something else causing the wobble but this will do for now untill I can change some more bushings and see if that helps.

As for your tie rods..... call up Bud and he'll hook you up with next day delivery. Let us know when you want to wrench and we'll set up a HAMON for ya.


Jom the 40 is looking good as always.

[S4Cruiser]

Finished to fronts.

And to those of you who wheel their 40 without a flip kit or ubolt skids...please think of the next owner and upgrade now before you bend the crap out of the bolt ends and someone has to cut off the ubolts .

I assume I should trim the tops of the ubolts? Brian, how close to the nut did you trim?

Also got my carb back from JimC...nice and perdy with a long list of what he replaced (pretty much everything ).

[GarnerFJ40]

Wow, you've got a lot of extra on the driver side. Mine don't look like that, but I did but correction shims in. Incorrectly, but they're there! A minor to do later, no DW, so it's not a HAVE to do... I will tell you this, if those are the same as the MAF, you'll want to put a coat of paint on them, mine have a nice coat of surface rust on them already...

Man that carb looks good...

[S4Cruiser]

Yeah my springs have less packs in them than others so there is a good bit of extra thread on the tops (one has been removed too).

So your ubolts are rusting or the plates? Yes these are the MAF 4+ kits.

[GarnerFJ40]

The bolts...

[mtweller]

Guys, when tightening u-bolts, make sure the axle is suspended (ie no weigh on the wheels) when you tighten. Makes a difference, seriously. Jon, cut those bolts about 1/4" or so above the nut and call it done. Cutoff wheel is a lot cleaner than a saw if you can get in there alright. Truck looks nice. Anxious to see your response after you get that carb on.

R

[S4Cruiser]

Made some more progess this week.

I picked up a 2f intake and exhaust manifold from Juan and Maria (thanks Maria!!!) on Sunday. Had it bead blasted Monday and painted it yesterday.

Now I'm just waiting for a box from SOR with gaskets, block-off plate, and bolts before I can get this thing bolted to the engine.

Then off to the exhaust store.

We'll see how long the exhaust paint holds up...I have my expectations very low so hopefully I'll be pleasently surprised .

[lt1fire]

That's nice looking there

[southerncruiser62]

while it's off would be a good time to run it by a machine shop to get the mounting surface checked for trueness or warpage.

[S4Cruiser]

Originally Posted by southerncruiser62

while it's off would be a good time to run it by a machine shop to get the mounting surface checked for trueness or warpage.

Know of any?

[southerncruiser62]

not specific to that area but I am sure there are quite a few.

[rutbeer]

Yes! There is a machine shop in Greensboro that's very good, fast, and cheap. I have to go over there tomorrow and pick up my head. If you want to meet up, I can introduce you to the owner while I'm there and he can usually do the manifold while you wait. We call him "Lightning".
It's right off of Wendover and 40.

[S4Cruiser]

Originally Posted by rutbeer

Yes! There is a machine shop in Greensboro that's very good, fast, and cheap. I have to go over there tomorrow and pick up my head. If you want to meet up, I can introduce you to the owner while I'm there and he can usually do the manifold while you wait. We call him "Lightning".
It's right off of Wendover and 40.

Thanks for the offer Barry but I found one local in Burlington and they are working the manifold as we speak. It was fairly straight but as others had mentioned it makes the most sense to do it right the first time and have it worked over so it's perfectly straight. I should have it back in the morning and then off to the exhaust store...planning to get to drive it home tomorrow evening once the exhaust work is done .

[S4Cruiser]

Today was a productive day. Picked up the manifolds from the machine shop. Bolted them to the head. Bolted the carb and other bits back together. Only trouble here was the throttle linkage didn't line up the same as with the F intake manifold that was on the truck before. It works fine now but I'll need to keep an eye on it to ensure it doesn't bind up.

Called AAA around noonish and they sent a roll-back to take me to the exhaust store. Had Alamance Mufflers bend an exhaust with a 40 series flowmaster muffler. Sounds great and looks good too. They did a great job routing the exhaust and were really reasonable on price.

Glad to drive the 40 again!!

Here are a few pics

[krzyabncanuck]

Now thats a tight fitting exhaust . Coming along nicely.

[concretejungle]

Jon, that engine bay is dirty!! That's not like you! I expect to be able to eat a slice of pizza off the valve cover!!

[S4Cruiser]

Originally Posted by concretejungle

Jon, that engine bay is dirty!! That's not like you! I expect to be able to eat a slice of pizza off the valve cover!!

I'll get to it in a few years...that dirt is harder to get off than you think. I had thought about pulling the engine to paint and clean things up but I resisted the urge...cause it isn't worth it .

At least it looks clean on the outside .

[GarnerFJ40]

Having a clean cruiser is overrated! Right Greg?

[lt1fire]

Originally Posted by GarnerFJ40

Having a clean cruiser is overrated! Right Greg?

Well I don't know about you, Brian, but I pride how clean and factory fresh looking my cruiser is above all else

wait....... that's not right

[fourtrax]

nice...