Builds 1970 frame off (2 Viewers)

[okie]

hey all.

well after months and months of saving up my cash, reasearching, learning and ripping my truck apart to "learn more" haha, i have finally decided to restore my truck. this is the first time i have ever even thought about doing something this big and dumping money into something like this. I have worked on it as much as i can on my own with what i have) but i lack the facilities, the money,the tools and the years and years of experience it takes to do a restoration the right way blah blah blah. Finally after learning and wrenching and getting to know my truck better after a couple of years i have a better perspective on what conversions i want to do in this resto.

After alot of searching for a place that would take on something like this, I came across this shop in livermore called Early Years and Exotics. The owner and ONLY emplpoyee of Early Years and Exotics is Kevin Nista. He is one of the coolest, easiest guys to talk with and VERY patient with all the questions I have to ask as well I am trying to assist him in the shop as much as i can everyday after work. Its alot of fun and im having a blast on top off all the expenses not to mention

and yes, i will buy a star soon and keep you posted.. because life just isn't interesting without pictures..




anyways

the three major conversions that are being done here are:

H55f
3FE fuel inejction custom fit to my 77 2f that is already in the truck
Saginaw conversion

I am trying to get this thing done in 3 weeks. well see how that goes.

This is Project Lilly Anne ya'll.

 

[Coolerman]

Three weeks? Pretty ambitious goal but if the guy is good it might be possible. What level of 'restoration' are you planning?

Get a star and post pics....

 

[Cruiserdrew]

I agree-that's a lot of expensive work, especially for a non-cruiser speciality shop. My guess is that you'll be lucky to get the Saginaw conversion done in 3 weeks, but have them do that before they tear into the other stuff, so at least you can drive it if it takes too long.

What is your budget?

 

[okie]

I agree-that's a lot of expensive work, especially for a non-cruiser speciality shop. My guess is that you'll be lucky to get the Saginaw conversion done in 3 weeks, but have them do that before they tear into the other stuff, so at least you can drive it if it takes too long.

What is your budget?

well just to keep you posted. he welded the p/s plate and everything in an evening. all thats left with the p/s conversion is just bolt up stuff. I failed to mention that. He also used to have a dune beige 1975 fj40 back in the day.

 

[okie]

im sorry guys i will get pics up this weekend, i have just been swamped with work.


Down to 2 weeks....

 

[okie]

here are some pitures of when i first purchased this cruiser from a man up in gilroy. Ron Diaz of custom cruiserfj40 in Gilroy saw this one and i bought it the first day. 5300. A bit expensive but the only rust was the driver side floor and some holes along the side door sill.

http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=9906849&uid=4770759

 

[Coolerman]

Nice looking rig to start with!

 

[cruiserjunktion]

That is the 1st pic I've seen of your 40...

Gotta love a red cruiser

Please tell me you have replaced those tail lights (yuck)

So you've been driving w/o ps? Are you armstrong?

I am looking forward to your build up.......

Are you planning on removing the body? "FRAME OFF"

What made you decide on fuel injection?

When does the ka marah resto begin?

 

[orangefj45]

3 weeks is pretty ambitious (sp?!) but i think it can be done. i have done ps conversions in a day but you'd better make sure you have all the needed parts. same goes for the 5 spd conversion.

good luck rachel.

 

[okie]

That is the 1st pic I've seen of your 40...

Gotta love a red cruiser

Please tell me you have replaced those tail lights (yuck)

So you've been driving w/o ps? Are you armstrong?

I am looking forward to your build up.......

Are you planning on removing the body? "FRAME OFF"

What made you decide on fuel injection?

When does the ka marah resto begin?

Yes I think i keep going back to wanting to paint it red. Not Freborn red but a deep blood red. I am going with all the stock color trim , like the pewter color seats adn dash pices exc, the ivory ( not beige of the later 40s) for the top and bezel.


I am doing a frame off and have already got all the parts back from the media blaster.

everything is off the truck including the tail lights. haha.

yes it is really easy without p/s except when you aren't moving and its very loose and squirly on the roads. With the p/s i am retaining the stock wheel.

I decided to do fuel injection after my "little brother" got to take his dads 1984 cj7 out on evening with me and felt how much more power he got from converting the head to a tpi injection of a later model jeep. SO my plans are to have the 3fe injection built on the 2f with the only big mod being merging 3fe adn 2f intake manifold together to fit on my block and tuning them correctly for my motor. Kevin explained to me how easy it was soo, i said lets do it!

anyways the cmaro is my dd now and its fun but when my cuiser is done that thing is going in storage and the dd is my cruiser. I can't wait. with the camaro someday i want to turn it into something mostrous. that will be fun.

thanks for showing intrest. i just got done taking pics of the roll bar setup being fitted in and tub sandblasted. i will by a star tomorrow ( my first day off work ) and start posting up pics in order later tomorrow as i am going down to the shop tomorrow morning to help again.

goodnight

 

[okie]

3 weeks is pretty ambitious (sp?!) but i think it can be done. i have done ps conversions in a day but you'd better make sure you have all the needed parts. same goes for the 5 spd conversion.

good luck rachel.

i know on p/s conversion in a day is pretty impressive.

for the 5 speed i am buying a new one adn the transfercase i am still in search for and soon. when i get the frame back from the powdercoaters i am going to need to have that for him to fit it on. Other than that as far as the five speed goes he can pretty much take care of everything else right out of the shop.


the fuel injection will be easy as i though i had lined up a guy here on mud that was going to sell the whole setup to me off of his 60 because he was doing a 350 conversion, but i can't get a hold of him. oh well time to start looking elsewhere.

 

[brian]

i did'nt think that the h55's fit in 40's that well??

 

[Cruiserdrew]

i did'nt think that the h55's fit in 40's that well??

I think it will physically fit, but the drive shaft may end up too short to use. If you made the whellbase longer with 55 or 60 rear springs, that could make it work easily.

Rachel is on the right track with the power steering. That alone will make it a different truck.

 

[orangefj45]

well, not to be a pessimist or anything but i really think that your 3 week estimate will turn into 3 months easily, especially when you take into account that you do not have a split case or the 3FE parts needed to do the FI conversion.

i would highly recommend not taking the frame to the powder coaters until you have everything mocked up in the frame. otherwise you'll be grinding off some of the new powder coat to weld on your new t-case x-member. running the stock engine mounts with an H55F and a split case is not the way to go. too much weight hanging off the back. also, the extra length of the 5 spd and split case will result in the t-case hitting the bottom of the tub and you'll have to either modigy the trans tunnel and tub and/or do a body lift as well as possibly having to move the rear axle back. like mentioned earlier, the rear drive shaft will be extremely short which might necessitate moving the rear back to create more room for the drive shaft. this will also involve moving the spring hangers and cutting the rear wheel wells.

i'm not here to shoot you down rachel, quite the contrary; i think it's really cool that you're taking on this project but i do want you to be aware what all will need to be done in order to achieve the goals you have set for yourself.

don't hesitate to ask questions, i know they'll come up.

looking forward to seeing the pics.

 

[orangefj45]

ps: when you get the 5spd, make sure you get the shifter, shift know, 5th gear oil funnel and the proper t-case shift linkage as well. otherwise you'll be waiting for parts for a while instead of getting on with the build-up.

 

[my64fj40]

Sounds like a great resto..

But like orange said that 3 weeks can turn into 3 months and even 3 years real fast..

Can't wait to see this build, and I'm quite interested to see what mpg you get with the fuel injection and overdrive tranny..

 

[Cruiserdrew]

You could simplify the whole project with a 4 speed tranny, and a complete 3FE out of an FJ62. That would be realistic and doable in 3 weeks. I almost hate to say it, but an FJ40 doesn't really need a 5 speed tranny. If you stay with a 4 speed and stock 4 speed transfer, everything gets easier-no crossmember, no split case needed, no problems with drive shaft length and the like. Much cheaper as well.

Since the parts needed are still hypothetical, I reccomend you complete the power steering, and then continue to drive around untill you have ALL the parts in hand. Incidentially, I've done an H55 swap into my fj60 and there is a lot more needed than just the tranny. Think new clutch, rear main seal and pan gasket, rebuilding the split case, sorting out and rebuilding the linkage, and in the case of an FJ40, fabbing a new cross member, changing drivesaft lengths, modifying the body, etc.

Anyway, good luck.

 

[okie]

wow yes i know the h55f is a huge mod and i think i need to add an extra week onto this month again. hehe. When u want to be a perfectionist like me lol it takes a little longer.

oh well, i am basically shooting for being done in time to fly home for a week to be with my family in Oklahoma fro christmas. I miss them soo much.


thanks for all your replys. I will post pics this evening. I haven't baught a star yet, but I have a Question about that.

Can you post pics immediatly after you buy a star?
thanks and anyone else who knows of anybody scrapping a 3fe for some kind fo swap and a split case that would be wonderful.

later, off to the shop.

 

[my64fj40]

Can you post pics immediatly after you buy a star?
.

Yup

 

[okie]

Alright . I finally can post pics. I am going to start with showing you the work i have done on it a year ago before the resto began a few weeks ago.

Here is a list of stuff i did to the cruiser a year ago.

Replaced all rear brakes
installed electronic ignition
replaced alot of the cooling components: radiator
hoses
basically everything But the waterpump
lets see... the vacuum hoses
I had the carb rebuilt
and center box rebuilt along with new tie rod ends
and i ripped out alot of the past owner's past owner job of putting in the "carpet"
and rollbar padding that held moister adn rotted my rollcage out

anyways i have basically ripped off alot of junk just to see that i could.

anyways here are the pics of me and my friend taylor doing the rear brakes
a year ago:




Using the Toyota Chasis & Body manual helped alot for a beginner.

1)heres the mess we made taking these 35 year old brakes that have been on here a LONG time. The shoes were worn and not even touching the drum when the pedal was depressed. Not to mention half the rear brake cylinders were leaking as well. Before this i didn't need steering, the brakes did it for me ( when i want to go right anyways)

2) pic of the old drum

3)picture of the old rear brakes the way they were