Hey guys, I'm new around here, and excited to get started with my project truck. We bought this rig a few months ago and I'm finally getting around to getting some stuff done with it. What I'm starting with here is a '93 FZJ80 w/lockers and 163k miles on the ticker, 100% stock.
Here's how it looked the day we brought it home. The PO had rearended someone and the bumper is new, you can see all the SS bolt heads he used. I had the bumper and caps painted to match the rear bumper right away and there was a lot of maintenance to catch up on, but that was about all I did until now.
I had been looking around for some aftermarket wheels for the Cruiser for once I got it lifted, but I just couldn't find anything that looked right to me. They either looked like they belonged on a mall crawler show truck, or a wheeling. I wanted to compliment the cruisers clean look while adding a bit of style to it. Then I found some stock FJ Cruiser wheels on craigslist and knew I had to have them. The only downside is that they are a different offset, so I am running 1.25" wheel spacers on each corner in order to keep the stance looking right. I think these wheels added a lot to the look of the rig, and this was enough to keep me happy with the rig for a short while.
Then, last week I finally got my OME kit from 4Wheel parts. I got the 3" J springs front and rear because this rig will be seeing some sweet and heavy equipment front and rear. I also added my own 1" spacer to the front to fix the stink bug look that we all know about. This was easier then I thought to do. I removed the bump stop from the coil bucket, cut a 1" spacer out of HDPE, bolted it in between with longer bolts, and threw it all back together. I also installed the OME caster correction bushings and their steering stabilizer. I'm hoping that the CC bushings are enough with the added spacer up front, and it feels good on the highway right now. I'm not quite back to factory caster, but it feels fine to me for the time being. The little lady drives it daily and she has no complaints, so we're all good.
And finally, yesterday, we got new rubber for it. America's Tire took a little while to get these in, but it was worth the wait, 37x12.5 BF AT's. The munchkins agree. Right now it still has stock gears, so it's slow as all hell. I'm waiting in line to get new R&P's installed, I'll be going with 4:88's to keep the overall drive ratio as close to stock as possible. I'm particular about the shops that work on my rigs, so I'm waiting patiently for Leonard's Off-Road to fit me in, should be a couple weeks or so. If you're in the Portland, OR area and need drive train work done, look him up. He's a one man show with good prices and the best quality around. I've been using him for 10 years and have never had a single problem.
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So, that's it for now. Hopefully more to come very soon. I'm a Millwright and fabricator by trade and will be building sliders, bumpers and a roof rack myself when I get the time. Looking to get the sliders going first, probably Thanksgiving weekend. Probably going to go with a profile about like one of these:
Bumpers will come after that, starting with the rear, which will include a tire carrier. After a few sketches, I'm planning on it looking something like this:
The front will house a winch, not sure which one yet though. It will also hold a couple 8" HID lights and a couple 4" fog lights will be inset in the bumper. Still working on rough drawings, but here's where i'm at now.
As long as I don't get too busy with work, I should be able to get a good amount done before Christmas. I'm really excited to get going and share my progress with everybody here. I'll be using everybody else's projects for my inspiration and motivation. Thanks everyone!
Here's how it looked the day we brought it home. The PO had rearended someone and the bumper is new, you can see all the SS bolt heads he used. I had the bumper and caps painted to match the rear bumper right away and there was a lot of maintenance to catch up on, but that was about all I did until now.
I had been looking around for some aftermarket wheels for the Cruiser for once I got it lifted, but I just couldn't find anything that looked right to me. They either looked like they belonged on a mall crawler show truck, or a wheeling. I wanted to compliment the cruisers clean look while adding a bit of style to it. Then I found some stock FJ Cruiser wheels on craigslist and knew I had to have them. The only downside is that they are a different offset, so I am running 1.25" wheel spacers on each corner in order to keep the stance looking right. I think these wheels added a lot to the look of the rig, and this was enough to keep me happy with the rig for a short while.
Then, last week I finally got my OME kit from 4Wheel parts. I got the 3" J springs front and rear because this rig will be seeing some sweet and heavy equipment front and rear. I also added my own 1" spacer to the front to fix the stink bug look that we all know about. This was easier then I thought to do. I removed the bump stop from the coil bucket, cut a 1" spacer out of HDPE, bolted it in between with longer bolts, and threw it all back together. I also installed the OME caster correction bushings and their steering stabilizer. I'm hoping that the CC bushings are enough with the added spacer up front, and it feels good on the highway right now. I'm not quite back to factory caster, but it feels fine to me for the time being. The little lady drives it daily and she has no complaints, so we're all good.
And finally, yesterday, we got new rubber for it. America's Tire took a little while to get these in, but it was worth the wait, 37x12.5 BF AT's. The munchkins agree. Right now it still has stock gears, so it's slow as all hell. I'm waiting in line to get new R&P's installed, I'll be going with 4:88's to keep the overall drive ratio as close to stock as possible. I'm particular about the shops that work on my rigs, so I'm waiting patiently for Leonard's Off-Road to fit me in, should be a couple weeks or so. If you're in the Portland, OR area and need drive train work done, look him up. He's a one man show with good prices and the best quality around. I've been using him for 10 years and have never had a single problem.
So, that's it for now. Hopefully more to come very soon. I'm a Millwright and fabricator by trade and will be building sliders, bumpers and a roof rack myself when I get the time. Looking to get the sliders going first, probably Thanksgiving weekend. Probably going to go with a profile about like one of these:
Bumpers will come after that, starting with the rear, which will include a tire carrier. After a few sketches, I'm planning on it looking something like this:
The front will house a winch, not sure which one yet though. It will also hold a couple 8" HID lights and a couple 4" fog lights will be inset in the bumper. Still working on rough drawings, but here's where i'm at now.
As long as I don't get too busy with work, I should be able to get a good amount done before Christmas. I'm really excited to get going and share my progress with everybody here. I'll be using everybody else's projects for my inspiration and motivation. Thanks everyone!
Have your VISA closer and don"t forget to clean your coach, you might use it soon
Welcome to mud. All kidding aside, it is a tremendous resource that will both save and spend your money simultaneously.
