middy strength- bj73

[sprungupcruiser]

g'day guys i've been doing my build up over on outer limits for a while now and i thought it might be a good idea to get some opions from some different people so i thought i'd post up my build up so far. cheers

Got my new cruiser back in may. 1985 bj73 with a 253 on gas. Picked it up off ebay in Brisbane, about 1000km from where I live. I got a mate to get a new clutch and windscreen surround sorted a few leaks fixed then drove back. So far have removed the wheel arches and bogged it up, ripped the back seats out and fix the rust under the windscreen.

how i got it

the wheels arches gone

prep done and masking up

the back yard spray booth

finished product

 

[sprungupcruiser]

then did a rear quarter chop to make way for the rear bar i was going to make

made the rear bar with the tabs on each side for swing aways when i get around to making them

did a 30mm body lift

 

[sprungupcruiser]

chopped the guards amd fitted up some flares, chopped about 25 mm in the back and 35 mm in the front.

 

[sprungupcruiser]

fitted some 33's to fill the guards a bit more

35's for play tires

fitted a 12000lb winch

made a water tank to go under the false floor, holds about 55 L

then i started making the strorage system

tidied it up with aliumium angle

 

[sprungupcruiser]

thats all up to date. i'll keep you posted!

 

[boogie74]

Nice Mate.

I like your work!!!
You have bought that 73 back from the almost dead.

Cheers.

 

[sprungupcruiser]

thanks mate, still plenty of life and k's in the old jigga yet.

 

[roscoFJ73]

Nice low budget build up Hows the 253 (253ci Holden V8 for non aussies) pull the cruiser around?

 

[sprungupcruiser]

yeah it pulls along ok. i realised i didn't put in my future mods... becasue its turned out not to be so low budget. I have got a 308 engine built with a stage 2 cam, roller rockers and a edelbrock performer manifold, its been built and should be getting sent to me next week, i have a lock right for the front and a no slip locker for the rear. i have some longfield cv's and axles and a couple of other little things that will pop up along the build. so far its been mostly cosmetic stuff or touring stuff. so from here on it shoudl be a bit more exciting with engines, axles and lockers!

 

[sprungupcruiser]

oh yeah a 308 motor is also a holden v8.

 

[roscoFJ73]

yeah it pulls along ok. i realised i didn't put in my future mods... becasue its turned out not to be so low budget. I have got a 308 engine built with a stage 2 cam, roller rockers and a edelbrock performer manifold, its been built and should be getting sent to me next week, i have a lock right for the front and a no slip locker for the rear. i have some longfield cv's and axles and a couple of other little things that will pop up along the build. so far its been mostly cosmetic stuff or touring stuff. so from here on it shoudl be a bit more exciting with engines, axles and lockers!

Ever considered going back to diesel? The turbo diesels pull well on the highway,well adequate anyway, but you save on fuel and go longer between refills.
I looked at going gas on my FJ73 once but I wasnt happy with the tank set up and the room it took up.

Thats a nice bumper you made,you could sell them

 

[sprungupcruiser]

not really i've always had diesles so i want something witha bit of berrys, it won't be a long range tourer, so much. but it will do some longer trip every now and then, i worked around the LPG tank and it keeps it cheap enough for me. i'll go back to diesle when i grow up

 

[Clint79]

Nice rocket man
You should look into injected 5.0 out of a wrecked commodore then you wont have flooding probs when going of road even though you wont get them when your on gas

 

[roscoFJ73]

Nice rocket man
You should look into injected 5.0 out of a wrecked commodore then you wont have flooding probs when going of road even though you wont get them when your on gas

Or a Toyota V8 from a Lexus . Those engines are cheap,powerful and lightweight

 

[sprungupcruiser]

yeah i thought about going injected but i had a 308 with the same block as my 253 (trimatic) so it will be a straight swap. the 304 will be turbo pattern so i'd need an adapter. and if i was going to go 1uz it would be a whole new ball game. just seemed easier to do it this way cos i already had a motor and it will bolt straight in.

 

[Clint79]

You can put the inj heads onto inj cam inj manifold to a carbd 5.0 block ,but my old man has had a few cruisers with 308's and a 253 and they went really well

 

[sprungupcruiser]

yeah i might still do that down the track. the new motor should haul some arse though.

 

[BeratE]

Wow, that looks great. I wish I could turn out a bumper just as easy as that! Any pictures of the process of how you made it? Gotta see a few shots with the 35's on too when you start playing

 

[sprungupcruiser]

cheers mate! yeah i can't wait to get the 35's on to see how she looks. heres some photos of the bumper build

it was a solid piece of 150mm 'c' section, i cut the taper into the bar and the mitred the corner using the 9'' grinder

then with the 9'' grinder again i cut in the bottom of the taper and cut the corners

welded it all up

mounted it to the car and cut the hole for the tow hitch

added the tabs for the swing aways

i didn't take any photos of it but behind the receiver i welded some 10mm plate with 4 1/2 in holes in it to bolt into the stock tow bar hole. i then bolted it to the cruiser and slid the bumper over it and tacked it on. then i took it off and welded and braced it up. Al it was then was a matter of bogging it and a bit of a sand then a lick of paint.

I enjoyed making it and was pleased with the end result.

 

[roscoFJ73]

c

I enjoyed making it and was pleased with the end result.

Sure beats the factory bumper,they are as soft as marshmallow