Jack-o-lantern build ‘92 4bt (1 Viewer)

[Bhblaine]

For never working with carpet in my life I am very happy with the results. If you look at pic 2 you will not see 3rd row mounts or holes. I did not feel the need to cut/install as I will be doing a custom drawer set up that is going to cover it all anyways. Now just waiting for new front seats… FedEx lost them apparently.

 

[Bhblaine]

Rear suspension in and tires mounted/installed.
Patagonia 38x13.5x17

Flexed with floor jacks as much as we could.

 

[Bhblaine]

Here is how it currently sits.
A few things to wrap up before shakeout run and measuring for bump stops and clearance work.

 

[Bhblaine]

 

[Bhblaine]

New seats almost in. Need to get longer bolts due to carpet, kilmat and Jute.
I am less than pleased with The brackets from Corbeau as almost every corner had to get beat with BFH to line up properly… should be plug and play for that kind of money.

 

[Bhblaine]

Took it for a drive for the first time since November. Fronts clear fine at full stuff and lock. Rear needs minor clearance work.
Biggest issue was zero braking power. I will bleed them again and go from there. Then off to fabricate bump stop extensions

 

[Bhblaine]

Flexed it out today to measure for clearance and bump stops.
Rather disappointed as my “long icon” shocks are limiting my articulation. They are 11.5” stroke and easily cold have gone 13-13.5”.

Findings:
Rear tires rub on frame rail- fix: 1” wheel spacers. This will fix the frame rub and still keep tires stuffed inside flares without trimming.

As it sits I would need 3.5” bump stops. That would be silly with coil spacers in.
Fix- 1.5” coil spacers are coming out and 2” bump stop extensions going in. This should allow 0.5” clearance with progressive bumps squished while lowering CG by 1.5”. Win-Win.

With the 38” pats, new springs, removing coil spacers I should only net 1” taller than when on 35’s. Removing the coil spacers and 1.5” gain going from 35-38 zero out. The 1” gain comes from new HD springs that are single rate and don’t squat.

 

[Bhblaine]

Well I am less than thrilled to find a coolant leak from the heater core AFTER I put everything back together. Would have been pretty easy when the interior was stripped to pull the dash.. not so much with brand new carpet, seats, gauges etc installed.. lame.

I put approx 1.5k miles on the cruiser before this project and had no leak from the core. After driving ~100 miles after the winter project it decided to leak.

 

[Bhblaine]

First trip out after winter build was a success.
Major rubbing even after removing the flares.
Not willing to trim so going to step down to 37x12.5x17 Patagonias and adjust some more on the bump stops.

 

[Bhblaine]

New 37x12.5x17 on. Going to get a proper alignment and clean up the fender holes and should be good to go all summer!

 

[Bhblaine]

First real test on what I hope to be the final set up.
Took the cruiser out to the local trail in Montrose with the local Off Road Club.
We ran “Scratch and Dent” and part of “Calamity Canyon” before running out of time.

Both trails are rated an 8 but we quickly found that changing trail patterns over the winter increased the difficulty due to how narrow the trail has become. Obstacles that once were point and shoot are now very narrow with 3 of the 7 vehicles acquiring body damage (me included).

Overall I was nervous being the only vehicle that did not have both Front and Rear lockers however, I never needed a winch or a strap.

Here are some pictures from the trip (reminder my 8 year old son took a lot of these so mind the quality)

 

[Bhblaine]

 

[Drift Monkey]

Findings:
Rear tires rub on frame rail- fix: 1” wheel spacers. This will fix the frame rub and still keep tires stuffed inside flares without trimming.

My 80 came with the same wheels and I came to the same conclusion - frame rail rubbing on 37s. Also did the wheel spacers, but have a bit of front rubbing while turning now (should be fixed with caster correction). Pic is before spacers:

Lookin’ good! Excellent wheeling!

 

[Bhblaine]

My 80 came with the same wheels and I came to the same conclusion - frame rail rubbing on 37s. Also did the wheel spacers, but have a bit of front rubbing static now (should be fixed with caster correction). Pic is before spacers:

View attachment 3323703

Lookin’ good! Excellent wheeling!

Looks great! I was really trying avoid spacers but wasn’t willing to get new wheels. Maybe down the road. I am loving it, just kicking myself in the ass for not dropping a locker in the front end when I had the axle on the bench.

 

[Drift Monkey]

Looks great! I was really trying avoid spacers but wasn’t willing to get new wheels. Maybe down the road. I am loving it, just kicking myself in the ass for not dropping a locker in the front end when I had the axle on the bench.

Same for me - tires are expensive enough! Maybe down the road.

 

[Bhblaine]

Long time no post. Planned a weekend trip to Silverton end of July and had transmission issues and then work got in the way.

700r4 transmission shifter was adjusted and a new TV cable installed then stuck in 1st gear.
Checked TV plunger, cable and Governor to no avail.

After further research I pulled the Transmission pan and checked the Throttle Valve and indeed it was stuck in WOT which did not allow it to shift. Took out the TV, cleaned it and reinstalled. I didn’t have enough ATF so I will pick up some today and get on the road to adjust the TV cable.

Also ordered a twin stick for the FJ60 split case as the Transmission/tcase swap made for some janky linkage which has been nothing but problems.

 

[Bhblaine]

New twin stick installed. I will have to figure out what I want to do with carpet to clean it up a bit aesthetically. Functionally it is outstanding.

 

[Bhblaine]

Just completed 6 days, 250 miles of dirt, 5 summits.
Bolam Pass
Scotch Creek
Ophir Pass
Alta Lakes
Mineral Creek
Poughkeepsie Gulch
Hurricane Pass
Corkscrew Pass
Stony Pass
Kite Lake

Here are a few shots.

 

[aztoyman]

Nice rig! Lot's of great trips and the pics are great.

I've had quite a few auto lockers but always with a manual trans. What is having the rear auto locker like on the street with an auto trans?

 

[Bhblaine]

Nice rig! Lot's of great trips and the pics are great.

I've had quite a few auto lockers but always with a manual trans. What is having the rear auto locker like on the street with an auto trans?

It clicks and pops when engaging-disengaging but the diesel is so loud you wouldn’t hear it unless you were listening for it.. not sure how the trans would make a difference rather how you drive it. I usually let off the accelerator around a turn and it opens