1959 FJ25 Soft Top Frame Off Restoration

[cabron]

Hey that frame turned out real well. But I have to ask you to finish the story. I'm even going to use my 1000th post to show you how much it means to me

 

[LandCruiserSteve]

I'm even going to use my 1000th post to show you how much it means to me

Gee, the sacrifices you make . . .

Matter of fact, I'm going to pad my own post count just by congratulating you on yours.

 

[foxfab]

Ok, SOR's F135 pistons arrived and look to be the same as the original F120 pistons. (other than the .020 over of course). I also got the updated oil pump and water pump kits.

I can't finish the story, its still getting built If you havent re-read the first post, I edited it as I added and its about as up-to-date as it can get.

 

[wesintl]

Great Job so far Mike... and here we're salivating on the teardown. I suspect there will be drool on the build

Keep the pics coming

 

[LandCruiserSteve]

Great Job so far Mike... and here we're salivating on the teardown. I suspect there will be drool on the build Keep the pics coming

Ditto x2!! Great job you're doing.

 

[foxfab]

I've been working on my POS 1994 F250 this weekend. This is one of those Ebay purchases that looked good on-line but once you actually got it home, you had wished you never bought. It all started as a cracked exhaust manifold on the drivers side and a brake replacement. It has since grown into new heads, new fuel rail, and various other parts. But I think its almost ready to be registered.

What does this have to do with the FJ25 build? Its supposed to be my tow rig. I need a truck to take the large parts to and from the blast company and this has been holding up me starting the body work. I'm hoping that this thing will be running now without incident. i have an exhaust leak to still track down. But other than that, she should be good to go.

 

[fogblanket]

there is a god!!!

 

[foxfab]

Don't get too excited. It hasn't passed emissions and isnt registered yet.

(He thinks Wilma will get delivered soon)

 

[Mikesta]

How did you acid wash your frame? did you do this or did you have someone come out and do it for you?

Status report:

9:00AM: acid washed frame

It turns any surface rust into some black oxide and stops it forever once coated.

10:00AM: rinsed frame with water. Then mixed up a bucket of Castrol Super Clean and water for a final wash down. Cleaned shop out thoroughly and washed down the floor. Water on the floor keeps the dust down to a minimum and works well. Brought the frame inside and fired up the propane heater to dry it off. Spent lots of time with the air chuck blowing out every nook and cranny.

1:30 final wipe down with degreaser.

2:00PM: Cruser_Nerd stopped by to pick up the tranny/xfer and see what all I was up to.

3:00: Got to spray'in.

3:45PM one coat of epoxy primer laid down...

4:15PM first coat is flashed, time for another coat.

5:00PM second coat of epoxy is down. Wife feeling sick.... DOH!

I have to wait an hour or so now to flip it.

6:50PM Well, flipping the frame didnt go so well. I need to have more kids so I have more hands to help. The angle iron that the back of the frame was resting on decided not to stay in place and the back of the frame fell to the ground while flipping it, abruptly cutting my extension cord in half and shearing the line from the propane tank to the heater. When things go wrong, they REALLY go wrong The propane was quickly shut off and now I am without heat and without one less extension cord. So, I was a little smarter and put the engine hoist on the back crossmember with a strap and was able to flip it without any more issues. But I think I need to find a better way to do this once I am actually painting it. The first coat of epoxy is on the bottom of the frame now. I'll have to wait a bit longer on this one since the temps are dropping out there without heat.

8PM: after a quick BK dinner, I finished off the last coat and cleaned the gun. Whew, what a day!

 

[fogblanket]

Don't get too excited. It hasn't passed emissions and isnt registered yet.

(He thinks Wilma will get delivered soon)

I can make all the right looking plates no need to register it
so saturday it is then

 

[foxfab]

Per reading the threads on Ih8mud, I used a product with phosphoric acid in it. I cannot get straight phosphoric acid in my state, so I used a product called "The Must For Rust" made by Krud Kutter and sold in Home Depot which contains phosphoric acid. I am pleased with the results. The hardest part was washing the frame after and then getting it dry.

How did you acid wash your frame? did you do this or did you have someone come out and do it for you?

 

[74fj40]

Updates?

 

[foxfab]

I've been waiting on parts from SOR. All but one of the bores in the block cleaned up at .020. So I had to order a set of .040 pistons and rings. We'll do the one bore and if it still doesn't clean up at .040, then we're going to sleeve that one cylinder and use the .020 pistons. Motor mounts and NOS FJ40 shackles also showed up. I am stealing the pins out of em and having FJ25 shackles laser cut.

The pistons arrived last night and I should get back to work on it this weekend.

 

[foxfab]

Well, I got a call from the machine shop today and they found a crack in the bore of the cylinder that wouldnt clean up at .020. So, the plan is to now sleeve that bore and keep the piston size at .020. The things I'll do to keep the numbers matching At least we found it and it is being corrected. I guess this is why it stopped running.

 

[Cruiser_Nerd]

Cracked through to the water jacket? That would explain a lot. I've got the block from the 1962 maybe you can weld a couple bad ones together?

 

[foxfab]

I got a few hours in on the project today. I pulled apart the front leaf springs and bead blasted all of the leaves. I tried to just wire wheel them, but even that wouldnt completely clean them up. I have NOS factory spring pins to go in them. I'll be taking a sample of the rubber isolators that go under the militart wraps to a local spring shop to see if they have something to match. Anyone interested in these? I'm also sending out shackle samples to have laser cut.

 

[74fj40]

updates update updates updates *chanting voice*

 

[foxfab]

Actually yes. I got some time in tonight. but not a lot to show for it. The front leaves are primed as are the generator brackets, air filter bracket, and oil fill tube/clamp. I'm spraying all of the black parts with Eastwood's satin chassis black. I'll get some pics once they're painted.

The engine is coming along nicely. The short block is together I hear and the head is being worked on. I'll stop by tomorrow to get some pics.

Cruiser-Nerd's parts that I ordered for the tranny are in. I'll pick them up at the dealer tomorrow also.

Stock shackle is at the laser cutter and Im awaiting pricing.

Stay tuned...

 

[foxfab]

I saw the short block. Too bad I forgot the camera. The head is sitting awaiting for the valve guides to show up. Everything looks nice It'll be a few days until the head is done and on the block.

 

[foxfab]

OOOHH, the long block is done!!! I hope to get it home this weekend, but I'm going under the knife on my elbow, so I'm not sure how I'll be able to get it here.

The valve cover has a few small dents in it. So I was comparing the F135 valve cover that Cruiser_Nerd let me borrow to the F120 cover and noticed a few subtle differnces. I love the fact that the F120 valve cover has two vents to vent the crank case gasses directly to atmosphere, whereas the F135 cover allows for the gasses to be re-captured and burned. Gotta love the environmentally friendly items on an FJ25!! First the lack of an overfill on the radiator, now this!