Builds 1965 FJ45lv build up/resto thread

[semlin]

those hinges look awesome

p.s. got your envelope today Matt. thanks

 

[cruiserdan]

Nothing quite like a bit of outdoors carpet ironing to toy with the neighbors....

 

[buckroseau]

Not a whole lot done tonight, about a couple hours. Had some yard work to do, so that needed to get done.

I did however spend over an hour grinding down the rear cargo panels. It was a lot of grinding, then hammering, grinding, then hammering....but I think I got them pretty straight and zip wheeled off pretty decent. As soon as they were done I hung them up in the booth and shot a couple coats of epoxy on them. Let them dry over night...might be able to shoot a few more coats of ureathane primer and sand out, but may need just a tad of filler here or there....and when I say tad, maybe a ounce or 2 per panel.....I'll try the primer first and see how that goes.

Matt

 

[buckroseau]

last 1

 

[tornadoalleycruiser]

Did you find replacement plugs for the oval holes in the interior panels of the front doors yet? If so could you share your source please.

 

[fjwagon]

Matt,
That's a pretty neat experience thanks for sharing that with us. How did it handle with the new springs? My cousin and I got mine running and drove it for the first time. I have to say I was impressed on how soft the ride was with the orinigal springs....but they do sag. I'm conteplating about getting the same kind of springs.

Dropped it down and drove it out Slowly drove out to the asphalt rural county highway, buddy was driving at this time.....I was in the passenger seat with the camera and fire-extinguisher.....just in case?? Down the highway we went, went pretty good. My friend said it was shifting to soon into all the gears, but said that was no big deal, tranny needed to be adjusted. Got it up to about 55 to 60 mph, he even took his hands off the wheel, tracked down the highway just fine. After a few miles we pulled over just to look underneath the hood, make sure everything was ok. My buddy made a couple adjustments to the carb, few pics of him out there digging underneath the hood. So we turn around and were heading back and he says, "lets go a few more miles and see how it goes...." I didn't care, I was grinning from ear to ear at this point... So now here is the part that is funny I guess, or your going to really think I'm the villiage idiot now......


Just to set the scene here....I live in a very rural area. This particular county highway at 8:30 in the evening sees a car about every hour....needless to say there are never any cars. So were driving along about 45 to 50 mph talking and listening to noises. A vehicle is approaching from behind, no big deal, we figure there going to just pass anyway? We'll it's a county cop......I look behind and notice the light bar on top. Now your saying, "who cares?" Yea, but........No rear tailights.....no license plates.....no insurance.....(this is where you start refering to the villiage idiot part). Keep in mind, we usually don't see a car on this road, let alone a cop so when we left we weren't really that concerned about the things I just mentioned since we were going to just go out for a few minutes and come back.

So now were heading home and my friends in the passenger seat now laughing his ass off of how fricking stupid I am......, about a mile in , 45 mph per and all of a sudden....major death wobble!!!!! So I pull over on the shoulder and the cop pulls over and gets out.....said your tires were just wobbling back and forth, big time......We looked everything over, couldn't find anything wrong at the time. Get back in and keep going, but now at about 30 mph for another 4 miles, no problems at this speed. Turn off at the house, cop keeps going and waves.........Awesome law enforcement official for understanding our cruiser cause!!

Ok, back to lv.....got it back in the shop, checked all the lug nuts first.....maybe a couple needed to be re-torqued, but nothing that we thought would cause that. I grabbed the front tire and moved it back and forth as my buddy looked......then he saw it..... U-bolts were moving!! Not a lot, but they were loose. We had tightened them last year, but obviously not enough!!! Back up on the hoist and hit'm hard with the impact. Sucked them up a lot, they were pretty loose. So, were thinking that's what cause the death wobble?? At least for now, heading back out tomorrow night to try again so we'll see, but I believe that was it??

Well, thats the story for tonight, 10.2 miles on the lv and the first time I have ever seen it drive and driven in it.....last pic is of the cop following us home

Matt

 

[buckroseau]

Did you find replacement plugs for the oval holes in the interior panels of the front doors yet? If so could you share your source please.

Yes I did find some.....source was Semlin and the lv in the woods.

So unfortunetly I exhausted that resource

Matt

 

[buckroseau]

Matt,
That's a pretty neat experience thanks for sharing that with us. How did it handle with the new springs? My cousin and I got mine running and drove it for the first time. I have to say I was impressed on how soft the ride was with the orinigal springs....but they do sag. I'm conteplating about getting the same kind of springs.

Excellent question, since I have had Parabolic springs for a year and this is the first chance I got to try them.

I would say the ride quality was excellent. Compared to my 40, which has safari springs in it, it was night and day. My 40 kinda rides like a gravel truck, I feel pretty much every crack in the road. The wagon with the parabolics was pretty damm smooth, I was very impressed with that! Not sure how much the longer wheel base would make, but I don't think it would be to much......overall on the ride quality I give it a 2 thumbs up

But, you mentioned sag.....that is one thing I defenitely am not impressed with. I ordered the 50mm+ springs, which is approx. a 2" lift over stock. Over the course of a year just sitting here the springs have sagged out to probably the orginal height. In the pics with my 40 a page or so back my safari springs are a 2.5" lift over stock....I don't believed they have sagged much if any in the last 2 1/2" years, and that has almost 20,000 miles on it since then. The parabolics have 30 miles on them now and it looks like I need an add-a-leaf.......so overall in terms of lift and ability to maintain the integrity of the lift.....I give it a big 2 thumbs down on that

Matt

 

[usmcruiser]

But, you mentioned sag.....that is one thing I defenitely am not impressed with. I ordered the 50mm+ springs, which is approx. a 2" lift over stock. Over the course of a year just sitting here the springs have sagged out to probably the orginal height. In the pics with my 40 a page or so back my safari springs are a 2.5" lift over stock....I don't believed they have sagged much if any in the last 2 1/2" years, and that has almost 20,000 miles on it since then. The parabolics have 30 miles on them now and it looks like I need an add-a-leaf.......so overall in terms of lift and ability to maintain the integrity of the lift.....I give it a big 2 thumbs down on that

Matt

Could the sagging be due to all of the weight of the cruiser now being on the springs? And this is now the true ride height of the rig with these spings?

Just brain storming.

 

[buckroseau]

Could the sagging be due to all of the weight of the cruiser now being on the springs? And this is now the true ride height of the rig with these spings?

Just brain storming.

I think your absolutely right, sagging is due to the weight of the cruiser and it is now the true ride height of the rig with these springs......but..

My 40 has a heavier 2F motor in the front (I believe by 200lbs compared to a V8?) and sits approx. 2.5" higher 2 1/2 years later. I'm not exactly sure of how a spring is constructed, but I believe they were not arched enough...or for whatever reason not strong enough to support the weight......

In any case, neither are correct and shouldn't be advertised or selling them claiming a 50mm lift over stock height?

Not arguing, appreciate all sorts of feedback.

Thanks, Matt

 

[lowenbrau]

We nearly distibuted these parabolics until our test mule sagged. Once we asked around we found we weren't the first. They were just way to pricy to be less than perfect. Those who got in on the group purchase should ask Paul to make another full length leaf for you. Better yet a thicker main leaf.

Once it gets like this the ride will suck.

 

[buckroseau]

We nearly distibuted these parabolics until our test mule sagged. Once we asked around we found we weren't the first. They were just way to pricy to be less than perfect. Those who got in on the group purchase should ask Paul to make another full length leaf for you. Better yet a thicker main leaf.

Once it gets like this the ride will suck.

Great.........I have something to look forward to

I agree, to pricey to be less than perfect.....even on the group buy I got in on.


Thanks for the info, even though it's not what I wanted to hear.

Matt

 

[buckroseau]

Not a whole lot done on the lv tonight. Got home and blocked out the primer I shot yesterday on those rear cargo panels and a couple other parts. Little tweaking here and there with the hammer and shot 2 more coats of ureathane primer, but overall starting to look presentable.

Haven't dabbed any glazing compound on yet, but may tomorrow. Just a couple little dings that aren't cooperating very well. I was hoping to get all these parts blocked out and straight and into paint by the weekend. I would love to bolt a few of them on this weekend.

Still got to get the brakes working....mechanic buddy might stop over tomorrow and give it another shot. Going to pull the M/C and adjust the booster rod out, try that first?

Matt

 

[buckroseau]

On another note, you can see in the pic above the inner door panel fiber boards.

Wondering if anyone knows and has a pic/part # of what type of fastener I need to use. The one that attaches to the board and also the insert for the door.

The large perimeter holes on the boards don't line up with any door holes, so don't think we are using those. New holes will be drilled in the boards or some how attached to the back of the board?

Thanks, Matt

 

[Exiled]

Matt, are yuo going to put any sound deadening material on the backside of the panels?

 

[buckroseau]

Matt, are yuo going to put any sound deadening material on the backside of the panels?

I hadn't planned on it, but easily could.

There are speakers going into both of those panels for sure.

Matt

 

[AATLAS1X]

Wondering if anyone knows and has a pic/part # of what type of fastener I need to use. The one that attaches to the board and also the insert for the door.



Thanks, Matt

If they are the same as FJ40 I have 30 or 40 for you.

the holes wont line up, but the fastener will if they are the same as 40......

let me know.

PS parts are not done till tomorrow and can you PM me your addres again!

Thanks

 

[AATLAS1X]

On a 40 there is a rubber nipple that pushs into the hole on the door so they metal clip fits snug and no water gets onto the fiber board.

 

[cruiserdan]

Matt, in factory door panels the clip holes are "keyhole" shaped and off-set. You insert the clip through the large hole in the trim panel backer and slide it over to the smaller slot that lines up with the holes in the door. This is very difficult to describe but if you will call me we can discuss and I can probably come up with something for you.


D-

 

[buckroseau]

Matt, in factory door panels the clip holes are "keyhole" shaped and off-set. You insert the clip through the large hole in the trim panel backer and slide it over to the smaller slot that lines up with the holes in the door. This is very difficult to describe but if you will call me we can discuss and I can probably come up with something for you.


D-

Dan,

I think I already know what you mean, so the holes in the fiber board are correct? I got the boards with the lv, so not really sure of there history or where they came from. They sure look nice and factory

If I remember correctly the insert in the door was a plastic cone shaped piece that pressed in.

You thinking OEM toyota or some JC whitney chub? Either one is fine by me

Thanks, Matt