Builds 1969 FJ40 Father / Son Build

[royal cake]

Got my frame back from powder coat this morning, I'm very satisfied with the work. You can find areas that aren't perfect but that wasn't what I was going for. If anyone in Southern California is interested, this was done at Crisol Metal Finishing in Gardena. It's a little dusty in the pics, but finish looks good to me.

 

[royal cake]

Sorry I didn't get a better picture, but it did look like in some of the boxed areas of the frame they didn't get a good coating in there. I may touch that up with some paint; it's a pretty clean surface.

 

[royal cake]

While I'm posting, I can show off some parts that are waiting to be assembled. Some very nice rebuilt units from @65swb45. Carb, stock three speed and transfer case.

 

[royal cake]

So I’m test fitting the leaf springs up today and had a question for you all. This is a kit from Red Line I bought a while ago- I believe the springs are Pro Comp. When trying to fit the eye in the forward hangar of the rear spring, it looks like there isn’t enough “flat” to go up another half inch to be able to fit the pin. Is this common? Do I just need some umph to get it in there?

 

[royal cake]

It’s a tight fit but looks like I just needed more elbow grease and a pry bar to move it around.

 

[royal cake]

Getting a lot done this weekend, or at least it seems like it. Got my front end on the springs, just need to get some spring seat plates for the rear. At one time in this trucks life I believe a wheel probably came or else badly drug on something and I assume I chucked those plates cause they were torn up.

I got my 16x7 wheel vintique smoothies in and took them down to be powder coated. I really hope that’s the right size for the 235/85’s I want to put on there.
While I wait for that stuff I got the parking brake blasted and painted at home and got the new shoes in. Feels good to have everything fresh.

 

[royal cake]

Hey an extra part! Guess I’m not done. Haha

 

[65swb45]

Hey an extra part! Guess I’m not done. Haha

View attachment 2923830

Goes on before the two angled springs at the top.

 

[royal cake]

Goes on before the two angled springs at the top.

Thanks Mark. I put that guy back in- seems to have a generous amount of play - is there supposed to be a premier spring for that guide? I didn’t see any in the exploded views

 

[65swb45]

A wire clip, like the one that retains the parking brake cable to the backing plate.

 

[royal cake]

Wheels are back from powder coat; had them do the bumper at the same time. I followed suit from a thread here and used RAL 7042, traffic grey A.
Tires are set to be put on tomorrow and maybe I’ll have it rolling again this weekend.

 

[65swb45]

So the new brake shoes worked?

 

[royal cake]

So the new brake shoes worked?

Yes, like a glove. I’ll shelve my old ones for now. The drums fit right over the hub boss after I cleaned up the paint. Thanks!

 

[royal cake]

So when I went to throw my tires in and noticed my driver drum was not seating. The inside diameter against the hub is fine since I flipped it backwards to check. Then as I looked closer I noticed the driver hub is diff than the passenger. The OD is a bit larger, but very close to fit on the drum.
Are these hubs supposed to be diff? And which one is right?

 

[royal cake]

Well I took a little off the OD and it fit right up. If I find out later that hub won’t work I’ll have to change it.
But got it on its own 4 feet for now. That’s a big milestone for me. I need to drive it!

 

[65swb45]

So when I went to throw my tires in and noticed my driver drum was not seating. The inside diameter against the hub is fine since I flipped it backwards to check. Then as I looked closer I noticed the driver hub is diff than the passenger. The OD is a bit larger, but very close to fit on the drum.
Are these hubs supposed to be diff? And which one is right?

View attachment 2931545

View attachment 2931546

That’s what I was trying to tell you Shane. Same part, but variation in final machining. Nothing a little touch up with a grinder won’t fix.

Now let’s see some steering rod/center arm pics. Back to work!

 

[royal cake]

That’s what I was trying to tell you Shane. Same part, but variation in final machining. Nothing a little touch up with a grinder won’t fix.

Now let’s see some steering rod/center arm pics. Back to work!

Hey how’d you know?? Haha. Yeah it didn’t take much to get it to slip on there.
Coincidentally I just got the steering components out to clean up and that’s on the docket next.

 

[royal cake]

Got the center arm kit in today. Looking forward to seeing the parts march up this weekend. Sorry for the poor picture. I don’t want to open the bag yet and lose parts!

 

[royal cake]

So I sat up in a panic at work today thinking about my U-bolt plates. I was reading that the fit of the center pin should be very tight to the center hole of the plate to keep the axles from shifting.
When I installed mine I had to clean them up a bit to fit since they wouldn’t slide on. So how close is close? I pulled one off tonight and have about 0.005 to 0.008” clearance on the diameter. Should it be like a press fit? I can weld up the holes and redrill if necessary

 

[mrboatman]

So I sat up in a panic at work today thinking about my U-bolt plates. I was reading that the fit of the center pin should be very tight to the center hole of the plate to keep the axles from shifting.
When I installed mine I had to clean them up a bit to fit since they wouldn’t slide on. So how close is close? I pulled one off tonight and have about 0.005 to 0.008” clearance on the diameter. Should it be like a press fit? I can weld up the holes and redrill if necessary

You should be fine. Mine are definitely not a machine fit.