1974FJ Rebuild of cruiser....

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Ramon, I did the hanger flip and then mounted the springs and saw that the angle wasnt what i desire. I really want to run the long shackle for the help it provides in droop and compression, but in the fact that i dont want that much droop and compression when im going down the highway. Its only tacked in right now, Im going to finish things up and see what i think later but for now i will most likey move it more forward to get more angle. Hows does your behave on the road, alot of body roll? or how bout when you mash the brakes?


I think both him and Edward Norton are pretty good in that film.
 
Well, i spent my saturday with a grinder and welder in my hand. I finially made the trac-bar!

I ordered some bushing and a ball joint from ballistic fab, sweet stuff! and then i started cutting and fabin'. I First had to make a rear crossmember. I wanted it close to the output of the t-case but i also wanted it removable too. So this is what i came up with... 2"x.250wall with a bend i made for the output



 
I wanted to make a truss for the rear axle but decided it wouldn't look right, so i came up with something that has an original look(in a backwards upside-down kinda way). I used the idea of the fj60 and fj80 axle housing mini-truss that they have welded on the bottom side of their axles and made my own to weld to the top. This also gives me more to weld too for my trac-bar bracket.

I made one of these for both sides but i didnt get it welded on yet...



 
I got my rear hard brake lines done! im pleased. I borrowed a tube bender and a flaring tool to complete this but im pleased. I also had to run the brake lines to the master cylinder too, Im tired of brake lines now!. I mocked up the shock mounts but im going to move the rear shackle hanger so i may move the shock mounts aswell.

 
I think this is a cruiser tear..




Im getting closer.....moved out of my tiny little shop to clean all that grinding dust that is everywhere!!!!!





Wanted to share this photo of what southerncruiser62 and i spotted one day in raleigh, pretty funny and it appeared to be well done.

 
wow, you are a brave soul for running that exhaust that tight to the firewall and the tunnel. In the hills, I can see 1100 degrees at the dump pipe pretty quickly and I run at 900 on the highway regularly. That's really freaking hot to be that close. I ran mine down the passenger side and outside the frame rail. Not the most ideal wheeling spot for it, but then, they are closing all the wheeling spots anyway!
 
Barry, i think that around the firewall will be hot but not damaging. Now around the floorboards around my feet and in the area around that shot from the tranny cover slot is going to be problematic and will need attention. I ABSOLUTELY tried every other route including getting so frustrated that i wanted to turn the exhaust straight up and out the hood(glad i cooled down and realized that was stupid, kidding lol). I tried it down the passenger side outside the framerail but that will not work like i want it too. Im going to have boatsides/tube sliders and that 3.5" is too big. Ive got a million tricks up my sleeve for keeping heat off my feet that are based around matting/coatings/heatshields/firewall(secondskinaudio.com).

Believe me, i didnt want it this close but my best option. There is about 3-3.5" from the exhaust to the floorboard only at that point where the tranny hump and firewall meet.


You never know, there might be a speed bump that will need climbing once our trails are gone.
 
Roger, when are you going to be trailworthy again and join us for a ride?
 
Josh..I have some ways to go..do to some shotty wire work from the PO I may have fried the alternator...I got nothing now..no juice flowing from the battery (battery is good, we checked it)...I'll give it a go sometime this weekend..I hope..
 
The body work has started. I got my CCOT panels in at the end of last week and couldnt wait to get started. I read the directions from CCOT and sorta followed what they suggest. I ended up dilling out both the wheelwell resistant-spot-welds and the spotwelds on the upper flange where they tell you to cut through. I did this so i could used that upper flange to clamp my panels for a even surface. Took alot of guess work out...easy too. I have since fully welded the panels one both sides. What i plan to do now is similar to what mtweller has done. He has also run the 55 rear springs and with the stock fenders he cut the rear curved section out and moved it farther back. Ill post pictures when i get to that but it basically looks like the factory opening but is longer to accept the extended wheelbase. I just hope i can do as nice a job as he has.

Before i could get going on the panels i had to completely repair my rear seal. It was in pretty foul shape. its not in showroom shape now either but lets be honest, this this isnt showroom quality. Nothing body filler cant hide.....haha







 
Ill have to take more pictures but i also completed the exhaust! 3.5" from turbo to tailpipe! so pumped with how it turned out. I understand its going to be an issue to keep my feet cool but i feel confident that i can make it bearable(i think, lol)

I couldnt see paying someone to bend me up some exhaust when i would want to spend more time doing it right than any exhaust fabricator around here would care to spend, trust me i know! Also, i wanted complete mandrel bends(3.5" across any cross section of the radius) for the best flow since i realized an intercooler was out of the question. Most muffler shop benders cant bend that large of pipe and if they could it would be very distorted and wrinkly. YES, i realize it not that necessary for the 3.5" exhaust but if i can run it....why not. It will help me with egts alittle..I got a volvo intercooler from local salvage yard in great shape but i would have to modify the front grill WAY TO MUCH, i couldnt handle that. So for now im going to hope for the best and run the wide open exhaust with 3" intake plumbing in hopes i dont see too high of temps...Always something that can be fixed later..

To find this tubing, i took it off a early model powerstroke(the rusted section of tubing) and the rest came from a mack truck(v12 gasser that had 3.5" tubing that was coated so its in much better shape. So ive got a Frankenstein exhaust that consist of about 20 sections, haha. Its all tacked together now but will be fully welded tomorrow morning. teaser photo

 
Sweet Martin! You are knocking it out brother! Wish you were closer; love to kick tires from time to time (your's for once :)).

:beer: R
 
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