Build 1978 Restoration (the best I can...)

[mikedickbek]

Finally sold my bike, so that freed up some room in the garage (not to mention $$$), so I at long last got to tear into my front end.

I started with the passenger side since that's the side that was making some strange noises before. Basically, when I'd turn left hard (at the stops) going slow, the passenger axle would make some funny popping noises, and the truck would lurch with every pop. I took it apart yesterday and I couldn't see anything that looked messed up. This is my first one though, so I'm not sure I'd notice if something was wrong. Nothing was broken or damaged in anyway though. It looked fairly new.

So today, I decided to time myself at the drivers side. At about 1 hour, I had the whole thing toar down with the exception of pulling the birf and inner axle out. Finally got them out after a lot of coaxing, wich screwed my good early-on pace. The inside of the birfield housing looked all sorts of chopped and dinged up. PO must have been in there at one time.

Now looking back, and going through my tech manual, I'm noticing that I never took out a snap ring like the manual and this forum says. there wasnt one in there.

Another thing I noticed is that the outer axles are different. the one I pulled out of the passenger side (the duller of the two below) has 'birfield' stamped into the side of the ball end. The shiny one from the driver's side doesn't, and was the hard one to take out. It just has some numbers stamped into it. Anyone know the differences? The flat parts on the shiny one are smaller, so that could have been a reason it was so hard to get out.

Oh well, here are some pics:

 

[90 Weight]

nice...lets see some more pics

 

[mikedickbek]

Got tired of cleaning dirt and grease and wanted to do something 'fun' so I sanded and painted the valve cover. I'm taking 'degnol's' lead and painting my engine like he did his.

 

[mikedickbek]

I then decided to give por-15 a try on my front axle. I wire wheeled it, then used Marine Clean and Metal Ready. I just put on the grey Por, and I've got the Black coat to put on it next. We'll see how it turns out...

 

[crazylandcruiser]

looks good mike. sucks you had to sell the R1... i have thought about selling my bike to get some money for the cruiser but dont have the power to watch someone ride it away. the front axle looks good... dont let that por15 get on you! i por15 my old 40 when i was back in high school lets just say people keep asking me what all the black stuff along my arms and on my face etc where... stuff does not like to come off! ill be watching this thread... jealous you get to be in Hawaii... i want to move back...

 

[F-junker]

You must be die hard to part with your 2 wheeler... I lose my mind without mine. My only method of therapy is my bike(s). My gal has threatened to leave me over the cruier and bike madness several times, I guess she finally figured out I'd live in a garage with my toys and not be broken up about it.

I've enjoyed this thread as I'm working on a 78 right now too. I finally started to drive it a few weeks ago. well until the knuckle job anyway. keep posting up those pics!

 

[LakeNorman_FJ40]

Mike,

Looking good and you are basically doing the same thing as me. Since you are this far into it, can I offer a suggestion? Go ahead and pull the engine and the other axle and take the frame to get it sandblasted and powdercoated. It seems like extra effort, but it will save you time in the long run and you'll probably spend 1/2 of the cost anyway on wire wheels, sandpaper, and paint.

It took me ~3 lloonngggg weekends with a heavy-duty wire wheel on my grinder plus some 80 grit on my DA sander to get the rust off my frame and prep it for paint. But since I didn't pull my engine, the frame rails facing the engine aren't accessible and thus are still grime covered. One day when I do an engine rebuild I'll also need to re-do my frame in the engine compartment.

Once I had the frame prepped it took me 2+ more weekends to paint the frame with POR Hardnose. Make sure you mix the Hardnose paint 100% accurately or the finish will fisheye really bad. I had to sand down the first coat and then go back and recoat it again. It actually helped fill in the surface pitting on my frame, but this is the 2nd and last frame I'll hand sand and paint.

For my axles, I just wire wheeled them clean and POR-15 base coated...before it dried I dusted it with self-etching primer and then followed up with multiple coats of Krylon semi-gloss. The axles are going to get scratched and dirty on the trail, so my thought was to make future touchups easy.

 

[mikedickbek]

Thanks for all the advise! I'm more than halfway done wire wheeling the frame now, and already bought the por, so my fate is sealed in that department. Next time though I'll most likely have it blasted and coated.

I also found out that Por doesn't come off skin too easy. I finally got the little bit that was on my hands off yesterday. lot's of picking...

Put the first coat of plastikote on the block also yesterday. I thought I had the whole thing oil free, but in a couple spots the paint bubbled up. I'm about to go down and de-grease those spots, and repaint.

I'll post some pics when it's done.

-Mike

 

[laguna80]

That's coming along nicely. If you see a green rust bucket 40 around, then that's probably me. I'm near UH.

 

[mikedickbek]

I've seen a green one around with no roof. It's got the sides and windows, but no top.

there's another great guy (HopII) here with a cruiser. We'll have to go wheelin when I'm done.

 

[mikedickbek]

Finished block. Still have to paint all the little odds and ends though.

 

[Degnol]

Looks Great!, now go over that cast finish with Clear engine enamel, you'll be happy!!!


Ed

 

[mikedickbek]

Sweet! Will do.
Thanks again for the sticker. I'll put that on last.

 

[Bodean]

sweet man. im looking forward to watching your project progress..... Looks like you have a nice clean cruiser to start off with!

So whats the plan? Trailer rig? DD?

Where would he trailer it to? Sorry, couldn't help it. Looks like a great rig to start with. Just make sure you take care of ALL of the rust. You will get plenty of help from this bunch. Remember, do it right the first time and you won't have to do it again for a long time. Good luck.

Later,

 

[TLCHopII]

I've seen a green one around with no roof. It's got the sides and windows, but no top.

there's another great guy (HopII) here with a cruiser. We'll have to go wheelin when I'm done.

Oh stop it! yA gonna make me all embarassed! LOL

THanks for the props. Anyone know who has the primer grey topless unit around UH/Kaimuki area?

Almost done with Mike's rock rails. Probaly avail to do your body mount repair/replacement with in the next coupel of weeks (work permitting)

 

[apeterson]

Finished block. Still have to paint all the little odds and ends though.

looks just like mine too... do like Ed says... Clear it you will not be dissappointed!!! looks great!!

 

[mikedickbek]

Probaly avail to do your body mount repair/replacement with in the next coupel of weeks (work permitting)

Sweet. Sounds good bro.

It'll be nice to get the frame all done... then it'll feel like i'm getting somewhere.

 

[mikedickbek]

Would this enamel be okay?

I used it on the valve cover already:

 

[mikedickbek]

Almost done with the engine, tranny and transfer case. Cleaning and painting are done atleast. Now, I just have to put a coat of clear over the transfer case and odds and ends, then I'll be done... time to finish off the frame now I guess.
before and after pics:

 

[mikedickbek]

before