I'm good at starting projects and getting bored. Have yet to finish something I've started. Hope the mods my buddies and I do to this fit ok for this section.
<Story>:
I've had this banged up and rolled 40 for almost 3 years now. Bought it sight unseen after a 3 month stint of seeing it on craigslist. Guy delivered it in the dark - paid him cash and had to head out of town for a few days.
When I finally looked at I was stoked. I think I got a good deal for the economy.
It came with:
Factory PTO Winch
Saginaw PS
4" Skycrapper
Pontiac 350
Pontiac Tilt Wheel
Heavy duty roll bar
33 12.5 tires
Stock Disk Brake front axle
I spent about a year trying to get it going with my lack of knowledge and 2 bannana skills with some help from a friend or two. Put some money into it getting it to run (gas filter was culprit) and when it ran experienced some amazing death wobble. I replaced the U-Joints on the axles over at Bulls house. Threw them back in... still amazing death wobble. Rodney gave me a steering stabalizer and I towed it back home.
It sat for another year or so and a neighbor stops by when I'm in the back yard working... asks if its for sale. I said I'd take what I have into it. He never came back. The economy had tanked since then and I think he was looking for a steal.
The very next day I put it in the garage... and there it sat for about 4-5 months.
Last weekend (memorial day) I finally started this project. The first step was tearing it down... and I'm really good at this. I wasn't going to start for about 6 weeks... but wanted to sell some of the parts I'm not using to fund it. Its a good thing this thing didn't run good. The PS linkage was partially tent pole. Some of the bolts on the shackles were loose. It had been rolled and part of the body was loose. The gas line was right next to the engine and melted. Masking and duct tape were the PO's Mod of choice throughout the rig.
</Story>
<Vision>
The vision I have for this rig is mild compared to some here and will possibly change but right now this is it:
- Keep the Pontiac 350 engine, but replace the carburation system.
- Replace Engine Mounts
- Replace rear frame mount and brace
- 4-Link it with the Proffitts setup, moving the rear axle 6" back
- Spring over the front
- Metal-Tech Tube Fenders
- Warn 8274 Winch
- Aluminum Front bull-bar with winch mount
- Metal-Tech Sliders
- Use existing cage with some gusseting
- Sandblast / PC Frame
- Upgrade to FJ62 axles (Longfields to come later)
- Tires - haven't figured out yet
- Metal-Tech Tube doors or make my own 1/2 doors.
- Volkswagon Beetle flower holder (09 model)
- Haven't figured out rear bumper yet
</Vision>
This will probably take me a year or two because I want to build it for $200.
Here is the rules I made up for my own $200 Madness. All money that goes into this rig has to be money either made from parting it or other Landcruisers out. I know, its kinda crazy.... but it can be done.
Here is where I'm at. This section will get updated as the build goes on.
Updated 9th August 2009:
$200 cruiser - - Lost it when my truck broke down on the way to pick it up. Found again 10 months later. What started the madness. With inflation $250
FJ40 (Chia) that I bought (as a boomerang buy) when $200 cruiser fell through - $2300
U-Joint parts - $100
Haggling and horsetrading with Bull $200
Metal-Tech Sliders $314
4-Link setup for 60 series axles $1250
Another rust free cruiser $800
New Poly bushings $100
FZJ80 Master and brake booster $100
Sandblasting $400
Primer $70
Axles $200
4 spd and transfer case $250
Axle rebuild kits $500
Ruff Stuff front junk $177
Total Investment as of Updated date above: $7011
Profits from Parting Cruisers out to go toward build starting 26th May, 2009:
Skyjacker sold from Chia: $280
Axles sold from Chia: $400 28th May
Sold a cruisah... 29th May $1100
Sold Parts 29 July $300
Sold Parts 3 August $220
Sold Parts 4 August $165
Sold Parts 6 August $200
Turned in scrap 11 August $50
Sold Parts 21 August $300
Sold Parts 27 August $850
Total investment $7011. Needed for $200 build goal - $2946.
I'm off to sell parts and will put the project on hold for 6 weeks due to pre-existing business. Going to fix the rear frame pieces and do the spring over / 4-link then with a few friends and some beer.
<Story>:
I've had this banged up and rolled 40 for almost 3 years now. Bought it sight unseen after a 3 month stint of seeing it on craigslist. Guy delivered it in the dark - paid him cash and had to head out of town for a few days.
When I finally looked at I was stoked. I think I got a good deal for the economy.
It came with:
Factory PTO Winch
Saginaw PS
4" Skycrapper
Pontiac 350
Pontiac Tilt Wheel
Heavy duty roll bar
33 12.5 tires
Stock Disk Brake front axle
I spent about a year trying to get it going with my lack of knowledge and 2 bannana skills with some help from a friend or two. Put some money into it getting it to run (gas filter was culprit) and when it ran experienced some amazing death wobble. I replaced the U-Joints on the axles over at Bulls house. Threw them back in... still amazing death wobble. Rodney gave me a steering stabalizer and I towed it back home.
It sat for another year or so and a neighbor stops by when I'm in the back yard working... asks if its for sale. I said I'd take what I have into it. He never came back. The economy had tanked since then and I think he was looking for a steal.
The very next day I put it in the garage... and there it sat for about 4-5 months.
Last weekend (memorial day) I finally started this project. The first step was tearing it down... and I'm really good at this. I wasn't going to start for about 6 weeks... but wanted to sell some of the parts I'm not using to fund it. Its a good thing this thing didn't run good. The PS linkage was partially tent pole. Some of the bolts on the shackles were loose. It had been rolled and part of the body was loose. The gas line was right next to the engine and melted. Masking and duct tape were the PO's Mod of choice throughout the rig.
</Story>
<Vision>
The vision I have for this rig is mild compared to some here and will possibly change but right now this is it:
- Keep the Pontiac 350 engine, but replace the carburation system.
- Replace Engine Mounts
- Replace rear frame mount and brace
- 4-Link it with the Proffitts setup, moving the rear axle 6" back
- Spring over the front
- Metal-Tech Tube Fenders
- Warn 8274 Winch
- Aluminum Front bull-bar with winch mount
- Metal-Tech Sliders
- Use existing cage with some gusseting
- Sandblast / PC Frame
- Upgrade to FJ62 axles (Longfields to come later)
- Tires - haven't figured out yet
- Metal-Tech Tube doors or make my own 1/2 doors.
- Volkswagon Beetle flower holder (09 model)
- Haven't figured out rear bumper yet
</Vision>
This will probably take me a year or two because I want to build it for $200.
Here is the rules I made up for my own $200 Madness. All money that goes into this rig has to be money either made from parting it or other Landcruisers out. I know, its kinda crazy.... but it can be done.
Here is where I'm at. This section will get updated as the build goes on.
Updated 9th August 2009:
$200 cruiser - - Lost it when my truck broke down on the way to pick it up. Found again 10 months later. What started the madness. With inflation $250
FJ40 (Chia) that I bought (as a boomerang buy) when $200 cruiser fell through - $2300
U-Joint parts - $100
Haggling and horsetrading with Bull $200
Metal-Tech Sliders $314
4-Link setup for 60 series axles $1250
Another rust free cruiser $800
New Poly bushings $100
FZJ80 Master and brake booster $100
Sandblasting $400
Primer $70
Axles $200
4 spd and transfer case $250
Axle rebuild kits $500
Ruff Stuff front junk $177
Total Investment as of Updated date above: $7011
Profits from Parting Cruisers out to go toward build starting 26th May, 2009:
Skyjacker sold from Chia: $280
Axles sold from Chia: $400 28th May
Sold a cruisah... 29th May $1100
Sold Parts 29 July $300
Sold Parts 3 August $220
Sold Parts 4 August $165
Sold Parts 6 August $200
Turned in scrap 11 August $50
Sold Parts 21 August $300
Sold Parts 27 August $850
Total investment $7011. Needed for $200 build goal - $2946.
I'm off to sell parts and will put the project on hold for 6 weeks due to pre-existing business. Going to fix the rear frame pieces and do the spring over / 4-link then with a few friends and some beer.
Last edited:
It all needs to be ground out. 
