Build 4 door FJ40

[Volcanic Iceberg]

VI- I see what you're shooting for with the really narrow B-pillar, but do you think you'll be able to support the weight of a rear door on a narrower pillar than some that have been pictured already?

I think the reason it looks funny is because on newer (80-up) vehicles, the doors cover the B pillar completely when they are closed, so you can't even see it. I think it will be one of the more difficult parts of your design/build to get right... but I hope you do!

I think a narrow B pillar will still be strong enough for doors, or could be strenghthened.

 

[Volcanic Iceberg]

Found a few pictures of a 4 door. I like the angled rear door, However the rear doors on mine will cut into the bed which will allow the rear wheels to move forward so the wheelbase is not too long. I Dont want a shallow breakover angle.

 

[Volcanic Iceberg]

I just sold my 71' 40 series. Had too for financial reasons that made sence. It was a good cruiser and I couldnt justify cutting it up for a frankenstien project. So, now I am going to start fresh. The idea of the 4 door has been rekindled in my mind. with a clean slate, I am begining an intense search for a couple project cruisers that I can build from.

 

[whitey45]

This might help with motivation, i have a build thread in the 45 section. I got lucky and found this 4 door built in hollywood , very well done! Just needed a few tweeks.

 

[lenross1]

^Go run over the sign in it!

Is the added doors the same width as the original doors?

Can't tell from pic.
Speaking of pics let 's have some more or link us to the build thread.

 

[whitey45]

here is the link,rear doors are full width with a little mod for the rear wheelwell.https://forum.ih8mud.com/fj45-owners-club/793172-custom-4-door-build.html

 

[Volcanic Iceberg]

here is the link,rear doors are full width with a little mod for the rear wheelwell.https://forum.ih8mud.com/fj45-owners-club/793172-custom-4-door-build.html

Awesome! thats a close representation of what Im going for. Since I'll be stretching a 40 frame as well, would you mind posting some pictures of the frame stretch?

I found a cruiser to start my project with! Picking it up soon and excited to start the project.

 

[Volcanic Iceberg]

Here is another one.

 

[Volcanic Iceberg]

At last the moment has arrived when the project can actually begin! I was going through FouadHafeez 4 door build thread tonight and I realized that his project, Inspired by this thread - I think, was started and completed without any physical work even being started over here. Now I am the one inspired by his! Well The endless delays are over and there is presently, a recently aquired 40 series in my garage ready to go under the knife. Here is a picture of it loaded up for the journey Home. It is a 73' basket case. No engine, or transmission. 2" body lift, lots of previous owner hacks. But the price was right and I will take comfort in the fact that although I am forced to, everything on this truck will be gone through from the ground up.
I have already begun with the first step which is to sell all the extra parts that I had lying around, and that came with this cruiser to generate some capital. Next, get rid of that body lift and start the stretch!

 

[Volcanic Iceberg]

The rear axle was loosely bolted on upside down backwards. No rear shackles. one rear spring was a junk conglomeration of leafs. So I got that straightened out. Then backing it into the garage, Rear diff is binding up. Pinion is loose.

After going through the cruiser, I found a few treasures, but several things missing as well. Previous owner had lots of plans that never came to fruition apparently. Stock steering, Column, gear box, pedistal, drag link, and pivot, all MIA. Mr.Pepper gave me a manual gear box and a pedistal to borrow till I Figure out which Power steering set up I want use. Found a Pivot torn apart in a box. Also found a stock column and a GM tilt column. Still missing a drag link and pitman arm. At this point I just want to be able to steer it as I pull it in and out of my garage. Its also missing left side front shock mount. Also missing wiper motor and transmission, barn door hardware, Etc. Etc. Etc. Any help tracking down parts would be apreiated. If anyone knows of a bad tub with good metal where the top rests, I need both sides to build my door openings.

 

[watrob]

Iceberg for the sack of old age setting in you have been planning this since 2008, get on with it, some of us have done 2 rebuilds since this "I had a dream" this warm fussy feeling old age thing has to stop! All I have seen so far is a 40 in a wooden coffin, are your burying it or is Easter coming?

 

[Volcanic Iceberg]

Ok ok, I can take some ribbing on this one, It is probably deserved. This thread was started ages ago with no physical work to speak of. Starting this thread was probably premature. However since its beginning, I have built the 40 series tub trailer, which was my practice run for this fabrication. I have also aquired the body parts for the door openings and my design has evolved into something I believe worth building. I have appreciated everyones input and Ideas. I am as excited as anyone for the reserection. It begining..........NOW.

 

[woytovich]

Ready... set.... go!

 

[watrob]

Waiting 2008, waiting 2009, waiting 2010, waiting 2011, waiting 2012, waiting 2013, waiting 2014, waiting its coming, drum roll and the academy award goes to Volcanic Iceberg, the longest rebuild screen play in Ih8mud

The feature film of this rebuild better be pretty good , pics better be in HD & 5.1 surround sound.

 

[Volcanic Iceberg]

Started measuring and marking cut lines on the rear tub for the rear doors yesterday. As I have stated in prior posts, I am trying to push them as far back over the rear wheel wells as possible. Any inches gained here are inches I wont have to stretch the wheel base. My goal is to keep it as short as possible. I do not want to have a shallow break over angle.

 

[Volcanic Iceberg]

Looks like the maximum I can get out of the tub is aprox. 10". If I leave the doors full length, Aprox. 34", with 60 series springs, that puts my final wheel base at 116" - same as a JK incidentally. Thats more than I would like, but I will need to look closely at the doors to see if I can section them without messing up window opperation too much.

 

[watrob]

Now we are cooking with gas? we have a start, keep the pics coming? Have you thought about making the back set of doors a little smaller than the fronts?

 

[Volcanic Iceberg]

Now we are cooking with gas? we have a start, keep the pics coming? Have you thought about making the back set of doors a little smaller than the fronts?

Yes, of coarse I have considered it. Looking at them now to see if there is a logical way to take out a few inches. FouadHafeez said in his build that they took 6" out of the rear doors. Its not obvious to me how they did that and kept it clean on the inside. that would be the perfect amount however. Look at a JK. the rear doors are substantially narrower than the front.

 

[woytovich]

Maybe, dare i say, modify a set of junkyard JK doors? Or better yet maybe the guts could be used inside a narrowed 40 door with custom glass?

 

[Volcanic Iceberg]

Maybe, dare i say, modify a set of junkyard JK doors? Or better yet maybe the guts could be used inside a narrowed 40 door with custom glass?

I'm using the Jk as a model to get proportions right but body parts are all fj40.