- Thread starter
- #21
Finished welding up the rear axle spring perches, and fabricated the rear shock mounts. Threw a few beads on the stock sway bar mounts just to clean them up a bit... Painted and ready to go...
74' FJ55 Build... (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Cruiser Innovations
- Start date
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- Thread starter
- #22
One more axle photo
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- #23
Cut out some cancer rust on the passenger side floor board and made a new patch panel...
Spent a little time straightening out the roof... A little heat shrinking goes a long way...
Spent a little time straightening out the roof... A little heat shrinking goes a long way...
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- #24
Nice!... As soon as I'm road worthy I'll have to come check you guys out! Thanks for letting me know..
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- #25
Does anyone have any suggestions on leaf spring replacement options?
I am looking for a stock replacement because I have one front sagging spring.. I'd prefer a new replacement if possible but don't know of anyone who offers them...
I am looking for a stock replacement because I have one front sagging spring.. I'd prefer a new replacement if possible but don't know of anyone who offers them...
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- #26
Don of FC Fab in Stockton does a hybrid pack for FJ55s. He basically takes the stock FJ55 front main leaf and combines parts of FJ60 front pack. I think he has pictures of it on one of his builds on the Pirate4x4 forum.
I'm going to have him do a set for my FJ55. Mine are REALLY soft and I can cause axle wrap with a breaker bar on the front pinion nut
Not sure what he does for the rear springs.
Thanks Lil'John... I'll check it out
PabloCruise
SILVER Star
You do nice work Josh!
I like how you clean/paint everything as you go.
I like to do that too, it just makes every maintenance item take longer (in the short run).
I like how you clean/paint everything as you go.
I like to do that too, it just makes every maintenance item take longer (in the short run).
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- #28
Just finished installing the rear shocks, fabricated and installed the rear sway bay, and installed the u-bolts / u-bolt plates... It looks sweet and will post pictures tomorrow...
As far as potential axle wrap issues are concerned I am thinking about fabricating up some track bars, but will have to drive it first to see if I need them.
Packages that showed up today:
Radiator
Engine mounts
Body mount kit
SWEET I'm getting closer!
As far as potential axle wrap issues are concerned I am thinking about fabricating up some track bars, but will have to drive it first to see if I need them.
Packages that showed up today:
Radiator
Engine mounts
Body mount kit
SWEET I'm getting closer!
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PabloCruise
SILVER Star
SOA and I would definitely recommend a axle wrap device. Otherwise you are looking at a broken pinion. THis would not be a fun trail fix if you have your family with you!
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- #30
You're absolutely right...
I want this cruiser to be bullet proof for a moderately tuff trail... I don't plan on wheeling the wagon hard because I want it to stay looking nice and don't want to add a bunch of heavy parts that will make it even less daily driver worthy...
Eventually I would like to pull these 37X12.50X15 super swappers and swap them for a set of 35" Toyo M/T tires for a little nicer road characteristics.
- Thread starter
- #31
Rear sway bar and shocks
For the rear sway bar drop links I cut them in half and added a 12" long extension piece of DOM tubing. The two link pieces simply sleeved inside the DOM tubing which were then welded in place...
For the rear sway bar drop links I cut them in half and added a 12" long extension piece of DOM tubing. The two link pieces simply sleeved inside the DOM tubing which were then welded in place...
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- #32
In preparation for my new seats I cut out all the original hardware off the floor. Before I start to fabricate the seat mounts I need to weld all the spot welds back up that I drilled out...
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- #33
I'm using 2005 Chevy Tahoe fully adjustable power seats for the wagon. All the original seat mounting brackets have been removed so I can begin from scratch...
I have all new material to recover the door panels, rear seat, headliner, and front seats: Aligator style (But not quite as aggressive in texture) vinyl in dark graphite which will be used to wrap the seats, headliner and door panels, graphite suede for the inserts of the front / back seats, and partial accents on door panels, and finally a 57' Chevy turquoise vinyl for piping on the seats and door panels....
My plan is to paint the wagon a two tone: Black or Gun Metal on the bottom half, and 57' turquoise on the top. The grill, head light bezels, bumpers and accessorie pieces will be powder coated in a platinum wrinkle finish (Very nice stuff)...
Eventually I'd like to go with a black and machined style wheel...
I have all new material to recover the door panels, rear seat, headliner, and front seats: Aligator style (But not quite as aggressive in texture) vinyl in dark graphite which will be used to wrap the seats, headliner and door panels, graphite suede for the inserts of the front / back seats, and partial accents on door panels, and finally a 57' Chevy turquoise vinyl for piping on the seats and door panels....
My plan is to paint the wagon a two tone: Black or Gun Metal on the bottom half, and 57' turquoise on the top. The grill, head light bezels, bumpers and accessorie pieces will be powder coated in a platinum wrinkle finish (Very nice stuff)...
Eventually I'd like to go with a black and machined style wheel...
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LAMBCRUSHER
SILVER Star
wow. awesome build, dude. I am wondering about your sway bar and if the 12" extensions might put the sway bar/link joint into the bottom of the body under full stuff. Are you going to drop your bumpstops?
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- #35
I'd like to swap out the original bump stops for something larger, and if they still need to be dropped look into fabricating a drop bracket.
The sway bar seems to have plenty of clearance between the floor and sway bay ends. I set it up so that the sway bar was as parallel to the chassis as I could get it.
I guess the first test run will tell if they need to be shortened up a bit (No big deal)...
Thanks Lambcrusher! I have big hopes for this cruiser and my family, and can't wait to get out on the trail!
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LAMBCRUSHER
SILVER Star
I wish I was as disciplined with my parts prep as you are. Keep it up
Absolutely killer build,just my cup o tea.No one is going to be messin' with your family.
LOVE the hillbillied lift kit the Piggie started with!! 
Nice job on the rig so far. Keep us posted!
Nice job on the rig so far. Keep us posted!
I had a good experience getting my old springs re-arched...
- Thread starter
- #40
Do you have any referrals Pighead? I'm picking up another used set tomorrow but wouldn't mind sending a set out for a back up... FJ55 Parts are getting really hard to come by these days...
I'm up in Paradise, CA (1 1/2 hours north of Sacratomato) if you're ever in my neighbor hood you should give me a call.... I'll do like wise if I'm down in Sac with my pig...
