- Thread starter
- #61
Few more photos of the steering box setup
74' FJ55 Build...
- Thread starter Cruiser Innovations
- Start date
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- Thread starter
- #62
Front clip inner fender wells have been stripped an painted.. Painted photos coming soon....
I need a sand blaster!
I need a sand blaster!
- Thread starter
- #64
Thank you...
I haven't decided yet. The rockers are in excellent condition so I'll probably just clean them up and leave them alone until there's an issue (Some day I'm sure there will be ;p)....
- Thread starter
- #65
Htownfire,
Your Diesel Pig gives me goose bumps! That thing is awesome! I love the color, and the 4BT power-train. There was a local guy who told me he had a brand new crate 4BT that a friend had picked up from a bulk liquidation sale from some warehouse. He told me he had a few of them and didn't know what he was going to do with them so I told him how ever many he had I would buy them all!
The guy disappeared after that... I think another Cruiser head got to him, stole all of his diesels, and took him deep into the hills never to be seen again... Just kidding... But sure enough when something seems to good to be true...
Some day I'll be dropping a diesel into this old pig myself. For now I just want to get it on the road...
I am thinking that would not be overkill at all...and that the steering box will twist the frame without more re-inforcements.
- Thread starter
- #67
I'm not trying to say your wrong but I can't imagine any boxed chassis that has been properly sleeved would actually twist the chassis, and would like to see one if it has.
The scout I pulled the steering box from had a boxed chassis with no sleeves and only a plate the joined the leading two bolts together on the inner frame rail. The truck is over 30 years old and has no signs of damage to the frame rails caused by inadequate reinforcement for the steering box.
The Fj55 Chassis has a very similar style chassis as the scout, and after installing DOM sleeves which will prevent the chassis from collapsing under the required bolt torque, and re-installing the same leading two bolt plate on the inner frame rail I can guarantee I am not under building the steering box mount...
I'm sure not going to say your wrong either. I am no fabricator. Just passing along what I heard from my fabricator. Though I have seen FJ40 frames twist from power steering, I have not seen it on a 55...
Your building a great pig. I wouldn't go with a 4bt unless you really love the sound on the diesel power plant. (you will hear it) I lov mine. If you do go with the 4bt make sure it has the P pump, you can get more power out of it. I'm running 3.73 gears, and mine runs 80mph at 1200 rpm. That was the reason for the doubles. I wanted to be able to crawl and put it on the road. If you have any questions PM me I can save you alot of F ups.
I love my rockers, I stole the idea from scottryans green pig. I'm loving your progress keep us in the loop myfriend.
I love my rockers, I stole the idea from scottryans green pig. I'm loving your progress keep us in the loop myfriend.
- Thread starter
- #70
No worries Pighead! I appreciate your advice, and the last thing I want to do is build something that is unsafe....
You were right about the Frombe steering not fitting (Damn You)...
- Thread starter
- #71
My two favorite Pigs so far are yours and Scottryans, and your right about the rockers, they look awesome!
I'm a huge fan of the diesel drive train. I have a 87' GMC Crew cab that use to be a dually but I shortened the chassis and made it a crew cab fleet side short bed.
It has a 2007 24 Valve Cummins with a G56 6 speed manual mated to a Atlas 3 to 1 gear reduction transfer case (Still a project unfortunately).
Build Thread link:
Custom 1987 GMC Crew Cab Short Bed - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network
I own a 77' BJ40, built a few other BJ40's (One with a custom turbo system I built from scratch), and lastly I have a 55 GMC pickup I plan to put a 12 valve cummins / NV4500 4X4 set up in.... I love diesels (Smell, noise, and all)!
- Thread starter
- #72
Photos of the sleeves used in the frame rails for the steering box mount.
- Thread starter
- #73
After welding in the sleeves I figured I'd clean up the frame rails a little.. My goal when ever I fabricate is to make everything look like nothing was altered. welding in the mounting holes for parts that will no longer be used is a good way to clean things up...
- Thread starter
- #74
Here are a few shots of the steering setup after all the parts have been prepped and painted. I'm not a big fan of using old hardware unless they can be cleaned up like new, and in this case I needed different length bolts any how. A quick trip to ACE for some grade 8's and the steering box was in its new home...
- Thread starter
- #75
New custom built cross flow radiator with electronically control 180 degree thermostat for the electric fan, and an internal oil cooler that will be used when I install my diesel drive-train looks awesome! I'm very happy with this install... I also painted the inner fender wells which helped clean things up a bit...
- Thread starter
- #76
One more shot of the radiator and Bryan telling me one of his great ideas... What the hell was he talking about (Your guess is as good as mine 
)
)
- Thread starter
- #77
The last thing that was done this evening was the front clip was put back on.
The steering column was really tight so we pulled it out, solvant tanked the bearings, lubed them (Smooth as glass now), and of course stripped the steering column housing and repainted it...
Tomorrow I need to contact Alcan to order up my new springs, install the steering column, hook up the radiator, finish installing the transfer case levers (Thanks John Pardi for your help on the part I was missing), and start setting up the seat mounts...
I would love to see this truck on the road in the next week or two...
To do list:
Exhaust system
Brakes
and a bunch of other unforeseen crap...
The steering column was really tight so we pulled it out, solvant tanked the bearings, lubed them (Smooth as glass now), and of course stripped the steering column housing and repainted it...
Tomorrow I need to contact Alcan to order up my new springs, install the steering column, hook up the radiator, finish installing the transfer case levers (Thanks John Pardi for your help on the part I was missing), and start setting up the seat mounts...
I would love to see this truck on the road in the next week or two...
To do list:
Exhaust system
Brakes
and a bunch of other unforeseen crap...
You are doing great work sir! I can only dream of having your skills. Sigh
TK
TK
- Joined
- Sep 16, 2008
- Threads
- 96
- Messages
- 2,930
- Location
- Freensville
- Website
- www.poolpartydeathmachine.com
This build is amazing.
tucker74
Moderator
Gonna be one sweet piggy 
Tucker
Tucker
