'77 FJ40 buildup in Charlotte (finally)

[marks69cruiser]

Although I am glad for you that this amazing cruiser project is done... I am disappointed that it is all over. I guess I can always keep looking at the same pics over and over. Good luck on your next project.

 

[tmarx]

Have said it before and will say it again: Absolutely awesome !

 

[johnkappus]

Oh man! Great Job!!!!

I live on the west side of cleveland...and going to be keeping my eyes peeled

I'd love to see your workmanship up close.

Is the owner on MUD?

 

[John Smith]

The project turned out great!

Please post up a link here to your next project so we can follow along.

 

[proinv]

So, when do you start mine?

Hows the new job going? I am slowly getting my trip pictures together to post.

 

[Cirbo]

So, when do you start mine?

Hows the new job going? I am slowly getting my trip pictures together to post.

Thanks all!

David,

Please send me the link to the pictures when you get them posted. I'm wearing my Ouray t-shirt today to help with the withdrawls that I've been going through.

I've got two weeks under my belt at the new job. It's tough reporting to an office and sitting 20 feet from my boss. That is something I haven't had to do in the past 22 years.

Once I get acclimated to the new digs, I'll be looking for another project. Send me a truck to build!

Jim

 

[jackbrad]

You can come work on mine if you get that old cruiser feeling

 

[jp1978]

Don't know how I missed this thread until now with all the lurking I do on Mud!!! Nice work Jim!! Wish I could have seen it before it left for Ohio. Last time I saw this it it was a frame with the new MTs on it when we put the lift on Josh's 40. I can't believe what it became. NICE NICE WORK!!!!!

 

[fivetreoh]

BUMP for an excellent build thread.

 

[Cirbo]

Actually, I was preparing to resurrect it myself. I hope to have a few pictures of these installed in the coming days. The sewing was done by Chris Laws of Badger Coachworks. Chris did some custom work for (I think it was) a FJ-25 restoration project detailed here on MUD.

 

[Cirbo]

Installed product. For those who may be wondering, the steel half doors came from Paul Pilgrim via TLC. I had cold rolled steel inserts machined out to act as receivers for the 3/8 inch solid steel rods. I fabbed the frames up, had them powder coated, and TIG welded the inserts into the door bodies. (see past postings in this thread).

The frames were sent to Chris Laws at Badger Coachworks in MA, where the fabric and windows were sewn in. I am very pleased with the end result.

jC

 

[Cirbo]

additional shots....

 

[marks69cruiser]

The next bay over currently has a 1957 Land Rover 107" stationwagon in the early stages of rebuild. This project should be easy compared to the FJ, as it's a matter of putting it all back together. The problems are that I didn't take it apart and some of the pieces are missing.

Picture attached is not the actual truck, but one exactly like it. about 300 were made and 2 dozen are thought to exist in the US. I hope to have it done in about 6 months.

Any news on the Land Rover?

 

[Cirbo]

The rover was put on hold at the owners request in December. We are supposed to revisit the project after the first of the year to get it back on track, but that will depend on the holiday shopping season at the owner's retail shop.

I took the opportunity of the free month to begin work on my own project. I acquired a '67 FJ45LPB some months ago that was supposed to work as a daily driver while I cleared the garage of unfinished projects. Unfortunately, it didn't work very well for that purpose. I've begun to tear into it and collect parts for the build.

I'll make that a fresh build thread as soon as I get enough good progress and pictures to post.

Jim

 

[77CJ5]

.


Wow, this one turned out great!

Very sharp looking FJ!



.

 

[genesmith5720]

I noticed that the air cleaner is not the GM Performance model that comes with the RamJet. I need extra the extra room your cleaner would provide. I would appreciate the source and parts number for your air cleaner.

Thanks--Gene

 

[rbuljo]

Got in here looking for frame tie in for the roll cage.. Ended up reading 20 pages of craftmanship-porn..

Really amazing dedication to details. Love it, is it still going strong this mean green machine?

Big greetings from Norway.

 

[pc4400]

Got in here looking for frame tie in for the roll cage.. Ended up reading 20 pages of craftmanship-porn..

Really amazing dedication to details. Love it, is it still going strong this mean green machine?

Big greetings from Norway.

Some how I missed this thread until you brought it back from the dead, thanks!
That was 20 pages and 2 hours of cruiser-porn.

 

[Fairbanks40]

she's a beaut.

i would advise keeping that garage locked.

I'll trade you my 40 for that RV!!

 

[sggoat]

I'm actually in Fort Mill, just across the border.

The CCOT radiator was sold off and an aluminum V8 unit replaced it. Initially, it was was thought that a brass radiator would be easier to "field repair", but a little research proved that to be false.

I would argue that an Alum rad is way more difficult to clean/refurbish after it dumps all that oxide into the cooling system. It requires a tig welder to put the thing back together after you have to cut it apart and clean it out--way more expensive than a copper/brass rod-out and solder job-(in a pinch, you could do this with a plane old propane torch)-plus, now you have to deal with all the junk it threw into the head and block cooling passages. The T-stat Alum housing is bad enough, I wouldn't add more loading to the cooling system by putting in one of these--at least the copper/brass is friendly to the cast iron--