Builds 94 FZJ80 - Let the Adventure Ensue (6 Viewers)

[suzuguru]

Thank you for your service! And welcome to the shít show that is my thread!

Thanks, and same to you!

 

[FMC80]

This is not something I would do myself. I am not a welder. I have never welded anything and would not practice on a structural area of a vehicle.
I found local fabricators who did it all for me. I gladly handed over cash, sprayed some black paint after it cooled, and went on my way.

If your friend is a novice welder and he will use a 110v buzz-box welder, then, no. Take it to someone that can weld and fabricate properly or it could make it worse

This is a structural point and the whole idea is to reinforce to prevent a problem, not do a half ass trail repair.

Find a local fabricator that can do it, go through it with them and see if you can come together on a price.

Some exhaust shops have this ability, but they also will tell you they've been welding for years, then put their lowest paid man on it and you end up with crap.

Be prepared to spend $500-$1000 for someone else to do the final welding, even with your help to have it disassembled, cleaned, and ready to be welded.

I not sure why some Frames fail/crack at the steering box. Mine hasn't and it's seen a lot of extreme use.

I totally respect @jonheld"s opinion but depending on who you talk to welding on the frame can weaken it and why I haven't done mine.

I also agree with @BILT4ME if your going to do it it need to be done by a experienced welder/fabricator.

Should be easy to get 220 in you shop it's just two 110 legs

As long as you have a good, hot circuit that isn't being heavily drawn by other things, there's absolutely nothing wrong with welding it with a machine that runs off of 110-120 VAC. I've been welding for over 25 years (professionally, and at home), and I do probably 95% of my welding with a Miller 140 that runs off of 120 VAC. Most of the time, when I have the need to weld with a 220 VAC outlet, it's because there isn't a hot enough 120 VAC in the area. Occasionally, I will need more power to weld on something really thick. In that case, I usually use my Miller Bobcat gas-powered welder.

I want to add to this. This isn't a real criticism. But having been around enough car hobbies you see it a lot. People plan and buy and build and keeping adding thinking they need it perfect before using it. Then when it's finally usable they are tired of it.

I'm a big fan of driving it, and upgrade as you have issues. Learn to drive it.

None of this is directed anyone here. Simply advice from an old man.

This is an excellent point. I have seen it time and time again. Years ago, when I was big into Suzuki Samurais, we had a friend that also had one. He never went on trail rides or camping trips with us, because he didn't have this or that done to his Samurai. "Oh, I can't go... I have to get my lift" or "I can't go, I need to get my lockers, winch, etc...." After many years of trail rides and camping with our little Samurais, we finally stopped going. It was about that point that he finally finished all his upgrades. Now it just sits in his garage.

Sounds like the perfect excuse to install a sub panel for a 220 drop, pick up a miller 211, and learn to weld. It's not rocket science when dealing with mild steel.

With youtube and time, you'd be able to install a doubler / scab plate easily. Your frame isn't 1/2" steel, so you aren't going to need the full capability of a 220v machine, but it will absolutely run smoother.



Definitely use it, but also there are those of us that tend to enjoy the tinkering more than the using...I am admittedly one of those... I know I'm weird, people tell me all the time.

One passion feeds the other. I love improving the capability and longevity of what i drive and I love driving it, which inevitably causes breakage and more improvements.

Gents, thank you for the discourse. This is one of the many reasons why this forum is phenomenal. The years of collective knowledge and experience, difference in perspective, personalities, tricks of the trade and more.

I’ve decided to hold out based on the sage advice given to me.

For those of you who know me, know I hate money. I’m allergic to it and I’m unafraid to drop whatever I need in order to do something right. Buy once, cry once.

So with that, I wanted to mate my engine and tranny together but time for away from me. I was busy researching how to best clean the dirty tranny (so to speak), I wondered if a 300 thread count pillow sheet was too harsh to clean my bus tranny with, I researched until my mind was drunk and didn’t get to tinkering at all. Ended up using toothpicks to clean between all the grooves and under the clamps.

Just kidding. **** that noise. Your turn to zoom in on these pics and brutally pick apart my poor maintenance practices. @White Sheep forgot to tag you my homie.

Did this bullshít heater line under the truck since I forgot I did one half a month ago and left the other half on the shelf and found it today. Total pain in the a$$. The rubber bonds to the metal pipes. Makes it sporty.

Getting closer.

~I’m pretty tired. I think I’ll go home now.

 

[Feldrian]

Gents, thank you for the discourse. This is one of the many reasons why this forum is phenomenal. The years of collective knowledge and experience, difference in perspective, personalities, tricks of the trade and more.

I’ve decided to hold out based on the sage advice given to me.

For those of you who know me, know I hate money. I’m allergic to it and I’m unafraid to drop whatever I need in order to do something right. Buy once, cry once.

So with that, I wanted to mate my engine and tranny together but time for away from me. I was busy researching how to best clean the dirty tranny (so to speak), I wondered if a 300 thread count pillow sheet was too harsh to clean my bus tranny with, I researched until my mind was drunk and didn’t get to tinkering at all. Ended up using toothpicks to clean between all the grooves and under the clamps.

Just kidding. f*** that noise. Your turn to zoom in on these pics and brutally pick apart my poor maintenance practices. @White Sheep forgot to tag you my homie.

Did this bullshít heater line under the truck since I forgot I did one half a month ago and left the other half on the shelf and found it today. Total pain in the a$$. The rubber bonds to the metal pipes. Makes it sporty.
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Getting closer.

~I’m pretty tired. I think I’ll go home now.

I don't hate money - without it i couldn't buy more Cruiser parts.

 

[FMC80]

I don't hate money - without it i couldn't buy more Cruiser parts.

Me either, that was hyperbole. I’m not literally allergic to money. Silly man. I’ll write slower for you next time.

 

[Feldrian]

Me either, that was hyperbole. I’m not literally allergic to money. Silly man. I’ll write slower for you next time.

I'm Australian, 4 drinks deep and have been punched in the head a lot.

I blame Obama [or any other scapegoat that absolves me of responsibility here].

 

[Feldrian]

Me either, that was hyperbole. I’m not literally allergic to money. Silly man. I’ll write slower for you next time.

Is hyperbole like the Superbowl but cooler?

 

[Dusten]

Is hyperbole like the Superbowl but cooler?

Great now I'm going to read it as soo per bol eeee

 

[FMC80]

Is hyperbole like the Superbowl but cooler?

I think it’s a cocaine based soup. it’s what the cool kids do these days.

“If I had some hyperbole, this engine would be in already and I’d be driving it instead of talking about beefing up my frame”

 

[PNWTreeOctopus]

But seriously...about that transmission and transfer case....J/k. You gonna crack open that Transfer case and do the gears for better final ratios? I know all the cool kids are doing that. Espically with 37's on 4.88's. How you gonna follow @baldilocks all over the sierras?

 

[Feldrian]

But seriously...about that transmission and transfer case....J/k. You gonna crack open that Transfer case and do the gears for better final ratios? I know all the cool kids are doing that. Espically with 37's on 4.88's. How you gonna follow @baldilocks all over the sierras?

I run 37s with 4.56s. Don't be a baby!

 

[Feldrian]

But seriously...about that transmission and transfer case....J/k. You gonna crack open that Transfer case and do the gears for better final ratios? I know all the cool kids are doing that. Espically with 37's on 4.88's. How you gonna follow @baldilocks all over the sierras?

And @baldilocks will be in 2 wheel drive because his gear pattern was jacked and he broke something

 

[FMC80]

But seriously...about that transmission and transfer case....J/k. You gonna crack open that Transfer case and do the gears for better final ratios? I know all the cool kids are doing that. Espically with 37's on 4.88's. How you gonna follow @baldilocks all over the sierras?

If it wasn’t winter outside, I’d get the pressure washer and get after it but nah. It’s fine. It’s the bus tranny!! Dirty fúćking tranny. I feel like I’m back in Thailand. I’ll never be the same. Anyway. Ahem.

And no, I’m not doing anything with the transfer case. I just want the engine to run.

 

[Feldrian]

If it wasn’t winter outside, I’d get the pressure washer and get after it but nah. It’s fine. It’s the bus tranny!! Dirty fúćking tranny. I feel like I’m back in Thailand. I’ll never be the same. Anyway. Ahem.

And no, I’m not doing anything with the transfer case. I just want the engine to run.

I broke the pressure washer out and washed Sweet Brown in 35 degrees last weekend.

Your air force is showing

 

[FMC80]

I broke the pressure washer out and washed Sweet Brown in 35 degrees last weekend.

Your air force is showing

Valid.



But.



Water is turned off outside here. Plus it’s cold af. No thanks. I like my trannys dirty.

 

[FMC80]

How the hell do your pipes not freeze in winter?

 

[Somebodyelse5]

What is cold?

 

[baldilocks]

And @baldilocks will be in 2 wheel drive because his gear pattern was jacked and he broke something

I would be very pleased to meet you all at Loon lake to take on the Rubicon. It’s a very happy place to be. Spider Lake is fantastic. Good morning ladies.

 

[FMC80]

@Feldrian @PNWTreeOctopus it's supposed to be 60 degrees here today. Like my wife, the water is still turned off outside. Turns out, I found the water shut-off valve in my basement and a simple 90-degree turn of a valve will turn the water on for me to wash this dirty tranny. Ain't gonna happen.

Matt was right all along; I'm Air Force all the way and will not subject myself to potentially getting wet if I'm not in a heated pool or jacuzzi. This drivetrain is getting stabbed today as long as I don't get in my own way.

Good morning @baldilocks

 

[baldilocks]

Reads like you have a lot to do. Some days we go and some days we don’t. Motivation used to be turned on consistently but these days I do more thinking that doing.

 

[FMC80]

Reads like you have a lot to do. Some days we go and some days we don’t. Motivation used to be turned on consistently but these days I do more thinking that doing.

My goal today is to stab the engine and get it 3-pointed. I will take my time putting everything back together and getting her running. Still a lot to do.
The interior is taken apart, seatbelts need to go back to safety restore for round two, diffs need to come out for regear, suspension needs attention and something’s removed and other things added, and a lot more but the obvious is the drivetrain.

Once I get her in today, I’ll be able to settle down and get busy with everything else.

Still looking for a trailer to tow my cruiser with as well. I’m finding many options out here. None as fancy as what @Feldrian bought. I’m spending about half or less of what he did. I’m thinking 20ft, double axle, power brakes, wooden platform, simple. I won’t use it often enough to justify a higher build but I can still use it for my farm equipment needs and errands around here.

Time to get to work!