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last one
..And so it begins.... my BJ40 frame off restoration
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Whoah!
Awesome! Are you planning on a turbo for that 1HZ?
Dan
Awesome! Are you planning on a turbo for that 1HZ?
Dan
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Dan,
Isn't it just so dang purty! Yes I have had an add in WTB a CT26 for about two weeks and got one guy who is trying to help a friend sell a reconditioned turbo. I had no idea that these were not easy to come by. You would not believe the outrageous price that they want for a new one from the dealership here. So long story, long, yeah I'm still looking.
John
John, your steering knuckles are probably the large pattern ones after what you described to me in the PM. Here's a picture of the small pattern shim on the large pattern knuckle.
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Yesireebop!!! And somebody we both know, not you, owes me 100.00 Quetzales. As we all know Charles, you da man. That is exactly how the pattern looks when I tried to place it over my knuckle bolts. Now it's time to start hunting down some 60 steering arms. I wouldn't be so happy if I wasn't so anal. Now it will be all 60 series from knuckle up to the last tie which is 70 series but equally beefy. Not one thing wrong with the 40 setup, I just don't like mixing and matching if I can help it.
Ok for the rest of folks, I ran short of parts while I was in the middle of the 60 series ps install. Long story short the warehouse let my parts guy down and we ended up short a promised tie rod end. Additionally, as we mocked the beefier drag links and tie rods all up it was clear that I would need new steering arms. Again not available in this country. So in an effort to avoid a long wait for another parts shipment from stateside myself and another guy from my club decided to make a parts run over to Guatemala, domain of cruiser_guy and 4x4 Off Road Unlimited, another great club in this region that my club, Team El Salvador 4x4, links up with from time to time. Long story short, I got some hopefully great shocks (Rancho RS9000X), most all the makins for a CT26 turbo, 60 series OEM drag link and what may end up being some new front seats for the rig. Imagine my surprise when Byron Sanchez, a great guy from 4x4 Unlimited, was guiding us through Guatemala City following my directions to Charles's place when he leaned out of his window and said hey I know these guys, why didn't you say that we are going to see "the Canadians". However small the world is the cruiser world is really small. Pics to follow of the ps install when completed including my lessons learned and there were some.
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PS Install pics
Ok guys, it has taken a while for me to get all of the pics organized and for a break in the action to happen so first the 60 series PS install. As I said earlier there are lots of little variables here, the following represents the choices that I made, at least with the jury still out one one of them, i.e. shock tower placement.
The pics will show PS gear box placement, steering column rebuild and pump placement. While we were back under the front end I upgraded all of the TRE's to 60 series, with the exception of the ball joint which I could only get a 70 series. In stead of using 60 series drag links I went with a local mod very popular with my club, the "heavy duty" custom drag links.
Ok guys, it has taken a while for me to get all of the pics organized and for a break in the action to happen so first the 60 series PS install. As I said earlier there are lots of little variables here, the following represents the choices that I made, at least with the jury still out one one of them, i.e. shock tower placement.
The pics will show PS gear box placement, steering column rebuild and pump placement. While we were back under the front end I upgraded all of the TRE's to 60 series, with the exception of the ball joint which I could only get a 70 series. In stead of using 60 series drag links I went with a local mod very popular with my club, the "heavy duty" custom drag links.
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Steering shaft shots. This was custom made by Leonel, standing in the dark blue tee shirt above, as is every other mod on my car that didn't come from a kit.
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With the ps gear box now hooked to the steering column it was time to deal with the front end, i.e., from the pitman forward. The ps pump was eventually situated in the place of the ac compresor on this engine. I'm not sure if I have a pic of it but it doesn't matter for now as the new engine has the p.s. pump and ac compressor already mounted in their respective places.
These shots show the 70 series TRE/ball joint, connected to the reinforced 60 series drag link and following through to the 60 series TREs all ending up in my large bolt pattern 60 series steering arms. I have got to say I'm pleased with this setup. The drag links are now substantially more sturdy than stock which I thought was important given how I use the rig and that I may well go with tires that are bigger than 33s.
These shots show the 70 series TRE/ball joint, connected to the reinforced 60 series drag link and following through to the 60 series TREs all ending up in my large bolt pattern 60 series steering arms. I have got to say I'm pleased with this setup. The drag links are now substantially more sturdy than stock which I thought was important given how I use the rig and that I may well go with tires that are bigger than 33s.
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More of the front end
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Winch
I get that this build isn't proceeding as I might if I were elsewhere. Here I have to order parts for different sections, e.g., steering, inner axles etc but in order to try to keep things moving I end up more often than not having bits installed in the order in which stuff shows up in the mail
. The only driving logic is that I want to get as much done as possible before the new engine shows up, before the rainy season(big 4x4 season) starts and everything else done before body work and paint.
All that said I have I spotted a Gorilla winch on the web. I checked around here and there were a few folks who had them and aside from saying that they were slow thought they were decent for the money. I opted for the electric 12klb winch for less than $400.00USD. Since my plan is to eventuallu have a hydraulic and an electric winch this seemed like a decent buy. I had it installed last week and went wheeling this weekend. I probably won't have a chance to really test it out until it rains hard and that thick red clay mud gets deep. Anyway here are the pics, no surprises opn the install.
I get that this build isn't proceeding as I might if I were elsewhere. Here I have to order parts for different sections, e.g., steering, inner axles etc but in order to try to keep things moving I end up more often than not having bits installed in the order in which stuff shows up in the mail
. The only driving logic is that I want to get as much done as possible before the new engine shows up, before the rainy season(big 4x4 season) starts and everything else done before body work and paint.All that said I have I spotted a Gorilla winch on the web. I checked around here and there were a few folks who had them and aside from saying that they were slow thought they were decent for the money. I opted for the electric 12klb winch for less than $400.00USD. Since my plan is to eventuallu have a hydraulic and an electric winch this seemed like a decent buy. I had it installed last week and went wheeling this weekend. I probably won't have a chance to really test it out until it rains hard and that thick red clay mud gets deep. Anyway here are the pics, no surprises opn the install.
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Accident
As many of you know this is my DD. This had to happen sooner or later but a guy ran into the back of me on the way to work. A pickup pulled fully out into a major road without stopping, right in front of me. I stopped bu the guy behind me didn't. His corolla hit my bumperette. As you can surmise when small light object moving at some speed strikes steel encrusted mini tank... well let's just say I THINK he left some hood paint on the underside of my bumperette. His vehicles hood however had an odd twisted accordion like look to it. Luckily no one was hurt, just damage to his property and he had insurance. So after the approximately 18 cops from four different agencies all converged on the scene in the middle of rush hour stop and go traffic it was decided that I could go on my way.
As many of you know this is my DD. This had to happen sooner or later but a guy ran into the back of me on the way to work. A pickup pulled fully out into a major road without stopping, right in front of me. I stopped bu the guy behind me didn't. His corolla hit my bumperette. As you can surmise when small light object moving at some speed strikes steel encrusted mini tank... well let's just say I THINK he left some hood paint on the underside of my bumperette. His vehicles hood however had an odd twisted accordion like look to it. Luckily no one was hurt, just damage to his property and he had insurance. So after the approximately 18 cops from four different agencies all converged on the scene in the middle of rush hour stop and go traffic it was decided that I could go on my way.
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Driving lights
My original plan was to go with some OEM Koitos from Mot but they were pricey and with shipping I felt a little stretched. As it happened I came accross these on Amazon. I got 4 for the price of 2 Koitos and that includes the wiring harnesses. No issues on the install.
My original plan was to go with some OEM Koitos from Mot but they were pricey and with shipping I felt a little stretched. As it happened I came accross these on Amazon. I got 4 for the price of 2 Koitos and that includes the wiring harnesses. No issues on the install.
Hi, what do you think of your suspension? I think I have the same everything except the shocks are Procomp ES3000, and I have found the ride to be very harsh. I am trying to determine if a better matched shock might make it tolerable. Nice work so far, by the way. I will be very interested in how the importation goes as I am interested in getting a vehicle from Costa Rica in the future.
Thanks
Thanks
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Time for another test drive
Ok obviously with new shocks, PS, heavied up steering links and new TREs and of course driving lights it was time to take the baby out for a spin and see how the new bits hold up. The report, PS IS DA BOMB
, the shocks and the rest of the steering broke in nicely and even the driving lights got a work out in the clouds of dust on the trails. The spotters and trail leaders wanted them on so that we could keep interval better. The new big Hella 4000s worked great. Not too sadly though no winch test as we have a few weeks still before the rainy season kicks in so no deep sticky mud yet.
Ok obviously with new shocks, PS, heavied up steering links and new TREs and of course driving lights it was time to take the baby out for a spin and see how the new bits hold up. The report, PS IS DA BOMB
, the shocks and the rest of the steering broke in nicely and even the driving lights got a work out in the clouds of dust on the trails. The spotters and trail leaders wanted them on so that we could keep interval better. The new big Hella 4000s worked great. Not too sadly though no winch test as we have a few weeks still before the rainy season kicks in so no deep sticky mud yet.
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A couple more
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BeratE,
I think that the ride is smoothing out. Things got infinitely better with the Rancho 9000x adjustables. The ex-gf told me that previously the rig rode like an old farm truck."
"I have been in tractors that had a better ride than this". I now have the Ranchos and they are now dialed down to 1 front and back. After really working and flexing the suspension this weekend the rig does "feel" like it rides better. I think that only time will tell. P.S. the new gf likes the ride just fine. I was set on the Bilstein 5100 series but just couldn't get them. In a few years after these wear out I will probably try those next but for now I'm liking the Ranchos.John
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Given the lights, radios, winch etc. I decided to go with the National Luna split charging system. That will go on day after tomorrow.
Next I want to box in the winch better and get it protected as well as give some support to the light bar. I decided to get the Nose guard from Metal Tech and two of the support bars that normally brace the stinger that they sell. As I already had the light bar on my Hawkdriver bumper I decided to improvise a little and use the support rods to brace the light bar turning it into a winch box and light bar. Hopefully I can get some pics of all of this before this weekend. Saturday, the U.S. select team will play here against El Salvador in the World Cup qualifier. If I don't get the pics in before then it won't happen until next week.
Thanks,
John
Next I want to box in the winch better and get it protected as well as give some support to the light bar. I decided to get the Nose guard from Metal Tech and two of the support bars that normally brace the stinger that they sell. As I already had the light bar on my Hawkdriver bumper I decided to improvise a little and use the support rods to brace the light bar turning it into a winch box and light bar. Hopefully I can get some pics of all of this before this weekend. Saturday, the U.S. select team will play here against El Salvador in the World Cup qualifier. If I don't get the pics in before then it won't happen until next week.
Thanks,
John
John -
Thanks for the opinion. My rig came with the setup and I suspected that it really was the pathetic shock's fault that every time I drive it I feel like a bobble head doll. I am planning on going with the Bilstein's, so hopefully I will be grinning a lot more soon. Do you have numbers for extended and contracted lengths eyelet to eyelet from when you ordered the Ranchos? I just want to check if my figures match up and then I can get on to ordering a set.
Thanks again. Btw the rig looks like it handled the cruise very nicely
Thanks for the opinion. My rig came with the setup and I suspected that it really was the pathetic shock's fault that every time I drive it I feel like a bobble head doll. I am planning on going with the Bilstein's, so hopefully I will be grinning a lot more soon. Do you have numbers for extended and contracted lengths eyelet to eyelet from when you ordered the Ranchos? I just want to check if my figures match up and then I can get on to ordering a set.
Thanks again. Btw the rig looks like it handled the cruise very nicely
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BeratE,
the numbers for your rig will depend on your lift. When I still had hope to get a set of Bilsteins I went to the website and got the number for the East Coast service center. I called up and got a customer service tech guy on the line. He was verry knowledgeable and we ran through a series of questions at the end of which he did some calculations gave me some numbers and then pointed me to exactly which model and size Bilsteins I needed. As for the Ranchos I got the biggest that they had.
John
the numbers for your rig will depend on your lift. When I still had hope to get a set of Bilsteins I went to the website and got the number for the East Coast service center. I called up and got a customer service tech guy on the line. He was verry knowledgeable and we ran through a series of questions at the end of which he did some calculations gave me some numbers and then pointed me to exactly which model and size Bilsteins I needed. As for the Ranchos I got the biggest that they had.
John
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Dual Batteries: National Luna split charging system Install
Ok,
The good thing about having a good mechanic is that ..you have one. The bad thing is that everyone brings their stuff there and he gets backed up. So after trying to have him install this three times I just had him put together a dual battery tray and I decided to do this install my self. I am not knowledgeable about engines but if given a straight forward enough task that is electrical in nature I can usually get it done.
The kit comes with loads of battery cable, inline fuses, some really great battery terminals with extra posts for accessories, controller soelnoid, a combination in cab charge controller/dual battery monitor/ low charge alarm and and some easy step by step instructions for guys like me who often shop in the "(pick your topic) for Dummies" section of the bookstore.
For a pro there are probably lots of ways to start this out. After reading the instructions and looking over the diagram I decided to pull the accessories from my current battery keeping positive and negative leads to their respective sides so as not to get confused later. One surprise is that the National Luna folks strongly recommend that you keep the winch on the main battery and not bring it over to the accessory battery. The reasoning is that the solenoid will allow the alternator to charge the main first and if you are doing heavy winching then keeping the winch on the main means that it will be working off the batt that is getting recharged first.
Ok,
The good thing about having a good mechanic is that ..you have one. The bad thing is that everyone brings their stuff there and he gets backed up. So after trying to have him install this three times I just had him put together a dual battery tray and I decided to do this install my self. I am not knowledgeable about engines but if given a straight forward enough task that is electrical in nature I can usually get it done.
The kit comes with loads of battery cable, inline fuses, some really great battery terminals with extra posts for accessories, controller soelnoid, a combination in cab charge controller/dual battery monitor/ low charge alarm and and some easy step by step instructions for guys like me who often shop in the "(pick your topic) for Dummies" section of the bookstore.
For a pro there are probably lots of ways to start this out. After reading the instructions and looking over the diagram I decided to pull the accessories from my current battery keeping positive and negative leads to their respective sides so as not to get confused later. One surprise is that the National Luna folks strongly recommend that you keep the winch on the main battery and not bring it over to the accessory battery. The reasoning is that the solenoid will allow the alternator to charge the main first and if you are doing heavy winching then keeping the winch on the main means that it will be working off the batt that is getting recharged first.