Builds Aussie 1978 FJ40 Buildup

[Twisty]

nah that stuffs up there with fosters..

Oi!!! XXXX is the beer of champions! (I do prefer Hahn Premiums or Superdrys but)

damn your 40 is pretty! i am diggin that color

Thanks mate! It is one of my favourite colours on a 40.....shows the lines really well i reckon

117 you say, I am waiting by the post box...

Now how's "our" front bumper coming along?

Sh!t....just remember I hadn't replied to your PM....sorry Teebag. I've been slack finishing off the drawings for the lasercutter, and have been too busy with getting stuff sorted for the house we are building. I'll try to get you some drawings in the next couple weeks. (the basics are done, its just a matter of double checking all the measurements)

 

[UNCFj40]

got any pics from the interior? very nice ride

 

[ohrly?]

power steering is for wussies

 

[Twisty]

got any pics from the interior? very nice ride

Thanks mate....the interior is anything special, but there is a few pics on the previous stage from when the new steering column went in, and the Recaro seats.

power steering is for wussies

Thanks for letting me know

 

[Twisty]

Few pics of the new fuel tank that Kane from Komited Kustoms is making me. Its a direct copy of the one that was already in there (except without all the rust). When we test fitted what Kane had built so far we relised we should have checked how well the original fitted in the first place as it doesn't hug the transmission tunnel as well as it could, but it'll do.

Tank is all finished now, and will get painted with 2pac next week in the same colour as the 40. Also going to start drawing up a new centre consule to fit to the tank as the old mdf one is looking pretty shabby.

Some pics..

With the lid on, showing the rhs that the seats mount to.

The internal baffles. On the drivers side the bottom of the tank steps down about 50mm over a 300mm sqaure and the fuel to the engine is drawn in there. (forget to get pics of that)

 

[Twisty]

Well since Issue 117 of Australian 4WD Action is out to subscribers I guess its ok to post the pics from the days wheeling for the photoshot. Tommy Salmon takes an awesome shot! Am stoked with both his pics and the whole feature article! (Will have to post some of these in the Artistic Cruiser Pics thread too)

Australian 4WD Action. Dedicated to 4WD, 4x4, SUV, Truck, 4 wheel drive and off road community, loaded with tips, tests, reviews, travel, gallery and forum

 

[Twisty]

 

[Twisty]

 

[Twisty]

 

[Twisty]

Fitted the play tyres up today with the new poser/wanker/fake locks fitted. They look ok, but I think orange or red would have looked better on the truck....Will probably end up getting a polished stainless set done i think..

Few pics.

New fuel tank is done, painted in matching 2pac. Have got it all bolted in, just need to run some new fuel lines etc. tomorrow and it should be back on the road again. (after almost 3 months)

 

[Teebag]

Great pics now I have to wait about 6 weeks for my copy to arrive

 

[M5driver]

Two words -- Awe Some!

 

[Twisty]

Spent saturday morning down at Komited Kustoms with the 40 sorting a few things in time for Offroad Expo at LCMP. Have mounted the Ford F250 shock towers in the front and fitted up the 12" travel bilsteins 5125s that I got off www.locktup4x4.com.au The ride is so much smoother! Really happy with them, and the ease of fitting the F250 towers....all looks factory! Haven't flexed it up yet, but it should get atleast another 4" of droop out of the front!
Some pics. This one is from a few posts ago, but shows the 12" travel bilstein 5125s beside the original skyjackers I had fitted. Also shows the F250 shock towers.

First job was to straighten up the F250 towers so no extra trimming of the inside of the FJ's guards was needed. Also angles the shock in to prevent the tyres rubbing on them. We just cut a slit into them, bent them back to straight then filled the triangle with weld and grinded smooth.

F250 Tower welded onto the chassis. This will all get mod plated as part of the power steering conversion, so there is nothing illegal about welding to the chassis in this case.

With the shock fitted.

Another...we set them up with about 4" of uptravel....And so the shock as 1" of shaft left for when the axle tube hits the bump stop to allow for some compression in the rubber.

Drivers side with the guard fitted back up!

When the new tank went in I lost the centre consule it had. Was just going to draw one up in CAD and get it lasercut etc, but then a mate popped over in his Lexus V8 surf and showed me his new consule! Was one of those 8l Waeco cooler/warmers. So went down to BCF and seen them there for $70....picked one up and it slotted in between the seats perfect! And was a sh!tload easier then making one from scratch.

 

[Twisty]

Have also repainted the fake beadlock rings (w@nker/poser rings, what ever you wanna call them) white, which looks a heap neater then the blue. Will end up going polished ones but I think.

Lastly, I have been speaking with Ben Dobinson about my current springs and stretching the wheelbase. After crunching some numbers I have decieded to get a set of new custom springs all round. The fronts will be 1" longer, and move the diff around 2" inches forward. The rears will be around 6" longer, and move the diff back around 4-6 inches. Hopefully then the flex in the rear will match the front! And the ride will improve more also with a more ideal shackle angle all round. Should all happen in June sometime.

 

[Teebag]

Wont you then have to move your new shock towers forward?

 

[Twisty]

Nah, will make new shocks mounts on the diff housing to suit any change of wheel base in the front.

Got the front bar just about ready to send off to the laser cutters too! So will email you the autocad and solidworks files soon! (finally!)

 

[Teebag]

Good news, I got my Warn this week too

 

[Teebag]

Twisty do you have a PN for those Ford towers? what vehicle were they for and how much longer than std are they?

TIA

 

[uted]

Pretty sure they are ford F250 towers. Part No E5TZ 18183A



Looking good Dave

 

[Willard]

Pretty sure they are ford F250 towers. Part No E5TZ 1813A



Looking good Dave

Missed an 8 should be E5TZ 18183A and they are about $15 each at the dealer.
The FJ looks great by the way.