BJ74 Restoration and LHD Conversion has begun!

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very few people have any idea how long it takes .

Yeah--I spent all day just putting what you see on the frame. Running a thread tap through every hole, going to get another tap because you broke one--or 2 :frown: Rear suspension, steering box, a few brake line brackets. The day was shot!
 
those taps are a bugger to get out once they break, eh?
the 70 frame was galvanized by the previous shop ... broken bolts, none of the holes tapped ... talk about frustrating. that crap is a bugger to work with

:clap: for the job you are doing. want a full time job?
 
:) you never know:)
 
BJ74 Brake Line Pic Needed
Can someone shoot or post a pic of the brake lines on a BJ74. I am looking at how they go from the frame behing the right motor mount and how they go to the rear axle on the right rear from the frame. Specifically the hard lines to the brackets on the frame, and the rubber hoses and brackets for both front and rear. The position of the brake line brackets. I effed up and misplaced my pics!

I am trying to get the axles and suspension on the frame. Then I can post up some pics

Thanks!
Roger
 
I can take some phone quality pics of mine but it won't be until about wednesday - sorry.....
 
Thanks guys. I figured out the brake thing this weekend
 
Frame Pics

I thought I would throw up some pics of the frame to show I have been doing something. Assembly always goes SOOOO slow!

I got the axles put back together, and the suspension and brake lines back on. Just waiting for the tie rod ends, which will be here tomorrow, so I can put the steering linkage back on, and then set the body back on the frame. Then I will cut out and weld in the firewall for LHD

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Frame is finished!

I received the tie rod ends and was able to complete the frame.

Next I sat the body back on the frame. Everything lined up just fine, but I am concerned that I got the body bushings in the wrong places, as the stops in the rear wheel wells do not hit the frame. I didn't tighten the body bolts real tight, so maybe it will come in when I do that.

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FIrewall out

Today I got the firewall cut out. It really went pretty smooth, just time consuming. I put the BJ70 firewall in place, and it fit very nicely. I also took the time to move the fusebox mounts and the relay mounts in the kick panels to the other sides.

Next comes a lot of welding and grinding. I am going to wait for help before I do that just to make sure I don't overlook anything, and the firewall stays lined up.

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Welding Day

Today I will be welding in the replacement firewall.

A couple of notes--It was very helpful to have someone help place the firewall in, as there was a lot of adjusting to get it set to weld in. Since this is a BJ70 firewall, you need to add the plates from the BJ74 firewall to the BJ70 firewall to accomodate the windshield frame hinges. There are plates in the BJ74 firewall that need to be cut out and welded into the BJ70 firewall. There are 3 spot welds holding them in, so just drill them out. They had to be trimmed to fit the BJ70 firewall, but you can insert them from the vent holes on top. I put the windshield frame on, and used the hinge to trace the holes. Don't try and measure the location, because it does not work! Then I drilled out the bolt holes, and drilled 3 additional holes in each to weld them in. I used the bolts to hold them up while welding.

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You will also need to use the cowl cover from the BJ70 because of the relocation of the wiper arms. I am not sure how I will add the slots for the hinges yet. Either just cut a slot and bend them over for strength, or cut the BJ74 cowl and weld the slot into the BJ70 cowl.




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You are going to end up with the same windshield wiper problem I had. You driver's wiper mount needs to move over to that other spot. The shorter windshield of the bj74 is the problem. I didn't move mind, and after bending and lodging the arm, and shortening the main arm on the wiper motor.... The wipers work, but they are t perfect. If you can, find someone with a wiper linkage from an hzj75. Then just move the mount over. And get a matching cowl cover or what ever that piece is called.

Keep up the great work.
 
You are going to end up with the same windshield wiper problem I had. You driver's wiper mount needs to move over to that other spot. The shorter windshield of the bj74 is the problem. I didn't move mind, and after bending and lodging the arm, and shortening the main arm on the wiper motor.... The wipers work, but they are t perfect. If you can, find someone with a wiper linkage from an hzj75. Then just move the mount over. And get a matching cowl cover or what ever that piece is called.

Keep up the great work.

I think I figured out what you mean.

I mounted the wipers from the BJ70.

1) In the PARK position, they would not even be on the windshield

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2) If I raise them up on the arbor, they are no longer parallel with the bottom of the windshield. I could bend the arms to fix this.

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3) HOWEVER--If I do raise and bend the arms, then the arm would hit the windshield hinge.

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So the left side arbor needs to be moved in to the next space right, which there is an embossed area to mount it.

Looks like I need wiper arms, Linkage and the cowl plate that the wipers go through to fix this issue from an HZJ75.

Anybody have these parts?
 
I got the firewall all welded in/ I put some SEM rust paint on the seams. I did not put the caps on the ends yet, as I painted both sides of the top seam, and I will need to put seam seal in there also. When it dries, I'll put seam seal on the seams, and then shoot a coat of primer on it.

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This thread has answered a lot of questions I had...:popcorn:

Great work:beer:

Rob
 
not wasting any time ... ;)
maybe i should just send my pickup to you for the LHD conversion :hhmm:

Hey Wayne,

Would you have the wiper parts I need from an hzj75, or have a source for them
 
the control arms are the same between the solid and flip down window ... i beleive.
it is the blade arms that are different. i could be wrong since i have not done this swap yet.
IF the control arms are the same then ENS is your baby. they have brand new take offs.
i have nothing for LHD 70s here.
 
the control arms are the same between the solid and flip down window ... i beleive.
it is the blade arms that are different. i could be wrong since i have not done this swap yet.
IF the control arms are the same then ENS is your baby. they have brand new take offs.
i have nothing for LHD 70s here.

Do you have contact info for ENS
 

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