Blue No More.............

[ClemsonCruiser]

Just wanted to post some pics for you guys of the 40 after it tore it apart.......... the blue durabak is gone, and a new shiny coat of Freeborn red is on the way, only after many hours of body work....................

I am also going to:
Lock the font
do power steering
make half doors
Metaltech tube fenders for the front
shackle reversal
dual batteries, and clean up all those wires in the engine bay
and I got rid of the PO's bogus front bumper and my getto winch mount........

It should be a new cruiser in a little less than a month

If any of you guys are in the N. Augusta area feel free to drop in and lend a hand, I have tons of work to do, I have been working from about 6 to 11 evernight...........

I will be ready to get it dirty before long............

 

[Trollhole]

are you going to replace your fan belt? And what kind of a locker are you putting in the front?

Looks great.

I'm doing my power steering when I get back from the beach.

 

[Hard40]

JP, By the gods, cruiser gods that is, You remind me of me. I'm inspired. I will get the manifold out to you tomorrow. A man like you deserves a not too rusty part. I am with you in spirit if not in person. I'm due a part tomorrow myself; a new non cast power steering mount. I found out castings break @ Tellico! Hope to have it going by Saturday.

Alan

 

[Capt. Jim]

Sounds good, JP. I remeber when I still had all that enthusiasm. Staying out in my shop past 2:00 AM and going to work the next day. I'm glad there are people like you and Alan that still blitz trucks and do it well....

 

[ClemsonCruiser]

Well we all know Alan is the master, and from what I have heard of yours Jim its not too bad either .......... I appreciate the words of encouragement guys............. I just want to be able to run with the big dogs.......

Once again Alan I appreciate your help with the manifold, your a life saver when it comes to cruisers.

And marshall I plan on putting another assuie up front, I know I might break some birfields by not going ARB, but if I wait till I have money for that it will be a few years.......... plus with my skinny 34's I don't think it will be as bad as if I was running a wide 35"+ tire; we shall see though. If I do start breaking them I will put in some longfields......... and I am hoping by doing a shackle revesal it will keep my springs from bending again, or atleast that is what I have read it does....

And yeah I am going to fix my alternator set-up, well maybe it's been that way for 2 years................

Well it's back to sanding away.......................I h8rust

 

[72cruiser]

how well are you gettin that duracrud off? and with what? just curious, as i will be removin the stuff from my tub as well.....



and get r done stud. (makin me look bad, but my 40 is still 2.5 hours away)


malphrus

 

[Capt. Jim]

And marshall I plan on putting another assuie up front, I know I might break some birfields by not going ARB, but if I wait till I have money for that it will be a few years..........

JP,

You'll fiond your steering will be very hard on steep descents with your front locked. Even with power steering. Unlocking the front while going downhill relieves a lot of pressure and makes the steering operate easier. Go ARB if you can swing it.

Remember, a good paint job is 90% preparation.............

 

[ClemsonCruiser]

yep, it is all about prep.................my dad has done several restorations on old classics and his is all about the prep, its just to bad he has lost his passion for it.............

As for the ARB, I know it's the best way to go, and the locker will be the last thing I do, so if the damage to my bank account isn't too much by then I might just go for it........... If I do I will just have to get one of you fellas to help with the install, I have no experience with diffs........


Malph, lots and lots of razor and pulling...........very slow and painful; well I did that technique for about 3nights I decided to get a pressure washer and clean the frame and parts............it turned out the pressure washer blew most of it off to my surprise, but it was a 15hp pressure washer (industrial size) one of the contractors my dad works let me borrow. all the other pressure washers I have used were like 5hp and I doubt the would do the job, this pressure washer I wash using would cout lines in the concrete driveway if I got it to close............... so if you have a big pressure washer use it, otherwise I pulled it by hand.......... I did the hood and front fenders that way and it wasn't to bad just time consuming

Good luck Malph

 

[71-CRUISER]

You'll fiond your steering will be very hard on steep descents with your front locked. Even with power steering.

I have had ZERO problems with the Ausie in the front of my 40. With Saginaw steering and 36x14.50s the locker is absolutely seamless. No pops, bangs or anything else. Every once in a while the steering will get a little tight but you can feal it release with no colplaints.

An ARB would be nice but in my opinion it just isnt worth the extra $$$$$ and wories associated with the added complexities of the whole system. With an Aussie it is just plug and play.

 

[VTCruiser]

DAMN, you've been busy....looks like its coming along....

let me know if you need some tips on body work, afterall its what I do. Good choice on the freeborn red, that was the color of the FJ60 my 'rents used to drive. If i go the glossy route when I paint mine, it will be freeborn red, if not maybe flat olive drab.....

you still gonna want to wheel this thing when its done?

 

[ClemsonCruiser]

you still gonna want to wheel this thing when its done?

You know me, I like to abuse my cruisers so a little shiny red paint isn't going to slow me down........... but I might be shed a tear with the first big dent, you can understand that, body work is a labor of love........

and I am I don't really need any tips, but manual labor....... now that I can use

 

[Gundy]

The man has a plan! Sounds like you've thought this out.
I'd have to second Jim's advise on the front ARB. Turning
a locked front can be a bear. I know in my 40 there have
been times when I couldn't turn the "bus" steering wheel
even though I run 33x9.5s. Pssssst....and the locker is off
and the wheel turns as if magic. Flip switch, locked again
and away we go.
They aren't THAT complicated. Heck Jim and I slapped mine
in with no time at all. Good time to r&r that front end too.
If you do go ARB......Clemson 4x4 will set up 3rd member with the
ARB for about $200. You can install 3rd into the diff.
You will need some SSTs however. Pliers for those pesky rings
and a hub socket. I have them and you are welcome to borrow them
if you go that route.
Like 71 Cruiser said, plenty of guys run the Aussie front and the like
with little if any complaints too. Very simple install.
Hehe....guess that's why they make chocolate and vanilla.

 

[clemson55]

It will be a shame to see the blue go that was the ClemsonCruiser trademark in my mind blue and battered. Oh well, all good things come to an end. As for the locker I'm voting lets weld the rear and move the aussie forward. Of course I'll be saying that to everyone until mine breaks then I'll say F welding the rear. Good to see all that work Virgo you still coming up to Clemson next weekend for the meeting?

 

[ClemsonCruiser]

yup I will be dere fo sho gonas cas mi vote...............

 

[clemson55]

Awesome bring your welder with you when you come up to. I want to get some stuff done on the cruiser and I need to weld for most of it. Also if you do the shackle revearsal then keep me updated on that cause thats one thing I would like to do as well.