Bumps on my 78’s rear tub/fenders? (5 Viewers)

[Gusb]

Gusb, not trying to hi-jack but wanted to say thanks for the helpful tips etc.
I like to read thru your thread beore I get knee deep in welding and grinding.

I have gotton alot better.

Thanks,
Todd

Thanks Todd

Looks like major work you've got going there.

 

[Gusb]

Dad and I won a Snap-on 3/8" ratchet as a door prize at a Super Bowl party years back. It's is almost unbelievably superior to the tools I can actually afford.

You are a lucky man to have such a collection Gusb.

All about priorities - It was either a new OEM front bumper or the ratchets

 

[miker]

Miker:
I too have one of these Craftsman torque wrenches and the exact same thing happened on mine....
...I took mine into the local Sears, and they weren't very cool about it. They said that they wouldn't warranty it and that I would have to pay them to have it re-calibrated.
Hope your luck is better than mine...

Well, my local Sears did an exchange. No questions asked. Even gave me a $10 give card (if I buy $50 or more) because of some promotion going on.

First thing I will do is to remove the end cap the apply some red locktight around the threads, hopefully wicking into the nut somewhat, then let it sit until its fully cured.

I'd definitely try another Sears.

 

[Gusb]

Well, my local Sears did an exchange. No questions asked. Even gave me a $10 give card (if I buy $50 or more) because of some promotion going on.

First thing I will do is to remove the end cap the apply some red locktight around the threads, hopefully wicking into the nut somewhat, then let it sit until its fully cured.

I'd definitely try another Sears.

Good to hear they're still standing behind the stuff.

I've got some tape holding my plastic 3/8 together

At one point they were all metal (my old 1/2 in the photo) - the ratchet on mine (1/2) is a little screwed up.

Never calibrated these, so who knows how accurate they are.

 

[miker]

Good to hear they're still standing behind the stuff.

I've got some tape holding my plastic 3/8 together

At one point they were all metal (my old 1/2 in the photo) - the ratchet on mine (1/2) is a little screwed up.

Never calibrated these, so who knows how accurate they are.

The 1/2" craftsman you have looks much nicer than the newer one I have. I think I have the same 3/8" craftsman you show in the pic and the new 1/2" is very similar. I do know better than to buy cheap tools and Craftman seems to be on the 'cheap' side of things these days.

Agree about the calibration. I've read some horror stories about how accurate these things really are out of the box. Wonder if there is an easy or inexpensive way to check calibration.

 

[Gusb]

Rough fitting the fender back up – still needs some more hammer/dolly work.

Pulled the hood/hardware to start cleaning up some surface rust. Pulled the old warn bumper I think the dealership must have installed when they did the Warn hubs, or maybe the PO bought a winch later. Kind of a cool bumper but I think I’ll try to order/find an OEM. Funny how little things keep popping up – found an old key in a little hide-a-key box somebody hid inside the old bumper at some point in time.

Got a small rust bubble on the cowl I need to check out. I’m beginning to question just how much original paint is going to be left over - looks like it may make more sense to just spray the whole vehicle (outside anyway).

 

[coleman2347]

Great thread, just read all the way through...learned a lot which always helps..thanks
BTW..what do you think of Kobalt Tools...when I was in the States I was always going to try them but never got around to it..

 

[Gusb]

Great thread, just read all the way through...learned a lot which always helps..thanks
BTW..what do you think of Kobalt Tools...when I was in the States I was always going to try them but never got around to it..

Never used them - they look kind of cool - I think they're sold at Lowe's, etc. around here.

 

[Gusb]

Cleaning up the hood, pulling the driver's-side fender, etc.

 

[Awl_TEQ]

Neat and orderly. I like it.

 

[Gusb]

Two dumb (78 FJ40) hood questions

Couple of dumb 78 hood questions in case anyone has a stock 78 hood they can look at.

1) My hood support rod has what looks like a nice, even bend on the end where it attaches to the hood. Should the end of this rod be straight? Or did the PO just bend it at some point jerking the hood support around?

2) The inside main support (see 3rd photo) has a good size gap the length of the support and the support does not touch/flush the outer hood skin. Looks like there may have been a glob of sealer here and there. Is that gap right? The hood skin is nice and straight on top/outside.

Thanks!

 

[Awl_TEQ]

I have a stock 1978 FJ45. Well... the hood is still stock anyway. I can look at the hood when I get home this evening.

 

[LSUfj]

My 75 hood has the same gap and sealer. Pretty sure the sealer (or adhesive) is OEM, as it looks like the stuff that is on my firewall.

 

[miker]

1) My hood support rod has what looks like a nice, even bend on the end where it attaches to the hood. Should the end of this rod be straight? Or did the PO just bend it at some point jerking the hood support around?

I believe that the rod is supposed to be bent but your does look like its bent more than I recall. I can check my '79 hood and snap a pic tonight. I believe its the same hood prop config. The only reason I can think for the bend is to prevent rattling when its not being used as a hood prop.

2) The inside main support (see 3rd photo) has a good size gap the length of the support and the support does not touch/flush the outer hood skin. Looks like there may have been a glob of sealer here and there. Is that gap right? The hood skin is nice and straight on top/outside.

This sounds like its OEM. This is the same as my '79 hood. Center brace only touches the hood skin at the back of the hood skin, and the front lip. There is a thick sealer between the skin and the brace which was squished out during assembly. I assume they dabbed on some sealer, then installed the center hood support and spot welded at front lip and rear of hood. The sealer acts like an adhesive and supports the hood skin. This method probably avoids making any wrinkles or dimples spot welding would have produced.

 

[thecrazygreek]

Rod should be straight. Mine all were...

Great work bro, keep it up!

 

[miker]

Rod should be straight. Mine all were...

lol, I guess mine got bent too.

 

[toyman317]

The rod on my 78 is bent just like yours. My center support however, is right against the hood from the back all the way to about a foot from the front, and even then, there is only a small gap.

 

[Awl_TEQ]

here is mine

 

[thecrazygreek]

I have seen some that are bent, but I suppose its because over the years, there is a high likelyhood that it may not get set properly and it collapses (many times) causing the bend.

 

[Gusb]

Thanks for all the feedback!

My bend looked perfect and I thought that for sure if I banged it straight it would later turn out that it had come from the factory bent. I've fixed a few things in the past that were not broken to begin with.