Builds Conde Cruiser Build---1970 FJ40 FST (6 Viewers)

[CondeCruiser]

Great work and enjoyable writeup. How did the machine shop ruin your flywheel?

Thanks Gary. The shop beat the dowels so hard that they cracked the side of the flywheel. Then they tried welding it and ground it down and thinned the wall. They covered the cost of the second one.

 

[Von Hayek]

There is no better feeling than working on something for a couple years and finally getting to here it come to life. Still more to do, but nice to know I have hooked everything up correctly and that I wired the '78 ignition switch to the original '71 switch the right way. I'm smiling like a possum eating persimmons right now!
20230319_130736.mp4 - https://1drv.ms/v/s!AlDSU7Mgb1OLgSj28Nq39L2xl6ff?e=bEgVr9

Congrats Eric. The light at the end of the tunnel. Going to be a nice truck.

 

[CondeCruiser]

Today, I drove it, for the first time since I bought it in July of 2021. It runs great! Still things to do, like figuring out the wiring. It's been an awesome experience!

 

[EWheeler]

Nice work! Just in time to enjoy it over the summer.

 

[ToyBarn]

Looks good! What rim and tire size are you using?

 

[CondeCruiser]

Looks good! What rim and tire size are you using?

FJ cruiser 17x7.5 wheels and 285/70/17.

 

[ToyBarn]

FJ cruiser 17x7.5 wheels and 285/70/17.

Thanks for your response. I read thru your build report looking for info on the wheels. I know the place you picked up that 40 from outside of Lynchburg. I had spoke with the grandson a few years back trying to acquire that 40 right after the house fire. Their plan at the time was to leave it in the woods until they began working on it.

 

[CondeCruiser]

Thanks for your response. I read thru your build report looking for info on the wheels. I know the place you picked up that 40 from outside of Lynchburg. I had spoke with the grandson a few years back trying to acquire that 40 right after the house fire. Their plan at the time was to leave it in the woods until they began working on it.

Man, small world. Yeah, I still send the grandson, Cody, updates on it.

 

[CondeCruiser]

Got the FST bows installed today. Still have to repair the driver B-pillar and remove the black paint to reveal the spring green. I'm going to reach out to Real Steel to see if they will sell just the driver pillar. If so I will cut the section I need out, and weld it in.

 

[CondeCruiser]

I picked this 8274 up back in October of last year. It was super cheap. It's been sitting on the shelf and today I decided to start making a mount to use with the stock bumper. Had the winch mount from a previous parts truck and started cutting and trimming to fit. I will finish it in the next couple days or so.

 

[405]

Looking good! I've enjoyed following along so far. What soft top are you going to go with?

 

[CondeCruiser]

Looking good! I've enjoyed following along so far. What soft top are you going to go with?

Thanks. Not sure who made my soft top. It's old. I think OCD Beetle but not 100% sure. Could be a Paki since it came with a set of Paki bows.

 

[CondeCruiser]

Got the 8274 mounted this past weekend. Pulled them out this morning for some vitamin D. It's going to be spicey here today. Nice wet heat.

 

[CondeCruiser]

Fixed my driver B pillar on my FST bows today. Real Steel sent me just the pillar portion and I cut it up to fix mine. Worked out pretty good. Little more grinding and some paint and it' will be good as somewhat new.

 

[CondeCruiser]

Got the top on today and pulled it outside so the sun could heat it up a bit to stretch it into place.
Got the soft door skins and weatherstrip from Spector and will be getting them ready in the next couple weeks.

 

[Wasatch Jay]

This is a fairly short build thread, and it was addictive to read through the entire thread.

Great photos and descriptions, but what really stood out to me was how you transformed a true basket case that a whole lot of people would have hauled off to the scrap yard. And... you were able to do this with strict attention to cost.

I think you did an amazing job!

 

[CondeCruiser]

This is a fairly short build thread, and it was addictive to read through the entire thread.

Great photos and descriptions, but what really stood out to me was how you transformed a true basket case that a whole lot of people would have hauled off to the scrap yard. And... you were able to do this with strict attention to cost.

I think you did an amazing job!

Thanks man, I appreciate it.
I spoke to the original owners grandson a couple weeks ago and my goal now is to take it back to where it came from and give him a ride in it. He is having some health issues, and the grandson said he would love to see it in person again. I'm hoping to make it happen in the next month.

 

[peesalot]

How you like that mower ? I have one at my TN property and love that thing, its like therapy especially if you hit the grass when there is a good wind it sends a 30 ft rooster of cut grass , i did ovals and built a 4ft high pile of cut about 60 ft long, looks like a boat going thru the field.

 

[CondeCruiser]

How you like that mower ? I have one at my TN property and love that thing, its like therapy especially if you hit the grass when there is a good wind it sends a 30 ft rooster of cut grass , i did ovals and built a 4ft high pile of cut about 60 ft long, looks like a boat going thru the field.

I love my Scag. Best mowers out there IMO. It's a 2008 and on its 3rd motor. Nothing like mowing grass at 12mph

 

[peesalot]

Right, when I bought the house the guy said he would leave it for 12K & I was like WTF, I'm from cali and we push our mowers. I went back and mowed for 2 days, nuff said, nothin like watching field mice jump & run all across the mower, my legs, etc, shoos the snakes away from the creek bank so kids can play too. I love that thing.