Builds Cruisermatt's FJ62 Build-up (2 Viewers)

[White Stripe]

Finally got around to swapping the broken birf from my last wheeling trip. Here what your wheel bearings look like when you run with no inner axle seal for about month or two.
Also both trunions were roasted (lower fell apart in my hand), probably from when I jumped it.
Replaced those, inner seal and hub seal. Repacked bearings. All good. I'm sure I'll be back in there in three months or so.

View attachment 1381303

Have u considered widening your front housing to match the fj80 rear width and installing fj80 knuckle balls and knuckles? 4plus products makes housing spacers to do this. They are made for the 60 series knuckle balls but a Lil machining and the 80 balls will fit. U could run 6 shooter 80 series knuckles too.

 

[cruisermatt]

Have u considered widening your front housing to match the fj80 rear width and installing fj80 knuckle balls and knuckles? 4plus products makes housing spacers to do this. They are made for the 60 series knuckle balls but a Lil machining and the 80 balls will fit. U could run 6 shooter 80 series knuckles too.

I don't know, I keep going back and forth on this, I have a hub-to-hub FZJ80 front axle in my parents backyard right now, (it's supposed to be going under a Defender 110, more on that later maybe), I just don't know how worth it the upgrade to the front shafts are. I like the bigger brakes but I'm actually pretty satisfied with my brakes as they are, just need to tune them a little. I really like how the 60 axle and steering parts are the same as the mini stuff.

As far as width, right now I'm running Tacoma wheels (5.5" backspacing) and 2" spacers in the front, so stock width (5.5 -2 = 3.5" stock backspacing). And 80 rear axle with no spacers. I'm actually very happy with the width, it tracks nice down the highway, it's not too bad offroad either.
My spring over should only lift me about 2" more then I am now so I'm thinking that just going to a 4.5" backspace wheel will be all the width addition I need. (1" wider at each corner)

 

[White Stripe]

Spacers are ok, I used them for a while. I wasn't recommending the 80 knuckles so much for axle shaft strength. The 80 knuckle ball is a stronger ball, in addition its bigger in diameter-which means your trunions are farther apart compared to the 60 ball. Having them farther apart gives them better leverage so you won't chew up trunions. Those60 balls were designed for a 40 series. A built 60 series is a lot of weight for the knuckles used. As a bonus you get beefier birfields with the 80 stuff. The housing spacers would only cost like 120 bucks for a pair and pretty easy to install. I would truss the housing like crazy though-albeit carefully so as not to warp the housing.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

A much more cost-effective upgrade to the axle would be the marlin 25mm trunion bearings. Moving to 80 knuckle balls isn't an appreciable strength increase. Just because it's larger in diameter doesn't mean it's stronger (in this case).

 

[cruisermatt]

A much more cost-effective upgrade to the axle would be the marlin 25mm trunion bearings. Moving to 80 knuckle balls isn't an appreciable strength increase. Just because it's larger in diameter doesn't mean it's stronger (in this case).

That's on the list for sure.. along with chromo axles, ARP hub studs, knuckles studs, and 4x4labs 6-stud hi-steer arms.

 

[White Stripe]

A much more cost-effective upgrade to the axle would be the marlin 25mm trunion bearings. Moving to 80 knuckle balls isn't an appreciable strength increase. Just because it's larger in diameter doesn't mean it's stronger (in this case).

While I haven't had an issue with the fj60 knuckles, I guess some guys crush the fj60 bell or ball during hard use. Upgrading to the fj80 stuff they don't have any issues supposedly. That's just what I read in the hardcore section a couple weeks ago.

 

[cruisermatt]

Going to Hard Rock ("local" off-road park the Florida club frequents the most) for a short trail ride tomorrow. Hopefully get to get some time in double low and see how the gears do.

Just did an alignment (went from 1/16" to 1/8" toe-in on each side) and pulled the front sway bar (bushings were totally shot).

Hopefully I don't break a birf I'm out of spares

 

[KWalkerM]

time to jump it again, looking good

 

[cruisermatt]

I'll post pictures of the carnage tomorrow

 

[tmxmotorsports]

It's tomorrow...

 

[cruisermatt]

It's tomorrow...

And today is tomorrow's yesterday.

On the drive up on the highway (tracks sooo much better with the extra toe-in by the way) I got hit by the rock or something right between the wiper and cowl, and put a nice split in my windshield

Then later in the day slid off a rock and nailed my front valence and turn signal (the fresh turn signal off course ) need a front bumper

And later Saturday night I meet up with an FJ guy from
Instagram and we did some nighttime fast trail running through the National Forest, nothing hard 2WD the whole time but at one point We had to turn around and I was going in reverse about 20-25mph and I guess I snagged a tree branch on my rear 1/4 glass lockstrip? Annoying, but I ordered the last stock of black lockstrip from Wagongear so I guess I'll do all the windows.

Anyways, didn't break anything mechanical, truck did pretty good, as usual got hung up on the body. Time for armor and more lift. Double low ROCKS!! So good.

I'm also getting more and more geared up for the eventual restoration.

 

[cruisermatt]

Sorry no pictures of my truck on any obstacles, it seems no one every really takes pictures of me. I guess I just go through stuff too fast

 

[cruisermatt]

Two month update, have't done anything really besides driving the crap out of it up until this weekend, finally had a short life break so I installed my new Denso AC compresor and evaporator cores that I've had for months. The evaporator core was way easier then I expected it to be. Also installed new blower switch which is why I thought was why my blower wasn't working, turns out the actual blower motor disintegrated so I'm looking for one of those now.

This is what the old evaporator core looked like, Nature Hike!!

 

[cruisermatt]

And sooo not hardcore but super satisfying, replaced the front corner lift lense that's been broken for months

 

[cruisermatt]

And I started my 1/4 panel chop last night. Already have the patch panel made but I need to bend the lower part to match the contour first before I weld it in.

Got my wisdom teeth pulled this morning so I'm in bed today but maybe expect to see me in the driveway grinding and welding with my mouth full of gauze? Lol

 

[cruisermatt]

Not sure if I mentioned here or not but anyone who's been wheeling with me in the past 5-6 months with the new setup know my transfer case shifters do not work at all. I've been getting underneath the truck and shifting into low/low and 4 by the linkages on the cases themselves.
Anyways I've wanted these for awhile and finally got some ordered up!

Northwest Fab Triple cable shifters !!

Going to mount them on the driver's side of the transmission tunnel... so I can reach them while strapped in with a 4-point... it's going to be some work but I steal have some open tunnel I need to seal up so I'll make that happen at the same time.

 

[LAMBCRUSHER]

how's that jaw? I had one of 4 of my 25 YO wisdom teeph out on wednesday... Little advice to the youngsters round here; take care of yer teeth now...it's alot harder later...Keep up the good work Matt.

 

[cruisermatt]

Just fine... I was out in the driveway the next day massaging the 1/4 panel chop, forgot to post where I got with that. It's not done (and haven't started the other side yet), need to hit it with some body filler and the orbital sander

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Love the chop.

 

[bluehawk]

Matt doing a short side birf on trail 16 at Windrock Park in Oliver Springs, TN during GSMTR 2017. #gsmtr2017