Dads 1971 FJ40 Swap

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Thanks Bill - starting to get excited :)
 
Finalized the steering based upon the motor placement and welded that out along with the motor mounts. Next was to assemblt the tranny/transfer case setup. Using a TH350 transmission adpaterd to the stock 3 speed transfercase with an Advance Adapters adapter. Also using their shifter relocation bracket and front output flange to clear the transmission pan.
Tranny-transfer.jpg
Working on the shifter linkage next and then bolt to the motor and swing into the chassis to figure out the crossmember support.
 
I called it a night shortly after having a hot weld dingle berry fall into my ear canal while welding upside down, made for some interesting noises, but luckily didn't get to my ear drum."

I balanced one of those on my stomach while laying on my back one night :crybaby:

Hot damn, hot damn, hot damn :grinpimp::grinpimp::grinpimp:

The ear though, now that is a dangerous zone for molten metal :popcorn:

Looks great JT, what is the suspension gonna entail?
 
I have had the weld balls rest in the inside part of my elbow and melt down through my shoe as well, always fun to jump around while still trying to keep the puddle going :)

Thank Jeff, as of right now leaving it stock other than a slightly longer rear shackle to make up for when the hardtop goes back on. This rig will likely never seemore than a gravel road.
 
Yeah, I've been using earplugs when welding for years. Now if I only used them when I was using loud tools.. ie. air saws, grinders, etc.
Every t-shirt and pair of shoes I own have splatter burns in them, not to mention hands, arms and feet as well.. lol It's all part of the experience.
 
Transmission and transfer case are ready to go with shift linkage, O2 sensor rotated 180 degrees to clear the motor mount, headers installed with new hardware and gaskets, along with steering installed.

Sent the engine harness to Jim's Performance on Monday and he nearly has it completed. The harness was a bit hacked up and Jim discovered some "Hidden Treasures" that he will be addressing in the harness, removing unnecessary wires, testing it with the computer we are using, and labeling everything for simple wiring. Probably have it back Thrusday or Friday. Jim has been excellent to work with.
 
Back from vacation, things have settled down, and back to working on the FJ40. When we got the motor setup, it came with a Painless Performance engine harness setup that was modified to run in a buggy.
OldHarness1.jpg

OldHarness2.jpg

Looked great at first glance, but once I started tearing into it, I found some issues and decided to send it to Jim's Performance, he also flashed the computer. He found some additional issues.
CrappyHarness.jpg

Jim fixed the harness up, removed a number of the wires not needed, loomed and labeled all connections, made it a simple 2-3 wire hookup, tested it, and shipped it back to me at a rediculously great price and in about a day. Here is what I got back
NewwiringHarness.jpg

Also ordered a number of parts from Summit Racing including an E8248 in-line fuel pump, 10 and 100 micron Holley fuel filters with fittings, trans cooler lines, kickdown/detent cable, flywheel cover, and a Lokar 16" transmission shifter. Everything came in the next day. Got the shifter setup last night
TransShifter2.jpg

TransShifter1.jpg

Will take the shifter portion off to get the drivetrain in place where needed then finalize.

Located my 12 volt switched wire to hook the alternator sense wire into. Then moved onto taking a look at the transmission crossmember we got from Advance Adapters - not liking how things are working out with it as hardware is not right for the mount or bosses and the crossmember itself looks like it may be a pain in the ass to R+R and kill any kind of ground clearance. Looking at possibly building one to function a little better.
 
Got a few hours in on the FJ40 yesterday. Went to swing the engine in front of the transmission and noticed the drivers side exhaust joint was going to interfere with the ear of the transmission, so I had to remove an unused mount hole nad some of the ear to get it to clear and it bolted up with out issue and the torque convertor still turns, so it was seeted properly :)
Drivetraintogether.jpg

Then found the balance point of the drivetrain, which worked out quite well for swinging it in with my wife - she did a great job pushing the motor in and lowering it will I guided it, while being 8 months pregnant, she slept the rest fo the afternoon :)
drivetrainhanging.jpg

Got the engine bolted down the moved onto the crossmember. We got the crossmemebr kit from Advance Adapters that mounts to the adapter, but I did not like how they designed it to mount to the frame - mounts would have hung down way to low, especially on the passenger side. Little bit of tube got me this
Crossmember.jpg

Will be cutting out tabs to mount it to the frame rails this week. Once done, ground clearance will still be good, plan to modify the factory skid to work once done.

Based upon the engine location, I will probably have to dog leg the transfer case shifter
 
Awesome JT! keep up the steady work on this 40 and I hope to see it one day when I visit PA. Congrats on the addition to the fam as well! Better get all this work done in the next four weeks ; )
 
Thanks Jeff, hoping to have it running before the baby comes :)

When are you planning on making it back to PA, would be great to see you guys again?
 
Ran into a slight fitment issue between the drivers side header and the steering shaft. To get the transmission more centered and out fo the frame rail, I have to slide the assembly off centerline, but the front cylinder tube of the header it wanting to be in the same place as the steering shaft. Looked at putting another joint in the shaft, but not going to get me what I need, so I am going to modify the header tube to go out around the steering shaft, which will get me what I need, just make for a little bit of extra work to pull the steering or motor down the road.

Summit dropped the ball on getting me the fuel filters that I wanted, so I am going to go with factory GM parts - should work fine considering the millions of GM vehicles running around with the same parts.
 
Exhaust J-bends came in for modifying the header as did the remainder of the fuel components other than the line, which I will get once everything is laid out. Now I just need to find some time to get in the shop.
 
Haven't touched this project since late Nevember as we were getting ready for this little guy
Rowan.jpg

Decided to take today off so that I could get some work done. Was able to finish off the transmission crossmember after sliding the drivetrain to the drivers side a little more.
Crossmemberdone.jpg

Which left the transfer case shifter in the perfect spot
shifterposition.jpg


By moving the drivetrain over more to the drivers side, I have major interference between the header and steering shaft. Was going to cut the exhaust and re-route, but not going to be able to weld the back side of the tube because of how the tubes merge. So I am going to get another steering joint and heim joint to make the shaft clear.

Also got the battery tray relocated up and over towards the fender. Decided to catch the inside edge of the fender as part of the mount and two tubes down to the frame - Nice and strong.
BatteryMounted.jpg

Also got the throttle cable started.

Remaining major tasks include:
-Run wiring harness
-Plum fuel pump and return
-Finish steering
-Build driveshafts
-Plumb heater
-Install and wire guages
-Install automatic shifter
-Cut transmission hump for shifters
-Install radiator
-Fill fluids
 
My dad come over yesterday and lended a hand and we got quit a bit done. We started out with the steering by adding a 3/4" heim joint and additional steering joint. Everything clears the frame and headers.
fixedsteering1_zps7902e6dd.jpg

fixedsteering2_zpsa74b43dc.jpg

Next we moved on to mounting the Ron Davis radiator and installed the front bib to check clearance.
enginebaywithrad_zps892c60b0.jpg

Clearance to the motor looks like this
radiatorclearance_zpsdb0da01c.jpg

A little too tight for the mechanical fan due to having to set the radiator back a littl more than we wanted to clear the headlight buckets. We will be running an electric fan.
Then modified the gas pedal to accept the Chevy throttle cable. Looks a little funky, but works perfect.
modifiedgaspedal_zps7c1083cd.jpg

Also built the mount for the fuel filter, got the motor mounts torqued down, torque convertor bolts installed, and few other smaller things done.

Here is what it looks like with the bib back on
fj40hoodup_zps7fdd7c17.jpg

and all buttoned back up
fj40overall_zpse9d93bef.jpg
 
Progress

JT- looks great- is it running yet? Hope to see the old girl this season. Keepup the good work and congrats on the new addition! Gary S
 
Thanks Gary. Not running yet, but hopefully soon. Still need to wire an plumb, but definitely getting close. With any luck it will be running in the next month or two.
 
nice work JT and congrads with the baby
 

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