Decision Time - Am I Ready For A Frame Off Restoration (6 Viewers)

[Wootan]

Nice thread with very good advise so far. Am in the same position of deciding whether to go frame off and spend up to half a year almost full time working on the truck or just keep traveling with it and enjoying it for another 10 years as it is in a decent shape as well.
Still, the itch is always there if you see all those nice rebuilds here in the forum and elsewhere and nobody likes to see the rust growing or even just staying on the beloved truck.
All the best for your rebuild, however small or big of a project it will end up being.

 

[cruizakid]

Your got a great looking 40

 

[aggiecruiser]

Nice 40.

X2...LOL

first, take what ever budget you have in your head and triple it ... you will be in the ball park.

I am by no means an expert on this forum, but I was in your position about 3 years ago. I had a drivable truck, and took it completely apart. I almost fell prey to losing hope and selling, but somehow managed to scrape together the gumption to finish my rig. Long story short, drive it as much as you can and enjoy the rig.

I think you will find that as you wheel in it, your tastes for what you want to change will become more refined, and you will be able to slowly TRANSFORM the rig into a vision of your utility for it as opposed to starting off with a master blueprint from the start.

Enjoy it with the kiddos for sure. My son absolutley LOVES riding in ours!

-Chris

 

[TCSTARK]

MAF Setback - shackle on a slow boat from China...

I called MAF yesterday to find out when my lift kit will be arriving and was told that shackles were on back order and would be several weeks before they would arrive. This would have been good information to know a week ago when the order was placed,.. I canceled the order and now I am left with finding another lift kit.

I am strongly considering a road trip to TN and puchasing a lift kit from tpi4x4.com to keep my project on track. I would be purchasing the 4" Smokey Mountain Suspension kit or the 2.5" OME kit, possibly the FJ40 air conditioning unit and source out parts for my power steering upgrade. The drive may be worth saving the shipping cost for all of the parts.

 

[crushers]

OME is a nice kit. 2.5" will allow you to fit most reasonable tires on it and doesn't end up looking stupid.
i REALLY like the dobinson kits from Oz, nicer than any kit i have used ...
OME is made in the same factory as Dakar and as Belton ... you are paying for the name now.

 

[3doghouse]

I've had great experience with Old Man Emu on two FJ40's and one FJ60.

 

[The911s]

I ordered the lift on Monday and have been soaking the existing leaf springs with PB for the last three nights. I have prepped my workspace and got my air compressor up and running and I am mentally ready to begin the install.

The first order of business was figuring out the safest way to jack up my cruiser. I used a 3 ton SUV floor jack to raise up the frame, placed two 3 ton SUV floor stands on the frame and two standard 3 ton back-up floor stands on the axle. I gave the cruiser a good shake and felt it was secure enough.

Now I just need to wait for the kit to arrive.

Great looking FJ... I would consider chocking your wheels while it's up on jackstands. A lot of people will probably call me paranoid but it's probably not a bad idea, and I always do it. Jackstands are very sturdy in pure compression, but given a big side load (for instance if you had to pull hard on the vehicle in the forward or backwards direction to tighten or loosen a bolt), they can fall over. If you chock your wheels you eliminate that risk.

Let us know what you think of the OME kit, it's in my plans for the next year.

 

[78Cruzr]

I'm half way through installing a 2.5 OME on mine... bought it from Kurt and I'm very pleased with the service and results. Everything you need is in one kit.

 

[TEQ]

TCSTARK:

I, like you, have a deep urge to do a frame-off rebuild. Just to do it.

In 2006 I found a candidate '78 FJ40 but also, like yours, it's right on that hairy edge of being too nice to fully rebuild.


Not that you are looking for any more advice or opinions, but you might appreciate looking over my refurbish thread to see my adventures.

Link to my thread is in my signature below.

In the end I choose not to frame off and just took it part by part. I am quite happy with the rig, but every once and I while I get frustrated with the little details that I COULD make perfect if I could just pull the body off the frame (little rust spots for example). For now I am keeping my neurosis at bay and just enjoying driving and tinkering with the rig.

Now that I've been through it I do think that if I WERE to do a frame-off I would search out a truck that was in far worse shape than my current one.

Cheers and Godspeed in your build!

 

[jsosh26]

great thread...I wanted to do a resto, but my 7 month old and wanting to drive it prevented it.

 

[TCSTARK]

Traveling Man (with child)

I am heading up to TN tomorrow morning to pick up a few parts. I'll be grabbing a 4" Smokey Mountain Lift Kit (Dakar Springs), a saginsaw power steering conversion kit and taking a look at the Vintage Air AC unit while I am there.

It will be a 4 1/2 hour drive with my five year old daughter. How good of an idea is this???

When I get back I will get to work installing the goodies. I will take the advice of the mud members and doing some clean up while I have easy access. Wire brush and cleaner followed up by eching primer and glossy black paint.

Then back to springs and power steering...

Stay tuned.

 

[crushers]

Vintage Air is crap, save your money.

 

[TCSTARK]

Vintage Air is ****, save your money.

Could you elaborate on your opinion. Have you dealt with Vintage Air versus the other types available for the FJ40? I'd like to get the details if you don't mind...

 

[addicted56]

There are many threads on the A/C here and a couple of good ones in particular. I think you will find your answer there. There are two out there as far as I know.

Regarding the full frame off. Well I'm in the middle of one and can tell you that by looking at your rig I would stick with what you are doing. Learn it slowly but surely and do a little bit here and there and before you know it you will have basically done an entire frame off with half the work and you will enjoy it much more.

It looks like you are very meticulous so you will not have a hard time with this. Good luck and I'm following along.

 

[crushers]

yep, i have used this system in a HZJ40 i built. it was cheap plastic crap with pieces that didn't fit. i would rather drive with the windows down than use one of those again.

 

[TCSTARK]

Lift Kit Installation

I began installing the lift kit today. I quickly learned about caster shims and the proper placement of them in the leaf packs. Let's just say the first leaf shot all over my work space.

I was able to get the shim installed, shackles and pin installed but ran into an issue with the leaf (center bolt) not alligning up with the leaf bracket. I tore it down and started over and was able to massage it into place with the axle lowered. I am 1/4 the way home.

Now that I have the learning curve out of the way I hope tomorrow is more productive.

 

[crushers]

make sure the head of the centering pin is long enough to reach well into the spring perch on the axle...

 

[TCSTARK]

Center Axle Spring Perch

make sure the head of the centering pin is long enough to reach well into the spring perch on the axle...

I was able to get the center pin to sit securely into then spring perch by disassembling the entire leaf and starting over. When I lowered the axle I was able to manipulate the leaf into position and get the greaible pin into place.

 

[fjbj40]

Regarding the frame off...unless you have several years, meaning at least 5, then don't attempt it!

I have done 3 restos so far, a 1972 Datsun 240z, 1978 Suzuki GS1000 and now my 1974 FJ40 so I am not new at this and have a much larger selection of tooling and equipment that you will probably ever have as I also teach in a college.

As Crushers stated it will take as least three times as long as you plan, and will cost more than that. You have a young child, she needs you first and foremost. I have 2 children myself and this FJ40 has caused me alot of grief in that area, don't do it to yourself!

Check out my resto/mod and look at the timeline.. https://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series-tech/73429-has-begun.html

Enjoy it and drive it with the child.
Merry Xmas,
Daryl

 

[TCSTARK]

Wise Advice

Regarding the frame off...unless you have several years, meaning at least 5, then don't attempt it!

I have done 3 restos so far, a 1972 Datsun 240z, 1978 Suzuki GS1000 and now my 1974 FJ40 so I am not new at this and have a much larger selection of tooling and equipment that you will probably ever have as I also teach in a college.

As Crushers stated it will take as least three times as long as you plan, and will cost more than that. You have a young child, she needs you first and foremost. I have 2 children myself and this FJ40 has caused me alot of grief in that area, don't do it to yourself!

Check out my resto/mod and look at the timeline.. https://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series-tech/73429-has-begun.html

Enjoy it and drive it with the child.
Merry Xmas,
Daryl

When I originally posted this thread I decided to put my plan out there for everyone to give their opinions. I never thought I would get such great advice that was so spot on with the doubt that already existed in my head. When I got the first reply I knew what the right decision was. Make it safe, make it reliable, make it fun and enjoy the heck out of it with my family.

Riley and I have spent several hours so far working side by side spending quality time working on the 40. It's great to have someone hand you the right tool when you are working in a tight spot.

Things are going well so far. The front springs are in and I am moving to the rear of the rig.