Father-Daughter 1972 fj40 revival

[69LC]

I also have to give kuddos to Scott from Pointy Hat Designs out in Wyoming for sending me a pair of hub gears to convert the IFS hubs for the straight axle... It only took about 5 minutes to swap the hub gears.

 

[forestderp]

Cool subscribed, how old is the daughter?

 

[69LC]

She's 17. Too cute for my sanity! Tonight I showed her how to drive the bearing races into the disc wheel hubs and we donned nitrile gloves and packed bearings and spindle seals. I still need shims and cone washers, but the knuckles are painted and spindles are ready for assembly. I blasted the steering arms after work today and will paint them tomorrow. Then I bored her do death with 14 bolt massive strength (for my 40 rear) as compared to stock or ford 9in stuff just for a frame of reference. She was a good sport. The last time we were working on parts she started telling me about her old boyfriend and how much of an A-hole he was. I love what is developing from this!

 

[69LC]

I'm thinking of stealing the tie rod from the fj62 axle my son has waiting for his 40 project and replacing it later with a heavier tie rod with gm ends.

 

[69LC]

My daughter and I took her new 81 fj40 rotors and mini truck hubs to my buddy's shop to press studs. I will post pics when we start installing them on her truck. I'm down to finding a set of cone washers and shims for the knuckles and steering arms. If anyone has any decent scrounge to share I would appreciate it.

 

[69LC]

parts progress

I took a half day and pulled the big piston calipers and master cylinder from a mid-90s 4runner. The MC is mounted, but the calipers need a good cleaning. We have blasted and painted all of the other parts. The fireplace insert makes a good paint curing location. My wife hates that.

 

[69LC]

Possible tire and rim combo

I just mounted up a Cooper 31x11.50r15 on a stock wheel. I like it. It comes out just flush with outer edge of the front fender. I wanted to mount one on a stock rim and one on one of the 15 x 7" steel white spokers that came on the truck.

 

[69LC]

I finally settled for stealing front axle parts from my son for his sister's truck. We will rebuild his 60 series front axle later. For a Michigan axle, I was quite pleased with how everything came apart. Within the week I hope to have the 60 parts on CC's truck.

I tried to access the tech links, but they seem to be gone. Does anyone know if the short side fj60 inner axle is the same length as the 40 short side? I thought I remembered reading that once upon a time...

Oh, and will the rebuilt mini truck hubs and vented rotors bolt onto the 60 spindle without issues? I sort of remember reading this was possible too.

 

[DSRTRDR]

send a message to woody about the tech link you need - he should be able to restore it

 

[69LC]

Thanks Claudia. I'll give it a try.

Tonight while CC is off doing HOPEFULLY her last sideline cheer at HS football playoffs, I've been cleaning up more knuckle parts, (I'll get the major gunk with the parts cleaner at work) cleaning and inspecting the fj62 birfs. The truck they came from had 16x,xxx miles, but they look really good. We'll reassemble and pack them with proper moly grease. I don't know what grease had been used before, but it was UGLY!

Probably tomorrow we will start tearing down the 40 axle for the upgrade, which reminds me I need to order inner axle seals...

For the pitting on the outside surface of the knuckle balls, has anyone ever tried filling them with a metal epoxy and re-sanding them smooth? I'm worried about dirt and gunk working back into the knuckles with the steering cycling back and forth.

 

[69LC]

Since we didn't need a whole knuckle rebuild kit CC and I made our own felt knuckle wipers today. We will see how it works out. I still would like to know what anyone thinks of filling the pitted surface of the knuckle balls with epoxy to get a smooth seal surface.

 

[04jf]

when i redid mine i used and oxygen and accetylene blow torch on a nice gentle heat and the bronzing rod to build it up and the very gently sanded it back to smooth
Has come out really nicely and have no more pitting holes but i also only had a housing to lift onto the bench no a complete setup

worth a try maybe

 

[1973Guppie]

Since we didn't need a whole knuckle rebuild kit CC and I made our own felt knuckle wipers today. We will see how it works out. I still would like to know what anyone thinks of filling the pitted surface of the knuckle balls with epoxy to get a smooth seal surface.

I have a bunch of these lying around, happy to send them to you? let me know.....

 

[69LC]

I could take a pair or two if you do have extra. Thanks!

 

[69LC]

made some progress

I was able to borrow a dynafile and straight die-grinder from work to clearance the front knuckles for the mini/fj60 birfs, and just finished resetting the valve lash. I'm not sure how long the rest of the engine compartment will keep its petina with the super cleaned up thermostat housing. I'm pretty sure we need some new hoses and a fan belt…

While I'm doing this, CC is off at an Competitive Cheer overnighter. What a Bum.

 

[DSRTRDR]

the metal fan of death

 

[hairy_apple]

I have had that orange whirling death machine clip me before... OWWWWIE!!!!!

 

[69LC]

Should I add a clutch?

 

[69LC]

Thanks Cruiser Outfitters!

We received the carb rebuild kit yesterday. I set up a clean work bench area in a side room of the house so I can do this work not in the cold garage!

I love the company name.

 

[robtackett]

Awesome project. I hope to do something like this with my son when he gets older. Good luck with this