Builds FJ40 buggy re-fresh (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter too tall
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NO!!!! lol
Im diggin the fact that its a 3f.
I just started a build along the same lines as yours, and have thought LONG and hard about a 1fz, well a whole 80 drivetrain, but the wiring end of things steered me to the "dark LS" side. Havent completely written off doing it yet, but........
Really like how you did the pockets in your floor. I really wish I would have seen this before I poured my floor last year. If I didnt have the in floor heat, Id be doing this.
Ls it.
- Thread starter
- #24
The pockets in the floor are actually part of a fabrication fixture I built to build chassis's on. The two rails are exactly parallel and level with each other. kinda like a 20' jig mounted in the floor. I've built probably 15 cars on it so far. It uses 1.9 od pipe or 1-1/2" pipe and scaffold clamps. I'm not really good at recording my work through pictures. This thread is the first time I'm trying to be conscious of it.
I'm a die hard inline 6 fan. I love the way it transfers the power to the ground. I have found that it (the current 3fe) has aided me in getting up obstacles that other guys with v8's have failed at because of the way it puts it on the ground.
I've installed quite a few Ls's and I'm just not that much of a fan. There are many advantages to both, I prefer the toyota 6. Not really interested in turning this into a this versus that argument type thread so please don't take it there. As I've said, up until now this is mostly just a Landcruiser in all respects. The heart will remain the way it is. Maybe a new 3fe but I'll figure that out when I dig into the engine aspect of the build.
Just back from Utah. Had a great time, met a bunch of awesome Americans and wheeled some fantastic stuff in Utah. Completely different type of wheeling than here. Steep learning curve and extremely good traction. We will go back for sure.
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I didn't suggest anything or post to argue, it was just an observation since it seems like you have a goal of really changing up weight/CG/balance and the 3FE isn't exactly lightweight.
I'm going to be building my 71 into a similar rig at some point, I am similarly planning on getting the engine weight as far back as possible while keeping the 40 firewall mostly intact like you did
Mike Shull
Let’s go…
I’m clearly a novice on this type of build. What is the benefit for having the weight moved back?
You're no novice with the build you just finished. Imagine a see-saw and moving the center pivot forward or rearward. You just kinda did the same thing with yours, by the shorter drivetrain, stretch, and larger tank in the rear.
Mike Shull
Let’s go…
Thanks for the explanation. I didn’t really pay attention to this when I built mine but I can see how moving my engine backwards would have helped to gain more traction in the rear if I was planning to leave the rear as is (light).
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- #30
I'll measure it in a bit .
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- #31
Got the mounts welded in and made the new front crossmember . I'll post some pics of the c-member Idea later. Gotta do a bit more bracing and nail down the location for the lowers at the frame end. Here are a couple of pics of the mounts. Im going to mount the uppers at the frame end below the tubes that tie the rockers into the chassis. I was hoping to get my frame side mounts cut on a water or plasma table to save on building everything by hand. I know its pretty slow build but I've been pretty busy. Hoping it'll speed up soon.
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- #32
I forgot to measure the height but I put an angle finder on it and it's pretty close to 45*. The first one is the bottom of the a pillar and the second is the top. Its sitting a little nose down so I guess it would end up around 47*. I'll measure the height today. I made it higher than I probably could have because I wipe out quite a bit and I don't like whacking my head on the cage.
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- #33
Here is a top view of the front crossmember. It ended up that it is totally asymmetrical including the engine skid extension to cover the front of the oil pan. I used 2"x 3/8" thick for the sides of the front of the skid so I can push the lower link mounts as close together as I can so I get the proper amount of angle. Uppers vs lowers. I'm using Johnny joints on the lowers as shown here. The forward centre portion of the engine skid will have a piece of 1/4" thick t-100 plate welded to it to strengthen the crossmember overall. I got my lower link mounts cut out of the same t-100 yesterday. I'll post up later with the link mounts we came up with.
Thank you!! Im tall, 6' 5", so trying to get an idea while looking at yours. I hit my head on enough s***!!! lol
Like how ya did that crossmember. Any particular reason for the Johnny joints vs heims?
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- #35
My heims in the rear are a bit clicky after years of abuse. Not bad in my opinion but I wanted to try Johnny joints and see if they might be quieter over time? I did buy them used. But they are serviceable and I tuned them up a bit when I got them. I will most likely run heims on the upper links though just for the ease and small packaging comparatively.
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- #36
A couple of pics of the lower link brackets. I should have taken more of them prior to assembly. In the pics they are welded, buffed and sandblasted prior to mounting.
Just tacked in place in case I need to move them for some reason? Gotta get the axle roughed in place and finish working out the links. I'm pretty confident I know where its all gonna end up at this point but I'll most likely prioritize the mockup so I can see where the shock towers etc. will need to be.
Just tacked in place in case I need to move them for some reason? Gotta get the axle roughed in place and finish working out the links. I'm pretty confident I know where its all gonna end up at this point but I'll most likely prioritize the mockup so I can see where the shock towers etc. will need to be.
Really diggin this build!
May have missed it, but what wheel base are you setting up?
Every time I scroll back through the pics so far, I kick myself for not putting the pockets in the floor like you have!! lol
May have missed it, but what wheel base are you setting up?
Every time I scroll back through the pics so far, I kick myself for not putting the pockets in the floor like you have!! lol
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- Thread starter
- #38
It's been 112-113 for the last while so I was thinking about staying the same. It works good at this length. I like the way it climbs at this wheelbase. Very predictable and stable, should be even better with the new suspension design. I do have a suck down at either end use them quite often. Maybe won't need them as much with the new height?
Mike Shull
Let’s go…
What is this “suck down” feature that you mentioned? Are you hooking your winch to the axle?
