Builds Fj40 Daily and Wheeler build

[White Stripe]

Hey @White Stripe, if you would post up plenty of pics. when you prep and apply it. I'm thinking of using it also for that very reason, I don't want my footses getting hot during the summer if I want to bare foot.

Sure no problem. While not as durable as raptor, I figure underneath the floor area durability isn't really going to be a issue. Most people say on the forums that you have to use the 90 dollar lizard skin spray gun to lay down the ceramic stuff properly. But I came across several experiences where people just roll it and with good success. So thats what Im going to do. So while I was on amazon getting all of this stuff I bought a couple of the bed liner rollers with my order. I got 2 gallons of the raptor and 1 gallon of the lizard skin. I also got a bunch of the upol #8 metal etching primer.

 

[74HogGuy]

Ordered my new 3/4 tub. The wheel opening will be opened up slightly and moved back so I can stretch the wheelbase. Not sure if I'll use fj60 springs or just flip the stock springs to achieve this.View attachment 1396843

Looking forward to seeing how this turns out! I'm thinking about flipping my rear springs and doing something similar with the wheel opening.

 

[White Stripe]

Looking forward to seeing how this turns out! I'm thinking about flipping my rear springs and doing something similar with the wheel opening.

Yea I hope it works out. Sometimes I wonder if I should just stop while I'm ahead. But the orders been placed. I've been working on refurbishing the FJ60 leaf packs to prepare for the new body.

 

[gator25]

Yea I hope it works out. Sometimes I wonder if I should just stop while I'm ahead. But the orders been placed. I've been working on refurbishing the FJ60 leaf packs to prepare for the new body.

You probably know this but, you can re arch your springs with a piece of rail road track and a hammer. If you need to, trace the outline of the bottom leaf on the shop floor (so you will have a pattern to go by) lay the track on its side, use the recess in the side of the track and lay whatever leaf you want to arch on top of the track (bottom down across the track) hit the part of the spring that is centered between the 2 high points of the track. Work it back while hitting it until you get it to match the pattern you drew on the floor, takes awhile to do all of them but it works. We used to do this when my brother in law dirt tracked.

 

[waiting for time]

You probably know this but, you can re arch your springs with a piece of rail road track and a hammer. If you need to, trace the outline of the bottom leaf on the shop floor (so you will have a pattern to go by) lay the track on its side, use the recess in the side of the track and lay whatever leaf you want to arch on top of the track (bottom down across the track) hit the part of the spring that is centered between the 2 high points of the track. Work it back while hitting it until you get it to match the pattern you drew on the floor, takes awhile to do all of them but it works. We used to do this when my brother in law dirt tracked.

Do you hit the side that you want to curve up or down?

 

[gator25]

Do you hit the side that you want to curve up or down?

Don't mean to hijack @White Stripe

@waiting for time you hit the side you want to curve up, hit the spring on the side that faces up on the truck. Make sure your hitting the spring in a spot that is in between the 2 high points of the rail.

 

[White Stripe]

You probably know this but, you can re arch your springs with a piece of rail road track and a hammer. If you need to, trace the outline of the bottom leaf on the shop floor (so you will have a pattern to go by) lay the track on its side, use the recess in the side of the track and lay whatever leaf you want to arch on top of the track (bottom down across the track) hit the part of the spring that is centered between the 2 high points of the track. Work it back while hitting it until you get it to match the pattern you drew on the floor, takes awhile to do all of them but it works. We used to do this when my brother in law dirt tracked.

I'm concerned about cold forming spring steel. I've heard it weakens the spring. These will be flexing like crazy.

 

[waiting for time]

You can use induction to heat it localy before forming.

 

[White Stripe]

I'm just using the two main fj60 leafs. The rest of the pack will consist of good 40 series leafs. I don't think I will need to arch them.

 

[gator25]

@White Stripe, post: 10845790, member: 72165"]I'm just using the two main fj60 leafs. The rest of the pack will consist of good 40 series leafs. I don't think I will need to arch them.[/QUOTE]


Good deal @White Stripe , most folks opt to buy new springs myself included.

 

[White Stripe]

@White Stripe, post: 10845790, member: 72165"]I'm just using the two main fj60 leafs. The rest of the pack will consist of good 40 series leafs. I don't think I will need to arch them.

Good deal @White Stripe , most folks opt to buy new springs myself included.[/QUOTE]
Yeah worst-case I can just reuse my current Springs

 

[White Stripe]

Got a update on my tub. Notice the 4door tub in the background. Would be pretty sweet to have a 4-door 40 . Too much work for me though . This will be good enough . Seems like they have a nice shop up there.

 

[White Stripe]

Just got word tub is done and on its way. I asked them to make me some caps for the b pillars which they don't normally have on the aqualu tubs. But it's necessary to have for my best top soft top.

 

[White Stripe]

I got some fj60 rear Springs for cheap which will allow me to easily stretch the wheelbase . As I took them apart I realized they were in poor shape. I could only salvage the two main leafs. Fortunately I have some stock 40 Springs laying around. So I can cannibalize them to make the 60 Springs work. Ground off majority of rust, added slip plate to Springs. Apparently their are different grades of slip plate. I got the heavy duty grade.

 

[White Stripe]

Got one spring built. One more to go. Used ome bushings.

 

[White Stripe]

Ok so I got the springs bolted in. I wanted to take the time to dial in the leaf packs while I'm waiting for my tub. Here is before...

And here is with the fj60 springs. They sag about an inch. So I will probably add a leaf. Shackles are 6.5" long. This is with short side forward and in the 3rd perch hole to bring as far forward as possible thus giving a 1.5" wheelbase stretch....

And here is full droop. They give an additional 2.5" of droop. My shocks may be fully extended at this point. I'm not sure didn't measure. When I get the new tub I'll flip the springs 180 degrees and get the additional wheelbase needed to fit the new tub.

So this will hopefully give others an idea the affects of rear fj60 springs on a 40 whether u wanna do it soa or sua

 

[Eric H]

What coating are you using on the springs? also what slip plates where you able to use with fj40 leafs?

thank you and looking good. loving the black wheels/soft top combo.

Never mind just googled slip plate. Never herd of it before. good idea. I thought you were referring to the plastic plates at the spring ends on newer vehicles.

Keep up the good work

 

[White Stripe]

I did get new leaf pads. Got them off eBay. The slip plate u can get off of Amazon.

 

[Eric H]

I did get new leaf pads. Got them off eBay. The slip plate u can get off of Amazon.

Did you have to drill holes in the ends of the fj40 leafs to use pads?

 

[White Stripe]

Did you have to drill holes in the ends of the fj40 leafs to use pads?

I didn't use pads on the 40 leafs. The only spot I put pads were on the military wrap fj60leaf. It already had holes for them. The other fj60 leafs had pads, but the leafs were too bad to use. If u wanted to use pads on the 40 leafs I think I would just take them to a spring shop or machine shop and have the holes punched for them. I have drilled through springs. It's tough. I used a masonry bit with the carbide tip on a heavy duty drill press and lots of cutting oil. So I suppose u could drill the holes that way but the masonry bits only last about 4 or 5 holes b4 they get trashed drilling springs.