FJ40 project build...from Tasmania!!!

[hsv587]

Well,didnt do much after work this arvo on it,just installed the top half of an old commodore fan shroud to cover the exposed fan blades for inspection,and finally ordered my double arm and tie rod end kit from superior engineering

Been trying to utilise as many parts i got laying around home from previous wrecked cruisers and falcons,but when it comes to brakes and steering,I always buy new

 

[hsv587]

Well,been waiting for my steering bits to arrive,got an email its gunna be about 2 weeks .
Buuut,theres still plenty of stuff to keep me busy..
been doing the boring bits the last few days...installing seatbelts,bolting the hardtop on properly,extracting broken bolts from overtightening hardtop bolts...all the fun s***.

hoping the rain stays away tomorrow,need to do some overdue maintenence on the F100,and really want to pull the bodylift out...fun fun lol

 

[hsv587]

Well,still been tinkering away,a little bit at a time,between work and family time...

I have an odd shock absorber on the front,and its limiting suspension travel,but ill adress that after it gets regoed.

The big arse bodylift is out ,looks heaps better now...body is just sitting on the frame at the moment..got tomorrow off work,so ill bolt the body on then

 

[Xstevx]

I love the sketchy look, what's your plan for painting?

 

[hsv587]

Put both doors in grey primer,a mate of mine is good with a airbrush,so hes painting a large maltese iron cross on each door,paint the wheels black,repaint the bullbar black,then leave the rest....I like the old survivor look,and I already have 1 nice,shiny car to keep clean...dont want 2 shiny cars lol

 

[Xstevx]

That'll look awesome. I just bought a bj42 that the previous owner had painted flat black straight over the original paint. Very easy to touch up the bush pinstripes.

 

[Xstevx]

Was considering a tassie trip at the end of the year...

 

[hsv587]

The BJ looks good in flat black....bullbars cool as too .
Plenty of keen 4x4 drivers in tassie...check out tassie4wd.com before you leave,might be able to tag along with some locals on a day trip or something while your down .

Well,got the body bolted back on to the chassis today,had to cut new rubber body mounts out of some thick rubber...cutting the rubber took more time than bolting the body on lol

 

[hsv587]

Well,got some more done...my steering parts arrived from superior engineering,crossover steering arm,all tie rod ends etc,installed everything today...no pics yet as it got dark as i finished....I have also turned it into a 7 seater..scored a pair of double jump seats locally.Just need to round up 4 lap belts

 

[hsv587]

Well,havnt updated for a bit,but been busy the past coupla weeks..

new tie rod ends and double steer arm.







Keeping with the "extreme budget build" theme,rather than pay 100$ for a rear doorhandle,i done a macgyver with a fj45 roof clip,and made a working doorhandle





New tailight lense ,exhaust cobbled together from a few different exhausts layin around the yard,anda well placed sticker to cover the holes in tailgate near handle



A trip out to our personal "car graveyard" to get some lap seatbelts for the rear



Roo bar all painted up and fitted







rusthole in the door...



fixed with a tin patch and pop rivets ...doors have been finished in gleaming grey primer,and the wheels copped the best in rattle can black







Hoping to get it in this week for a roadworthy inspection/rego

 

[hsv587]

Well,an update...s*** went pear shaped .

The engine had a very slight miss..which started to get worse,so I thought ild investigate before the pit inspection..a coupla days after my last update.

Done a compression test,was down in 1 cylinder..pulled head off,and found a munched up piston and combustion chamber..
Only thing I can think of is over the last 10 years of sitting under the workbench,a stray small nut or washer has fallen down into one of the rags stuffed into the intake ports,and has fallen in...whatever it was theres no trace of it now...

So,I done the only thing I could after so much effort of doing all this on the street..I sput the s***s real bad,and ignored it...up until yesterday.

Luckily I had ANOTHER spare ford 250 6 banger engine sitting in my 1977 Falcon panelvan ..it had to come out as a warm 351/auto combo is sitting here earmarked for it ,so I whizzed it out,whizzed the engine out of the cruiser,put them both side by side on the tray of the F100,and started changing all the bolt ons over...which is where im at now .

Ive just ran into a minor issue..theres a spacer bolted to the back of the crank,which mates the landcruiser flywheel to the ford crank..well,there was a very minor burr on the end of the crank,and tryed to pull the spacer in with the bolts before I noticed,and damaged a few threads in the end of the crank..ive cleaned up the burr with the trusty angle grinder,and I reckon ill be able to get away with running a tap through the threads to clean them up ..so,ive give up for the day,and will buy a tap tomorrow and try again

 

[cruiserpilot]

So what about the RHD F100 tow vehicle? Sorry, but big Ford guy. Also really like your diamond in the rough, looks good now. I am from Vr Island but my brother is living NW of Hobart, I will get down there soon enough, will need a guide....

 

[lostmarbles]

...s*** went pear shaped.....I sput the s***s real bad.........

Same for me seeing your bezel cut like that...

With the goldmine of used parts at your disposal over there, surely you can replace it with one that's complete.

Fitted either way up, a new COMPLETE bezel would provide a major improvement in appearance IMO.



PS. Your post are always interesting

 

[hsv587]

Well,theres 2 F100s here actually ..the blue 1970 is registered and a driver...yet so much more
Its a tow bus/wheelbarrow/workbench/storage container...its great,the handiest truck ever
I think ive already mentioned its had the aussie 250 crossflow conversion

The red one (1971) is my uncles old F100...he passed away a few years back...this one is going to undergo a transformation soon ..it still has the US 250 engine and 4 speed box..runs and drives,but needs brakes and other stuff.



1 of them will get a V8...undecided which one yet...pulled a good clevo V8/auto combo out of the rusty intercepter thing pictured..




Both F trucks are aussie delivered,converted to RHD and sold by local dealers.We used to get ford galaxies/LTDs in like that too,plus numerous chevy models...heres one of my old projects from a few years back,a 1971 Galaxie LTD (just LTD in US)




The big yellow panelvan is whats donated the latest aussie 6 for the FJ40..my 351/FMX/9 inch combo is sitting there,waiting on me to paint the engine bay first..



Ohhh,R.E the bezel..im not too fussed about it..maybe ill change it one day...but it lets more airflow in as it is...and at least no one can say "oy,ya bloody bezels upside down"

 

[lostmarbles]

Your photos showing the weatherboard houses could easily represent kiwi suburbia.

(I've heard lots of people say that Tassie and NZ are similar...)

Having a backdrop of gum trees is not impossible here either.... (They thrive in our climate too.)

Nice automobile collection there!!! I'm a fan of the Galaxies and at one time I even owned a 1956 F100 (which I intensely regret selling)..

 

[hsv587]

Your photos showing the weatherboard houses could easily represent kiwi suburbia.

(I've heard lots of people say that Tassie and NZ are similar...)

Having a backdrop of gum trees is not impossible here either.... (They thrive in our climate too.)

Nice automobile collection there!!! I'm a fan of the Galaxies and at one time I even owned a 1956 F100 (which I intensely regret selling)..

a 56???...Ohhh,im jelous...the 55/56 f100s would have to be the prettiest truck ever built...I love them...there used to be wrecks in paddocks around country tas everywhere when I was a kid..

We have a lot of kiwis here actually,including the one painting my doors ..the climate isnt much different.

And this suburb is Risdonvale..its a ex government housing area,and one of the rougher areas down hobart way..I paid less for this house than most people spend on a car.
Ive grown up here,and love the place..well,my workshop has been the street for over 10 years,and never had a complaint
And being so close to the bush,kangaroo and wallabys feed on my lawn during summer..its my own lil slice of heaven

 

[cruiserpilot]

Wow, some collection. Got to get down there now. I still find it weird to see stuff like the Galaxie in RHD. The 40 looks good, keep it coming. J

 

[hsv587]

Well,not much to report at the moment..work and weather has stalled things slightly..
buut,tomorrow I get my doors back from the painter..well,painter is a insult really..hes more of an artist
pic taken before he shot the clear..



But now im going to have to find more doors for "bush missions"...i dont wanna ruin the crosses in the scrub

 

[hsv587]

Doors on,and got 2 days off work coming up...progress should be made

 

[hsv587]

Well,got a bit done today...

After battling to get the engine and gearbox mated together underneath the fourby for 2 afternoons,I bit the bullet .
I removed my seats...again
I removed my fuel tank...again
I unbolted tailshafts...again.

Yea,you get the idea.
Well,once gearbox was out of the cruiser,it slotted onto the back of the engine fairly easily.
So,the engine and gearbox are bolted back into place,after some wrestling and lots of swearing..
Tomorrow,to put all the stuff back on that i pulled off today :/