FJ43 Build from Far Far Away.

[addicted56]

Colombian anti inversion shackle. Had welded bolts on that side and made it easy to remove out of the old bushings. Quite brilliant actually.


Old Engine (Sold and crated)


New Engine up on the stand. Needs torn down again though rebuild so I can balance it.

 

[addicted56]

Rebuild FJ62 axle as the donor for my rig. I wanted to keep my stock axle width and 3.73 gears. Disc brakes and non boogered up birfs though.


Tearing apart what I started last year to update (there was no room with the 6 stud conversion for the dust shields.


Making a mess and using the Forklift for some good.

 

[addicted56]

I don't think the machinist for Luke had it set up quite right. We had to shave a lof the knuckle off and a lot of the block as well for it to all line up. Make sure to measure your height with your shims on first so everything is flush up top. A Few tacs with it all installed then remove and weld. I'm not the best welder and should have cleaned up more of the paint on the knuckle.

It is the distribution block on the back of the dust sheild that hits the additional studs


Dirty

 

[addicted56]

Clean. Besides the rust looked like they had just been rebuilt or were new. Pads and everything.

All Together. I like it.

Another thing that they don't mention on their website. The arms hit the stock (given this has been refabbed in the same location as I found it) shock mounts on the axle. This will have to be relocated slightly further inboard so I have full range of steering. I like to be able to turn as sharp as possible when on trails. Will be important the day I'm coming down Black Bear Pass.

 

[addicted56]

Dad going to town with the Grinder

Deciding it was to much work and a bit to dangerous

Bringing out the big dog. I did a bit of damage with this. Those hot rivets that Toyota used are no joke.

 

[addicted56]

Just liked the clean look. Will finish up cleaning the axle and everything when we spray the frame.


Good Work.


Hanging out with Grandpa. He would not get off of the forklift after this. Mom did not appreciate him getting greasy and climbing everything but that is our future wrench monkey. It is a family disease for sure.

 

[addicted56]

Time to tackle the back. Get rid of those old crappy drum brakes and throw on the Poser Brackets and Monte Carlo discs.


Looking Better. Out with the Old in with the new.


Back to square one.

 

[addicted56]

Cleaning up the axle. We were careful all week keeping the gasoline rags out of the shop and out of the way of all the sparks. Well I stuck them outside and of course the grinder caught the bucket on fire. My dad didn't even see it. Funny story in retrospect as I'm kicking a bucket of burning rags away from the shop. Flipped it over took out the O2 and it was just fine. It was in pretty bad shape. Had to replace most of the bolts for the housing as they were smashed and one was missing completely which was causing my leak. Took quite awhile.


What a Mess. I'm not sure what happened to the oil in the rear diff. The front was filled with water but the rear was like molasses. Made keeping the spider gears in place easy though. Got it all rebuilt though and will probably have to do a flush and put a little diesel in to get the sticky goo out of there.

Clean shop after a very messy week in there. All of the new stuff in the back ready to weld together.

 

[addicted56]

After I left my dad took it to the sand blasting booth. He did a good job and found another crack in the frame that needs welding up. Not nearly as bad as in the front though.

So Fresh and so Clean Clean.

Paintable/Weldable rust prevention. After all of the welding will get a primer and paint. I hope to have more soon in the next couple of weeks.

 

[cruiserjunkie]

Looking good bet it makes going back to the base a little easier

 

[FJ43 1980]

Nice progress. Waiting to hear the details on "what was done to this truck over the years to keep it on the road. I would have regretted every day that I did not tear it down and would have been fighting problems for years. I will highlight some of them when I get the photos"

 

[78fj40mg]

Excellent work!

 

[addicted56]

Nice progress. Waiting to hear the details on "what was done to this truck over the years to keep it on the road. I would have regretted every day that I did not tear it down and would have been fighting problems for years. I will highlight some of them when I get the photos"

I guess I kinda talked about some of them.

Wiring was very sketch/spliced and home style wire used for places it should not.

Non toyota axle seals but worked just fine and actually better than the KOYO's that were in other spots.

A huge crack in the frame that was BONDO'd over

Rearched springs without the wraps put back over them.

Those custom made shackles with some home made rubber bushings.

There is more SAE on this car than Metric

Must have been in a fender bender at some time as the frame is tweaked just a tad bit.

Had a plug in the rear Diff that must have stuck out 3 inches. The one on the bottom was completely ground and shaven off.

Rewelded some of the brackets here in there..kinda hack jobs but heavy duty and seemed to work just fine.

The front axle was demolished with weird weld marks on the end of the birfs, wrong size spindle nuts, and stripped out knuckles.

Must have used a torch to cut off body mounts at one point in time. Many wallowed out holes where they were and part of the rear cross member was hacked up that I will be replacing.

Bump stomps were different on every corner

 

[addicted56]

A few more from today.

It is a bit further along. These are some earlier pictures but the PS box is on and most of the plates. I'll get a picture of all the PS and bracing tomorrow.

They also started to tear the transfer case apart to see if it had the oiling provision for the 5 speed. It shouldn't but they can not find any numbers on it and with all of the things changed on the truck who knows...it could be a later model transfer case. Not likely though.

 

[Lazman]

My son and I bought and totally rebuilt a 78 RHD (Austalian) BJ40. Took about 7 months but speaking as a father, one the best experiences I've ever had (now we can laugh). BTW - the project is really NEVER finished...lol! Your FJ43 is gonna turn out awesome!

 

[FJ43 1980]

Wow. I guess I got lucky with my 43. Not too many issues other than sketchy wiring for far too many lights and lousy install of vintage air ac and heat system, but all that was done by PO in US. Funny though it did have a damaged front axle. Must be the roads in Colombia. Keep up the great work.

 

[Chamba]

Bit late now, but thought I'd put it up anyway: I put HJ61 axles on my LX front and rear and wish I had done it years ago. It handles SO much better with the wide axles, and taking it places like Black Bear makes me love teh 2.5" wider stance.

I wish I had put them on my troopy, but if I had a 43/44/46 it would be at the top of my 'to do' list.

I am loving this rebuild, can't wait to see it in person on the trails.

Hearing about all the botch jobs on it does not surprise me. When I lived in Cemtral America I could not beleive the cars which were running around. Any bloke with a hammer, soldering iron and chisle calls himself a mechanic. My Land Cruiser in Panama had more bailing wire on it than factory bolts.

Josh

 

[addicted56]

I debated those axles quite a bit. I wanted to keep it as stock as possible but I''m very quickly getting away from that. I was trying to minimalize fab work as well but we can all see that has gone out the window. By the time I realized it I was already done with the front though. Maybe a good MOD for later down the road I guess. I was worried about tucking the tires up in the fenders as well.

I guess I will just have to get an troopy or truck next and build something just as fun

 

[addicted56]

Well getting a bit closer. A lot of off and on to make sure it was just right. Should be all wrapped up today.

My dad (going to get tired of saying that...wish I was there) is going to try his hand at a bumper. I ordered the winch today (He needed it for templates) and it is probably overkill. Got a Badland 12K for $320 shipped to the door. I figure my old HF 10K winch I had on my F250 7.3L lived for 6 years without any gripes before I sold it (minus the switch on the controller going bad) so this should be just fine. I've heard the newer ones are even better. I was worried about the weight but it only weighed 8lbs more than the 9K and it was actually 10 bucks cheaper for the 12K. Dimensions according to their site are exactly the same (which much be wrong).

Anyway I guess with that and a snatch block I should never get stuck. In all reality I will probably take it off 90% of the time so I don't have to carry the weight (unless the truck rides better) and to keep it out of the elements. I've got the wife making me a weatherproof cover for it though as I know my old HF winch did not appreciate the sun and rain. A lot of rust and UV fading.

 

[addicted56]

Well she the PS and bracing from 4x4 labs is all complete. The MAF brackets are now welded on (moved 2" forward from stock location) and the rear brackets are going to be bolted into the frame and after driving around to make sure we like them will take weld them on as well.

Just one crappy phone picture. Should have the mock up with axles done in the next week. I still need to order some ALCANs for the rear springs.

Hopefully moving it forward that 2" gives me a slightly better approach angle and alleviates the problem with the slip yoke in the driveshaft. Who knows maybe it will be to short now. I guess we will see. The 5 speed is stuck in NY because of the storm. As soon as it arrives it will be time do so some measuring and getting all of the new transmission and motor mounts fabbed up. I'm guessing the body will have to come on and off a few times before we get it just right.