FJ43 Build from Far Far Away.

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Starting to weld the cage together. I had to order a tube notcher (came quick out of Medford Oregon). Now we are waiting on some additional bushings so we can connect it to the frame. Wanted the extra support without all of the vibration so we are using the bushings and hopefully that helps.

Not sure what parts are there and not. He is saying the bars in the front (just above your head) are not there and they are not part of the kit? That just doesn't sound right to me but a-b connector doesn't mean anything to me as that could be the short peices on the side so I'm not sure what their kit does and doesn't come with now. I know it doesn't match the photos. But hopefully in the end it all works out and is safe.

Had to extend the plates as they were for an FJ40 and will have to modify the frame supports. Thinking it might be a few more weeks before we get to disassembling the truck for a final paint and to put it all back together. Matching the bows/cage with the body so Freeborn Red for them.

Starting to think it won't be done for the trip home and it looks like it will be coming out East on the back of a truck :rolleyes:. Was really looking forward to testing it out on a cross country drive but it just isn't in the cards.
cage.webp
 
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Yeah I should have known better and read the components of the kit better. You would think if it was in the picture it would be on the sold part. Its all good though. Came with a deal for the seat cradle and hip gaurds of which I am NOT using so I think we can use those tubes for the top. We will see. Can always just go buy some tube and do it on our own I guess. We have a small tube bender so what the hell.
 
Getting closer. Mounts for the cage to the frame are almost complete. Should keep some isolation from transfering to the cab.

They got lucky and found a seat out of a dodge mini van. Not sure what year yet. Not sure if it slides forward and out of the way. But fits perfectly between the rails and will be good for strapping the child seats into. Nice to have room behind it as well for a tad bit of storage.
Seat.webp
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My dad found these at a swap meet. Scorpion is the name brand I will have to look them up but look similar to the Carbeau RS I think. Black is going to burn my butt in hot Savannah but I can always put some covers on. They have integrated sliders and a recline function. Now we just need to weld some tabs get some seat belts and we are going to ride in comfort.

Man I can't wait to come back. Would much rather be there helping out. No idea why some photos are sideways. Can't seem to fix it.
seat4.webp
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The last of it!! Kinda

Not sure I like the placement of the power steering cooler there in front of the oil cooler but it will get plenty of air flow there. Bigger one is the Oil cooler for the engine.

The Roll cage is complete and welded up. Just have to add a few tabs for seat belts.

The fuel door should be the last of the real welding for now. Plan is to strip it apart and start prepping the frame and parts to be sprayed. My guess is it will be a couple of weeks before the frame gets sprayed and another month before they get the body work done and the body parts sprayed.

Sorry about pics. No matter how hard I try and rotate them they keep ending up sideways. In this case making it upside down.

Anyone have any thoughts on these seat belts? Not sure if they will work as planned without me taking out the center part of the holes for a typical 4 point harness in the seat. I think I will just use regular seat belts from a junk yard in the back until the kid gets big enough to use a safer belt.

http://www.wildhorses4x4.com/product/Corbeau_3-Point_Retractable_Harness_Belt_2in
coolers.webp
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You might think about adding spreaders to the rear outside of the cage your passengers get limited protection with out them. I have some ccot lap belts that are still in the box you can have while you figure things out if you want them
 
Those belts are made (99% sure) buy Securon. I ordered mine directly from them and they have excellent customer service. In my experience the belts loosened when being used by my kids over bumpy roads. I wrote to them about it and provided them with documentation to show how I had them mounted etc and they sent me a new set of redesigned belts for free. I would get them from Securon just to be sure that you are getting the most recent version. They also lock with any change in angle i.e. a roll- which is a good thing.

I researched the belt thing for my kids for a long time and I feel the belts that I got and the way that I mounted them will be as safe as possible until their shoulders grow taller than the seat back. Then I will need to re route the belts over a spreader bar. I did not like the idea at all of mounting the retractor at an angle to the seat using as Courbeu advises.

In the end I decided that they will use the largest 5 point child seat until they don't fit any more then they will use the belts. My 6 year old still fits in this:

http://www.britaxusa.com/car-seats/frontier-85-sict

Check out the last belt on this page:

http://www.securon.co.uk/seatbelts_layouts.htm

And my install here:

https://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series-tech/479708-rear-fold-tumble-dont-do-like-i-did.html
 
Thank you for the suggestions. I will have to look into the spreaders. No need for the lap belts but I appreciate the offer.

We used to have a Britax but the wife sold it for something else after I deployed. Looks comfy though.

I'm very impressed with those folding seats though. That is very nice work. Hopefully I can create something like that when I get back. Safety is the primary concern for the kid. After coming from a car with 10 airbags and crumple zones I figure the best I can do here is put as much metal as I can around him and hope it doesn't crunch. A Good car seat and secure belts mounted in the appropriate position sure will help.
 
Will have to do a bit of trimming to the fender to get the shocks to fit with the axle moved forward.

I don't think it will look so awkward once the weight is on it. The wheel center should move back a few inches.

Maybe time for some metal tech fenders? Naaaa
shockmount chop.webp
WheelsCenteredFender.webp
 
addicted56 said:
Will have to do a bit of trimming to the fender to get the shocks to fit with the axle moved forward.

I don't think it will look so awkward once the weight is on it. The wheel center should move back a few inches.

Maybe time for some metal tech fenders? Naaaa
Click to expand...

You'll hardly notice it. You could weld the cut bit from the left front to the right rear and vice-versa; effectively moving the shock opening forward an inch or two rather than widening it.
 
tucker74 said:
Can you get me a couple more shots of that, how did you do the motor mount and clear the PS box? Sanden compressor or stock? Trying to figure out how to do AC on my pig, the stock mount puts it right in my steering box (factory PS '79) :frown:

I will try to get them to take more pictures. It may be torn down by the time they I get back to them though. That was supposed to be the last test fit before tear down (I've been saying that for weeks though).

I do not have stock powersteering (using Saginaw) so I have more room in there for the motor mounts. It is in the stock AC location though. The original Mercedes AC pump was to large so we are using the stock Sanden pump on the Old Aire AC kit.

Tucker
Click to expand...

Chamba said:
You'll hardly notice it. You could weld the cut bit from the left front to the right rear and vice-versa; effectively moving the shock opening forward an inch or two rather than widening it.
Click to expand...

That is a good suggestion. I will have to see if we can manage that.
 
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