FJ43 Build from Far Far Away.

[addicted56]

Here are a few more photos just before the tear down of the front axle.

Not sure if I mentioned it but we are swapping in a OM617 that was rebuilt and I swapped out my w56 adapter for the newer H series adapter. Saves a lot of fabing and I can keep my H41. I owned many a diesel Mercedes in my college and early LT days (still own a newer one) so I figured why not put my favorite diesel engine into my favorite vehicle.

The adapter from Luke looks great. Also purchased a new plated nut/bolt set and have a set of rear disc brakes coming from poser. I figure with the FJ62 fronts It should stop just fine. Found a 22 gallon Aux tank locally that will be going in as well. Should bring me up to about 800 miles in range if I get decent mileage.

More to follow as my brother should be tearing off the body this week and the fame will get stripped down and coated.

 

[Bigslug]

You've got a hardtop FJ-43. . .you are a galactic-core, supermassive black hole of suck. I've wanted a 43 since seeing Crocodile Dundee II.

Folks in other countries claim all kinds of reasons for hating the USA.

The FJ-43 is the American Cruiserhead's reason for hating the rest of the world. Well done!

 

[addicted56]

You've got a hardtop FJ-43. . .you are a galactic-core, supermassive black hole of suck. I've wanted a 43 since seeing Crocodile Dundee II.

Folks in other countries claim all kinds of reasons for hating the USA.

The FJ-43 is the American Cruiserhead's reason for hating the rest of the world. Well done!

Thanks for the compliment!!!

 

[addicted56]

Not the best of quality photos.

The body is off. The frame is going to get cleaned up (maybe blasted) and then painted. The body work will probably hold off until near the end. Parts for the rear axle disc brakes are in and seals will be replaced. The parts FJ62 axle for the front is purchased but I need to get it shipped and picked up. Now I just need to ship out the engine to mock up motor mounts. My brother is tearing down the transmission slowly to rebuild it as well.

Trying to finish the rebuild of my other car right now and get this other FJ43 sold I'm bringing into country so funds for this project are VERY short right now. Progress is slow but hopefully in the next few months we can get moving on this thing at get it done so I can enjoy it this season.

 

[The Red Camel]

keep it stock............. as much as possible........ are you painting it a different color

 

[addicted56]

Well I haven't updated recently as I have been busy with a lot of other things and same with my dad and brother. Hoping to make some progress soon though.

I did sell my 1956 Ford truck so that opens up some funds and it looks like the FJ43 I recently brought into country will be sold within a few weeks as there has been a lot of interest.

That stupid Touareg I purchased is still not complete but should be next week. If so and all of the funds that thing sucked up (as much as I paid for it) I can put them to good use on this project

I still do not have my diesel engine shipped out there for test fitment.

I still haven't figured out what I'm going to do for suspension.

I still haven't been able to pick up my FJ62 front axle that I purchased. I have a FJ62 out east here with me that I am thinking of parting out but it is not bad enough to need to do that. Just kinda convenient. Thinking of taking the power steering and axles.

Need to really figure out a lot of things before I move forward any further. So many great directions I could go with it. The more you know the harder it is. I have pretty much steered myself away from complete stock though. I want it to be a comfortable daily driver and overland vehicle. So if that means new seats, power steering, LED lights and air conditioning than so be it.

My soft top did come in though and it looks nice so I'm excited to have that to put on eventually.

 

[addicted56]

Wow long time. My Touareg is still not finished. I still have my "extra" FJ43 for sale and my diesel engine I purchased last year finally arrived. All is great other than apparently it didn't have the flywheel with it which is a really bad thing as they are externally balanced. Not really sure what I'm going to do there. Hopefully my FJ62 axle will show up next week so we can finish up the front axle and fab work will begin.

Headed off for another month of training. Hopefully have another update in about 2 months.

 

[addicted56]

Well that Touareg is finally done (not quite right) and runs and gets me around. The axle finally made a trip up to my dads shop and I just need to purchase or build a knuckle centering tool. That and I sold the FJ43 (spare) last month so I can start focusing on this project again hopefully. Looks like we might be purchasing my wife's child hood home back in our home town so we will see how much I can throw at this project.

None the less finally made some decisions on a few things but I probably have more questions than when I started. A lot to do that is for sure.

Hopefully will have some pictures and updates in another month or so.

 

[addicted56]

Sorry no progress. My dad says they are about to tear into it here in the next couple of weeks. Luckily I'm heading home in late September so hope to make some progress there and do a lot of the dirty work for the frame.

Figured out the direction I wanted to go on a lot of things for A/C, PS, Brakes, Axles and gear ratio's, tires, KINDA wheels, engine filter mods, radiator fans, Transmission Kinda, transfer case mostly minus park brake, gauges, stereo, sound deadening and carpet, bumpers, frame paint and even have a pretty good idea on seats.

I have almost everything planned out for this truck how i want it right now except for one thing....SUSPENSION.

I have to have about a 4" lift to clear the oil pan from the front pumpkin. I can cut out a lot of the pan but the clearance is still needed.

I need to give man-a-fre a call but I really like their 4" rock crawler kit. Seems like a done deal. Mainly it sounds like a soft ride and I'm all about a soft ride. Only problem is I have longer rear spring and I don't know if they make them for that. I know some of the other dealers do. Again I'm looking for the softest ride possible and best handling for daily driving out there without going coil over. Not really worried about rear weight as 95% of the time I won't have much back there except a kid and some small dogs. Plan a small trailer for longer trips and I always figure I can go air bags if I really need them.

Anyone have any thoughts on how I should tackle this FJ43 suspension problem? Again I want the smoothest softest springs out there really. Also I wonder about the OME shocks they come with. I've riden in a few rigs with them and it might be the springs but I'm pretty convinced they are a pretty (stiff, wrong term I know) shock. Was thinking about adding in an adjustable shock like the RS9000 (had them on my F250 and were great) or something of that variety.

Once I've got this figured out the fab work can take off.

Ohh and I can always move the spring hangers if necessary and use FJ40 spring but I like the idea of having that one more thing that is slightly different and usually you can make longer springs softer anyway.

Thanks.

 

[BreckenridgeCruiser]

The 43/44/46 all use the same rear springs as the 45/47 which are made by OME and other manufacturers. I had Alcan make up a sweet set of 4-5 inch lift springs for my BJ44.

Let me know if you have any questions as I have been there and done that with the MWB suspensions. Pm me for my phone number if you want to discuss options.

Kraig

 

[FloridaFJ80]

Hey glad you were able to bring the 43 from Colombia.. Rebuild is going great!! Cheers

 

[addicted56]

Engine is finally out of the box and on an engine stand. Looks like most everything I need is there or in the box EXCEPT for the original flywheel. Looks like I might have to remove the bottom end and go and take the crankshaft and my new flywheel to the machine shop as they are externally balanced engines.

Anyone's thoughts on this? I would prefer not to but I'm sure there will be a time I rev this up to 5K and I don't want to be sorry.

Also contacted Alcan and one step closer to getting some rear springs made.

Someone buy my FJ62 or Touareg so I can get the hard parts in and get to fabbing!!

 

[lt1fire]

Wow long time. My Touareg is still not finished. I still have my "extra" FJ43 for sale and my diesel engine I purchased last year finally arrived. All is great other than apparently it didn't have the flywheel with it which is a really bad thing as they are externally balanced. Not really sure what I'm going to do there. Hopefully my FJ62 axle will show up next week so we can finish up the front axle and fab work will begin.

Headed off for another month of training. Hopefully have another update in about 2 months.

Glad to see my ghetto packing job survived the long haul.... glad to get that gigantic paper weight out of my garage


Did you talk to luke about the flywheel problem?? I only ask because the 4x4 labs kit comes with a new flywheel... be it a re drilled gm or yota for the w56. So it stands that the H41 kit should come with one, no??

When I picked up the engine and adapter for you last year the adapter came with a redrilled W56 flywheel to go with that engine..... which went to Brian because you wanted to do the stock trans...... i'd talk to luke before you do anything like pull the crank from the motor.

 

[addicted56]

Glad to see my ghetto packing job survived the long haul.... glad to get that gigantic paper weight out of my garage


Did you talk to luke about the flywheel problem?? I only ask because the 4x4 labs kit comes with a new flywheel... be it a re drilled gm or yota for the w56. So it stands that the H41 kit should come with one, no??

When I picked up the engine and adapter for you last year the adapter came with a redrilled W56 flywheel to go with that engine..... which went to Brian because you wanted to do the stock trans...... i'd talk to luke before you do anything like pull the crank from the motor.

I will. I think it says in the directions to take the original from the engine and take it to someone to get balanced the same as the original. Usually it isn't crazy but it doesn't take a lot to get into issues at 5k. Need to call him and talk about some steering parts anyway.

 

[addicted56]

Will be home in one week. Getting excited. Have half of the steering parts on the way. Just need Luke from 4x4 labs to give me a call back or hound him down to order the rest of the High steer setup. I'm really hoping he can get it out quick. I am behind the power curve on getting it all ordered.

Should have the tool to center the axle on borrow as well so I can finish off the front FJ62 disc swap and then finish the rear brakes.

Today I lined the aux tank (very rusty) and am shipping it home tomorrow hopefully and it will beat me there.

Packed up my extra motor mounts, isolators and some old mercedes engine parts I had lying around.

Last but not least trying to decide if I want to splurge and get the rock crawler kit on the way. If I do I can finish all welding while home (except battery tray) and I can get it off to the sand blaster and get it painted.

It is all down hill after that. Hahaha who am I kidding. Some one needs a Touareg so I can go hog wild and ensure it is done before my return this time next year from the STAN.

 

[destin]

Awesome man. More photos when you get back home please

.

 

[addicted56]

So I got a couple of hours in today. Not as much done as I had hoped but I plan to get back on it Sunday.

It went very easy except I forgot two things and hopefully you can tell me it is not a big deal.

I borrowed a knuckle centering tool but did not use it as I switched over my FJ62 knuckles onto my FJ43. As noted I could use all of the old shafts ect though I did try my hand at seperating the axles from the Birf like the video on here just to see if it was as easy as it looked on youtube....it was.

I ended up using the same shims top and bottom for the FJ62 knuckle as I tore it down from that axle and just swapped it over to my FJ43. I figured since the knuckle doesn't really change size this should be correct still??? Am I correct on this? If it is any consolation I compared the shims I took off of the FJ43 to those that I used off of the FJ62 and they were almost exactly the same on each side of the axle both bottom and top. Maybe a couple of thousanths off.

The reason I didn't was becuase I forgot I had already greased up one knuckle last year when I was here and I had already put in all of the new bearings and seals and I didnt have extra so I didn't want to punch out the races and the axle shaft seal and have to wait for more while I'm here (short amount of time).

Second bad thing I did was leave in the old wheel bearing, race and seal on the disc hub. I had pressed all the other seals I had in onto the old hubs and didn't want to risk messing them up and then again being without while I try to wrap this up here (remember nothing has really happened to it in the 9 months I have been gone). The race looked new and the seal was a little harder than my new one but seemed in good shape. Hopefully I don't regret this later. Looking at the axle though it looked like it has very recently been rebuilt. Not quite birf soup yet and had brand new selectors and all new tie rod ends and brake components. Didn't look like any miles had been put on at all.

Anyway hopefully someone can tell me I'm not an idiot and this won't come back to haunt me later. Just out of time and parts in this instance.

 

[addicted56]

Ohh and I took a bunch of pictures today but they are on my dads computer. I will load them up again here on Sunday.

We welded up one of the six stud tabs from 4x4 Labs and will finish it all off next time. Took a lot more grinding than I thought was necessary but I think their machinist was off on their measurements a little this batch as they do not look like those they have on their website. But nothing a little grinder to the knuckle and the tab couldn't take care of. I have to say the stuff is very beefy and I'm looking forward to being overkill in the steering and brake department. I'm not done with all of the installs but I can't say enough about the quality and the customer service I have received from Luke at 4x4 Labs.

I did order my suspension and I can't say the same for the company I got it from. Quality might be fine but customer service SUCKED and frankly if anyone else offered what they had I would have not ordered from them.


Ohh last things. I went to pick up the rear brake calipers for the 1985 Monte Carlo and was surprised O'Reilly's had them in stock. Picked up a set with pads for $61 buckaroo's.

 

[destin]

Awesome

I Will be sure to check back for more photos

Great meeting you the other day btw!

.

 

[addicted56]

No updates in awhile. The last bit of my vacation home was a whirl wind and then a long trip home, run some errands and back to the daily grind before we deploy in 6 weeks.

I'm waiting on some pictures I took while there to get e-mailed and I will update the thread.

All I can say is I am glad I tore this thing down to the frame. Amazing 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.

Basically the frame is completely bare now, both axles are fully rebuilt and upgraded to disc brakes. Frame will be sandblasted later this week.

On another highlight I just picked up an H55F. After talking to other OM617 Toyota diesel drivers with the same gear/tire setup I knew I could have lived with it. But then Every other post and person I talked to, to include another underpowered diesel FJ43 that It is well worth the swap for when you can use it and worse comes to worse you just drive around in 4th...no harm done.

Hours of time studying dyno charts has me believing without power upgrades flat level ground and downhill stretches will be the only time I use it.