FJ55 Deconstruction

Should I continue this thread for the buildup, or start a new one?

  • Keep this one going.

    Votes: 9 100.0%

  • Start a new thread.

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    9
  • Poll closed .

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oldfj40 said:
Fantastic restoration!


Do you have any recent pics? How's it holding up? Did the bumpers get built?



Following your wagon build too.I always liked those two door models.If it turns out anything like the 55 you'll have a sweet ride.

:cheers:
Click to expand...

Thanks. I will get a couple recent pics. It still looks great. Some mud built up underneath. Bumpers never got built. The guy who wanted to do it has not got around to it. (as they say, if you want something done right...)

There will be pics of the wagon project up next week. The passenger doors are off, and the new door and panel test fit went really well. The sheetmetal will look factory. The glass will be a little custom to make work.
 
Well, someone asked for some recent pics. Here are a couple. Mostly still in awesome shape. Has seen several trail runs, and one tree incident required a door repaint.

1yearlater.jpg

1yearlater1.jpg
 
Jason; awesome build; how did you remove the rubber/tar undermatting from the drivers side so cleanly? TIA:cheers:

Lou
 
You mean inside the cab? I used scrapers/chisels to get the main bulk of it off. Accidentally set some of it on fire while torching a broken screw out! :whoops: I finished it off with some mineral spirits and a rag. I then had the whole thing sand blasted. I think it helped that I was chipping the stuff off during a cold spell, it made the stuff brittle.
 
tried the dry ice thing today and maybe the day was too warm or I did not wait long enough but .......maybe there was very little rust beneath the tar.......only difference I could see was that the chips were a bit bigger:frown:

Lou
 
3rd times a charm?

Been a while since an update, eh?

Anyway, this is the third time the front right shock mount has snapped off the axle on this thing. I told Scott (the owner) that if he broke it a third time, I would have to get serious about it.

Part of the problem was the lift kit. It set the front axle back about 1 1/2 inches. Just enough to put the lower shock mount at a wierd angle. No problem for regular use, but the trail this thing regularly climbs has a brutal section, that really works the front right suspension. (big rock, deep hole, hard right, steep climb angle)

So, I stole another part from the Mustang parts bin...

a standard spring perch, flipped upside down, trimmed to clear brake lines and other brackets, etc...

Moved the shock mount forward 1 1/2 inches, and set the angle to be dead center on the lower shock.

Added a gusset to the mount too. If this thing breaks....might have to add limiting straps and a lower bump stop.

Pictures? Of course!

Looking down the shock. Can see how it moved forward.
PICT7403.jpg

From the rear, can see the gusset on the back of the stock mount
PICT7402-1.jpg

Front view
PICT7399-1.jpg

And the other side, still stock. You can see how the angle is just a bit off?
PICT7400.jpg


PS. First day back in the garage since breaking the ribs, so the Moviestar Project is about to get back underway!
 
scorcher1967 said:
Been a while since an update, eh?

Anyway, this is the third time the front right shock mount has snapped off the axle on this thing. I told Scott (the owner) that if he broke it a third time, I would have to get serious about it.

Part of the problem was the lift kit. It set the front axle back about 1 1/2 inches. Just enough to put the lower shock mount at a wierd angle. No problem for regular use, but the trail this thing regularly climbs has a brutal section, that really works the front right suspension. (big rock, deep hole, hard right, steep climb angle)

So, I stole another part from the Mustang parts bin...

a standard spring perch, flipped upside down, trimmed to clear brake lines and other brackets, etc...

Moved the shock mount forward 1 1/2 inches, and set the angle to be dead center on the lower shock.

Added a gusset to the mount too. If this thing breaks....might have to add limiting straps and a lower bump stop.

Pictures? Of course!

Looking down the shock. Can see how it moved forward.

From the rear, can see the gusset on the back of the stock mount

Front view

And the other side, still stock. You can see how the angle is just a bit off?

PS. First day back in the garage since breaking the ribs, so the Moviestar Project is about to get back underway!
Click to expand...

Did y'all consider flipping the front spring packs to move the front axle back forward?
 
aren't 55 spring pacs more or less centered?
 
umm, yes to both. However, the lift kit was an old "universal" kit, and the original mounts had been moved to accomodate the new springs. They got it close, but not right on.

When I put this thing together the first time, I tried the springs in both directions, the other way was so far forward, I thought the slip yoke would fall out!
 
It’s been 12 years since I restored it. 8 years since I’ve seen it. Couple weeks ago I went up Storm Mountain to get it running again. This week it’s back with me for some maintenance.

Its held up pretty well considering it’s been 12 years, and the last 8 years it’s been stuck on the side of a mountain.

55C09BCE-89C2-4D8D-97BE-5064D19726FD.jpeg


041B3097-4D88-4A92-B66F-DCF84FA53A51.jpeg
 
Dang! That was a heck of a quick resto, taking less than one year (November 2006 - September 2007) all the way down to the frame and back up, with a good deal of rust repair, but remaining mostly stock. Pretty amazing what can be done with an open budget and dedicated people to delegate the work to. Glad to see an update on this since it flew under my radar back then (new baby).
Maybe you can convince the owner to ditch the white-spokes for a set of stock steelies.(?)

BTW, there’s a radio controlled version of this very rig running roughshod over YouTube.
 
RUSH55 said:
Dang! That was a heck of a quick resto, taking less than one year (November 2006 - September 2007) all the way down to the frame and back up, with a good deal of rust repair, but remaining mostly stock. Pretty amazing what can be done with an open budget and dedicated people to delegate the work to. Glad to see an update on this since it flew under my radar back then (new baby).
Maybe you can convince the owner to ditch the white-spokes for a set of stock steelies.(?)

BTW, there’s a radio controlled version of this very rig running roughshod over YouTube.
Click to expand...
It was fast. I’ve never liked the white spojes myself, but overall, great rig.
It got a nice tune up today, running great again, it’s a 2F, not sure if those are also “too stupid to die”, but after 8 years of sitting?
 
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