Frame repair and repower

[73fj]

I have a 1977 FJ 45, and the frame is pretty much shot so I'm going to fix it, then put a V8 in it. You can see from the pictures that someone had tried to "repair" the frame but did a very poor job.....very poor. My plan is to sleeve the frame and then box it again from approx 3' under the cab where there is some better steel.

 

[73fj]

Here are some frame pics, somehow this passed inspection before I bought it, truck came from British Columbia.

 

[73fj]

some more

 

[73fj]

and the new frame rails, still have to fishplate the miter cuts, I'll do that when I have them attached to the truck.

 

[73fj]

And since I am putting a V8 in I have a running 2F with a pretty new Man a fre coated header, if any one wants it let me know, we can work something out, cruiserdog1@gmail.com. I have no idea what the mileage is on the 2F. I'm hoping to have the rails in this weekend, stay tuned

 

[cult45]

Big job - well done!

 

[73fj]

well there's no going back now!

 

[73fj]

I think at some point I will have to do the front half also but this should buy me a couple years

 

[73fj]

I have the drivers side 90% ready, probably have to drop the tranny to get everything on the passenger side. Making it more difficult than it should be is grinding/cutting all the other random bits of steel that have been welded on to band-aid the problem.....what a mess.

 

[73fj]

Making progress..........

 

[Varty Yo]

Awesome work man! I gave up on my 45 after i realized how bad the frame was.

Def subscribed to this!

 

[73fj]

More progress.....................I waited 20 years for a 45 brother Varty, a little frame rust is NOT making me give up..........oh ya, tranny is out too, easiest part of my day.

 

[Varty Yo]

i hear yah man!!! Ive had 2 i passed on in the last 6 months due to frame issues. Right now i have no time to start such a large project. There will be another one day...

 

[Tancruiser]

I may be interested in the header if it will clear colum shift linkage . Hey nice work on the frame repair that takes alot of measuring and ambition kudos to you.

 

[73fj]

Yeah, it's an ambitious project alright but really there was no other choice.

Has anybody used Blair Holcutters, if so what was your experience with them, good or bad. Reason for asking is I just wore out two brand new ones cutting 1 1/2 holes, first cutter burned up almost immediately, 2nd smaller one burned a quick clean hole, like butter, so I repositioned myself, added more of the lube they sell and was cutting away when the tone changed and I could feel it stop cutting, all the teeth are smoothed off.......really puzzled and honestly disappointed, I've had better luck with Home Depot hole saws.

 

[Varty Yo]

Maybe you can give measurments etc. ofthe steel for future projects for 45 owners.

 

[73fj]

Maybe you can give measurments etc. ofthe steel for future projects for 45 owners.

I sure can, happy to.

I wanted to re use my stock spring and shackle hangers but there was so much random booger welding around them it would have been impossible, so I did some searching and decided to go with Ruff Stuff, partly for price but mostly their reputation over some other vendors that had the parts but the price would have been over 500 Can, I decided that it did not have to be stock, just had to work.
So now I have both rails welded in and fishplated over the mitre, just waiting for the hangers and a couple custom pieces Im having done, also a picture of how my box system will look.

 

[Varty Yo]

wow great work man!

 

[cult45]

Crushing it.

 

[Varty Yo]

runnin hot with that mig bro!