ARCHIVE FZJ40
- Thread starter IPOR
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IPOR
IronPigOffroad.com
- Thread starter
- #322
I couldn't find a good side view pic of the rear tire stuffing - just this one. One thing I've learned over the years is that flex is nothing without stability. The suspension needs to be balanced to perform well. The buggy is sick and the front and rear links are balanced well, but it's so flexy it's like a slinky. It doesn't flop easily but it will make you think you're going over. It takes nerves of steel to drive to it's potential - and I am not the right man for that job (at least not without the blindfold). The FZJ40 by comparison is incredibly stable in all sorts of rediculous situations. The couple inches of droop it gives up to a custom 3-link it makes up for and more with stability. It's also extremely stable and predictable on road. With the low COG I run no sway bars at all and it can slide through corners... er... not that I would drive like that but Vince thinks that sort of driving may have something to do with the 9 mpg I got on the last tank of fuel... hmm... maybe a supercharger would help...
Pretty damn good I have to say! It is strange to me, I am amazed at the accuracy of the fit. I guess when you put some love into it instead of hacking with a sawzall or some snips it can come out beautiful.
I have wheeled the golden crack many times, even had some pretty wild times there. One time when we were kids( I was 16 maybe 17) my buddy broke the yoke on the short side axle shaft on his early bronco. Myself and about 8 of my other buddies pushed that bastard almost the entire way out w/ only 2 wheel drive. That "dump bump" like hill towards the end of the Gold Bar Rim was especially interesting! I don't think we had a tow strap, thats why they say "live and learn". That entire trail is pretty fun, great for a beautiful rig such as yours, props.
I have wheeled the golden crack many times, even had some pretty wild times there. One time when we were kids( I was 16 maybe 17) my buddy broke the yoke on the short side axle shaft on his early bronco. Myself and about 8 of my other buddies pushed that bastard almost the entire way out w/ only 2 wheel drive. That "dump bump" like hill towards the end of the Gold Bar Rim was especially interesting! I don't think we had a tow strap, thats why they say "live and learn". That entire trail is pretty fun, great for a beautiful rig such as yours, props.
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IPOR
IronPigOffroad.com
- Thread starter
- #324
Thanks! If I haven't mentioned it earlier in the thread I spent many moons measuring and figuring before I ever started cutting. Jack and I must have taken apart and re-assembled everything at least a dozen times just to make sure everything fit as intended.
Lance, man your 40 is awesome. Funnily enough your build thread was the main reason I cut mine up and thought coil overs was a good idea, great work, keep it up 
i just read this thing in its entirety... dont know how i missed it before.
Great looking truck, tho i will sat the rear fender flares lok kinda j**pish. but no mater still a great looking well built truck.
Great looking truck, tho i will sat the rear fender flares lok kinda j**pish. but no mater still a great looking well built truck.
IPOR
IronPigOffroad.com
- Thread starter
- #327
Yes, they do sort of. Fortunately the front and rear are so decidedly Toyota that it doesn't really stick out. I had originally just cut the opening larger in order to accomodate the big meats (think theres a pic of that earlier in the thread) but the track width of the 80 is so much bigger the tires stuck out too far and I had to do flares.
Need to get going on finishing the hard top...
Here I am thinking that I was gonna have an original idea only to be let down again
I'm pretty much planning the same thing on my 40 since my frame is shot and i'm wanting to go linked anyways but i'm thinking about tubing the back half and redoing the link design. I like the drive train in the 80 but is there a better transfer case that is a good swap for these?
I'm pretty much planning the same thing on my 40 since my frame is shot and i'm wanting to go linked anyways but i'm thinking about tubing the back half and redoing the link design. I like the drive train in the 80 but is there a better transfer case that is a good swap for these?
That is a Bitchin rig!
Agreed; and when are you going to start on the roof? That will be a very impressive addition.
IPOR
IronPigOffroad.com
- Thread starter
- #331
The roof is in high stall mode... ran out of time.
I know it will look super cool, but I'm not motivated to finish it. I have quite a bit more on my plate these days, and I really don't mind driving it in all weather with no roof. We went out to Madison, VA for a camping/wheeling trip this weekend and had a blast. It rained a little during the day and cats and dogs overnight, but the truck is built to take it so I just parked it on a hill in the morning so the water would drain out and the drive home was uneventful.
I'm also very aware that the hard top means outdoor parking for the 40... what if it gets scratched or something, I mean, seriously, let's think this over guys...
I know it will look super cool, but I'm not motivated to finish it. I have quite a bit more on my plate these days, and I really don't mind driving it in all weather with no roof. We went out to Madison, VA for a camping/wheeling trip this weekend and had a blast. It rained a little during the day and cats and dogs overnight, but the truck is built to take it so I just parked it on a hill in the morning so the water would drain out and the drive home was uneventful.
I'm also very aware that the hard top means outdoor parking for the 40... what if it gets scratched or something, I mean, seriously, let's think this over guys...
ha nice.
Okay, so did I read you have ARB lockers? Is that just a function of the donor truck for the chassis? Would you have preferred OEM electric lockers?
So you don't have any concerns with the thermal/sound deadening absorbing water when it rains? Is that because it's covered with Line-X?
Very sweet, I've dreamt of building something like this myself since I first became interested in Cruisers 9 or 10 years ago!
So you don't have any concerns with the thermal/sound deadening absorbing water when it rains? Is that because it's covered with Line-X?
Very sweet, I've dreamt of building something like this myself since I first became interested in Cruisers 9 or 10 years ago!
Cool FZJ40!!!!!!!!!! 
IPOR
IronPigOffroad.com
- Thread starter
- #335
I removed OEM e-lockers and installed ARB air lockers. The elockers are great, but if you have problems the repairs get expensive quick. The actuator alone for the elocker costs as much as the entire air locker. By comparison the seal for an air locker costs a couple dollars. Add to that the fact that I've been running air lockers for many years and know they are reliable when installed properly. They're both good choices.
The thermal barrier is made of asphalt sheeting and aluminum - I don't think it can absorb water. It shouldn't be able to now simply because it's underneath the line-x.
this rig is an inspiration... i hope you don't mind if i "borrow" a couple of your ideas for my POS...
did i read somewhere your mass producing those "bezel fairleads?"
did i read somewhere your mass producing those "bezel fairleads?"
Thanks, will look into it. about to go plasma anyway, so a new fairlead is on the cards
You can find the bezel fairleads here. https://forum.ih8mud.com/merchandise-storefront/189511-lc-bezel-fairleads-now-available.html
EWheeler
GOLD Star
What did you end up using for a heater? I really like the street rod style directional louvers in the dash, but I didn't see what you connected them to. It looks like you lost the stock 40 blower as the battery is placed where it used to reside, did you use the blower and core from an 80?