Builds Good Times - 1992 HZJ73

[LDRF]

I decided to put the front sway bar back in as it keeps getting in the way in my cramped work area and I have Good Times up on jack stands.

I had ordered stock bolts and bushings, but they are clearly not long enough. The sway bar is supposed to be level/perpendicular when the bush is the correct length, yes? The bushing I took out was about 3/4” longer then the stock 3 3/4”. Even so I think 4 1/2” is too short. This pic is with the sway bar level. It’s close to 2” from the retainer to the bracket.

Assembled and tightened.

You can see it’s not level.

I have 4x4 Engineering springs and shackles, but I don’t know exactly how much lift I have.
The letters on the spring are ZF-25 and CSTOIO or CST010F. There is also a ++ marking as well. Is anyone familiar with 4x4 Engineering stuff?

The shackles are 4 3/4” bolt centre to centre, which I think correlates to their “short” shackle and a 60mm lift - 2.3”. Does this mean I need a bush/bolt combo that is 2” to 2 1/2” longer then the original 3 3/4”?

 

[bj70bc]

just cut a thick piece of flat bar and move your mounting point for the sway bar link down by how much you think you need for it to sit level

 

[Felde]

Yes, the swar bar should sit about level.
I took an appropriate length piece of round bar and a piece of tube fitting over it, threaded the end of the round bar and made my own extended middle piece, reusing the original washers and rubbers. Two nylock nuts. Done.
Important: I initially tried to use threaded bar. That didn't work: When articulating, the bar moves within the rubber and the bracket, tilts and catches on the threads and the edges of the brackets' mounting holes. That catching breaks loose with a loud clong. The bar inside the rubbers and brackets needs to be smooth.
Good Luck Ralf

 

[bj70bc]

like this

 

[LDRF]

like this

View attachment 3689935

Thanks for the pic. It makes it self explanatory. I was imagining something close to that.

It will either be something like that, the @Felde way, or I find the right length at Energy Suspension. I’ll have to go and measure, as I took every measurement to be had but this one - lol

 

[bj70bc]

i bought an extended length links and moved the mount down for my 4" +/- lift

 

[LDRF]

i bought an extended length links and moved the mount down for my 4" +/- lift

Your input has been helpful.

I’m pretty sure my lift is 60mm and I’m hoping the measurement validates it. I’ll figure it out, one way or another. I’ll 100% be posting my solution on this thread

 

[coldtaco]

What about something like this? Bit spendy but get a extra feature

 

[bj70bc]

nice! thanks havent seen those.... as you can see my sway bar gave itself up for a weight reduction recently

 

[LDRF]

What about something like this? Bit spendy but get a extra feature

View attachment 3689962

Waaaaaay too much. I don’t expect to ever need to disconnect once I have them properly connected

 

[saltycoconuts]

Thanks for the pic. It makes it self explanatory. I was imagining something close to that.

It will either be something like that, the @Felde way, or I find the right length at Energy Suspension. I’ll have to go and measure, as I took every measurement to be had but this one - lol
View attachment 3689945

I put these on last year after lifting my 75 and haven’t had any issues. Everything feels planted.

Thanks @wngrog

 

[LDRF]

I went out and did some measuring on the weekend. The ’73 is up on jack stands that are under the axles so I think that should be accurate for a proper measurement. The “A” length is about 7”:

Does 7” seem about right?

The longest Energy Suspension sway bar end links are 6”: Universal Sway Bar End Links 9.8121 - https://www.energysuspensionparts.com/9.8121

I think I’ll get them and see how they look when tightened up. If they are still too short, I’ll extend and lower the bracket that bolts to the frame the correct amount.

 

[barrett1]

I went out and did some measuring on the weekend. The ’73 is up on jack stands that are under the axles so I think that should be accurate for a proper measurement. The “A” length is about 7”:
View attachment 3696162
View attachment 3696160View attachment 3696161
Does 7” seem about right?

The longest Energy Suspension sway bar end links are 6”. I think I’ll get them and see how they look when tightened up. If they are still too short, I’ll extend and lower the bracket that bolts to the frame the correct amount.

I used sus60fsway energy suspension 9.81216 extended on mine recently with ome shocks and leafs. Got them with my lift from cruiser outfitters. Seemed about right.

 

[LDRF]

energy suspension 9.81216

Probably 9.8121G
The Energy Suspension 9.8121G have black grommets (Toyota calls them cushions) 9.8121R has red grommets.

 

[barrett1]

Yes, sorry. They do have black cushions. I wrote it down in my maintenance book and must have miswrote it.

 

[bj70bc]

I went out and did some measuring on the weekend. The ’73 is up on jack stands that are under the axles so I think that should be accurate for a proper measurement. The “A” length is about 7”:
View attachment 3696162
View attachment 3696160View attachment 3696161
Does 7” seem about right?

The longest Energy Suspension sway bar end links are 6”: Universal Sway Bar End Links 9.8121 - https://www.energysuspensionparts.com/9.8121

I think I’ll get them and see how they look when tightened up. If they are still too short, I’ll extend and lower the bracket that bolts to the frame the correct amount.

if you are going to space your top mount down you are in a good place right now as you want the mounts to have a clear spot to run bolts through the flat bar and not hit frame.... id go with what you have and some scrap metal

 

[LDRF]

So, it’s been a busy few months, working on everything but the Land Cruiser. I got out last weekend to start the rust investigation and remediation. The back left corner needs the most work, so I started there. I’ll need to replace most of the quarter panel from in front of the wheel arch back and down from between the top of the wheel arch and the first bend, a hole in the rear lamp bucket, the lower 2 inches of the door bracket and about a square foot of the floor in the corner! FUN!

The quarter panel

Rear light bucket

The left rear corner of the floor looking straight down from above

I’m going to assess the right rear and both rockers tomorrow.

 

[LDRF]

As I will have to take the left rear door off to do the work I popped off the door cards from both doors to do some investigation on some items that have been bugging me: no license plate light assembly and no spare tire carrier.

I suspect the PO back in Japan that did the “Good Tines” paint job and graphics deleted them both. Is this normal practice in Japan? I know a lot of the JDMs are their spare tire mounts removed, but the license plate light assembly too?

I’d like to put the license plate light assembly and a spare tire carrier back on. So three questions for you all ...

1. There are two connectors inside the left door. The blue one has a single wire that is white with a black stripe. The yellow one has two wires, one green one white. I believe the yellow one is for the light assembly, yes? What’s the blue one for?
   
2. It looks like two holes were filled, as there are two rusty spots, both above and inboard of the license plate mount nuts. Is that where the licence plate light assembly would mount? I think I just need to find a light assembly, drill the holes back out and mount it, yes?
   
   
3. The right door looks like it’s reinforced for a spare tire mount. There are two vertical brackets inside. How do I tell for sure? Would my HZJ73 come without one? It’s an LX.

There is a good layer of bondo (bog for our Aussie and Kiwi friends) in the right door that’s cracked and starting to flake off. I’m pretty sure the PO in Canada either backed into something hard or was hit, resulting in the cracked and flaking area. I chiseled it out to good metal as I need to stop any further rusting.

As my right rear door is a little rusty in spots and has a pretty big dent, what’s the chance someone close to the middle of Canada has a rust free one available, as a replacement?

 

[JDM Journeys]

If you want pics of specific areas/wires etc, let me know and olbetsy can help out. Much of the 77 &73 will be same.

As for back door I *think* OEM was standard spare on back door for most 70s. Troopy mightve been an exception... Possibly dealer installed in some markets?

Basically I'm answering your questions with more questions. Lol

 

[JDM Journeys]

Also, flap disc was amazing when I was tackling rear quarters...