Gossamer- '87 FJ60 aka "The Red Monster"

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Got most of the rear bumper completed this morning. That 3 1/2" cross member weighs damn near as much as my whole rear bumper shell... HOLY >>>>!! So, I'm actaully gaining a little in the tail end now.. I'll weigh the bumper when its done.

Have to cut the "other" fabricated frame rail enclosure back to make room for the 2" receiver cross member. That will be next on the agenda with the frame mounts. Need to keep it tight for the 54 gallon fuel tank..

Here's a few pics of the wings cut back and the first couple of its..and few more to follow this...

Its Corona time for J

Cheers,

J

 

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A few more. Got the spindles mounted and I LOVE a MAG DRILL.. so clean and fast for big bore holes.

J

 

[The Phoenician]

that looks great

 

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that looks great

Thanks Mike, not bad for 3.5 hours of work so far, its coming along nicely.. I have to go back to work tomorrow for a 18-22 day straight run.. So, I hope I can get this done and start on the front and a few others I've sold in the next 2-3 weeks..

J

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Keep it up man

What's the supporting hitch structure look like?

 

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Keep it up man

What's the supporting hitch structure look like?

If work goes good you will see it soon...

The frame mounts will slide into the frame channel and then I will weld a 2" .250" wall cross member between the 1/2" frame mounts. The receiver tube will be a 2 5/16" x .250 square tubing that will accept any 2" receiver with 1/2" chain loops tied to the shell and receiver. I will also hide the 5/8" receiver pin behind the shell for aesthetics.

J

 

[robustbambi]

DUDE.. Freaking awesome!!

 

[Cruiserdrew]

That sounds just like the 4x4Labs set up which is super beefy and strong. Adds rigidity to the rear for sure.

Looking forward to the finished product.

 

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DUDE.. Freaking awesome!!

Thanks P, you can see your version on Woody HUH.. HA!

That sounds just like the 4x4Labs set up which is super beefy and strong. Adds rigidity to the rear for sure.

Looking forward to the finished product.

Thanks Andy, I am not familar with 4x4 Labs work? Need to look them up and see what they offer. I plan on building my version of a "M416" to pull on a regular basis with this rig.

J

 

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I hated exhaust as well, up until I started using these v-bands. Get them, and the builder's kit, from http://mandrel-bends.com. It's awesome being able to take the exhaust off to do work and not curse at it the whole time. That and the whole street/trail tip thing, I love that.

I took Johhny's advice and ordered up the new exhaust tubing and v-bands. Went with 3". Now one free afternoon I'll get the exhaust routed to the back of Goss. Gonna try it with no muffler first and see what it sounds like and go from there.

Cheers

J

 

[boots4]

Of course exhaust note is subjective but I like the exhaust sound of my cummins better with a muffler. The straight pipe was too raspy for me.

 

[Oaks]

Amazing!!! That bumper is a thing of beauty and it's not even finished. Great work J!

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Of course exhaust note is subjective but I like the exhaust sound of my cummins better with a muffler. The straight pipe was too raspy for me.

Same here. Although, my straight-pipe was only about 4' long and just stuck out below the passenger seat, but still.

 

[Pacer]

I'll jump on this wagon too... Although the turbo quiets things down significantly, it is embarrassingly raucous running the straight pipe I currently have.

J, please take some detail photos of your transition from turbo outlet to three inch pipe.
Was that exhaust kit from Summit?

 

[GLTHFJ60]

I'll jump on this wagon too... Although the turbo quiets things down significantly, it is embarrassingly raucous running the straight pipe I currently have.

J, please take some detail photos of your transition from turbo outlet to three inch pipe.
Was that exhaust kit from Summit?

http://mandrel-bends.com

J will likely have to rework his whole exhaust, so here's a pic of mine. Got it as tight of a bend as possible. Top connects to the turbo, bottom is one of the two big v-bands that divide my exhaust into three sections.

 

[Pacer]

Thanks Jonny, I want to be cool like you guys and run the three inch, but I have all the stainless from the fancy pants EMS exhaust I picked up not too long ago and am tempted to use that magnaflow and tubing. Measures about 2⅜".

 

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http://mandrel-bends.com

J will likely have to rework his whole exhaust, so here's a pic of mine. Got it as tight of a bend as possible. Top connects to the turbo, bottom is one of the two big v-bands that divide my exhaust into three sections.

Yes I will, I don't have much to go with right now... BUT, I am a master of fabrication idea/re-work theft.. THANKS JOHNNY!! Gives me a great visual to start with.

Thanks Jonny, I want to be cool like you guys and run the three inch, but I have all the stainless from the fancy pants EMS exhaust I picked up not too long ago and am tempted to use that magnaflow and tubing. Measures about 2⅜".

Aaron, I had to talk myself out of the 3.5" and 4" yesterday... HA!


Johnny, Mike what muffler are you running. I think the muffler/baffle/restrictor setup that is on my rig now sounds ok.. But, feel it is TOO restrictive with as many bends as I have over a short distance. IIRC I have 3-90 bends and 2- 45 bends in less than 3ft of piping. Just changing the first 3 ft to match Johnny's will help with room under the hood and possibly lower my EGTs a little at the same time (not too concerned with the EGTs at the moment). Plan on opening and flowing the exhaust better than what it is now. Looking at the AeroTurbine, its small and I liked how it completely removed the drone on my Dodge 6BT straight pipe setup.

J

 

[GLTHFJ60]

I was going to go with the AeroTurbine after a ton of research, but ended up with a free flowmaster 70 series, 3" in and 3" out, so that's what I'm running.

 

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I was going to go with the AeroTurbine after a ton of research, but ended up with a free flowmaster 70 series, 3" in and 3" out, so that's what I'm running.

Good to know on the AT Johnny. I had a Flowmaster 50 on Marley and was very "GROWLY" now mind you that was with a 2F and 2.5" pipe..

I think the AT is the way I will go now. The saw me ordering exhaust parts and asked "Are you going to make it quieter?? " as she is knodding her head up and down...

J

 

[Oaks]

http://mandrel-bends.com

J will likely have to rework his whole exhaust, so here's a pic of mine. Got it as tight of a bend as possible. Top connects to the turbo, bottom is one of the two big v-bands that divide my exhaust into three sections.

This DIY exhaust stuff is amazing. One more item added to my shopping cart! I have the stock 3fe but my exhaust has just about had it and am to cheap to pay the shop to do it! Plus I want it custom routed!!!