Got My First FZJ80 Last Night

[SM Racing]

Its time again for some upgrades. The knuckles were leaking something fierce. So a knuckle rebuild was in order. I also wanted to add some reinforcements to the front axle housing and replace the worn out tie rods and drag link. So onto the good stuff:

Out with the axle
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This was by far the nastiest job I have ever done on a car.

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Think those axle seals were done?
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Now time for a little armor
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Lets make some metal do my bidding
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Yes that is 3/8ths plate bent to match the shape of the bottom of the diff housing.

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Now we weld
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[SM Racing]

All welded and painted:


Knuckle reassembled


I must have spent two days just cleaning the nasty parts. I should have pressure washed this whole thing before I started.

While I was in there, it was time to do some more upgrades.

I built a HD adjustable rear panhard bar out of 1.25x.250 wall tubing, the ends were tapped to accept left and right hand 7/8th heim joints. To beat the weather and nasty elements, I used rubber boots over the heim joints.



While I had the wheels off, the wife requested black wheels, so I made the wheels black:



I also knocked out and replaced the front panhard bar bushings with new Toyota pieces.




I also built a HD tie rod and drag link arrangement. My setup is a little different than the others on the market. I used 1.25x.250 wall DOM tubing. The ends were tapped for using the 23mm Tie rod ends on the steering and the drag link. I have a tube clamp coming to attach my steering damper to the drag link.



I also modified the sway bars to use some quick release pins. I bought some stainless 10mm pins to make some disconnects. I don't have pics yet, those will follow.

Next on the list, install new side mirrors, pull the rear trailing arms and reinforce and install new bushings. Then get on with a rear bumper build. Gotta get the truck ready to roll out west this fall.

 

[SM Racing]

Time for more mods/upgrades:

Over the last couple of months the whole interior has been pulled out and extra sound deadening has been added. I added dynamat type sheet to the backside of all the door skins, the tunnel and other hollow and noisy sounding panel sections. I also added new insulation to the tunnel to help control the radiant heat. On top of all of that I added rubber carpet padding over all the floor sections, around the wheel wells, inside the kick panels, and inside the rear quarter skins. This stuff is almost .5in thick and very heavy. It does a great job of killing sound. I also added several cans of undercoat to the undersides of the fenderwells. Doing everything possible to cut the road noise for those long drives out west.

This is how it looked stock:





This is me playing with alternative seat options


That coffee colored nasty is what was in my carpet. I pressure washed it while it was out.

 

[SM Racing]

Here you can see the tunnel insulation and one of the new amps



Here you can see some of the new sound deadener, and the new wiring.





In this round of upgrades, I added a 1/0 wire from the battery back to the rear quarter panel. This i tied into a 6 slot fuse block and I pulled my power feeds off the middle for my amps and an additional center console mounted 12v outlet. I pulled wire for an additional 12v outlet in the rear corner under the old seatbelt pivot point and a switch for my new roof mounted LED light trunk light. I have an extra light to add to the underhood area as well.

I upgraded all the door speakers to 6.5in round Pioneer speakers, added a four channel amp to feed the door speakers, added a 2channel amp to feed the single 10in sub in the back. I haven't gotten the box built so it is in a small sealed box laying in the floor right now. The sound system is AWESOME now, plus the extra sound deadening should make for a very pleasant driving truck. I plan on heading to Moab for Cruise Moab next spring.

Next up is an aluminum rear bumper, some aerodynamic paneling, and maybe an extra water or fuel tank. I am even debating a roof top platform for a tent. haven't decided yet.

 

[SM Racing]

I forgot I also added 35% bronze tint to the front windows and 55% to the windshield. The truck looks awesome and this should really stop the sun from warming the truck up.

 

[LowcountryCruiser]

looking awesome man! good work

 

[CharlestonG8R]

Great looking vehicle!!! Any update photos?