WOW...what a freaking day and night at the HAMOM this weekend. Let me start by saying....WOW again on the amount that was accomplished.
I arrived around 10:30am at Docs...and Greg French, his buddy, and Maglight were already there. We took the top off of the Troopie so they could start with the roll cage. They had already removed all the hardware and started cleaning things up to get it prepped...though a sawzall was needed a couple times. LOL
Then they started placement of rear section to get alignment and to use for front pieces that needed cutting and welding.
While this was going on....Maglight and I ran the wiring harnesses, put in switches and such for my bumper lights on the Demellow bumper. Realized I did not have the relay or 15amp fuse....so just ran everything so all that is required is to connect the wires to the lights....tap into the wires in ATRAC to backlight and show on/off.....and then plug in the relay and fuse to make me all happy.
Thanks Maglight for the help with console and dash removals...
DBENKE rolled in while we were working on electrical...and one of DOCs friends came over to see the fuss and why all these Toyotas were in the yard and in shop...and the welding commenced but soon turned into cutting as it was found there was fiberglass in floorboard...so trip out to scrap pile found some steel and soon a piece was cut out and being welded and then hit with a grinder to get ready for cage.
Now around 3PM we decided to go get lunch....were going to eat at shop but that is another story. LOL......while eating TTahara shows up with his right side drive FJ40 from New Zealand as he wanted to convert front end to disc brakes.
So we go back with full bellies and start on that work......with DBENKE getting us started and then we fumble around until he comes back by and gives more pointers. I help lift, tighten and loosen....and do odd things for the conversion with Tristan doing 90% of the work himself...learning and cussing and making all kinds of noises covered in axle grease and s*** all over.
Did I mention it was like 39 degrees and we were in shorts...
while Frenchy was in 5 pairs of thermals, 2 pairs of jeans and shirts, plus coveralls and was still cold and calling for mommy.
LOL
Back to story.....well around 10pm we finish ONE brake conversion...I would give you the step by step but it would take all night....not the simple swap out especially when you find the birfields are different on the later models than on his 77....the knuckles are different.....the sterring arm bolts are different.....you name it...if it was different or needed to be finessed....Tristan found it....DBENKE helped get him off the ledge so he would not jump to keep from having to take something apart again that was just put together...and I was there saying....It will work....afterall it is YOUR TRUCK...LOL
Sometime around 1am the Troopie is done...and ready to see if the top will go back on with an expedition rack on outside and a roll cage inside. It made it on...was not easy...was not fun but it worked in the end...but he needs to get rid of that top and go canvas anyhow
THen DBENKE came over and helped with other side of TTAHARA conversion...he had it broke down in no time...and ready to go back together. Finally we had felts tightened with rock guards...brake lines reattached....brakes bled....tires back on and ready for test ride. Came back saying there was a heavy metal thunking on drivers side (right side for him).....then I saw one of the old knuckles sitting there by tow hook that did not fall off during his test drive.....out again with DBENKE and all was good.
So we cleaned up the garage some....cleaned some grease off of us....and shared a beer or MtDew and DBENKE took off around 3:30am. I drank another beer...helped shut up shop..and I headed to my tent to pass out from exhaustion.
We got up this morning in the rain..packed up and drove to Charleston with me following TTAHARA JUST IN CASE...and his brakes worked great...steering was solid....and I think he was happy with the money he saved on the conversion and the experience and knowledge he gained by doing most of it himself and getting pointers from DBENKE. I mean, we messed with a knuckle on bottom for an how trying to get it in right.....DBENKE comes over and turns assembly slightly...lifts up...and pops the damn thing in like it was no big deal. There was a chorus of Fxxx YOUs from the three of us messing with it that time. It was not the first nor was it the last chorus he heard that night. LMAO
All in all a great weekend. We missed ProInv, OCDBeetle and the rest of the guys but was nice seeing Maglight, GregFrench, Dbenke, TTahara and DOC....and meeting Gregs friend and some of Docs friends.
I forgot my camera....Doc was taking a nap so I took some with camera phone to prove we did not have a weekend of drinking and actually worked.
fitting front crossbar
starting the FJ40 KIWI version ...and its brake coversion to discs.
GregFrench grinding floor mount smooth on passenger side
more grinding...that is shop light you see not a plasma cutter or welding arc...LOL
Sometime around midnight as Tristan wrestles with the conversion on his driver side...
Thanks to everyone that came and participated.... I got home and layed on couch and just got up...I am worn out and did not do half the stuff the others did. I must finally be getting old.
Until next time..
Ron do yoy have a big cooler for the beer! I was going to pick up one in the morning as I don't have a big cooler. Let me know.
