Hauge's J4 Garage

[Hauge]

Nice job! Thanks. I like what you did with the fuel tank straps. I just made a pair for my '82 FJ40 as one had completely rusted though and broke. What gauge stainless did you use on yours? I used 16 gauge, which seems plenty strong enough. Also, what are the brackets on the bottom for? Mine didn't have any such brackets.

Thanks. I’m quite sure I also used gauge 16 for mine. With 90 litres of diesel going through terrain the straps are pretty loaded and will give up if they are to rusty.
The ones you saw with the bracket on the bottom are for a VX100. My dad needed a pair for his car

 

[Hauge]

3200mm welding is done and almost done with the lead filling of the front part, 30 more minutes with the body planer and it's ready for primer.

 

[Hauge]

Front, hood, fender side panels and window frame is more or less ready for sandblasting and primer. But it is in the plan to mount a snorkel, and I'll rather drill the big before sandblasting ... in case I need to sew a pice back in again just kidding I think it makes sense doing it now regarding scratches etc, and to get the wound primed

 

[Hauge]

Regarding the snorkel, it was okay to mount, but the bracket on the window frame I'll redo in stainless and prolong it 10mm, that will make a better fit in the side panel.

 

[Hauge]

Not much done on the 40 today, but we did a lunch-field test of the new section of overlanding gear now we just need a bit more spring time so the roof top tent can be mounted

We brought our two RC 40 series with us for the field test, had a good expedition

 

[John McVicker]

Nice pics...looks a bit chilly over there today. What were your temps?

 

[Hauge]

Thanks @John McVicker, it was a bit chilled we were in the low 40 F, but it seems like spring is coming.

 

[Hauge]

Last week I handed in the finished body parts for sandblasting and primer, at least the part will last longe while the rust repair process is ongoing..

 

[Hauge]

before continuing with with the doors and the rest of the body work I want to do a bull bar addition to the car. I found two ARB bull bars for J7-series in a barn.

By the way, there isn't much room for two bull bars in a Rav4

The one I'm going to modify (the old one) was apparently pretty rusty but I guess that is how it is after 30 years of service

 

[Hauge]

After sandblasting I kind of have the baseline for the condition .... Luckily I got a ARB_J4_REBUILD_AND_REPAIR_KIT

A bit of rust doesn't scare a J4 owner

 

[Hauge]

After some of 9" madness, I was able to do a bit of mock up. Now I'll just need to get the body parts back from the paint shop, so I can mount the front and have the headlights to aim for

 

[merbesfield]

That Cruiser was lucky to find you as an owner. New lease on life. Great work so far.

 

[Hauge]

Thanks @merbesfield

 

[ENDO]

works continue

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I’m no engineer and I haven’t stayed at a Holiday inn lately but the span of that beam holding up the roof and a partial floor looks awful long.
Is that a board and piece of pipe propping up that same beam on the edge of your picture?

 

[Hauge]

@ENDO I think what tricks your mind is the panoramic effect in the picture. I think the span is 3.5 m. The building has been there since 1918 and still standing, so I'm not that concerned

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

Last part of work for the frame before sandblasting, metallisering, and EPOXY coat.... fitting a J6 steering house. It is a LX version but the OEM power steer has too many links.

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Fantastic work!!! Following closely. Curious about your j6 steering box mod. Doing the same. Are you planning to strengthen the shock tower where you ground it down? Do you think it is string enough?? Also, do you have a pic showing the steering rod in the engine bay connecting to the power steering box?

 

[Hauge]

Thanks @ceylonfj40nut I have no plans of reinforcement of shock tower, like many other parts of the J4 it seems like they are engineered with extra capacity. Furthermore I have a couple of friends running the same setup with +10 years service, with no structural issues. I also added the soft curves to avoid any notch or crack initiator.
I did not connect the steering rod yet, it is on my todo list but basically I switched the steering column to a non servo (J4 1978) since I'll cut of the flange in the engine bay. I bought some extra steering rods (I think that is what they are called) which fits the J6 splines of steering box, because I'll need to use two joints, one in each end, and I'll need the telescopic part to absorb movement, lastly I will add collisions protection just for safety. Hope it makes sense

 

[Hauge]

Today I picked up the parts at the paint shop, repaired areas are now metallized and primed, not the whole bonnet is metallized though - only the front curve, where road stones will hit the bonnet . Tomorrow my plan is to assemble the front again and continue with MOD of the ARB bull bar

 

[merbesfield]

What do you mean by “metalized”?

 

[Hauge]

@merbesfield It is Zink sprayed on the metal for corrosion protection, it is electrical added in a spray bow - same principle as MIG welding, but only with a zink wire, the spray bow is wide as paint from a paint gun. I put in a picture example with a guy adding zink to some parts. On top of the zink layer it was EPOXY primed. Thin body part cannot handle being hot galvanized.