Hello Cruisers!

[DirtNOOB]

Hello all -
I've been on the mailing list for a while, so I get to read some of the back and forth - it's been very interesting!

We've had our FJ Cruiser for a while, and we're just now getting around to wheeling in it / mods.

I've already been active on my '06 taco, I had lifted it a while back and earend some pretty good battle scars at Uwharrie, LOL

I look forward to getting to know you and hopefully helping / getting help with our rigs...

The first thing on my agenda is to do a body mount chop on our FJ - We've got 285/75/17's on it with a 3" lift and it rubs when turned all the way. I found plenty of write-ups with pictures, but alas I sold my MIG welder due to lack of use ... I'm in Winston so if there's anybody that can help - please let me know! Otherwise, I'll do it solo.

I'll be sure to sign up, pay the dues, etc. shortly as well. I figure I've watched long enough without joining in!

Cheers,
Dave the Dirt NOOB

 

[Mtbcoach]

Welcome and glad to have another FJC join the ranks.

Regarding doing the "chop", watch the board and look for the next HAMOM. My guess would be that during that time, it might be something that can be done while/in conjunction with another project. Its pretty straight forward (as I'm sure you've seen documented on the various forums) but an important thing to get done before you tear your tires up.

We have a fairly strong contingent in your area and I'd bet we will find a way to help get it done...

 

[DirtNOOB]

Wow! Awesome. I'm assuming HAMOM is an acronym?

Yeah, the cruiser is my wife's daily driver and the rubbing's driving her nuts! We've already worn through the plastic and I'm growing concerned...

With the urgency of it, I might get a buddy to help me next week, the only thing is, he and I both are inxeperienced with doing it, so it will probably take longer to do it.....

Thanks for the warm welcome!

 

[Mtbcoach]

Wow! Awesome. I'm assuming HAMOM is an acronym?

Yeah, the cruiser is my wife's daily driver and the rubbing's driving her nuts! We've already worn through the plastic and I'm growing concerned...

With the urgency of it, I might get a buddy to help me next week, the only thing is, he and I both are inxeperienced with doing it, so it will probably take longer to do it.....

Thanks for the warm welcome!

HAMOM = Help A Member Out Meeting. A member hosts a meeting, proposes work to be done on a member's rig, provides food/drink/hospitality to those that come to help with the project.

We are very lucky in this group that we have a great deal of experience and expertise on a variety of vehicles. I hosted one where we did an front knuckle rebuild and replaced/upgraded the front brakes from drums to discs on our '71 FJ-40.

Regarding your rubbing...you have me a bit confused with the "worn through the plastic" comment. Where is it rubbing on the plastic? Is it rubbing on the plastic fender flares or the mud flaps on the front?

Regarding doing the chop, have you visited the "blue room" (fjcruiserforums.com)? There are a number of threads there on doing the body mount chop with detailed pics. Here is a link to the best one IMHO...

BODY MOUNT CHOP: Instructions w/ pics - Toyota FJ Cruiser Forum

Its really pretty straight forward, just depends on how much you want to trim and how "pretty" you want to make it...

 

[DirtNOOB]

Thanks!
As far as the plastic, there's a plastic cover over the body mount in the fender. It's rubbed off and it's now rubbing "metal to tire". It looks litke the body mount cover is a small separate piece but it also looks like I have to remove the entire plastic wheel well lining to get in there with my grinder.

The thread you listed is the EXACT one I've been looking at and have printed out.

I can do FUNCTIONAL now, PRETTY later. I don't know how the body mount wil hold up without welding the flange back on....

HAMOM sounds like a great thing - If I cna't contribute technically, I can still bring snacks and have a learning exerience - I'd love to build a greater skillset through learing with you guys as well!

 

[little_joe]

Hi Dave, damn glad you find us and welcome! Don't look at Jerry's FJC else you'll go broke doing all the awesome stuff he's done to his. I hope you can make it to one of our upcoming events and meet everyone!

 

[mtweller]

Just don't leave your vehicle unattended if Joe is there and there is spray paint in the vicinity.

R

 

[swampthing]

Dave welcome! Glad to see another FJC and not a dang 80! Ha!

I've been wanting to chop my mounts as well but don't have the tools/skills...plus I only rub at compression & full lock (883s with 285/70/17) so not a super hot topic. Maybe we can hit both @ the same time.

I saw in another thread you're from AL...whereabout? It rare to find someone from the "real south" in these parts (esp the triangle). I moved up here a year ago or so from Birmingham. Hope to see you around!

 

[DirtNOOB]

I moved here in 2002 from Birmingham - I actually lived in Leeds, just outside the city. I grew up in Dothan, AL - we used to tel lthe chicks in Panama City beach we were from L.A. - (Lower Alabama) LOL

The latest on the chop is that my buddy and I may do it Thursday night next week - He has a welder but no 220V in his Garage, I have 220V in my garage, but no welder - hehehe.

I've got the tools to do the work, and I think the job doesn't take much more skil / experience than what I have, so it should do fine.

I did realize, however, that my neighbor in Birmingham borrowed my jack stands - and I never saw them again, so it's off to the store for me - I need a new lug wrench anyway with these tinly little lugs on the Ultra wheels... I'll post pics soon.

I'll hide all of my spray paint if I meet Joe, HA!

 

[mtweller]

Dave welcome! Glad to see another FJC and not a dang 80! Ha!

I've been wanting to chop my mounts as well but don't have the tools/skills...plus I only rub at compression & full lock (883s with 285/70/17) so not a super hot topic. Maybe we can hit both @ the same time.

I saw in another thread you're from AL...whereabout? It rare to find someone from the "real south" in these parts (esp the triangle). I moved up here a year ago or so from Birmingham. Hope to see you around!

What exactly qualifies as the "real south". I was born and raised here in NC and I don't think it gets much more southern than that (from a heritage perspective, not magnetics)

R

 

[DirtNOOB]

What exactly qualifies as the "real south". I was born and raised here in NC and I don't think it gets much more southern than that (from a heritage perspective, not magnetics)

R

Take a trip to Alabama and stay a while... trust me, it gets more southern... LOL

Now I've met my share of "really southern" people here, too, but the population is not that saturated. I have neighbors from NJ, PA, NY, CT, etc.... That was a RARE thing to find in Dothan, Alabama...

 

[swampthing]

DN - I totally agree, you hit the nail on the head with saturation...seems everyone round here is from NJ, MI, Upstate NY, PA.

In the "real south" it's normal to hear a southern accent in a metro area - not a exception to the rule.

I've been to Dothan a handfull of times - I had a roommate in college from Dothan (Heersink was his last name) we hit the loop a few times...ha!

 

[DirtNOOB]

Yeah, Dothan! Birmingham was such a BIIIG City!

The "Ross Clark Circle" seemed like a perfect metaphor for the town - it was a complete circle so it was...

"The road to nowhere" LOL

We used to joke that we'd tell the stupid people to use it as an evacuation route - hehehe

Good to see someone else that can also recognize "Sweet Home Alabama" as a national anthem!!!

 

[fj40z]

I went to the race at Talladega once and I can honestly say that I was blown away. I saw things in that 6 hour period that would make a carnie cringe. It was an experience, like a cross between a Lynyrd Skynyrd concert and a bad circus side show. I've seen alot of things but that took the cake........and I grew up in WV

 

[DirtNOOB]

Wow... yeah I lived down the interstate from Talladega - those people come out of the woodwork on race weekend.... in the normal season, they can all be found, in flip-flops, in the local Wal-Mart...

I don't know what the deal is, but it's always a really skiny / dirty guy and a large, LARGE woman...

hehehe

 

[fj40z]

I swear you hit the nail on the head. On the way out of the race were sitting in traffic still on the grounds of the race track, there is a pick up truck ahead of us with a gigantic fat woman and a guy that is probably 6 foot tall and probably weighs 85 pounds soaking wet riding in the back. The woman starts flashing people walking by, one of the passers by insults the portly woman. Well the 85 pound guy jumps out of the truck to defend his womans honor then proceeds to get his face beat in by the passer by. The large woman comes to her knight in shining armors rescue, they both climb back into the bed of the pick up then proceed to make out. I swear.

There was also this old beat up white van, like a painters van or something, that had the 2 rear doors removed. You could see inside, there was about six people wasted drunk including the driver, but it was what was on top of the van that was amazing. There was a guy with no legs riding on top. There wasnt a rack on the van or anything just him and another guy on top of this van. When they exited the race track grounds they pulled out onto the road and off they went. I couldnt believe my eyes.

 

[DirtNOOB]

HAHAHAHAHA My friend you have DEFINITELY been to Talladega - I know you see a "little" of that in NC but that's the NORM there.... You gave a true testimony of what was out there. Those are the ones that came to work in my factory... fist fights, stealing, drinking, sleeping on the job - it was tough.

You guys sound like a hoot - I look forward to holding a flashlight at the next HAMOM or however dirty I can get without ruining something, LOL

Is the age span here pretty wide? I'm 37, I don't know how old / young you guys / gals are....

Cheers!

 

[swampthing]

HA! Steve that's so funny.

My Favorite experience at Dega was sitting in the parking lot and this guy had one of These on his truck.

Every 5 min this drunk guy would yell "Fire that Deer up Boy!" and he'd hit the brakes and we'd all crack up.

I've also got a pretty good pic of my bro, I'll have to dig, but it sums up dega nicely.