Help Bill Upgrade his FJC Thread

[erymer]

Bill one thing to think about with the LTB's is that is the truck sees alot of road time, they will not last long at all, and then your off road performance will suffer. I would look at the TSL radial or another model if your dead set on swampers.....and no Thornbirds either. You could also look into Galloway 4 wheel for swampers....they have good pricing and are willing to deal on packages. I got a 32x10.50 TSL radial for $140.

http://www.galloways4wdcenter.com/

 

[BillWright]

Jerry I'm going out and start looking at fuses when I finish here. And continuity where I made the splices. So far that's all I've gleaned from the PMs unless there's more in FJC forum when I get out of Mud.

Eric : Yeah I hear you. Maybe I'm being hardheaded (maybe? FOFL) but I want 34's and so far LTB's are the only 34's I've found that skinny. I need to get back in the Mustang more anyway. I've put 6000 miles on Bonnie since November.

I've seen some posts that if you run LTB's at about 50+#s the roar is greatly decreased and wear improved. I've heard people claim getting 40K out of them.
At the current plan I'll be out of here in three years and probably won't be able to take the FJ with me where I'm going. I'll probably get a Lada Niva for wheeling over there, it's a good little truck (Google it) and the FJ is just way too big for the trails over there I'm told. They're telling me I'll end up crushing a trail and rolling sideways down a mountain. That's no fun.
I'll just keep Bonnie over here, I'll be spending time back here some every year and will come home when SHE has had enough of Europe.
b

 

[BillWright]

Bill - any update yet? I have exhausted my resources and can't come up with any good answer other than what has already been posted. Upon stirring the brain cells, I did remove the battery cables when I did the mod, sorry for my initial failing response.

I'm waiting on my tires, they said 2 weeks to get in, supposedly back ordered. But, gives me time to get the body mount trimmed. Think I found a local guy that can do it, refered from cruiser4life and the NCTLCA board. Talked to the shop on the phone, sent pics and see when we can get it done.

Hope things sort out on Bonnie and she gets back on the road soon...

On the road again. God is good, all the time. Sometimes you just have to wait until it's HIS time.
When I got to FJCforum ALEX was there with a PM. Per his suggestion I checked fuse 28. Yep, burnt. Replaced it . . . and varoom. Haven't re-done the hack yet but that should be fine now when I get to it.
Took Bonnie straight to the shop for the lifts. While she's there we'll talk about the body mount mod and sliders for the LCA mounts.
He offered to get LTB's on me for $165 each and is willing to risk the road hazard warranty for the same money so I'll probably do that this afternoon. I'd rather work with him than a chain; local trade etc. Plus he's right down the street if I have to go back a few times for balancing which is likely.
I'll check Discount Tire in person first, I haven't gotten very far with them on the phone. I'd still rather have more of a crossover if I can find it.
If I go with Foothills I'll be ready for Cullowhee. Whoopeee.
BTW he's got a full body skid in the shop that Tim Scully took off of his FJC. He said all the bearing points are still there, it was so wadded up under there Tim just burnt it off with the plasma cutter. I might be able to salvage some of that for Bonnie, hammer it out flat. Tim isn't around much, he's all over the country teaching people how to trail their Toyota's and Land Rovers.

bw Already getting psyched for the woods.

 

[GXO]

I would do the aftermarket skids for the FJC...the skid Tom used was pretty basic. The others (all pro, bud built) are more sturdy and beefy.

 

[BMThiker]

I'll put in my $0.02 on the LTBs.

When I first got them, I put 55lbs in to ride up to Ft. Mountain/Tatum Lead on the highway. Let me say that it was a real squirrly ride! The rubber is really soft and with 55lbs I was only riding the two center lug patterns. The lugs are really tall and you can feel the weight of your FJ flexing those lugs laterally as you go into turns. You have to be really careful when cornering and I'd hate to have to do any collision avoidance while running these. Because the lugs are so flexible, I sent my VSC into a tizzy even after the tranny reached 3rd gear as I was rolling on the accelerator. Lights flashing, cockpit beeping!

If you are indeed going to run these everyday, then I'd go with the TSL radials. They are a little bit more $$, but will ride better at high pressures.

 

[BillWright]

So then ride with lower pressures and live with the roar? Mileage is not a huge issue for me for several reasons and I can close the windows and turn up the stereo
I'm expecting them to feel like riding a full knobbies dirt bike on the street.
So are you taking them off for DD then putting them back for OHV trail trips?

TSL radials don't come in 17" and I'm not replacing my alloys that are totally scrubbed up already.

So now I'm in the market for a cheap set of 17"X7.5" wheels to mount my street tires. If I find them I'll just run them except when I go out with the cruiserhead I guess.
Cause the LTB's are on the way. Seemed like I had beat to death the thoughts and choices. After the lift got on I measured for 35's and they will just barely clear even with a body lift mod. 12.50's will be mighty close to the A-arm and stuff. The 34X10.50X17's should clear all around even without the body mount trim.
The guys at the shop that did the lift are big-time rock crawlers (national competition trophies all over the place) and they tried hard to talk me into radials, said the SS s**k on the rocks but are great in the mud. They didn't know the LTB's though, maybe they're a little better. Anyway they should be a decent compromise and leave $400-500 in the budget for other stuff.

 

[Mtbcoach]

Glad to hear the the fix was so simple. Sounds like you are well on the way to being very trail ready. I agree with Dan about the skids...I have seen the Buds and they are very strong and perfectly built for the FJ. Not cheap but you won't have to replace them.

 

[BMThiker]

I love the roar of the LTBs! And since I don't run them everyday--it's always refreshing to hear them, when I do put them on. I don't run them at 55lbs anymore either...now I typically run them at 40-45lbs until I get to the trail. My anecdote about running at 55lbs was an simply a forewarning should you attempt to do the same.

My main concern is about overall tread life and that is my main point for you. I will definitely be interested to see how long they last as your full time shoes.

Happy Trails!

 

[BillWright]

The Roar of the Swampers, the Smell of the Proud

I love the roar of the LTBs! And since I don't run them everyday--it's always refreshing to hear them, when I do put them on. I don't run them at 55lbs anymore either...now I typically run them at 40-45lbs until I get to the trail. My anecdote about running at 55lbs was an simply a forewarning should you attempt to do the same.

My main concern is about overall tread life and that is my main point for you. I will definitely be interested to see how long they last as your full time shoes.

Happy Trails!

Couldn't be the reason you love it is that it means you're off to the trails, now could it??
FOFLMAO.

I'm hoping they only have to last a few weeks as my full time shoes.
I'm looking for cheap 17" rims to re-mount my Dunflops for DD use.
Any ideas Rick?
Anybody?

BTW ran across an interesting post on another forum which stated that the Dunflop Grand Treks (my stock tires) are super on sand. I've been looking forward to some dunebustin' and wondered how the Swampers would do. Now I know. That's good news! I don't have to run all the way to Wilmington or OBX on those knobbies.
I'm getting stoked for my new tires, should be in and on Thursday.

Now if I can figure out how to get my traction control back I'll be ready for Cullowhee.

Next stop; Demello Off-Road for a bumper.

Still chewing on the skid question. I looked over the underbody very thoroughly while the lifts were going in (btw they feel fine on the road, even without re-alignment yet d'ohh). Most of the damage was on the braces frame-to-crossmember. I'm thinking trying to survive without them for a run or two, see how the lift+tires does for getting me out of the danger zone.
I have PM'd the dude in Piedmont that offered to weld up Jerry's body mount chop, asked him if he'd help me make some sliders for the lower control arm mounts. That's a place I've folded the metal both times out. Don't want to put that joint in a bind.

BTW 2 (for Rick): I've about decided to go with the FourTrek Hi-Lift mounts but first I'm going to try a couple of 2X4s across the central rack stretchers with rubber bungees. Redneck all the way, yayahh!
I figure I'm not going to carry it around town to donate to some local punk j**per so why worry about bling.
b

 

[BMThiker]

I found my extra set of steelie 17's on Ebay (thanks to Heather). Shipped to my door was $215 for a set of 5. You may have luck at some dealers who do on the lot upgrades on a new FJ and get stuck with steelies in the garage.

 

[GXO]

May want to check with Ralph Hayes for "take offs" from any FJCs he may sell.

 

[jfz80]

bill ------------ttora.com had a set of 4 in the 4sale section for 120 shipped, and didnt infojunky have a set up for sale? those may be gone though.

 

[BillWright]

May want to check with Ralph Hayes for "take offs" from any FJCs he may sell.

Do we have email for Rick Arflin or anybody at Ralph Hayes?

TTORA wheels sold.
PMd infojunky

What should I offer for a set of OEM alloys?
b

 

[Trollhole]

RALPHHAYESPARTS@SETDLR.COM

 

[BillWright]

Email sent. Thanks.
b

 

[TimCFJ40]

I'll probably get a Lada Niva for wheeling over there, it's a good little truck (Google it) and the FJ is just way too big for the trails over there I'm told.

Those Lada Nivas were all over Ecuador when I was there. At one hostel where we stayed, the owner had a Diesel Niva with a doubler! Pretty cool, and got 40+ MPG. I'd love to have one in the states for a get around car.

 

[BillWright]

Looking forward to talking to you about the Lada Niva Tim.
I'm hearing I can get a pretty good used one for 2-3000 Euro. Along with wheelin' I want to do some traveling in central Europe where the Ladas are much despised (Russian you know) and should make me less of a target for hustlers/thieves.

Rick at Ralph Hayes has a set of factory alloys for $200 waiting for me.
I don't think I'll beat that, eh?

Today my LTBs should be in wheeee!

b

 

[Trollhole]

Rick is great.

 

[Mtbcoach]

Bill - my SS TrXus 255/85/16's Mud radials finally came in today. Got them installed after spending a half hour getting the local Discount Tire to not charge me for shipping. I couldn't believe that they wanted $15 a tire for "shipping and handling" for this order. Nothing was said up front and I wasn't going to pay it.

Things worked out eventually and got them installed. They look great and I'll post a pic tomorrow when the light it out.

 

[BillWright]

Rick is great.

Well it turned out the wheels were 16" Tacoma wheels so that didn't fly. He did find a set of 17" steelies in S'burg @ Dave Edwards Toyota for $200 which I'm going to check into. I'm dubious because I haven't heard of factory FJC 17" steel wheels but we'll see.
They couldn't figure out why my ABS/TRAC is disabled, said it must be my wiring finagling. They cleared the only fault which was a yaw rate sensor fault. I went over my wiring when I got home and I have continuity so I'm baffled. I'll study the fuse diagram tomorrow and see if maybe there's another fuse to blow but one would think Ralph Edwards' genii would have seen that.
They also spent about 3 hours trying to align me, finally got the toe and camber in but couldn't get the caster in the green. I haven't heard about other people with lifts having this much trouble with alignment but maybe they didn't do it on as sensitive equipment.

On the plus side I got my 34" Swampers on and while I was at it the shop across the street got the carb on my mini-truck working better (for no charge, can you believe it?) which my (ex) regular mech's been telling me for several years needed rebuilding or replacing for about $500. He said the fix might hold for a week or a year but when it comes to it he'll rebuild it for $125. Maybe I went through the Twilight Zone leaving R Edwards.

So I'm locked and loaded for heading to the mtns tomorrow evening with gnarly tires, camping gear, and no traction control. My e-locker still works though so I should be able to keep up. I'm now 4" taller and about $1200 poorer but I'm smiling.

Rock on.
b