HJ61 rebuild from Holland

[Jentuh]

Being over a year ago, I can't remember the size, but I believe I used 140x70x4mm

Welded both end air tight, not to worry about rust on the inside anymore.

Just to add extra strengt I decided to box the 45 degree cross member:

 

[Jentuh]

I had to leave the area behind it original, since I needed the original holes to mount the bumper

The chassis was sent to get sand-blasted and primered.
I applied one layer of red, and two layers of black

Axles have been wire brushed and painted with three layers as well.

 

[Jentuh]

Putting all the big pieces back together was a nice job!

And soon it was time to join body and chassis finally back together

 

[Jentuh]

 

[Jentuh]

As the headliner was out, I could replace the isolation, as most of it was completely gone.
A leaking antenna hole in the roof probably caused it.

Also this gave me the chance to spray wax in the hollow areas underneath the raingutter.

Time for the first (semi legal) road test

All rear panels are blacked out using 5mm Dibont. A sandwich panel of aluminium and polypropysomething.
Since our beloved government now makes you pay ridiculous road-taxes I had to convert it into a commercial vehicle.
This means: no rear seat, no windows in (what used to be) the passenger and cargo area. The window of the tailgate I had blacked out by foil, just because it looked better in contrast with the rest.

Scored a nice set of electrically adjustable Recaro seats

the result after almost two years.

Forgot to take pictures of the one inch body-lift. This, combine with the longer shackles make the 31's look way too small...

 

[Jentuh]

Her first real test run!

Boy did it hurt to make her dirty for the first time!!

The front turned out really nice.

But being living close at, and being good friend with the guys from Cruiserworld, I get tempted time after time....

Gave myself a Ledbar for Christmas
It is a very tight fit, bu it fits precisely in the original grill.

Made a bit of a bracket, so the bar in no way suspended to the grill, but on the panel behind.

Glad with the results, and heaps of light in the darkness!!

 

[HoJo 61]

 

[TLC Norway]

You did an amazing job!!

 

[hj 60]

Wow that is very thorough, that bucket of gold plated zinc bolts is awesome.
The oldtimer rule of 40 years (instead of EU 30 years) is just a rip off, I went to Den Haag to see the politicians in the meeting about the old-timer rules but it was just sad.
They only look at gathering money, now they have a 2000 million surplus and 30 million came form the old-timers but they destroyed the trade and maintenance income.

The RAI Vereniging, Bovag, Fehac, Focwa, ANWB en KNAC agreed to do it this way and now driving an oldtimer diesel is only for rich folks.

 

[Jentuh]

Words my friend, it's just a big rip-off!!!

In the mean time I borrowed the wheels of a friends rig, just to see hoe they'd look.
295/85-R16

Pretty damn awsome I'd say! It makes the ride a bit more comfortable, and looks a lot better.

Old:

Half-way:

Done:

Now, question to all you guys: If I go for new tires, what to do:

A: Keep old 15" rims, and put new bigger tires on (I think it'll be too much tire, too little rim...)
B: Go for 16" black
C: Go for 16" silver

help me out, I'm leaning towards C with a standard metal Rim.

 

[Jentuh]

In the meantime I'm working on a few projects.

- Bought a second hand RTT. Need to do some minor repairs, get rid of the mold (correct English word? you know, the stuff that get's on the canvas if it's stored wet..), and re-impregnate the canvas to get it watertight.

- Build a roof-rack. I've been working on a design, using Solid Works. As soon as I get back home I'll make some screen-shots.

- Build my own tow-hitch. As I made my own back-end of the chassis, and normal hitch wouldn't work for me. In addition I want it to be removable, since I don't want it to be in the way when going offroad.
I've got a Cruiser World offroad rearbumper that I will be be modifying.

Wanted to be sure the construction is up for the job, so did some basic stress analysis to it.

The rear bumper get a square hole in it, where the inner sliding profile will be inserted in. When the tow hitch is off, I'll block the hole by a coverplate.

Started the cut three weeks ago, and then went off to Brazil for work stuff.
Eager to get working on it again. Hopefully job is done in a few more days.

 

[CenTXFJ60]

Man you did some awesome work. So cool to see the fabrication work. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Jentuh]

Thnx CenTX, I really enjoyed doing it.
Definitely improved my fabrication skills as well as mechanical skills.
I'm working as a commissioning engineer in the offshore industry and working on Cruisers in my shop at home certainly makes me a better engineer when on the job.

 

[Jentuh]

Got back home again, and started working on the tow-hitch!


Tag-welded the 70x70 profile in place and fitted the bumper to make the hole.
A ran the Cruiser World bumper for a while unpainted, as I knew I was gonna there mods sooner or later. When all is done, I'll sent it away for powder coat.

Got the bumper out of the way, and started welding the profile in place. the sliding section got stuck when I tried it, so I welded a iece of bar on that I could use to hammer it out.

Looks good, but the sliding section was stuck again

 

[Jentuh]

After some grinding with a flap disk it got in.
I was a bit worries that the welding might had caused misalignement, but we're good!

Locking pin at the back

I also treated myself with a new stearing guard.

Real happy with the improved looks! Easy to mount, and solid design with 8mm thick aluminum plate and 8mm thick steel galvanized mounting brackets.

happy days!

 

[Jentuh]

Bumper is off to the powder coater and I finished the towing hook.

So, any suggestions on tire / rim choice in post #30?

 

[DFXR]

Great work. I appreciate you taking the time to post all of this.

My humble contribution is... go for the 16" wheels in silver.

 

[cruisermatt]

Nice job on the restoration. Why didn't you put those trailer hitch gussets on the other side of the crossmember so you could have a the crossmember nice and flush? You are going to get caught on that off-road.

 

[Jentuh]

When the bumper is mounted, it will be very close to the gussets. But the whole construction will be covered by the bumper.
I could have made the gussets on the other side, but still the length of the sliding section would have been the same. Strength wise you'd want the gussets on the outside to coop with reaction forces off the trailer.

I'm thinking 16" grey is the way to go indeed!

T think I'll go for standard steel rims like these, in grey.

 

[HoJo 61]

So, any suggestions on tire / rim choice in post #30?

Black 16 steelies with 33x12.5 or 10.5 wide tires, that's what i would do.