Builds Joined the 40 club! 1970 FJ40 Frame off build...

[kcisland]

Blue loctite here:

Torqued to 34lbs:

That's it for this weekend. I didn't get all four wheels on like I wanted but I feel good about how far I got. I need to repaint the left brake cover that I dropped when it was still wet and work on rebuilding all of the hubs next weekend. Then maybe I can have a rolling chassis!



And hopefully this is the last snow for the year! Looking forward to warmer weather!

 

[kcisland]

Some weekends just have minor hiccups in them, this was one of them. Nothing major but I still didn't get 4 wheels on the ground because of missing parts holding me up.

Finished up the right hub only to remember I had a bad brake caliper mounting hole and wanted to add a Timesert fitting so I had to take it off to get it out of the way. Then I found I had no #12 lock washers for the caliper bolts so they are just sitting loose for now.

Started with modifying the brake line fitting that I took off when I cleaned up the dust cover:

Drill out rivets:

Backside before I tightened the lock washers. It had plenty of rotor clearance.

 

[kcisland]

Cleaned hub with new bearings and raceways:

Cruiser Outfitters - Kurt plug:

 

[kcisland]

Rebuilt my Aisin lockers:

Bam! So pretty! But like I said that caliper is just hanging there waiting for some lock washers, so no wheels on for now.

 

[kcisland]

There probably is one already on MUD but here is a Time Sert step by step. The PO had a Heli Coil insert which I didn't trust. The Time Sert is more solid. The lower caliper hole is all stripped out:

The kit comes with a drill bit, tap, collar bit, Time Sert fitting, and a driver:

Drill and tap:

 

[kcisland]

Special bit for reaming out the hole for the collar on the fitting:

Thread lock on the fitting.

Done! Now if I only had washers for the calipers I could get wheels on!

 

[kcisland]

Then I found out I was missing an inner bearing so I couldn't install the left hub. Oh well, plenty of places to go and work on...

On to the tie rods and steering:


Plenty of anti seize:

FSM calls out for 47.44" center to center. Tape is hooked on the far left of the left zerk fitting:

Shim to make up for the 60 series vs 40 series larger steering arm hole:

The clamps are loose for now until I can dial in the toe-in.

 

[kcisland]

OEM Center steering rebuild kit:

New Seal:

Greased bushing and spindle:

Spring and greased up:

Cap is loose for now until I get the rest of the steering put together.

 

[kcisland]

I couldn't close the 3/8" gap between the center arm and housing, can anybody comment?

I should have checked the old spindle to new to compare the length. I torqued and tried an impact but no go. It seems I am pretty close to the end of the splines and I wouldn't be able to get any more than a 1/16" anyway.

Here is the old for comparison:

The FSM and archives here on MUD seem to show there once was a felt washer in there. If the torque is correct and this looks OK, I may create a washer to fill in the gap. What do you all think?

 

[kcisland]

Then to end the night, 6pm and hungry...what's wrong with this picture?

Note to self: Don't put stuff on the wheel when it's on stands!!!

Re-organized with a steak dinner...

 

[Jordan85]

After I rebuilt my center arm, I too had this gap. I was not able to ascertain if there was/ were a washer before because of so much grease and dirt.

 

[kcisland]

After I rebuilt my center arm, I too had this gap. I was not able to ascertain if there was/ were a washer before because of so much grease and dirt.

Thanks for the feedback Jordan85. I appreciate it as I am a newbie at this.

 

[Jordan85]

Thanks for the feedback Jordan85. I appreciate it as I am a newbie at this.

You and I both!

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Looking very clean!

 

[coonassjohn]

Very nice work.

 

[kcisland]

Looking very clean!

Thanks Kurt! Lot's of your parts on there...lot's more to go!

 

[Joel99]

Wow, Keith, your build is looking great. I like all the attention to detail. You're taking a nice looking 40 and will be turning it into something that will look amazing.

Let me know if you need an extra hand to lift or hold something. I won't be providing technical support, but sometimes an extra hand or two is needed. I'm just a few miles away.

Great job!!!

Joel

 

[kcisland]

Wow, Keith, your build is looking great. I like all the attention to detail. You're taking a nice looking 40 and will be turning it into something that will look amazing.

Let me know if you need an extra hand to lift or hold something. I won't be providing technical support, but sometimes an extra hand or two is needed. I'm just a few miles away.

Great job!!!

Joel

Thanks Joel I may take you up on that offer! I was just designing a home made jib crane to re-mount the body. Hope to see your project on here soon!

 

[kcisland]

Got the front brakes on, wheels on, and we have a rolling chassis! Great milestone for me, feels good to get to this point. Still waiting for my last shock tower bolt coming via ebay so I can finish the front shocks.

Calipers and pads:

I only got one of these dust cover support brackets (passanger side) when I bought my 60 series knuckle set. Any body have the drivers side they want to sell me?

 

[kcisland]

When I took the tub and engine out I went to my work and used a 7 ton overhead crane, sure made life easy. But it is a 30 minute drive and I couldn't fit both the chassis and the body on the trailer at the same time making multiple trips. Knowing I would need to take the tub on and off multiple times I built a mini jib crane using one of the pockets on my trailer.


I found some 2" schedule 40 pipe that fit perfect into some 2 1/2" pipe, welded a collar, and built a base for the trailer pocket: