Builds July 1976 FJ40 rebuilding/modifying/fabricating/cool pic thread

[Robs76fj40]

More progress, it’ll be all welded up shortly. Well all welded up on the outside.

 

[Robs76fj40]

Well, that’s it for today. Time to light the grill and drink some beer with the family. So happy with the results!!

 

[69LC]

Nicely done sir. Good choice of brew too. I'm a Dirty Bastard fan myself.

 

[Robs76fj40]

Nicely done sir. Good choice of brew too. I'm a Dirty Bastard fan myself.

Thank you very kindly! Dirty Bastard is a fine brew as well

 

[Robs76fj40]

Well, so stoked!! It’s been a few days since the last post, making progress where and when I can. Go get to work people! #easiersaidthandone

 

[Robs76fj40]

Anyone that’s on Instagram and wants to see more of my stuff, not just fj40 pics, let me know!!

 

[Robs76fj40]

Can’t say I’m not too proud to brag... I’m so happy with where I’m at on this project!!

 

[rickpaw]

Looking good sir.

 

[Robs76fj40]

Kind of jumping around a bit, but started building new transmission mounts. The truck had the Advance Adapters trans mount when I got the truck in 1994. Needless to say the bushings are past it. The PO bolted instead of welding the brackets to the frame and did not install any gusset plates. So the bolts came loose over time and my heavy right foot didn’t help anything either, and the brackets got twisted/damaged.
I wasn’t overly impressed with design of the original brackets so I used 1/4” wall 3” square tube and some 3/16” hot roll plate for the cap and gusset plates. The brackets will be welded to the plates and those will be welded to the frame once I finalize the position of the motor and transmission.

I hope everyone is healthy and happy. I’m enjoying another wonderful day in the shop at home with the family. Thanks for checking in to my thread.

 

[Robs76fj40]

Looking good sir.

Thank ya kindly

 

[onemanarmy]

amazing transformation and thanks for sharing

much too hot for a porter though

 

[Robs76fj40]

amazing transformation and thanks for sharing

much too hot for a porter though

I switched up to Bourbon and Gin cocktails....

 

[Robs76fj40]

Well I got a bit done on the passenger B pillar. Both the B pillars got twisted pretty bad with my rotisserie debacle... but moving on. The inner and outer rockers were tacked on pretty well when that whole kerfuffle occurred and also were damaged.

The pillar repair isn’t perfect, or close to great for that matter, but I can’t get behind it to do any pushing or hammer/dolly work so I am thinking that this is about where the metal work is going to end. There will be a bit more filler on this side than I was hoping for(about none), but it won’t exceed an 1/8” of thickness either so I won’t complain. And I suppose in reality this will be a daily driver and these trucks wer held to too high of a standard as far as panel fit/finish were concerned- especially compared to what we are all used to now. Thanks for checking in..

 

[Robs76fj40]

A few more pictures of the pillar and rocker repair. Also a couple of the chisel I’ve knocked the sharp off and made a “corking” tool, as it’s sometimes called. Basically just a blunt chisel to help force metal into tight corners or into inside radius's.

 

[Robs76fj40]

More progress today. Man it’s a lot of work, but I can almost, kinda sorta, just about, pert-near see a light at the end of the tunnel.. thanks for checking in.

 

[Robs76fj40]

Well, it’s been a while... I shut my shop down for a couple months for the winter to avoid paying the utility company to heat my shop. Slowly getting back into the swing of things. Got the floor finished, firewall all repaired, my Vintage air unit ordered.. lots of bits and pieces painted semi/frame black. Both axles rebuilt with a Spartan limited slip unit for the front and a Yukon Grizzly locker for the rear. The trans and t-case all rebuilt and the motor assembled. Not much for pictures there.... I started filling/repairing the dash of all my past sins, and there are many! I’m installing a double din Pioneer head unit and am 99.9% sure I’m going to do a custom tablet dash/gauge panel install, just because I think it’s pretty bitchin and should match the radio nice. Anyway I’ll post up a few pics I have I have on my phone

 

[Robs76fj40]

well, sorry for the crappy photos that are landscape instead of portrait ... not much of a social media photographer...

 

[Robs76fj40]

We’ll, here’s a long over do update. Things have been moving slowly, life has a way of getting in the way. Anyhow, just about have the frame ready to paint. A few gussets and slight modification to the rear frame ties and should be ready to wipe down and prep for paint

 

[Robs76fj40]

Huge day mentally. 2019 early winter I would’ve never believed that I could be a this point.. but the springs are painted, rims are painted and the bottom side, most of..kinda, of the frame have been painted. I used Eastwood 2K satin ceramic paint. I have to say for a novice it’s rather tricky to keep a wet edge for finish quality. Something as simple as a frame sure is difficult to spray out well. Not sure any other type of paint would be much easier either. So many crevices and different angles to hit that take up so much time and paint.. All in all I am beyond happy though. Hopefully more pictures soon of more progress!

 

[Robs76fj40]

Making all the right moves today…. This feels like a major accomplishment.. motor is going on as soon as I verify clearances and double check bolt torques, mainly because I’m a little nervous to bolt this in…