Build Kermit, 1976 FJ40. The Cobbler has the worst shoes!

[ceylonfj40nut]

Redid starter power wire, winch power wire and engine ground with 1/0 wire and wrapped with 1/2” spiral wrap to prevent chafing. Added new military style battery clamps, cleaned up wiring some.

Excited to get the tires installed and doing all the fluids, seat belts, console. Getting close.

 

[Jim S.]

Looking good. What model of interstate battery are you running?

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

Ten 33x10.5/9.5x15 tires fit in a tundra bed. Off to swap in new tires

 

[thatcabledude]

They might give you some good money for those old tires.

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

Hmmm keeping them. They are good enough for round town for the other kids in the barn that have poor shoes.

 

[Michael B]

In my shop the old ones would be referred to as “maypops”. They are great for rolling parts vehicles, projects not yet roadworthy and loose axles. When they finally move to the category of “dids”, they should be discarded.

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

In my shop the old ones would be referred to as “maypops”. They are great for rolling parts vehicles, projects not yet roadworthy and loose axles. When they finally move to the category of “dids”, they should be discarded.

Yep. I have worse. These are far from worse. I have 20 tires which I am keeping to offload steel track excavator on concrete at sites. They make great pads.

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

The cobbler has new shoes!

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

The factory weld pointed at reportedly did not meet runout tolerance. They cut and re-welded it and balanced it.

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

Wire wheeling all threads/bolts/ washers before they go back on has been very satisfying. Drive shaft bolts will get some blue loctite and torque paint.

I got this wire wheel (fine one side, coarse on other side). It has a shaft extension that has been great. It offsets the wheel from the motor. I can wire wheel big pieces. I wire wheel entire knuckle, steering arms, etc. Much easier than a sand blaster.

 

[clrussell]

Wire wheeling all threads/bolts/ washers before they go back on has been very satisfying. Drive shaft bolts will get some blue loctite and torque paint.

I got this wire wheel (fine one side, coarse on other side). It has a shaft extension that has been great. It offsets the wheel from the motor. I can wire wheel big pieces. I wire wheel entire knuckle, steering arms, etc. Much easier than a sand blaster.

View attachment 4174741

View attachment 4174742

Bench wire wheels are awesome.

 

[RevISK]

The cobbler has new shoes!

View attachment 4174723

View attachment 4174724

View attachment 4174725

View attachment 4174951

View attachment 4174952

Those look great.

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

Asked the to assist with the last bleed, the clutch. Also adjusted/ tightened loose mirrors with a trick I think learned from Mud. Works amazing. Took it around the block for a slow run. Everything works. Brakes are tight, clutch is smooth, steering is tight, easy to turn the 9.5” tires. Tires are quiet. Brakes did not get hot or bind.

Need to adjust tire carrier lock (rag for now, which I could keep for the trail ).

Traveling this week. Will get at the last bits later in the week! Great to get to this milestone.

 

[John McVicker]

@ceylonfj40nut looking outstanding…but…all this super work & fine tuning may require Woody to ask that you change the title of this thread.

This cobbler has some fine shoes as well as being superfine in MANY categories. Excellent work.

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

@ceylonfj40nut looking outstanding…but…all this super work & fine tuning may require Woody to ask that you change the title of this thread.

This cobbler has some fine shoes as well as being superfine in MANY categories. Excellent work.

I still have a few kids in the barn that call my name. They seem louder now that Kermit is somewhat satiated. The cobbler has more to do!

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

So my spare tire rim balanced at the tire shop but the hub was bent according to the tire dude. Massive weights got it reasonable. Did not sit well with me. Got a new OEM rim from CCOT. Scuffed it with steel wool and hit with a rattle can. It will get mounted later this week.

Also got the ambulance door weather stripping done. Definitely solved the rattle. City racer stuff is legit. The glue and accelerator from Cruiser Corps is money!

Tackled the last item on the PS seat belt. @SipLife may join me to SAS. Has to withstand his his whole of 140lbs lurching.

I had bought front window runs and felts a while back which I also got started. It’s a bitch running the short felts in the door! It will be well worth it. Hands have a million cuts. Need some small Japanese hands.

Also adjusted my tire carrier latch about 5 whacks of a mallet. Seems to be good.

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

Finishing the door runs and felts ate my lunch. Worst job so far! Lubed all the window mechanisms with silicone spray lube before install. Glad that is done! Oof! Nice to have smooth operating windows and rattles gone. On first install of the CCoT console, gear shifter hit it in 4th. The base has additional holes that allowed me to move it back some without needing redrill or bend the shifter cane. Glad it stays stock looking.

 

[John McVicker]

CD, Really some fine work. But remember you’ve got to eat food while at SAS, buy gas etc. At your current rate of expenditure you could just run out of $$ by then.

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

CD, Really some fine work. But remember you’ve got to eat food while at SAS, buy gas etc. At your current rate of expenditure you could just run out of $$ by then.

^true dat John!!!! It’s winding down which is a good thing!!!. Might have to live off pine needle tea!!! Taking advantage of the momentum to sort Kermit out for a good while! I did get a complete OEM coolant hose kit and OEM fuel pump from City Racer. It will stay in the parts stash for the trip.

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

Got the new rim on. Old rim will be at the barn. It’s great to place on a press to push in and out lug bolts from hubs.

Prior to replacing the flat top pistons with domed pistons, I was getting significant blow by and crank case pressure. It caused an oil leak on the lifter cover. I bought an OEM gasket to fix the leak. Last thing to do off my initial parts buy. I sprayed off all the oil from the valve cover area with brake kleen and dried it up. Had a hunch to drive it to see if it won’t leak since the crank case pressure issue was resolved. Took it for a good run today. No leaks. I will do a longer shakedown run at highway speeds to seen if it is a non issue.

Man it is nice to have almost all the rattles gone with new weather stripping and door felts/runs. Only rattle is slight rattle of passenger side window when fully down. Need to add a spacer Velcro or equivalent.

Very smooth power band (carb is just right), steering is tight!! It’s a joy to drive. The tire carrier adjustment is holding well! Brakes and clutch are working well. May tighten the e-brake to stall in 3rd gear.