McGuire's '87 FJ60 Build: SOA/ 12H-T swap

[TallCanDan]

Wow dude, that's some awesome and ambitious work for an 18 year old!

 

[too tall]

You should get someone to check out your welds . You will have major issues if those welds on the knuckles break especially . Take some closer pics . What model is it ? Looks like you don't have enough heat ?

 

[mcguirejohnson]

Wow dude, that's some awesome and ambitious work for an 18 year old!

Thanks man, I've definitely done my homework in preparation for this project. It has payed off!

 

[mcguirejohnson]

You should get someone to check out your welds . You will have major issues if those welds on the knuckles break especially . Take some closer pics . What model is it ? Looks like you don't have enough heat ?

It's a miller 110 mig, I have it hooked up right to the power box and am running .035 wire. I was getting good penetration with the weld. The burn marks looked even as well. I think I am having a gas problem which is causing the weld to not set clean. I have a miller bobcat 250 generator stick welder and I will burn some 6011 rods in the knuckles and spring purches tomorrow to insure that nothing fails.
Mj

 

[mcguirejohnson]

Quick update, I ground down all of the crappy mig welds and brought out the arc welder and burned the perches and cut and turn in for good. I feel a lot better about it all now!

 

[bluehawk]

Thanks Mj , the pictures helped and those are some good looking arc welds. Hope to be where your at in a couple of days. Keep up the good work.

 

[mcguirejohnson]

Thanks Mj , the pictures helped and those are some good looking arc welds. Hope to be where your at in a couple of days. Keep up the good work.

Anytime man! Goodluck with the c&t, it really wasnt that bad only took a couple of hours. I had to use a 6 foot solid steel bar to move those damn things though and a lot of heat! And thanks man I started out welding with the arc. It gets the job done just a little bit messy compared to a mig or tig.



Mj

 

[too tall]

Those welds look better but your ball gussett isn't touching the ball ?

 

[mcguirejohnson]

Those welds look better but your ball gussett isn't touching the ball ?

Ya I know I made a rookie mistake with the gusset.. it was too long to start with (knuckle wouldn't turn fully) and i got the torch out and cut it back. Well I got a little trigger happy and burned it too much. At least it is supporting the C&T weld plus the main reason I made them is for shock mounts. Live and learn I guess..

MJ

 

[bluehawk]

Front Mounts

Mj, when you started mounting your brackets for the spring hanger and the shackle, did you get them welded back in the stock location? As you have read on my thread, I am doing a SR and the problem I am having is where exactly to mount the spring hanger and the shackle mount. A good friend of mine, told me to move all of this forward about an inch or two as it would help with approach angles and articulation.

I did take a measurement from center line to center line of the stock locations of the mounts. I think that if I get both sides in the same location, I shouldn't be to bad.

 

[mcguirejohnson]

Mj, when you started mounting your brackets for the spring hanger and the shackle, did you get them welded back in the stock location? As you have read on my thread, I am doing a SR and the problem I am having is where exactly to mount the spring hanger and the shackle mount. A good friend of mine, told me to move all of this forward about an inch or two as it would help with approach angles and articulation. I did take a measurement from center line to center line of the stock locations of the mounts. I think that if I get both sides in the same location, I shouldn't be to bad.

Ya I put them back in the stock location. I bolted them up first then burned them in. I'm not familiar with moving the mount foreword so I can't chime in on that, but I would think that you would have to get longer springs?
Mj

 

[bluehawk]

Ya I put them back in the stock location. I bolted them up first then burned them in. I'm not familiar with moving the mount foreword so I can't chime in on that, but I would think that you would have to get longer springs?
Mj[/QUOTE

Sorry I guess I should have been a little more clearer. Use the same springs and move the whole axle forward about an inch or two. That would mean moving the hangers and shackles forward also. So that would mean moving everything forward. Does that make sense.

When you put back all the brackets and things, did you do any cross measuring to make sure all was square? On the shackle hangers, did you center them to the frame rail? And same question for the spring hangers.

 

[mcguirejohnson]

Yes that makes a lot more sense! And I never removed the spring hanger therefor it is in the stock location. And when I put the shackle hanger on, I just bolted it in which made them both sit in the same spot on the frame. Then I used a level to make sure they were square. I'm guessing that your kit came with both the spring and shackle hanger?

 

[mcguirejohnson]

Customized my front bumper... Texas, enough said.

 

[bluehawk]

Yes that makes a lot more sense! And I never removed the spring hanger therefor it is in the stock location. And when I put the shackle hanger on, I just bolted it in which made them both sit in the same spot on the frame. Then I used a level to make sure they were square. I'm guessing that your kit came with both the spring and shackle hanger?

Yes my kit came with the hardware which included new spring hangers and shackle mounts. Think that I will measure from the front of the frame on both sides and tack on the shackle mounts. Then bolt on the spring hangers and lower the lift so that the axle has all the weight of the vehicle on it. Take a measurement from center to center of the mount bolts and get it close to stock measurement. Then tack on the hangers and tack on the perches.

 

[mcguirejohnson]

Yes my kit came with the hardware which included new spring hangers and shackle mounts. Think that I will measure from the front of the frame on both sides and tack on the shackle mounts. Then bolt on the spring hangers and lower the lift so that the axle has all the weight of the vehicle on it. Take a measurement from center to center of the mount bolts and get it close to stock measurement. Then tack on the hangers and tack on the perches.

Ah gotcha sounds like you got it figured out. Let me know if you need me to take any pictures or measurements for you! Update your thread With some progress pics!
Mj

 

[mcguirejohnson]

Finally putting the hubs together! Hopefully I will have the driveshafts and shocks mounted up by next weekend!

 

[NolanFJ60]

Nice work! You'll love the SOA. I finished mine about a year ago and it is hands down the best thing I've done to my 60. Also, do you have any plans for turn stops?

 

[mcguirejohnson]

Nice work! You'll love the SOA. I finished mine about a year ago and it is hands down the best thing I've done to my 60. Also, do you have any plans for turn stops?

Thanks man! I can't wait to try it all out! And yes I'm going to put the turn stops and brake line tabs on once I get everything lined up. I used por15 on the axles and will just brush some on to touch everything up.
Mj

 

[mcguirejohnson]

New koyo bearings and seals installed!