Builds Mississippi Delta Beast - 1974 FJ-40 Rescue and Rehabilitation (1 Viewer)

[FJ60Cam]

Just like the Jelly of the Month Club, the Delta Beast is the gift that keeps on giving.

The rear latch was no exception. While test fitting the patched up barn door, the knob handle for the latch broke off...

 

[FJ60Cam]

The stub was drilled out, the hole tapped, and a bolt threadlocked in to use as a handle.

 

[middlecalf]

One of my knob handles broke off last summer - I might have helped that along by hitting it with my tractor bucket loading 200lb protein tubs - maybe. I used another classic repair technique I’m sure @wngrog is familiar with - JB Weld. Holding up so far and it still looks mostly original, a little “shorter” maybe .

 

[tucker74]

Guess it didn’t matter since you were swapping knuckles, but my 1/2 Milwaukee cordless impact makes short work of frozen spindle nuts . Don’t try it with the welded socket though ...

 

[FJ60Cam]

The 3 thin vertical strips of foam-rubber City Racer sells did a great job sealing up the sides and junction of the barn doors, but there was still a gap between the hatch & barn doors. The bottom of the barn doors had a big gap as well and their Swiss cheese construction wasn’t ideal to glue anything to.

A roll of generic peel and stick weatherstripping proved to be just the ticket:

 

[FJ60Cam]

With the squeaks and rattles gone it was time to send it back home. It got its annual oil change (with a bottle of zinc), then I hit the road early in the morning to drive it down to Mississippi.

Taking the left lane out of town:

The new highway gears are perfect. 70 mph is right around 2750 rpms, and there’s plenty of room in the power band to speed up and pass slower traffic.

 

[FJ60Cam]

I was meeting @wngrog in Grenada to pick up “Paulina”, @ducksntrout ’s new pig, to bring back to the MM World Headquarters.

Rolling strong down I-55:

 

[FJ60Cam]

I was about ten minutes ahead of Nolen for our scheduled 9:00 am meetup at the Biscuit Pit, so I took a quick detour...

...and drove across the Grenada Dam:

 

[FJ60Cam]

After a quick dip in the ‘Pit, we swapped trucks and headed back in our opposite directions...

 

[wngrog]

I added a little toe out to the steering this morning and made a run to town to get rid of this thing before it got too hot.

It felt good enough for another high speed run. I didn’t have me second phone to get the photo of the GPS speed but 3550 RPM is 90 mph and it still had more.

Cam builds a hell of a motor.

 

[reddog90]

Awesome work guys.

 

[Honger]

This is a flippin' awesome thread. I want one of these motors... I wish mine needed a rebuild. I'm just going to have to live vicariously through @wngrog and @FJ60Cam and their musings.

 

[wngrog]

@wct49 brought the Delta Beast by for a visit today on a shake down run

 

[cbmontgo]

 

[wngrog]

Just like a big pile of dog s***, eventually if it’s close by, I’m going to step in it.

Well I stepped in a big one today and tracked it all the way home.

 

[wngrog]

The Delta Beast has been patiently waiting for its window and it’s now on deck for a bit of a refresh for the 2021 Duck season for @ducksntrout

Stay tuned ……

 

[wngrog]

My first real alone time with the Delta Beast since 2017.

Ive had chance encounters as I visited it at Mosley Motors or 49 Tire but really, I’ve learned a lot about these things since we spent time together.

One thing that I’ve always wanted to do was give this thing a good Patina Preservation, Rust Converter and Fluid Film treatment.

It gets used hard and often spends time in the direct elements and I’ve seen it getting more and more faded.

I started in on the fender to see what I’m up against. A little CLR scrub then I tested the fender with some Penetrol. I think this one will get the Penetrol versus Fluid Film on the outside because it will protect the whole truck and be more permanent than the FF. I prefer FF on some places and vehicles. Especially if the owner is not big in keeping it oiled up after each wash.

It will look good after all this ….

 

[wngrog]

Tilda Bogue Cruisers is now a reality.

@Onur …….a lot of Cruisers built in the last 4 years brother

 

[OGBeno]

Indeed my friend,
Indeed.

 

[wngrog]

CLR scrub compare