Builds Moonshine - A Build Thread (1 Viewer)

[5280Hawk]

Hey Johnny!

I didn't forget about you, I've been super busy w. Stimulus projects we are trying to get out.

Im still planning on finishing the full scale CAD templates we talked about.

great write up!

 

[GLTHFJ60]

I am very excited to see the transformation of your cruiser. I just finished reading this entire thread and have to say it brought back some great memories fro me as well. My first cruiser was a 1977 fj40 I bought from a minister in Anchorage alaska. That was in 1989. Since that day I have driven nothing else. I currently operate a flyfishing business in Alaska where we use fj60s for guide rigs and I have a prestine 85 fj60 with only 90,000 original; miles on it. NO RUST. I call her "Dusty" she just sits in the garage collecting dust. I also have my mod fj60 with a 383 stroker and SOA with a H55 tranny and ranger torque splitter locked front and rear with ARB air. I love this fricking truck!!!
I just wish I found this forum earlier in my cruiser adventures. It would have saved me a ton of bloody knuckles and guessing. But it also taught me a ton about being resourceful and knowing my rig!!
I often wondered who was behind Jim Belushi 1942. Keep up the good work.
Tom <')))><

Thanks man! Yeah, Jim Belushi was a pretty awesome actor and I have had some pretty similar nights to his characters' so I thought it was fitting.

Hey Johnny!

I didn't forget about you, I've been super busy w. Stimulus projects we are trying to get out.

Im still planning on finishing the full scale CAD templates we talked about.

great write up!

Ben! Good to hear from you and thanks! After getting down here in KY work on my truck has really exploded, so the bumper has kinda been put on hold, so don't worry about it. This SOA is my highest priority right now, so we'll see what happens after it's done.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Update, ordered the perches, ubolt plates and trac bar axle mount from ruffstuff. Springs are 2.75" wide by the way.

 

[Dirtgypsy]

dude you done yet? finished and on the road for the Rubithon wagon run in june?

Clint

 

[GLTHFJ60]

dude you done yet? finished and on the road for the Rubithon wagon run in june?

Clint

One step at a time man. I won't be able to make it to the Rubithon unfortunately because I can't take that much time off work. I'd love too but I'm already taking a week off to go volunteer.

2010 sounds good though!

 

[Dirtgypsy]

2010? Maybe. There is a couple from Canada that are going next year I would like to meet up with. Wife wants to go back to Moab and it is tempting to go there instead just to mtn bike again.

Take your time on the SOA and do it right.

Clint

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Installed my Roundeyes headlights and painted my new headlight doors + grill with "Industrial Grey" from my local Tractor Supply. I think it came out pretty well and the headlights are wicked bright!!!

SOA this weekend...........

 

[boots4]

MMM, bright head lights... I still need some real headlights. Did you do your own wiring?

 

[GLTHFJ60]

MMM, bright head lights... I still need some real headlights. Did you do your own wiring?

Roundeyes are plug and play. Works with the stock harness and they're pretty awesome. I highly recommend them.



On another note, I'm starting to think about what tire to buy for my rig. I will be DD'ing this probably about 12-15k a year, so I was thinking another set of BFG AT K/O's in the 35x12.5 variety, balanced with dyna beads or some equivalent. Any thoughts?

 

[GLTHFJ60]

On another note, I'm starting to think about what tire to buy for my rig. I will be DD'ing this probably about 12-15k a year, so I was thinking another set of BFG AT K/O's in the 35x12.5 variety, balanced with dyna beads or some equivalent. Any thoughts?

I know this has been beaten to death, but no one has a suggestion on a better DD tire in this size?

 

[GLTHFJ60]

And so it begins.....

My 60 can float, and when it does that I can get 1,000,000 mpg.

 

[boots4]

Hurray, here comes the good stuff!

 

[Lost]

nice!!!
i ordered my soa gear the other week, should be in soon!

gl with the project

is the trac bar for the rear? how necessary is it? i didnt order one

and do you want smaller then 35s for a soa? seem like anything smaller would be crazy

 

[boots4]

nice!!!

is the trac bar for the rear? how necessary is it? i didnt order one

That depends. Yes it is a good idea and things that will make it more necessary will be more torque from your engine by more power or gearing reductions, bigger heavier tires providing more grip, soft spring packs, style of driving/wheeling you do.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Just got home from the 1100 mile round trip to pick up my initial set of tires and front axle. It's 4am eastern time and I'm going to bed.

I'm going to run the trac bar because I have a really heavy right foot when it comes to wheeling and I would rather not spend most of my time on the trail replacing broken pinions.

More pics and progress tomorrow. Thanks for the good word guys!

 

[2badfjs]

WAKE UP!!!!!!!

lets see some more pics!

and that's John Belushi in your avitar not Jim.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Ok, update time.

So after taking the axles out from the truck on Friday after work, the next step was to bring them to Paul, who is near Rogersville, MO, approx 1100 miles from where I am located right now in Lexington, KY. I traded Paul my two axles for his setup SOA front 62 axle and a set of 35" tires + rims. Paul is a great guy and my truck will be a good home for the axle. I got home at 4am after a very long day wearing my assprint into the drivers seat of Kenny's truck ( thanks Kenny! )

Today I didn't get much done, but I feel good about it. I need to replace the pinion seal on the axle I picked up ( leaked all over the bed of the pickup ) and pick up some more parts. I need 4 greasable frame side spring pins in addition to shackles for the front, a pair of center bolts for my front springs. David has a set of 36x13.50 Mickey Thompson baja's that I'm going to trade him for and after that, all I have are questions and pictures. First the pictures...

1. Truck my new front axle came from
2. My end of the deal
3. By far the easiest way to load / unload axles out of a pickup

 

[GLTHFJ60]

More pics...

1. Axle's new home
2. Disassembled front springs
3. Tire example

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Now for the questions.

First off, for center spring pins, do you guys just use bolts or do you order new center pins? Mine were all bent and rotted, so they need to be ordered.

Next, see the tire picture above. There is more wear on the left side of the tire than the right. The outside of the tire ( when mounted ) is the more worn side. What would cause that??

Painting the springs. Is there any tangible benefit to painting the springs while one has the pack apart aside from aesthetics? I was planning on cleaning them, but if there is no real benefit to priming and then painting them, then I'll just clean them up a bit. Either way, the NE salt will make them rusty soon anyway.

Thanks for the advice guys.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Ok, so I'm going to order new spring pins and I just painted the springs ( for aesthetics ) but I still don't know about the tires. Any advice there?? What would cause that wear?