Builds Moonshine - A Build Thread (5 Viewers)

[TLC Norway]

oh, i love that last picture, sooo smooth frame, noooot soo smooth body! gotta love it!

 

[StevoJonesFJ60]

Johnny you really need to chop those rockers and throw some sliders on.

But otherwise things are looking good.

 

[alaska60]

y'all

looks like north carolina is working in to you just fine there johnny!!!

I cant wait to get you out west!!

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Thanks guys! Tom, I'll let you know when I plan to get out there


So this whole being out of college thing is seriously changing my perspective on this hobby. I find myself thinking way more long term, which always lands me in a torn discussion about rust. If I keep this body, I'm going to be chasing rust from now until the end of time. In reading other's threads and watching builds, I think I've come to the conclusion that what gives a truck its identity is not the vin number, but by how it's put together and who drives it. Going off of that, I think I'm preparing myself for a body swap, which would be the smarter decision in the long run. It would save me time in repair and give me more time for modifications and wheeling. I love the hell out of building this thing but I'm starting to see that the little free time I have is being dedicated to fixing / building moonshine when I want it to be wheeling and enjoying it.

More time is needed to evaluate this line of thinking...

 

[Cruiserdrew]

More time is needed to evaluate this line of thinking...

Boy-I hear you.

I try and get trucks built the way I currently want and then hold for a few years. That takes the stress out of constant major projects. Build, then enjoy and just tinker around the edges.

You need to decide early where you want to end up, and then focus on the end product, not the intermediate steps. It's also hard to know what your future self will want.

When I first built my 40 (roughly 1999) I wheeled the resulting truck almost unchanged until 2006. Then I did a spring over and wheeled the resulting truck for 3 years, almost unchanged. Then I spring overed my 60 and basically have not worked on it for 2 years. Next year I'm going to start on the 40 again (or sell it!) You get the idea.

But that body is bad and needs to go.

How hard do you want to wheel? If you, want to wheel every weekend, taking every hard line, risking a rollover each time out, then keep the body you have. Realize the life of your truck will be short, but fun. That's OK, you can build another. Or better yet, get an FJ40 with a good roll cage and build that.

If, on the other hand, you want to continue to wheel your truck for years and years, then build it better and less annoying-in your case that might involve a new body. If you want that nice new body to live-you'll need to slow down with a Toybox or other major gear reduction.

You learn as you go, and what you like now will be different than what you want in 5 years.

It is extremely helpful to have more than 1 Land Cruiser. Buy a decent 80. Don't build it beyond suspension. That will take the pressure off your Fj60 and you can do what you want when you want. When you decide to go to Moab next year, you'll thank me.

If I had it to do all do over again, I'd start my 60 project with an FJ62. Just food for thought.

 

[chicago]

Fwiw, I kinda wish that I would have done a progressive mod to my current rig like drew is suggesting. However, mine was NOT, anywhere near running condition when I got her.
Your tub is in pretty bad shape. A huge advantage to replacing the tub is all the crap you then have access to when it's off, that you wouldn't otherwise. Just a bit of a silver lining in a big job, so some of the mods you wanna do might be nothing at that point.

Either way... Sounds like it's gonna be a great continuance of an already great build.

 

[brokenparts]

Go beat the tar out of the current body, save while your doing it, find a cheapo but realiable DD, and then use the money you saved for the swap and upgrades u really want.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Body is going to be swapped out this fall some time. More details on that to come. This project is the first in a series of things that need to be addressed to bring this truck up to where I want her to be, and that is to serve as a comfortable DD and effective rock crawler. This chapter is rebuilding the transfer case.

I sold the roof rack so she'll fit in the garage now.

Pulled everything apart and layed it out on the new workbench and tailgate.

Everything was this filthy.

Got a couple of gallons of diesel fuel, a wire brush, a tooth brush and went to town.

Bimmer watching intently...

Oil slinger on the idler gearset is broken so she'll be down for a couple of days until the part comes in.

Pressed apart the output shaft to replace the bearings. This part is particularly heavy duty. No wonder these cases never break.

Harbor Freight shop press earned it's keep during this project.

Diesel started off yellow, now it's black with 3/4" of grease silt in the bottom.

Pulled the top cover off of the transmission to clean it as well. The 5th gear shaft in the top cover prevented us from taking it out with the shifter cover removed, so we used some tin snips to enlarge the hole a bit.

We took it off to clean the transmission tailhousing and replace the gaskets to prevent future leaking. Cleaned everything up and got it all reinstalled with new gaskets.

Finally, installed the front half of the transfer case with all new seals and front output bearing. Gotta wait to get the idler gear oil slinger to progress from here. Look how clean it is!

I'll update again when I get my new parts.

 

[brokenparts]

i just upgraded to that press... buying this to make a press brake too.

20 TON Press Brake DIY Builder Kit

 

[GLTHFJ60]

That is sick. Definitely going on the to-buy list. I've still gotta buy a welder though

 

[hman913]

Looking good Johnny.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Looking good Johnny.

Thanks buddy. Whenever you want to take that vacation, let me know


Stupid oil slinger came in and got the case put back together. Preload came out perfect for new bearings and everything. FYI, I used a tip that Spike posted up for getting the output shaft pilot bearing out. Used a small screw driver and a 5lb sledge to split the bearing in half and then pulled it all out with a pair of needle nose pliers. Pressed in the new bearing and I was good to go.
New one next to the old one

New one installed on the idler cluster. Found some aluminum shavings under the old oil slinger from when the case blew up 3 years ago

Following instructions by the FSM:

Once I had it all together, I realized that I had to go out and buy a tire inflator since I sold my Co2 setup and had no other method of putting air in my flat tires

Got her out into the sun and took a couple pictures of the finished product. No more leaks! *knock on wood*

Another trip out to Uwharre this weekend for ONSC's Cruisin' Carolina event. Should be a blast

 

[GLTHFJ60]

ONSC had its Cruisin' Carolina event this weekend, dedicated to Logan Monk ( RIP ). It was a hell of a time and Al ( lt1fire on mud ) did a hell of a job organizing it. I met a bunch of awesome people and got to wheel some great trails. Didn't break a single thing and all I can say is that Moonshine can CRAWL! I'm super impressed with how she performs with the wider stance and e-locker. T-case is leak free and running strong.

Here are some pictures and a video or two:

More to come in the next few days as they keep trickling in.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

Very nice flex. Your suspension is working well.

Looking forward to more.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Very nice flex. Your suspension is working well.

Looking forward to more.

Rear springs are still too stiff but I'll take out a few leaves and then it should perform like the front.

Thanks for the kind words sir, I'm pretty happy with her


Also, I forgot to mention that my tires rub badly on the front fenders, so bad that the outer lugs are all cut up from this last weekend. The fenders are going to be opened up soon.

 

[Dirtgypsy]

sweet! Dont bother with cutting the fenders just lower the bumpstops a bit.

clint

 

[brokenparts]

Kick ass man!

 

[klinetime574]

Nice!

Good to see some action again! I wanna go wheeling

Stupid concrete jungle I'm in.

 

[dirtfriendly4x4]

wow! nice trail there. a good thing to invest in SOA conversion..Makes me miss wheeling too

anyways GLTHFJ60 you got a sweet ride!!

 

[boots4]

Liking that trail and digging the vids. There's something about a white 60 that looks good on the trail.