My 1976 FJ40 "Kit Car"

[bikersmurf]

X2 on galvanized. Rust spreads under P.C.

I've seen your truck finished in green... Sweet truck.

 

[thecrazygreek]

Powder the frame. It looks sweet and gets in all the nooks and crannies. Won't chip. Just make sure the people doing it are pros.

 

[Senor Aguas]

Tell that to my ARB bumper that has chipped and is now starting to rust. The only way to fix it is sandblast it and start over. Powder coat is great if you never drive it.

You can paint over powdercoat. We do it 12 million times a year here where I work (OEM cast aluminum wheels). Powder primer, liquid color, powder clear is our current sandwich. Not sure the prep needed for your bumper situation. I'd rough it up with a scotch brite at least.

 

[thecrazygreek]

Powder wont chip if done correctly. And, I have painted over it, and also used a heat gun to melt new powder over a scratch.

 

[Pierps]

OP, looks like you're sparing no expense! I hope to see your rig around the area at some point.

Have you heard of the seattlecruiserheads? I've gone to a few meetings- good group of guys.

http://www.seattlecruiserheads.com/

There's a google group as well- if you subscribe to the google group, you'll get all of the emails that are going around- random BS, monthly meetings, trial runs, etc.

 

[Chamba]

Look into having the frame galvanized. I have dealt with many boat trailers here on the gulf coast and it seems like a good option. Galvanizing will also get inside the frame rails and all the hard to reach places.

x2. But wait until you have every last bit of the frame welded/modified. With the aluminum tub, a galv frame and a life in the Pac. Northwest, this rig will outlive you.

 

[BigWalker]

The 3.3 BT is a great motor, harder and harder to find and not cheap. If I could have found one instead of the 4bt i would have gone that route.

How do you like the tub & frame?

 

[FJSeattle]

OP, looks like you're sparing no expense! I hope to see your rig around the area at some point.

Have you heard of the seattlecruiserheads? I've gone to a few meetings- good group of guys.

http://www.seattlecruiserheads.com/

There's a google group as well- if you subscribe to the google group, you'll get all of the emails that are going around- random BS, monthly meetings, trial runs, etc.

I found that group from a google search, but I have made a meetup yet.

x2. But wait until you have every last bit of the frame welded/modified. With the aluminum tub, a galv frame and a life in the Pac. Northwest, this rig will outlive you.

I would love to galvanize the frame, but I am afraid that I will never every last mod done and will have to weld/modify as I progress thru the build.

With powder coat, I can scratch and win.

 

[lugueto]

Looks like an awesome project! itll be a brand new fj40 when its done (literally)

Keen to seeing how it will turn up!

 

[SSCR]

Subscribed! How hard was it to find the crate diesel? Looks like you did a shackle reversal with spacers between the frame and leaf spring hangers? Can you give us a little more info on this? Looks like it will be awesome!

 

[torfab]

This will make an amazing build, I love your idea of "simplicity" - it will make for an enjoyable cruiser. My dream would be a 3b/13bt daily driver 40 with no bolt ons or accessories. Unfortunately I don't get that much time lately to wrench on my own projects...

 

[FJSeattle]

Took the frame in for galvanizing, axles to get rebuilt and ARB stuff thrown in. Just waiting for the phone call to pick it all up.

Any recommendations on a wiring harness based on my mish mash build?

 

[FJSeattle]

Subscribed! How hard was it to find the crate diesel? Looks like you did a shackle reversal with spacers between the frame and leaf spring hangers? Can you give us a little more info on this? Looks like it will be awesome!

It was hard to find one, but eventually it was ordered direct from Cummins. They are no longer selling them, unfortunately (emissions). They will only give you a new one with a core deposit.

Aqualu made my frame based on my tire size and shackle reversal request. I needed to get as much clearance as possible with the front diff and the engine block (tight with the B3.3)

 

[fj40duge]

Holy Smokes...this is gonna be good.
Subscribed

 

[tmarx]

Subscribed !

 

[RattleCan]

Gonna be badass! Your son is gonna be lucky a lucky kid.

 

[cruiserjunkie]

One of my favorite builds cannt wait to see it finished

 

[Chamba]

Took the frame in for galvanizing, axles to get rebuilt and ARB stuff thrown in. Just waiting for the phone call to pick it all up.

Any recommendations on a wiring harness based on my mish mash build?

Painless is good for stock and common modifications like the SBC. Not sure about with the Cummins. When I put the vortec in my troopy I laid out the Tahoe harness and the stock troopy harness on my floor and spent a week blending them with what I needed and shrink-wrapping all solder connexions. After I tested it I wrapped it with a dozen rolls of electrical tape. I also put in a new blade-style fuse box. It worked trouble-free for 12 years and the new owner has still not had any trouble with it.

That's a great option if you have time and can find a stock harness (or painless) and a harness from a Cummins-equipped ride. Otherwise, making your own may be the best option; not overly difficult either, just requires time and a pedantic mindset.

 

[themuleFJ70]

Subscribed. this looks to be a cool build!

 

[FJSeattle]

Picked up the frame from Ace Galvanizing in Seattle. Drove it straight to Powder Vision for powder coating. Thanks for the tip boys.

My buddy is an electical engineer at Boeing, I am gonna see what he says.