my 40 history in pics

[BionicCruiser]

well, we got a new computer and printer. the printer has a scanner in it. so i scanned in some old pics of my 40. here's when i first bought in 1994. and then 1 year later when i put lift springs on it. yes those are mighty big 31" tires on it.

 

[Beowulf]

Will it have new shoes before the fall Moab trip?
-Mike-

 

[BionicCruiser]

one 7 months later, when i upgraded to 33" tires (still had a hard top then).

 

[BionicCruiser]

and 2 from Feb of 1998. 5 months before i moved to New Mexico. this is why i call it project Bionic. it's being built back from this.

 

[BionicCruiser]

Will it have new shoes before the fall Moab trip?
-Mike-

it won't have the size i want. the question is, do i go buy 1 in the current size to keep it on the road for Moab, or do i start saving for the new size and gears. the $200 for the current size tire will pay for a gear set.

 

[Ruadhrigh]

and 2 from Feb of 1998. 5 months before i moved to New Mexico. this is why i call it project Bionic. it's being built back from this.

So what is the story behind this carnage? Great thread by the way.

 

[slimbuddha]

what size of tire do you currently have on it? I have a 285/75/16 Wrangler AT that I am going to sell, you are welcome to it as a stop-gap until you get new tires.

 

[BionicCruiser]

So what is the story behind this carnage? Great thread by the way.

Valentine's Day. i had been wheeling, camping, backpacking for a week with a friend (he was in his FJ40). we were coming back a day early and i was going to surprise Jill by showing up a day early with flowers on V Day. on the graded dirt road home i was going too fast on a corner, touched the brakes and lost the back end. recovered, but off the road at 35 mph. i turned back onto the road and lost the bead on the driver front tire, rolling 1.75 times (my friend was watching from his 40 and swears it was a 2.75 roll). we pulled it back onto it's wheels, changed the tire and i drove it home.
i switched out the fenders, hood and winshield frame, threw out the hard top and most of the brushguard and have been driving/building it since.

slimbuddha- what size of tire do you currently have on it? I have a 285/75/16 Wrangler AT that I am going to sell, you are welcome to it as a stop-gap until you get new tires.

i have 36" swampers. going to 39.5" Iroks. with the tire issue, Jill wants to go somewhere she would enjoy more. we'll probably do that.

 

[Ruadhrigh]

This thread needs an update. What else you got?

 

[BionicCruiser]

This thread needs an update. What else you got?

i'll work on it in a couple days, i go to work tomorrow. gotta earn a living some time.

 

[BionicCruiser]

ok, as requested. year of 1999 added a roll cage and replaced fender flares. in 2000, i put on dual spare tires using an older FJ40 passenger side spare mount, then added Toyota mini truck power steering.

 

[BionicCruiser]

April 2000 new custom bumper. spring 2001 added a soft top from Wendy's 40. Dec 2001 i was putting in a SM465 transmission. this is it after i rebuilt it.

 

[BionicCruiser]

another of the rebuilt trans. the 40 getting prepped for install. and the adapter for the tcase shifter.

 

[BionicCruiser]

that shifter was my first ever attempt at custom fabrication. i made the backing mounting plate and modified the angle piece from the stock shifter bracket.

April of 2002 i did a SOA for Cruise Moab. yes about a week before leaving. we did Hi-steer, a trac bar and i made a custom tie rod and drag link at the same time.

 

[BionicCruiser]

more of the SOA.

 

[BionicCruiser]

put on new rims and tires then too.

after Moab i discovered that the front tires hit the fenders badly...so i cut them off. gotta love the sawzall!
i then wanted swing out half doors for the rear and made some using my old rear ambulance doors. i modified the latches and cut them down. they are still working today.

 

[BionicCruiser]

March 2003 saw a change in the rear set up. the kids were getting bigger and i needed room in the back. with the help of Tim Manes, i made up a cooler rack and spare tire rack.

this is like a FJ40 build that Beo won't be bored with! it moves much faster this way.