Builds My First Landcruiser: 78' Frame Off Resofication

[Hugh Heifer]

Did I ask this already? I don't know. Did you have your axles and springs powder coated too? If not what? Did you take the spring packs apart for their treatment?

 

[jackbrad]

Looks really nice. Where did the tie rods come from?

 

[90 Weight]

Did I ask this already? I don't know. Did you have your axles and springs powder coated too? If not what? Did you take the spring packs apart for their treatment?

Yes, the springs and axles were sandblasted and powdercoated. I did take the spring packs apart though...

Looks really nice. Where did the tie rods come from?

The tie rod came from MAF, it was the 4+ brand. Same with the relay rod. "Extreme duty 4+ Tie rod and relay rod" The tie rod came painted black, and the relay rod came bare metal, so you can paint/powdercoat really easily. I painted it red, and then put a high temp clear coat over it so that if it gets scratched or hit, the red doesnt chip, the clear coat just gets smudged.

 

[90 Weight]

The MESS

 

[90 Weight]

YAY

THE WIRING IS NEARLY DONE...Today I hooked up the battery and tested everything I have hooked up so far....NO BLOWN FUSES! I was really excited when everything worked the way it was supposed to. I cant take all of the credit tho- Bob, from aqualu industries (alumacruiser) gave me alot of advice and help over the phone. Thanks Bob.

Yesterday we started to set in the gas tank, but ran out of time. Tonight the goal is to get the gas tank in with the lines run.

Yesterday we sat down with my painter, and figured out a goal to have it finished-that is on the road and everything on my end finished, ready to be driven to the painter. We decided that 3 weeks was plenty to get it finished. It will be somewhat of a rush, but as long as things go smoothly we should make it.

More pics.

This is why the garage is so dusty...first decent snow of the season...proved to be pretty cold out, so we did all of the sanding, and grinding in the garage.


Once all of the old bondo had been stripped down...


One of my buddies Eric, voulenteered to bondo the fenders for me, so that the painter could spend his time makeing sure the body was in show room finish quality.

 

[90 Weight]

the result of grinding the bondo out, while the garage door wasnt open...


WHAT A MESS

 

[90 Weight]

 

[okie]

The MESS



View attachment 103851

oooooo that looks HOT

 

[my64fj40]

That rear tank is the one MAF sells right??

I ordered mine about a week or so ago, I think I may be on a waiting list for them.

How do you like it??

 

[Hugh Heifer]

View attachment 105617

Ahhh. Guys watching Bondo dry.

 

[Volunteer]

Nice job. And I know about bondo dust. Just don't breathe to much of that stuff it'll clog you up. With all that hard work why cut it short and fill those fenders full of bondo. Source some decent used ones or order new. With your new tub, using some fenders banged up and full of bondo just don't seem fair to your project.

 

[90 Weight]

That rear tank is the one MAF sells right??

I ordered mine about a week or so ago, I think I may be on a waiting list for them.

How do you like it??

It seems to be a really good fit....Obviously I havent fired it up yet, but sofar it seems great. Pretty Heavy. It was kinda a bioch to get in, because we had a tiny jack but if you have a decent floor jack and some good metal bits, it should be cake. I was very pleased with the accessories it came with. Need nothing other than a drill and a jack.

Nice job. And I know about bondo dust. Just don't breathe to much of that stuff it'll clog you up. With all that hard work why cut it short and fill those fenders full of bondo. Source some decent used ones or order new. With your new tub, using some fenders banged up and full of bondo just don't seem fair to your project.

Tru true. At this point the budget has hit and gone way beyond the limit. The thougth behind the bondo is as follows...We can make em look decent, and then within the next year I will be able to afford new ones and just use the leftover paint to have them painted.

 

[90 Weight]

Last night was a good night.....I finished the wiring! Only one problem that is soon to be fixed. But it is definatley a noticable difference. Now the dash looks somewhat clean. No more wires. Also the gas tank is now mounted and the lines are run. Today, I will pick up my exhaust manifolds from the powdercoater and mount them. After 4pm my engine help shows up and hopefully by 10 his evening we will be firin her up.

 

[apeterson]

cant wait to see if you guys get it running.... post up pics!!

 

[90 Weight]

IM RAGING PISSED!!!!!!

So this last week we have been pushing hard to get it ready to be fired up. Last night that opportunity posed itself....Pressed the start button and......NOTHING everything works...but the engine wont crank....guess wat? The bran spankin new motor Jegs sent me is SEIZED! well.maybe...three options as we see it (three garage mechanics and a certified one) either the new motor came seized, or, the new motor sat for a while so the seals began to set, so we need to pull the plugs and try to see if we can get it to turn manually, or the tranny is seized and we need to get a new one....The tranny is freshly rebuilt as of 1500 miles ago, and worked when we pulled it apart. It has no fluid in it, but that shouldnt have any bearing on if the motor turns over. The starter is working fine, so we figured out it was siezed by tryint to crank on it manually and after full human force was put on it, it doesnt turn...atall.

Im not sure what to hope out of this whole situation, the motor is warrantied through Jegs and GM, and so I called Jegs and they said that my local GM dealer would fix it or make the call if it needed to be replaced.

Im about to start looking into the price of a new tranny...if I have to go that rout, might as well uprgade from the TH350 to a 700R4 with overdrive or something.

Eitherway, Im over budget out of time, and FxxxED.

Ill let you guys know later today once we pull the tranny if its the motor seizing or the tranny seizing it...

 

[jackbrad]

That is a bummer man..

You are moving right along with your build though. Nice to see someone able to make quick progress.

I understand the frustration.... happens to us all. Hang in there... I am rooting for you.

 

[my64fj40]

I really doubt it is a tranny problem..
And if your over budget and I'm not sure I would be looking into a new tranny.


I hope you get it going

 

[90 Weight]

Ok so we are all jacked up ready to pull out the last tranny bolt...just thought I would throw in an update. At this point we believe that the tranny was put into the tourqe converter the wrong way, so the tranny pump might be ruined.

 

[90 Weight]

Ok so its official, the motor is fxxxed. First off, we have the mystery problem of it being so damn hard to turn over....takes nearly all of my strength to turn the flex plate. Secondly no oil is pumping up to the heads....wierd. Ne how its their problem to fix. Tmrow we will take it down to local GM and beg for them to send in a new one ASAP.

Someone needs to loose their job in the quality control dept.

 

[apeterson]

sorry to hear... hang in there.. it looks great!!!