my restoration start

[harle53]

Hello all, I just bought my first cruiser about a year ago and am ready to start a frame off restoration. I have restored an old mustang and a 62 Nova II but never an off road vehicle, so I had some basic questions before I start. My Cruiser is a 1968 that has has a 327 unsure of the tranny or the gearing. the body is in great shape with some visible rust in the rear quarters of the bucket. already has power steering, and front disc brakes, a few pics attached
1st: I live in San Diego so if anyone knows any good shops for paint/sandblasting with experience with cruisers
2nd:I seem to talk to some that recommend powder coating the frame and some completely against it and that recommend POR. Which one?
3rd: Suspension, I want to go with a 2.5 lift and thought about the old man emu. but not familiar enough with good lifts/suspension for the FJ40.

Just a few very basic questions, sure ill have many more throughout my adventure....I am excited.

Well sorry I am having problems attaching pics, I am also a newbie on the internet I'll get some posted as soon as I figure out the trick. Thanks

 

[Eshu Elegua]

GEt your first official salute,,, congrats its a good start with all that mods on it. If you plan to post more pictures i suggest buy a star..it will show at the left on your nickname and you can post many pictures...look on the FAQ every day and u will found many inf. i can't help on the others questions cos im a newbie also jajajaa good luck....

 

[okie]

Hello all, I just bought my first cruiser about a year ago and am ready to start a frame off restoration. I have restored an old mustang and a 62 Nova II but never an off road vehicle, so I had some basic questions before I start. My Cruiser is a 1968 that has has a 327 unsure of the tranny or the gearing. the body is in great shape with some visible rust in the rear quarters of the bucket. already has power steering, and front disc brakes, a few pics attached
1st: I live in San Diego so if anyone knows any good shops for paint/sandblasting with experience with cruisers
2nd:I seem to talk to some that recommend powder coating the frame and some completely against it and that recommend POR. Which one?
3rd: Suspension, I want to go with a 2.5 lift and thought about the old man emu. but not familiar enough with good lifts/suspension for the FJ40.

Just a few very basic questions, sure ill have many more throughout my adventure....I am excited.

Well sorry I am having problems attaching pics, I am also a newbie on the internet I'll get some posted as soon as I figure out the trick. Thanks

Congrats and good luck with your build, i took aon a frame off of a 70 about 2 years ago and am done except for the tbi i am going to be adding pretty soon.

I did powdercoating for everything , frame, seats frames, and everything in between. I wouldn't hesitate to do it again. It is extremely hard to scratch and with everyday use it still looks like when i first installed it all. When you look for powdercoaters see if you can do a base/clear ; thats what i did and it provides and even tougher and better finish. Good luck with everything!

 

[lukebz]

Pics

pics homie!!!

welcome and good luck to a fellow 68 owner!

 

[bsmith123]

pics

if you are having trouble posting pics try shrinking them down using paint. I usually go 20 percent of orig size my digi takes and make sure they are the right format like jpeg

looking forward to seeing it and maybe learning more about powder coating at home

 

[In2cruisers]

Where in Sandy Eggroll are you? There are a couple good places to get the sandblasting done. There Is R.C. Little on PCH near the marine depot. and a place along the trolly tracks around 26th (the name escapes me right now). And as far as the frame......I am partial to galv. then paint. For that your going to have to yellow page that. And OME is the way to go.

what model and yr do you have?

 

[harle53]

thank for the info I live in university heights near down town, I will be doing the restoration of my 68 FJ40 at the Auto hobby shop on the navy base near 32nd street. Good deal they have all the tools and a covered bay for as long as I need. I am going today to check out some powder coating and check out some of the guys work, still undecided on the frame...... I am trying to attach a few pics, we will see if it works.
W

 

[tlc_4play]

Hello all, I just bought my first cruiser about a year ago and am ready to start a frame off restoration.

A frame off is a lot of work, but very rewarding ~ good luck with it. Lets have some more pics.

I started my 1979 frame off with a diesel to gas engine change in mid February 2008, and I only finished it 3 1/2 weeks ago. It's a lot of hard work with plenty of midnight oil and the never healing skinned knuckles

Check mine out here https://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series-tech/224775-south-african-bj40-rebuild-into-fj40.html

 

[Mtrunner]

I'm thinking of a word that rhymes with pezel and its upside down... WELCOME!!

 

[BJEC69]

Welcome. There is a lot of info on this site, and you should be able to find answers to all of our questions. I think powdercoating is probably the way I will go. I have read it is a good choice for a daily driver, but you may want to paint if you plan to do any serious off roading. x2 on flipping your bezel before you post any more pictures. Good luck with your project, I look forward to following your build. Brendon

 

[lukebz]

Welcome

Bupsidedown Uezel

 

[landcruisers4ever]

yep your bezel is upside down, looks like a good start







almost forgot...

 

[harle53]

so I had the metal tech cage welded up and getting it powder coated as I type. I will start the venture tommarrow of slowly tearing my rig down to the frame. I am shopping for the suspension and think I have decided on the old man emu kit, but I also like the suspension kit on cool cruisers I think its called HSF or HFS, anyone have any experience with this item.
thanks for any help and Ill start posting pics of the tear down.
W

 

[In2cruisers]

thank for the info I live in university heights near down town, I will be doing the restoration of my 68 FJ40 at the Auto hobby shop on the navy base near 32nd street. Good deal they have all the tools and a covered bay for as long as I need. I am going today to check out some powder coating and check out some of the guys work, still undecided on the frame...... I am trying to attach a few pics, we will see if it works.

Hey Man, Im just up the hill in South park (up 30th).....Give me a call (I'll PM you). Im starting light resto on one of my 40s

Chris

 

[bsmith123]

lift

your rig looks like it is lifted already

I installed the HFS lift and it is good as any I suppose. still waiting to drive mine though

OME is known for a supple ride and is a quality lift also

I have heard good things about hell creek and also ALCAN

you can search for all the various opinions on those

Nice rig though and bonus on the cool winch too!

 

[harle53]

Started pulling the front clip and the bucket off yesterday, all has gone well so far. I was wondering when taking my frame in to have it sandblasted, should I remove the shock towers, they are pressed or riveted in. I am going to add some pics of the new metal tech cage and a few of my rig tonight.

 

[harle53]

updated pics

 

[71cruiser71]

those are some bad a$$ seats, you know what they are off of? kinda look like boat seats.

more pics! i wanna see the other goodies it has

 

[okie]

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did you get that powdercoated silver...looks great

 

[harle53]

did you get that powdercoated silver...looks great[/QUOTE


Its actually more of a gray, the reflection makes it look more shiny than it is, but it did turn out nice. i went back and forth on powder coating it black but I am happy with my choice.