New addition, 85 FJ60 (1 Viewer)

[darwink1]

Thanks man.

Yeah the wider axles and big tires play a big role in it feeling stable. The suspension always surprises me though, it always flexes a little more than i think it will and that helps with the tippyness too. When youre flexing it over something and you think your whole van is gonna start leaning it flexes that little bit extra and you dont get that weight transfer to the low side tire (not as soon anyways lol).

Learning to trust the van was a whole other issue. The first and really only other truck id wheeled was my 3 inch lifted tacoma on 33s. Had the 80 and i did take it out here and there but it was mainly my dd so i didnt beat it. The taco was nice and low with a long wheel base but had ifs. That s*** would lean pretty good if you got it too off camber but it was low so the effect wasnt as tippy feeling as the soad 60 which is too high lol. Once i learned how it drove it felt like a slinky compared to the tacoma though and it drives pretty good on road to boot .

D

 

[darwink1]

Gave er a bath to wash off the 1/4" of assorted dust that had accumulated over the winter. Still have the ice racing tires on there so i can get it in to the garage. Gotta look at the wheel bearings before i take it out for a real rip but otherwise it seems to run ok.

D

 

[darwink1]

Spent the day checkin/doin wheel bearings yesterday. Front ps was good but the ds was rough as fawk so it got new bearings, races, and seal. Feels a ton better now, just have to remember to check it after drivin for a bit. Plannin to pull the rear axles to double check the bearings today.

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[darwink1]

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Didnt feel like diggin into the ass end so i cheeseballed it up and plasti dipped the window trim black lol. Threw some paper towel up on the doors and roof (ran out of news paper) and didnt bother masking off the rubber trim or windows. 4 coats, some peeling and it looks pretty mint all black. Curious to see how long it lasts...

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[darwink1]

[URL=http://s818.photobucket.com/user/charlesk11charles/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20150422_085415_zpsbnd1bmg5.jpg.html] [/URL]

Wrong pic up there...

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[GLTHFJ60]

Why didn't you just pop the chrome trim off?

It does look good in black though.

 

[darwink1]

It pops off ???? Lol

Meh this junk is pretty easy to use so it wasnt a pita and i didnt want to see what was under the trim... I probably would have bent it all to s*** anyways.

D

 

[darwink1]

Fawked around a little more with the van. Front inner fenders got wire wheeled and painted, the fender skirts i made up a couple years ago are holding up good so they got cleaned and clipped back on. She's got a new serpentine belt, checked the rear wheel bearings (for nothing lol they were fine), topped off f/r diffs since the oil was mint looking and new tie rods were ordered.



Besides the tie rods i just have to check the tranny fluid and she should be good to go.

D

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Don't you love when you go to check the truck out and everything is good? It's satisfying for me.

 

[darwink1]

Yeah its pretty cool. I was just second guessing myself since i had it apart to change the wheel studs for longer ones (damn midget 14 bolt studs were shorter than.... short things that are too short...). Was nice to see the diff oil all honey like too.

Were having a little spring meet up on wednesday so im hoping to have it all buttoned up by then. I doubt the tie rods will make it in time so ill just snug mine back up and roll like that. No play in em but the boots are shredded and look nasty lol.

D

 

[darwink1]

Had a few beers in the garage last night and the van got a half assed wax job. Still shines up allright and it was nice not to have to cringe when i saw rust bubbles cause there aint none no more lol. Greased a bunch of stuff and checked the tranny and the transfer case fluid today then i took it out and threw the 40s on and went for a rip. Seems to drive ok. Rear springs feel good but its got a little rake to it now. Think i need stiffer valving in the rear shocks maybe but it does feel way better than it did with the saggy fj60 packs.

Still wanna double check my front wheel bearing and the tie rods shipped out today, otherwise it seems to be ready to go. Oh and my speedo quit lol so i have to check behind the cluster again.

A shot of the front wheel well paint and a couple night shots with the 40s since i didnt take pics earlier. Helmet doesnt look so goofy with em on..










D

 

[darwink1]

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Daylight pics...

Gotta swap tires again so i can throw it back in the garage since the tie rods came in. Oh well eh?

D

 

[darwink1]

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One more.

D

 

[darwink1]

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Got the tie rods on and painted the links while i had em off. Had to cut the relay tie rods a little shorter at the threads but otherwise it went smooth. Welded a big nut on each link to make adjusting easy.

D

 

[cruisermatt]

Time for links, coil-overs and 42's now eh?

 

[darwink1]

Noooope. Time to drive it and wheel it lol. No linking on this thing, still gotta finish the 40 (and hopefully buy an orion and an 80 ff rear diff for it). Maybe.

D

 

[darwink1]

Well, havent taken er back out of the garage yet. After doing the tie rods i double checked the front ds wheel bearings (good to go) and didnt like the play at the lower king pin. Soooo after a call to yukon i have 2 rebuild kits and 2 upgraded lower pin cap dealies on the way. Never done the kp's on this axle so im sure itll be a load of fun. Just have to track down a 7/8 allen now and i should be ready to dig in when the parts arrive.

D

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Good luck on removing the kingpin. @boots4 made a relief cut right into the kingpin right above the C to help it come out easily.

 

[cruiserpilot]

Looks great, really dig that new E brake conversion.

BTW, just curious, do you still have snow on the ground in the forest?

 

[darwink1]

Yeah ive been doin some reading and it seems the upper kp can be a pain in the ass since its tightened to 600ft/lb.. Planning to go grab either an allen key or allen socket then putting the longest pipe i have on it when its time. Well see what happens when im in there i guess.

That e brake mod was done by the po and i liked it so much i kept it on. Aaaand eldo calipers are expensive lol. Ever since my tacoma rolled out of my driveway ive been throwin a brick under the tire of any standard im driving. I wish my driveway was flat but hey.

D