New snow plow/project/conversation piece...

[darwink1]

Cut out the pieces for the ladder bar brackets and got them all welded together. The axle end isnt attached to the axle yet but the xmember bracket is tacked in.

Also got the radius arm wedges ground down and positioned, should be ready to tack on now.

Have to figure out where the steering box will end up and where the ps pump is gonna go. Contacted orangefj45 about his bracket so well see what happens.

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[darwink1]

Made up some gussets for the ladder bar mount and cleaned up the ladder bar and boil buckets. Threw a little tube at the axle mount bracket...

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[darwink1]

Hovercraft mode disengaged.

After measuring fifty times and then fifty more (thanks Randy) we got the axle lined up, outriggers welded on, radius arm hangers welded, coil buckets lined up and welded and the shock hoops welded. Front and rear pinion angles are set and the rear spring perches/ladder bar mounts are tacked. Still have to shorten my trac bar and make some mounts for it. Steering box needs to find a home....... s***...

Oh, got some led dotmicro somethin or other tail lights. Rev. light brake signal and marker in one.

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[darwink1]

Got the steering box mounted today. Had to cut 3/4" off of each side of the drag link to make it a little shorter and its right on now. Randall finish welded the outriggers and radius arm mounts while I drilled the holes for the ps box. I drilled a 3" hole in the ds coil bucket to clear the joint on the steering shaft as well and almost broke my fingers and hands about 15 times while doing it.. Lots of room now.

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[darwink1]

After moving the ps radius arm over a tad I decided to take some "flex" shots. Not too shabby. Also drilled some more holes in the plates I boxed the rear end of the frame with and cut off more of the old brackets on the frame. Test fitted the front fenders yesterday and with some minor cutting they should fit over the coil buckets/shock mounts/steering box. They look kinda cool with the front axle shoved forward 5", no pics tho.

Shop dog (butters) twisted her knee in the bush yesterday so progress might be slow while I play nurse. I still have to go get the rest of the steering column from the parts bj60 Ive been raping and then try and figure out how to glue everything together. Lots of fun.

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[darwink1]

So Butters tore her cruciate ligament(s) in her knee. Shes limping along tripod style and has an appointment with the surgeon thursday which is when Ill hopefully find out what to do. Shes 8 years old and even after the surgery she wont be anywhere near 100%. The recovery time alone and the risk of messing it up all over again (heavy dog/cant handle a crate...) while recovering has me thinking it may be better to let it "heal" on its own. My ex had a massive dane/lab mix that had the same injury, they let it heal w/o surgery and she was able to run half decent in the end. If surgery is gonna make a big difference then shell get it.

Sad to see her all gimped out and even sadder to know shes never gonna be biking or skiing with me again..

I did manage to mess with the fourty a little while the dog was all doped up on pain meds. Got the rest of the rear frame boxed, plated the bottom with 1/8", made a new shock tube/mounts and messed w the rear shackle angle a bit. Peetie stopped in and dicked around while I was at the vet so that was cool of him.

Also managed to get out to my buddies and grab the steering column from the parts 60 which was a bit of an adventure. Got the vag stuck to the frame rails in his back 40 in 3' of heavy assed snow not 20' away from the damn 60 lol. My buddy was home and while he cleared the snow behind me (and got his tractor stuck right behind the dodge) Sam and I diff. locked it up and winched it out. Ten minutes, 6 bolts and 2 phillips screws later I had the column..... after being stuck for an hour.

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[Gavlad]

Speedy recovery to Butters D.

Lovin your work on the plough man

Cheers

 

[apeterson]

wow nice work!

 

[darwink1]

Thanks. Butters chilled in the garage today while I wasnt grinding and such. She misses goin out there with me but with ppl stoppin by and the noise I have to leave her inside for some of the action

Yeah, panhard is one of the next things I have to tackle. Have one made up, just have to find a good spot for it.

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[ElHefe]

Sorry to hear about Butters, but you're are making some serious progress on this rig. Here's to hoping she will enjoy the rig as much as you on the maiden voyage

Those Ruff Stuff outboard kits are sexy!

 

[darwink1]

Yeah, she better enjoy it, lol.

Fish plated and finish welded and drilled some holes. Threw the tub on for kicks.

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[ElHefe]

I vote this placement.

 

[darwink1]

Yeah, Id like to keep em there but they may end up a little more centered. I want to add a couple few more tubes to the rear "bumper" and the main tube may obscure the lights a little (the main tube would run from bumperette to bumperette with a bend on each end where it meets the bumperettes. Kinda like a frown that matches the rear quarter cuts where the lights are going). That made no sense.

Anyways, the lights will probably be mounted off of the corner post I sunk into the tub. Gonna make a bracket that will act as a mount and protect the back of the lights from flying rocks.

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[ElHefe]

Kinda like a frown... That made no sense.

LOL, this. But I can visualize the concept and I'm sure it'll kick a$$. I'm digging those quarter guards already.

 

[darwink1]

Thanks.

Looking at the pic you quoted the tube would start at the end of the bumperette tube (top of the tube) to the right of my hand. It would be bent to roughly match the cutout in the rear 1/4 where the light is recessed. Couple tubes to tie it into the rear xmember...

Gotta figure out what to do today. Its either eff around with my newly borrowed bender or start hacking together a tailgate. I also need to cut out part of the plate the po welded over half of the frame vin # so I can read what the hell it is lol.

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[darwink1]

Messed around with the bender a bit today and came up with this. Pete was here for the main tube and Randall showed up and came up with the little bent tubes. I like it.

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[ElHefe]

Primo. You work fast.

What's the plan for the tub opening? Barn doors or tailgate?

 

[darwink1]

Well, I have this 83 mini tailgate that I want to chop up and turn into a 40 tailgate... Maybe some storage inside? If you look close you can see it sittin in the tub in some of the pics. I like the stamped "toyota" is the real reason. Plan to use the old barn door clamp things to keep it closed since I have two sets and either use three barn door hinges or the mini hinges.

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[darwink1]

Well butters tore her crucials and part of her knee cap... Surgery it is. At least I dont have to go down south, theres a dude that does it in Espanola which is about 50 min drive. Better than Guelph. Then laser treatments and glucosamine and weight control food and physio..... Jesus.

But if it gets her goin again so be it.

D

 

[darwink1]

Dug out the frame serial # today. It was plated over with 1/4" for the snow plow mount and all that was visible was FJ 40. Now it reads FJ 40 63837 and matches the ownership. Plated over the frame end with 1/4" to match the driver side and left a little window for the #. Still have to do a bit of clean up to make it prettier.



Cleaned up the ds a bit and cut off what was left of both front leaf spring perches.



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