Newbie 73 FJ 40 build

[Toast]

Put my tub back on the frame today to check for clearances and measurements. Once i weld in my engine mounts and make sure everything fits right i will pull it back off and begin the long process of my tub resto.......yeay cant wait

 

[Toast]

So i havnt posted pics because when i was knee deep in frustration i forgot to take pics..... so basically i pulled my engine tranny back out to start my engine mounts...... it was a pinta to get that thing where i wanted it and i broke my distributor cap

 

[Toast]

Ok, so i have been working hard on trying to get my block in perfect so that my tranny doesnt hit my heater and so far, i havnt gotten far. my pics show where i am currently at and i really dont know where to go from here. Ive used the search engine and have come up with nothing. Anyone out there have my same setup (sbc/sm420/3spd t-case)? I really dont want my block to have to rest against my fire wall or my shifter against my heater......


PLEASE HELP

 

[Toast]

Ok, so after spending 5 hours tonight, I discovered some things that really pissed me off, some things that discouraged me, and some things that I am unsure of. First off I am using an old AA SM 420 to 3spd t case adapter that is about 2 in thick, but it actually takes my t-case and rotates it clock wise about 1/2 in. That doesnt sound like a lot but makes my rear cross member stick way up. Anyone ever use this adapter??? Im pissed about this! Im either gonna have to notch the holes or scrap the cross member all together and go with a different one. Next is my vertical measurement issue. My engine does not sit high what so ever, yet my tranny and t-case seem to droop and sag in order to fit well under my tub. Am i doing something wrong? I feel that my rear cross member to outdated and obsolete. It too, is an old AA unit. Im at my wits end. Im very discouraged and ready to throw the towel in. Any help is MUCH appreciated. Check my height between my balancer and my pumpkin. Does this look ok?

 

[Toast]

I kinda made up these mounts for my sbc and wanted some feedback on how well they look. Do they look strong enough? Will they hold up to abuse? Thanks everyone!

 

[Toast]

Im at my whits end with this build and im ready to throw in the towel. Thinking about scrapping this build due to lack of money, skill and help...

 

[broth9640]

Im at my whits end with this build and im ready to throw in the towel. Thinking about scrapping this build due to lack of money, skill and help...

Suck it up! Come on now! Lack of skill?? Not from what I can see. Help? Well I have had no help except here on mud. Ok I have had a few buddies help me lift the tub, but that is it. I didn't even know how to weld! No money? Well welcome to the club! We all have that problem. This build is going to take some time. Walk away for a few days and give it a rest. Surf mud for some inspiration and possibly some great ideas to solve your technical problems. Until then take some more pictures for us all to drool over and stop acting like a quiter because I know your not one. If you were to quit you would be pissing away a lot of money,time and effort. Your halfway there. Stop your build looks bad as5!
,
Brian

 

[Cdaniel]

Not sure what to say other than take a deep breath, or if your in over your head don't bang it on the wall anymore.

I don't think your axle to balancer distance is too bad depending on your suspension travel.

Your shifter to heater clearance may be unavoidable with the sm420. My heater has a notch there from the P.O. install of a V8 with the Toyota 4sp and AA bell housing, head rubbing the firewall. I filed the corner off of the head for a temporary fix.

Not sure what's up with your other drive train mounts. Pics would help.

Your motor mounts look solid

Automotive custom modification is never like the 1/2 hr. TV gear head shows where everything just bolts right in. Rework and rethink is part of the game. I've got similar issues on my project after realizing my newly relocated drive train is probably going to have to move again due to drive shaft angle in the rear. I forgot to figure in the offset in the horizontal plane. :whoops:

If you don't have the patience for the back steps it's time to cut your losses. Or calm down and see it through. Sometimes walking away from it for a while gives me some clarity on frustrating problems.

And if you're on some self imposed deadline. Give it up!

 

[Toast]

Broth9640, Thank you for your motivation! I spent the past hour reading your entire build for some motivation and i think im ready to jump back in. I just got so upset and frustrated with my build and had no one to help me out. I appreciate it. And Cdaniel, Thanks for being the only one to affirm my questions and concerns. Much appreciated guys

 

[Cdaniel]

Broth9640, Thank you for your motivation! I spent the past hour reading your entire build for some motivation and i think im ready to jump back in. I just got so upset and frustrated with my build and had no one to help me out. I appreciate it. And Cdaniel, Thanks for being the only one to affirm my questions and concerns. Much appreciated guys

You're not alone. There's plenty of help here on mud if you have the time to find it. It can take a while to get an answer sometimes. Not everyone is glued to the forum 24/7 to reply in real time. Also the recent holiday gap could make it seem like no one cares. Sometimes I gather a few days worth of responses to a question to sort the experts form the jokers and idiots and see if there is some consensus on something.

Otherwise search, search, search, and read!
It's a marathon, you'll get there

 

[waiting for time]

Nice job you're doing.
I know the feeling, sometimes you feel like no one is reading your tread and you wonder why you keep posting. And then yhe questions are not answerd.

Just hang in there and it will be on the road, if not this year then the next.

You might want to gusset the motor mounts just in case.

 

[JohnnyC]

....trying to get my block in perfect so that my tranny doesnt hit my heater and so far,......my pics show where i am currently at and i really dont know where to go from here. .....I really dont want my block to have to rest against my fire wall or my shifter against my heater......


PLEASE HELP

you may want to heat up the shifter to a nice cherry red and bend to clear the heater...you may have to make a canvas shifter boot so its not thick then.

I had to bend my transfer shifter to make it work for me with the limited parts i had to work with

pic

 

[Cdaniel]

How 'bout some pics of those troublesome adapters?

 

[Toast]

SO! After a few weeks of being down in the gutter about my frustrating project and feeling alone without any help, ALL my good friends teamed up and knocked out ALL my problems in 1 day!
SO cdaniel here is a pic of my pesky adapter but everything is worked out with it! But thank you so very much for showing concern, its much appreciated.

So my best friends, Tom, Connor and Ray showed up today unexpected with an 18 pack and eager to work, so, we worked.

To solve my rear cross member issue i had my buddy Kieth, who actually sold me the rig, plasma the cross member's arms off so that I could re-weld them in the correct level position.

We simplified the process of getting my entire drive-train in the correct spot by marking some areas and pulling the tub back off which helped ALOT! We had to tap the firewall in on the corner to achieve ample room for the corner of the head, and I got my dad (who kept bailing on me) to finally come out and help by bending my shifter for me so that it cleared my heater box

So once all of that was said and done with we mached up my rear cross member and tacked it in, along with my engine mounts (again, now the 3rd time) and took the tub back off to do all the finish welding. Just before i thought things couldn't be going any better, Kieth shows up to do all my finish welding for me!! I asked for help and help had arrived ( and with more beer )
So this just goes to show me and everyone else out there that even when things get rough you just gotta hang in there and they will work themselves out sooner or later

 

[Toast]

Here is my adapter with my modified cross member and my final engine mounts with added gussets

 

[Toast]

 

[waiting for time]

Nice job, like the gussets.

 

[Cdaniel]

Cool! You've got good friends, usually I would have to supply the beer to have a crew come by.;p

One observation, get your parking brake and drive shaft installed and make sure it clears the round crossmember in the rear. Mine was relocated with the SM465, but my trans to case adapter is longer.

Keep at it!

 

[broth9640]

Dude! I knew you weren't a quitter! Wow your moving quickly now. I wish I had my chassis ready to go looking good like that. I wish I had friends like yours! Mine don't bring beer and they don't have those kind of skills so I spend the whole time baby sitting them or redoing their work. I am impressed !!!! I do have a question about your engine mounts. It looks as if the bolt will bear a majority of the stress. Perhaps just the angle of the picture. What is the strength of the bolt? Shear strength? I suppose it won't be enduring a huge amount of load, but just curious. I have never fabricated something like this before so just curious. Not at all saying what you have is a problem. Keep truckin! As far as the money problem....well I have my project on hold at the moment due to this. Time will work that problem out. I just have to find other things to do until the money flows again. Things like cleaning up my wiring harness. Not looking forward to that! Anyways enough of my complaining! Keep up the good work, really glad you prevailed over the frustration. I will be watching

 

[Toast]

Cdaniel, everything looks good. I put the parking brake on and there are absolutely no problems . And yes I couldn't ask for better buddies, they are awesome! broth9640, thank you for all your inspiration, YOU are what kicked my ass in gear and for that i am truly grateful. Some of my friends are very talented but it just took them a little bit to get to me is all. Thanks for everyone's support!!!! (Oh and ditto to you dude! I wish my tub looked like yours )