Operation Olive, My 1975 FJ40 Ground Up Restoration

[broth9640]

He did a great job inside the frame rails. However I blew it. I didn't have enough help while unloading this thing and I dropped the rear spring perches on the ground while trying to set it on jack stands already cracked the egg! I should have just painted it. hopefully I can doctor it up so it takes a long time to ruin. Part of me just wants to send it back to the blaster and then paint it. I got impatient and made a bad decision.

 

[broth9640]

painted up my shackle bolts, but I don't like how they turned out.. Especially after I found guy here in Denver who will do plating for 120.00 for a five gallon bucket of parts. off to the plater next week with a ton of parts.

Got a nice box of Parts from Kurt over at Cruiser Outfitters. Now I just need to go get my donor axle for the Disc swap. i am also waiting on my front axle and a heap of parts from the blaster.

Cleaned up my spring and frame bushings, but the front ones look worn? the holes are a bit oval. What do you guys think?

 

[DanS HJ-45]

Replace the bushings. They will negatively affect handling being worn like that.

Looks good! I'd just tough up the scratches with paint, leave the rest of it alone.

Dan

 

[74HogGuy]

Broth: what kind of welder did you use? I'm looking to do my own welding work to replace some rocker panels and quarters and learn along the way. Any good recommendations?

 

[broth9640]

Just a basic wire feed mig welder running off 115v house current. Flux core wire with no gas . As basic as it gets. I taught myself with a book and a lot of trial and error. Read up on the tips suggested earlier in this thread. Buy a copper spoon thing to help with the burn through and I would grab a set of body panel clamps. Check Eastwood. It's not difficult to learn, but the process of prep, cutting, fitting, welding, grinding etc is very time consuming. It took me 6 months to finish my tub. I put a ton of time into it. Would have been faster to buy a tub from pilgrim and rust free too. Your call, but be aware that it is far more work than it seems. For what it's worth I enjoyed it. It's all about the learning . Good luck

 

[broth9640]

I gots some more parts in!
New HFS bumper
New rear bumpers
Had the radiator cleaned, tested and roded out
Fly wheel machined

Disappointed in how the radiator looks. He said it would be hot tanked, but it obviously wasn't . It looks like he just spray painted it dirty. I can see where it was brazzed back together. So at least that was done. I will have to strip it back down later and clean the outside up.

 

[broth9640]

Took apart my headlight cups to send off to the zink plater , but ran into these adjusting screw capture nuts made of plastic. No way to remove without breaking them .

 

[broth9640]

Ended up welding on some nuts . Off to the plater today.

 

[zags]

It's not difficult to learn, but the process of prep, cutting, fitting, welding, grinding etc is very time consuming. It took me 6 months to finish my tub. I put a ton of time into it. Would have been faster to buy a tub from pilgrim and rust free too. Your call, but be aware that it is far more work than it seems. For what it's worth I enjoyed it. It's all about the learning . Good luck

Good Job! I completely agree with you on buying a new tub. I the am currently still in bodywork hell on mine, and am hoping the satisfaction of doing it myself will offset the misery of doing all of this work when I am done.

 

[2 E L O]

Very nice build. Impressive attention to detail... Look forward to seeing your progress.

 

[overpaid slacker]

Broth - thx for the great write up / pics. I am learning a great deal from your restore. Going thru the same gig with my 76 FJ just north of you in Boulder County. Will be installing new quarter panels nest week. Thus far I am having a great deal of difficultly trying to adapt a 4bt cummins into my build.

please keep up the updates and excellent work!

 

[broth9640]

Looks like I have some painting to do! A mountain of parts are back from the blaster

 

[broth9640]

Unwrapping stuff from the powder coater is kinda like Christmas !

 

[74HogGuy]

Broth: what do you think about the CCOT front bumper? I was thinking about putting that one on mine. Heavy duty? Thanks - JP

 

[broth9640]

Yeah it's really stout and very heavy! I like it !

 

[broth9640]

Getting my painting on! Ran out of paint! Crap!

 

[KY Longhunter]

Broth looks great!

I love my HFS except for the Powdercoating job. It has spider web cracks all over it. I called CCOT and they said sorry bout your luck!

 

[Glacierskier]

Looking great! Can I ask who you are using for blasting and powder coating in the Denver area?

 

[SSCR]

What are you spraying your rear end and springs with? Looks great!

 

[broth9640]

I use blast tech for the media blasting. They do a great job, but it isn't cheap. They have a powder coater that they recommend called Taint Paint. He is locate in Colorado springs, but he picks your stuff up from blast tech on Thursday's and then returns it for pickup the following Thursday. He is really reasonable compared to everyone else I called. Most wanted 500.00 for the frame and I paid about 275.00 I would definitely recommend both.
Blast Tech 303-806-9992