Project Mini Me

[audaciousduo]

Yea, i've got to do the same thing with the seats in mine. The CDM seats are bagged out and JDM ones I bought are completely difference on the underside. Let me know what you come up with.

Will do, I'll post some pic's. If you have both sets it may be possible to take the covers off the new ones and put them on the old seats. I've done that before with 60's cars I've restored. All you need is a a set of hog ring pliers, new hog rings and some patience. It wasn't easy but with time and patience you can stretch a gnats arse over a rain barrel.

 

[audaciousduo]

Dash!

Well is went against my very core being red blooded Alberta born and raised but I've gone from right to left. Thank God only in the motoring world. The dash is done save for some stereo and CB wiring I need to finish. Now all I need is a set of LHD brown kick panels so I can access the fuse box now that its on the proper side of the truck. Anyone have some they are willing to part with?

 

[bj70_guy]

Well is went against my very core being red blooded Alberta born and raised but I've gone from right to left.

 

[gifu]

this is an inspiration. I do plan on doing this to my BJ74 someday... but I think I will have a heck of a time. So far the parts I have are: the dash.

That means lots of fab work. Pedal hangers (mini truck? FJ60? EDIT: mini truck IFS box should work.), dash support, wiring (maybe convert to 12-volt?), steering (what steering box can I use?... I thought FJ60, but the pitman faces forward instead of backward), HVAC (couple guys have used a hot-rod AC set up running through stock vents).

It's a lot of work... but compared to total frame-off restorations like the FJ40 crowd does... I don't think it will be that bad. My fear is getting half way through and realizing I'm in way over my head!

anyway, thanks for photo documenting everything. This gives me lots of ideas.

 

[audaciousduo]

this is an inspiration. I do plan on doing this to my BJ74 someday... but I think I will have a heck of a time. So far the parts I have are: the dash.

That means lots of fab work. Pedal hangers (mini truck? FJ60? EDIT: mini truck IFS box should work.), dash support, wiring (maybe convert to 12-volt?), steering (what steering box can I use?... I thought FJ60, but the pitman faces forward instead of backward), HVAC (couple guys have used a hot-rod AC set up running through stock vents).

It's a lot of work... but compared to total frame-off restorations like the FJ40 crowd does... I don't think it will be that bad. My fear is getting half way through and realizing I'm in way over my head!

anyway, thanks for photo documenting everything. This gives me lots of ideas.

Its not as daunting as it looks. Labour intensive but straight forward. Feel free to get ahold of me when you start your conversion. Hopefully I'll remember the answers to the questions

 

[ForealBoreal]

this is an inspiration. I do plan on doing this to my BJ74 someday... but I think I will have a heck of a time. So far the parts I have are: the dash.

That means lots of fab work. Pedal hangers (mini truck? FJ60? EDIT: mini truck IFS box should work.), dash support, wiring (maybe convert to 12-volt?), steering (what steering box can I use?... I thought FJ60, but the pitman faces forward instead of backward), HVAC (couple guys have used a hot-rod AC set up running through stock vents).

It's a lot of work... but compared to total frame-off restorations like the FJ40 crowd does... I don't think it will be that bad. My fear is getting half way through and realizing I'm in way over my head!

anyway, thanks for photo documenting everything. This gives me lots of ideas.

Import your self a beaten up 70 series thats legal and rip it apart for parts and sell the rest of the stuff
My dads got a bj70 that is just sitting.....
Completely open to offers. he knows its just going to get flogged off.

 

[gifu]

cool. thanks. PM sent.

 

[audaciousduo]

Import your self a beaten up 70 series thats legal and rip it apart for parts and sell the rest of the stuff
My dads got a bj70 that is just sitting.....
Completely open to offers. he knows its just going to get flogged off.

I agree completely. There are a lot of parts that don't swap over. A Canadian 70 will save you a fortune in the end. Part out what you don't need.

 

[audaciousduo]

Well the rear 71 harness wont jive with the front 70 harness. I'm glad I kept the old wiring. I had to pull the inside panels to change out the wiring and still can't get over how rust free they are compared to the rust bucket Canadian Models.

 

[audaciousduo]

Moving along.

Well, I spent hours and hours with a scotch bright pad and degreaser scrubbing the dirtiest engine bay I've ever seen. Grease, oil, diesel fuel and tons of over spray from painting the frame over and over in Japan made for sore finger tips. Finally it's all painted and ready for the 3B. I put the inserts into the frame for the steering box. I threaded a thin wire through the bolt hole, then through the insert, up through the frame and out the other bolt hole. I had to cut a small notch in the insert with a thin kerf cut off wheel on both sides so the wire didn't bind while being weaseled into place. I tacked it on both sides once it was lined up. If I had it to do again I'd drill out all the bolt holes to the out side diameter of the insert and weld the buggers in solid as the way I did it was a royal pain. At any rate, I'm hoping to finish off the plumbing and build a couple of heavy duty battery holders for the two oversized 1100 CCA batteries I'm installing before putting the 3B in. I hope to have the 3B in before Christmas. The picture on the left is mid way through scrubbing the right inner fender, the whole engine bay was covered with over spray. The stuff they spray on the frames in Japan is like tar? What a pain to get off but it works very well for rust prevention.

 

[gifu]

this is a silly question, but what do the pedal hangers bolt to? are they separate clutch/brake hangers? are the pedals severly different from the RHD to LHD?

I ask... because as much as a LHD 70 would make my life easy... it's going to blow the budget. I'll have to rely on my fabrication skills for many of these things. I have a dash... and...uhm... that's it.

 

[Granite Grinder]

I found some DOM tubing that was a perfect ID for the power steering box bolts, drilled the frame holes to the OD and burnt them in. I know you enjoy doing things the hard way Dave

 

[HEMIDOG]

Nice work on the conversion. I just find it amusing that here in Australia we have a whole industry based on converting LHD vehicles from the US to RHD and here are you doing the opposite.
Great build up.
Mat

 

[audaciousduo]

this is a silly question, but what do the pedal hangers bolt to? are they separate clutch/brake hangers? are the pedals severly different from the RHD to LHD?

I ask... because as much as a LHD 70 would make my life easy... it's going to blow the budget. I'll have to rely on my fabrication skills for many of these things. I have a dash... and...uhm... that's it.

There is a stamped sheet metal bracket that is spot welded on. In one of the previous pictures you can see the RHD one I had to remove by drilling out the spot welds. The LHD one is a different stamping. The pedals are different as well. They have a bend in them in opposite directions and mount differently. I don't know about all RHD trucks but the clutch booster was inside the fire wall on my 71 and it's outside the fire wall on the 70. If your going to try the conversion I kept the front faces of the fire wall to use as templates if I decide to do another one of these. Depending on where you are your welcome to borrow them.

 

[audaciousduo]

I found some DOM tubing that was a perfect ID for the power steering box bolts, drilled the frame holes to the OD and burnt them in. I know you enjoy doing things the hard way Dave

In hind sight thats what I should have done. Much much easier. Sometimes I have to keep myself in check, it's not a numbers matching 70 Hemi Cuda. I just have to keep repeating the mantra "4x4 not ferrari".

 

[audaciousduo]

Nice work on the conversion. I just find it amusing that here in Australia we have a whole industry based on converting LHD vehicles from the US to RHD and here are you doing the opposite.
Great build up.
Mat

I can't imagine doing this on a North American vehicle that was never designed as a RHD tons of fabricating.

 

[gifu]

Oh oh... another question. I suspect I know the answer... BUT, is it possible to do this work without pulling the engine? I suppose it'd have to be either fenders or engine. My engine is a PAIN to pull thanks to the ginormous front bumper/PTO.

 

[audaciousduo]

Oh oh... another question. I suspect I know the answer... BUT, is it possible to do this work without pulling the engine? I suppose it'd have to be either fenders or engine. My engine is a PAIN to pull thanks to the ginormous front bumper/PTO.

Maybe, It would be tight getting a mig in there unless you welded the fire wall from the inside and seam sealed the engine bay. It would look like hell though. I would say your right, remove the fenders or pull the motor, either is work. The worst welding is still under the cowl on the inside. I still have the third nipple scar from that adventure. Still easier than swapping complete fire walls or foot wells in my opinion.

 

[audaciousduo]

Battery Trays

I'm going to be mounting two 1100 CCA batteries and decided I should build the hangers before I throw the old 3B back in. I thought it would only take an hour or so. What a pain but they are done! Old washers from body mounts work great for the seats.

 

[audaciousduo]

Getting Close

I had a good day and got a ton done! The 3B is in with two new engine mounts. The hydraulics are plumbed a and bled. The LHD steering box is in and needs bleeding when I get it running. The drive shafts are bolted up and the exhaust is done despite having to cut and weld two front pipes together. I'm busy for the next three weeks but another good weekend and I should have her running again!