Project: "Not going to do a frame off" Frame Off (2 Viewers)

[nicholastheczar]

Thanks Steve, I CANNOT wait to drive it! I would like to try and have it running by the end of May, but we will see how that goes. I did use 2x4x 3/16" and it worked well, not to bulky looking IMO.

Awesome work Nick. You are jambing! Way ahead of me!

What did you make your rear bumper from? Is that 2x4? 3/16"?

Steve

I'm also working on a rework of the center of the dash for a new pod / guage / switch cluster that will fit between the existing gauge cluster and the glove box. Here is what I am thinking and here is the thread on it.
https://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series-tech/369723-dash-mock-up-input-needed.html

Nick

 

[chicago]

I bought the split loom from Home Depot, it was on sale. I looked online and I didn't feel I needed to buy a entire roll of the stuff. But looking back on it, I've ended up using more of it than I thought.

When I bought the truck my MC looked shot. I read up on several different brake threads and it seemed the porportioning valve was necissary to get your brakes dialed in.
https://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series-tech/152126-rear-disc-brakes-2.html

Originally the passenger seat was a different height than the drivers seat to make room for the gas tank. I made the craddle about 1/2" higher than my tank. It makes the entire craddle the same height. I'll measure it when I get home and give you the overall height. All in all if I had to guess, I would say the drivers seat is probably 1" higher than stock, but it is a good height and fits me well as it sits up to my new steering column.

nick

Cool!
I didnt read that you had done the RDB conversion...sorry i missed that!
I might steal some of your ideas on the seat cradle. With my dual case set up, I wont have room with the stock cradle for the shifters they way they are ending up. Then there is the trans hump mods that needed to be done...

One thing leads to another!

Thanks for the info!

Keith

 

[CruisinFJ60]

really making some head way with this

 

[nicholastheczar]

Cool!
I didnt read that you had done the RDB conversion...sorry i missed that!
I might steal some of your ideas on the seat cradle. With my dual case set up, I wont have room with the stock cradle for the shifters they way they are ending up. Then there is the trans hump mods that needed to be done...

One thing leads to another!

Thanks for the info!

Keith

Keith -

I measured the frame on my seats and from the floor board to the very top of my frame measures exactly 7 7/8". From the floor board to where the seat is mounted onto a piece of 3/8" plate steel (mounted underneath 1x1 square tubing) measures 6 7/8". Hope this helps. My gas tank measures 7 1/4" from the floor to the top of the tank.

really making some head way with this

Thanks man. I hope to try and crank it sometime in the next couple of months, but we will see what lies ahead!

Nick

 

[CruisinFJ60]

Keith -

I measured the frame on my seats and from the floor board to the very top of my frame measures exactly 7 7/8". From the floor board to where the seat is mounted onto a piece of 3/8" plate steel (mounted underneath 1x1 square tubing) measures 6 7/8". Hope this helps. My gas tank measures 7 1/4" from the floor to the top of the tank.



Thanks man. I hope to try and crank it sometime in the next couple of months, but we will see what lies ahead!

Nick

awesome man, also diggin the dash layout you have set up above there, i usually dont like that kinda thing but the way you have it looks just really clean.

 

[nicholastheczar]

I've made some more progress. Got my painless wiring harness 90% installed. I have brake lights! Its the first time since I've owned it that I have had any kind of light that worked in it so I am very excited. Blinkers, running lights, taillights, headlights, etc all work. Still have to double check my horn to get it functioning properly. I installed a battery cut off switch under my tuffy box and plan on putting a switch for my fuel pump inside my tuffy box for security. I also bought a painless TBI wiring harness and am in the process of installing that right now. I'm going to run by the pick and pull in the morning and see if I can't get what I need to get my serpentine setup finished. Lots of projects to finish but I am actually getting pretty close to cranking it up. Pictures to come.

Nick

 

[CruisinFJ60]

i was excited to get my dome light working, so i can only imagine how happy you must be, i cant wait to see this thing in person nick!

 

[CruisinFJ60]

oh, and on the dash layout the only thing i can think to change (and i just thought of it) would be to move the cig lighter location and maybe put it in the place of the reverse light indicator and either do away with the indicator all together for the reverse lights or to swap places with them. only reason being is for charging purposes of like your phone or whatever else have you so you can set it into the center console, or a passenger can use it easier ect.

 

[nicholastheczar]

I know how you feel. To actually see it work like it was suppose to was very rewarding. Now I'm just trying to figure out my TBI harness.

i was excited to get my dome light working, so i can only imagine how happy you must be, i cant wait to see this thing in person nick!

I'm reworking my dash layout. I'm going to take it from 4 to 2 gauges and rearrange some of the buttons and placements. There are vents on the backside of the dash that I think feed my defroster and they would be in the way of the gauges. I may try to create something that hides the CB behind the ashtray and keep somewhat of an original look. We'll see though.

oh, and on the dash layout the only thing i can think to change (and i just thought of it) would be to move the cig lighter location and maybe put it in the place of the reverse light indicator and either do away with the indicator all together for the reverse lights or to swap places with them. only reason being is for charging purposes of like your phone or whatever else have you so you can set it into the center console, or a passenger can use it easier ect.

 

[CruisinFJ60]

definitely interested to see what you come up with.

 

[fj40charles]

Nice job on the rebuild. It is looking very nice!!!!

 

[nicholastheczar]

Thanks a bunch. Can't wait to drive it to one of the meetings in the near future.

Nice job on the rebuild. It is looking very nice!!!!

 

[nicholastheczar]

Hit another HUGE milestone, finally got the engine to crank and run!!! It took me a couple days of cranking on it, checking my spark, fuel delivery, timing, and then compression check to realize that two of my rockers were tighten down just a tad to much to keep the valves from compressing properly. So, backed them off and fired her up! I was way excited. Link to my troubleshooting the TBI:
https://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series-tech/376899-sbc-tbi-troubleshooting.html

Also a link to priming the engine and what not to use and what works better:
https://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series-tech/376412-engine-pre-crank.html

Here are a few shots after the TBI was installed. I still have wiring to clean up, now that I know it is working properly. I don't have my o2 sensor hooked up because I don't have any pipes to hook it to. Hopefully that will be next week.

I mounted the ECM in the glovebox. Should be out of the way of weather, feet, kids, etc.

Wiring mess. Time to start cleaning up the wiring rats nest.

 

[nicholastheczar]

Here's a video of it cranking up and running!!! Runs pretty smooth considering I just plugged everything in and don't have an o2 sensor installed.

YouTube - FJ40 Start1

 

[fjkev]

Not sure if I like this thread or not!!! There will be so much more work for mine when I get it back from the shop. didn't want to do a frame of restoration but this thread might inspire me to do so. My wife will not be happy with loosing her garage space

Looks like you will have something to be proud of when done!!

Kevin

 

[chicago]

RAD bro!
I friggin CAN NOT WAIT to be where you are at!

Nice job!

K

 

[nicholastheczar]

Not sure if I like this thread or not!!! There will be so much more work for mine when I get it back from the shop. didn't want to do a frame of restoration but this thread might inspire me to do so. My wife will not be happy with loosing her garage space

Looks like you will have something to be proud of when done!!

Kevin

I hear ya! I didn't plan on doing a complete frame off (as the title of my build thread implies) but it just kind of happened. As much as I want to drive the thing, I'm glad I took it all the way down to the frame. I've learned SO much about the 40 and without doing this I would not have the understanding that I have now.

RAD bro!
I friggin CAN NOT WAIT to be where you are at!

Nice job!

K

Thanks man! I've been watching yours, and your not too far behind me. I hope to get this thing streetable in a couple weeks. Just need to finish the brakes, steering, driveshaft, ... and ... you get the idea!

Nick

 

[nicholastheczar]

I've got a few more things done that I forgot to post pics of. I went by Best Buy and found a killer deal on a Pioneer head unit. It has a front & rear IPOD usb port that works great with my tuffy console. I have my IPOD cable coming through the bottom opening and then up to my cup holders, works out well.

I also picked up a pair of Kenwood 6" speakers. I took a piece of 3/4" MDF and measured the corner kick vent area and cut these out. A little sanding and paint and voila! They work well and angle in and up towards the driver and passengers ears so you can hear them a little better. I will eventually get some 6x9s for the back, probably in some tuffy boxes.

Here are a few "proving" shots that my lights really do work. I am stiill super stoked to have a motor that turns on AND runs as well as lights that work like they are supposed to!!!

 

[srgould41]

So good to see you got it up and running finally Nick! Congrats!

Say, do you have a roller cam or a flat tappet cam? The reason I ask is that flat tappet cams need to be broken in right. I installed a new flat tappet cam in mine so I have to break it in as soon as the engine will start (a long ways out yet).

Soon as you are ready for a road trip come on up here and help me with mine

Steve

 

[fjkev]

I hear ya! I didn't plan on doing a complete frame off (as the title of my build thread implies) but it just kind of happened. As much as I want to drive the thing, I'm glad I took it all the way down to the frame. I've learned SO much about the 40 and without doing this I would not have the understanding that I have now.

That's how I feel - don't want to do a frame off restoration (too old) but want to get my FJ shape. The only way to do this is with what you did. Looks great what you did!!!!

Kevin