Project Space Shuttle - 5.0 powered '84 FJ60 on Coilovers

[FordFascist]

And I guess while I'm at it, I had a resistor fail on my low setting for my fan. No way am I paying $45 for a new one without first trying my hand with the soldering iron.

What I ended up buying was two 5W 6.8 Ohm resisters and wired them in parallel so that means I'm at 3.4 ohms + med and high which I did not take the time to measure. Suffice it to say my heater works much more effectively now at low RPM, though the fan isn't as quiet.

Total price:$2.16

 

[cruisermatt]

Doesn't the IFS hub upgrade make your front track width a couple inches wider ? So now you have even more positive scrub, correct? So does it track even better?

 

[klinetime574]

It looks like artwork. Or a race car. I'm not sure yet.

^ Love this statement.

I really like the idea of this mod. I would have better brakes, and the Toyota purist in me could grab some OEM wheels from any newer Tacoma, FJ Cruiser, Sequoia, and Land Cruiser (FZJ-80). This would also open up a whole new world of metric tire sizes! All of the possible wheels would be either a 16" or 17".

I look forward to hearing your feedback about dramatic differences or not. (To note: When I rebuilt my front calipers (all stock stuff here) the pedal was initially pretty soft, a week or two later it was back to a more firm pedal.)

 

[FordFascist]

Doesn't the IFS hub upgrade make your front track width a couple inches wider ? So now you have even more positive scrub, correct? So does it track even better?

It does, though I was in a hurry and didn't feel like actually scientifically beating this topic to death. I think the wheels will clear with a 3/8 spacer, though I need to check the stud engagement on the wheel. If no, I can upgrade to AWD Toyota Matrix studs, or IS300 ARP studs.

Everything you wanted to know about Toyota studs --> Longer Wheel Studs for Ifs Hubs? - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum


Given that I had 1.5" spacers, I used those to get the Space Shuttle out of the garage. There will likely be changes in the future, fear not.

^ Love this statement.

I really like the idea of this mod. I would have better brakes, and the Toyota purist in me could grab some OEM wheels from any newer Tacoma, FJ Cruiser, Sequoia, and Land Cruiser (FZJ-80). This would also open up a whole new world of metric tire sizes! All of the possible wheels would be either a 16" or 17".

I look forward to hearing your feedback about dramatic differences or not. (To note: When I rebuilt my front calipers (all stock stuff here) the pedal was initially pretty soft, a week or two later it was back to a more firm pedal.)

I have a set of OEM FJ Cruiser wheels, though they are a touch too narrow for the 37s and the backspacing is not ideal, so I would be running even bigger spacers in order to get the wheel track right.

The current wheels are 17s as an aside.

 

[cruisermatt]

Thanks for the link on wheel studs, I'm not happy with the thread engagement on my front studs with the wheel spacers.

 

[FordFascist]

So it turns out my front axle has grown a bit in WMS. And I don't like wheel spacers. Or drum brakes. And let's be honest - full-floating hubs look bad ass.

Time for an FZJ-80 rear axle. I measured and I didn't need to recenter this thing at all. The pinion is only offset about 3.5" off center - which equates to about 6* of driveshaft angle. This is completely fine on a single-cardan style driveshaft.

Pile of parts.

Grinding welds sucks. Seriously. I have a 7" grinder and it still took forever.

Perches burned in. My parts 9" tribute axle in the background.

All calipers should be red. Because racecar.

 

[FordFascist]

Because everyone loves pictures.

High pressure shocks are a pain to compress. But there is ample down travel.

Full floaters!

Complete rear axle

Driveshaft

 

[Mace]

So what's your front axle now?

 

[FordFascist]

Great question. I think the front is at 63" +/- .5. The wheels and tires are even front to back visually so that's good enough for me.

 

[klinetime574]

Love it. Great work. Good choice on caliper paint color. Because racecar.

 

[whothehellisdan]

How did you do the handbrake cable? I have a hybrid 60/80 unit in mine and not 100% happy with it

 

[gregnash]

Did you feel it was overly complicated swapping all the hardware over to the 80series axle? Or just tedious and time consuming.

 

[cruisermatt]

Run the 80 parking brake cable. Bolts up to the 60 hand control.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Run the 80 parking brake cable. Bolts up to the 60 hand control.

It does, but the overall cable length is too long. Doesn't work properly.

 

[cruisermatt]

It does, but the overall cable length is too long. Doesn't work properly.

It works perfectly, you just have a turn it into a bit of an "S". I have it setup on my 62.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

It works perfectly, you just have a turn it into a bit of an "S". I have it setup on my 62.

Yeah, I had it on Moonshine at one point, but it doesn't work properly in that it's the wrong length, by a good bit.

Works as a good temporary solution though.

 

[FordFascist]

Did you feel it was overly complicated swapping all the hardware over to the 80series axle? Or just tedious and time consuming.

All I had to do was build a small extension to make the brake cable work. Though I may have to adjust its routing should I want to air this thing out. I would also need to install some limiting straps on the axle as well.

 

[FordFascist]

The omnipotent Bureau of Automotive Repair says my FJ60 is CA legal.

That adds more value than a Gucci logo.

 

[Mace]

Just a FYI, cruiser axles and jumping sometimes doesn't end well..

Jim seems to do okay,

But Stayner generally doesn't
(Can't find the pic of Bill Stayner's big with a very sad front axle..)

 

[FordFascist]

Just a FYI, cruiser axles and jumping sometimes doesn't end well..

Jim seems to do okay,

But Stayner generally doesn't
(Can't find the pic of Bill Stayner's big with a very sad front axle..)

Toyota axles and jumping in general don't fair well. This I am fully aware of.

The air-out reference was really in jest. I don't really plan on airing this out.