ginmtb
'74 FJ40 - my first!
If you have not seen @jetranger 's build, you have missed out on an epic one. His work and attention to detail is top notch!
Project Ugly Duckling: 4WD Toyota Owner Magazine's 1970 FJ40 build/3B swap
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4WD Toyota Owner Magazine
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #82
Hey! What's wrong with this attention to detail?? Now THIS is an engine swap
PS: His rig is insanely cool.
I second this. The nicest one I've seen with AC is the Vintage Air unit. But I haven't been in a rig with it to see how much real estate it takes up.
4WD Toyota Owner Magazine
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #85
For project UD40 we decided to try out a suspension company we had heard of a few times, but didn’t know much about: Hell Creek Suspensions (www.hellcreeksuspensions.com, 662-538-5676). Located in New Albany, Mississippi, Hell Creek Suspensions has been in the suspension business since 2001 and have applications to fit most Toyotas and many other brands. They definitely know their Toyotas and will happily give tech advice and tips when you call to order. Hell Creek has lifts and additional products for mini trucks, Tacoma, Tundra, FJ Cruiser and FJ40/60/62.
We went for the Hell Creek 4” FJ40 kit, which comes in at $851 and includes springs, U-bolts, bushings and Rough Country N2.0 shocks all around. Hell Creek FJ40 springs are custom made for them in the United States. They also have a 2.5” FJ40 kit if you don’t want or need the extra room. However, we deleted the Rough Country shocks and just ordered the springs, as we had a set of Bilstein 5100s ($320) on hand we wanted to put to use. The springs a la carte are $362.
Once the hellacious job of tearing through decades of accumulated rust at all four corners was accomplished, the Hell Creek components went in like a charm. The new stance is impressive and easily fits the 33” Toyos/SCS wheels that are now on it. In fact, we really ought to put some 35s under the Duckling, as the Hell Creek lift almost makes them look too small! With the quality Hell Creek lift kit now installed, and we can move on to getting that 3B diesel fired up and bolted in soon!
We went for the Hell Creek 4” FJ40 kit, which comes in at $851 and includes springs, U-bolts, bushings and Rough Country N2.0 shocks all around. Hell Creek FJ40 springs are custom made for them in the United States. They also have a 2.5” FJ40 kit if you don’t want or need the extra room. However, we deleted the Rough Country shocks and just ordered the springs, as we had a set of Bilstein 5100s ($320) on hand we wanted to put to use. The springs a la carte are $362.
Once the hellacious job of tearing through decades of accumulated rust at all four corners was accomplished, the Hell Creek components went in like a charm. The new stance is impressive and easily fits the 33” Toyos/SCS wheels that are now on it. In fact, we really ought to put some 35s under the Duckling, as the Hell Creek lift almost makes them look too small! With the quality Hell Creek lift kit now installed, and we can move on to getting that 3B diesel fired up and bolted in soon!
4WD Toyota Owner Magazine
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #86
First thing we do when lifting a rig is to get the before measurements. Measure from the bottom edge of the wheel up to the edge of the fender.
4WD Toyota Owner Magazine
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #87
Second thing, especially with a rig this rusty, is to hit all the nuts and bolts with a wire brush and then a liberal hose down with PB Blaster (or other penetrating oil), let that soak for 20-30 mins. before starting disassembly. This rig had definitely been off road before, enough that the U-bolt plates were smashed up against the U-bolt nuts. We had to take a big punch and hammer to the u-bolt plates to be able to get a socket on the U-bolt nuts. Between the damaged bolts and severe rust, a couple were so bad we ended up just cutting them off.
4WD Toyota Owner Magazine
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #88
With the UD40 on jackstands, 4WDTO intern Breet hits the U-bolt nuts with the air gun. As he can attest, those nuts have not been off for many, many years.
4WD Toyota Owner Magazine
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #89
The front shackle came apart easily and we could see that the bushing have been coming apart for quite some time. This thing must have had some pretty poor road handling characteristics.
4WD Toyota Owner Magazine
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #90
The spring pin bolts on Toyotas are a bit different than other brands. They have a regular nut and washer on the inside, however on the outside of the frame there is a large flange on the shackle pin that is held in place by two bolts.
4WD Toyota Owner Magazine
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #91
The Hell Creek 4” lift springs and Cool Cruisers of Texas’ Barbell Shackles make up the base of the suspension we are installing; not shown are the Warrior U-Bolt plates, Ironman 4X4 U-bolts and Bilstein shocks.
4WD Toyota Owner Magazine
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #92
The old beater leafs compared to the new Hell Creek 4” leafs, wow, what a difference! We will get a ton of lift and have a far better ride.
4WD Toyota Owner Magazine
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #93
Normally we wouldn’t show something as simple as U-bolts in a shot of its own, however we couldn’t resist showing off these Ironman 4X4 U-bolts. These things are the true top end of U-bolts, with high quality powder coating covering the high strength steel. These things are even laser etched with the company logo and part number. $80 for the full set at www.ironman4x4america.com
4WD Toyota Owner Magazine
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #94
We started out by installing the new poly bushings in the leaf springs, as they can be quite tight, it often takes a hammer to get them in place. Once the bushing were installed we then bolted the new leafs into place. Side note: To grease or not to grease leaf spring bushings? We have always been in the no grease camp. The grease tends to pick up dirt, sand, grit like a magnet, acting like sandpaper to wear away at the bushings, making them loose.
4WD Toyota Owner Magazine
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #95
The Ironman 4X4 U-bolts are matched up with a set of Warrior Products U-bolt plates ($210 full set). These U-bolt plates have a skid plate welded on the bottom to help protect the u-bolts and nuts. If you are not interested in doing a U-bolt flip kit, these are the U-bolt plates to get. www.warriorproducts.com.
4WD Toyota Owner Magazine
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #96
The front is done and we can see how much difference the Hell Creek lift will give our Land Cruiser.
4WD Toyota Owner Magazine
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- #97
Installing the Bilsteins in the front reminded us that FJ40 upper shock mounts are pretty tight to the frame; we’ll be looking at making changes in the near future.
4WD Toyota Owner Magazine
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #98
The Cool Cruisers of Texas BarBell shackles with greasable bolts get installed into the frame hanger first and then the leaf spring is lifted into place and bolted in. We used the Hell Creek bushings (black) in the leaf spring and Energy Suspension bushings (red) in the shackle hanger.
4WD Toyota Owner Magazine
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #99
With the new springs in place, we installed Bilstein 5100 shocks to help control the suspension. Bilstein shocks have always been legendary for their handling characteristic and high quality construction. We are definitely looking forward to giving these shocks a workout.
To finish up the install we used our trusty Milwaukee Sawzall to trim the bottom of the U-bolts so they are just above the protective skid plate of the Warrior Products u-bolt plates. This pic shows the profile of the Warrior plates, the lower protection plates and the curved up leading and trailing edges.
To finish up the install we used our trusty Milwaukee Sawzall to trim the bottom of the U-bolts so they are just above the protective skid plate of the Warrior Products u-bolt plates. This pic shows the profile of the Warrior plates, the lower protection plates and the curved up leading and trailing edges.
4WD Toyota Owner Magazine
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #100
Loving the new stance! With 33" Toyos wrapped around SCS F5 wheels, the Land Cruiser is finally looking business! Now we just gotta get the 3B/H55F in here and running. Oh and some Energy Suspension body mounts, and....tons more....
