Rebuild 74 FJ40 RHD from Down Under - 2F to 2H to 12HT - 40 series Axles with 80 series Coils

[watrob]

So the second test run went well late this afternoon, did a quick top speed 5th gear test to just over 3,250 revs and hit 130kph, now how accurate the speedo to rev counter is I am not sure, all I know is it was motoring and the 12Ht still had plenty left in her. I know what a 100kph feels like when this body was on the other chassis with the 2H, anyway I did not build her for speed but for comfort and easy maintenance.

 

[watrob]

Here are the last of the photos.

 

[watrob]

So I am going to have a canvas removable top put on next, and then a general touch up of the body and finish off and tidy up of the wiring, which will include the e-locker switch into the dash.

 

[chappohj47]

Mate it looks great but I still need to see a video of the motor

 

[watrob]

Someone asked about the 3"x3" led floods installed into the holes of a ARB bulbar, they are a perfect fit, sealed with some black gloss silicone.

 

[AussieHJCruza]

Very nice work. She looks sweet...

 

[watrob]

Made up another set of 80 series front radius arm with 3 deg caster bushes. As I have have 40 series axles with 40 series knuckles & disc brakes, the caster should be around 0 deg caster to say 1 deg positive caster as you go up in tyre size.

Its running about 2"-3" of lift but this is because of how the 80 series suspension was positioned on the 40 series axles and because of how the panhard is attached due the width of the 40's axles, also running standard 80 series coils and with this set of coils I have ended up with negative caster because of the lift. Reasons why, fibreglass sports tub with no full doors, glass windows, no barn rear doors, no roof and sides and a guttered interior, so no weight. As a rule (not withstanding the 80 series runs 2-3 deg positive caster) a 2"-3" lift on a 80 series 2 - 3 deg caster bushes are required anyway.

The general saying has been that about 1" of lift is around 1 deg of caster, but when you buy 2 deg caster bushes they are really 2" lift bushes because they actually move the caster by more than 3 degrees. I have seen 3 deg caster bushes on a 80 series move the face of the front diff pinion over 10 degrees and mover caster by a total of 5 degrees. (-2* to +3*)

I am aiming at around 2 deg plus, positive caster, and front diff pinion face will be around 92 deg, remember my front axle is around 2" forward and I have a 93.5" wheel base. This should also heavy up my steering as with this 3" lift and negative caster it has become to light.

A high positive caster with large wheels and power steering is not a problem, specially on the beach. High caster on a 4 wheel is fine, its no race car.

 

[watrob]

After I install the new spring I had the alignment checked, first off as by the photo I actually gained to much lift in the front?

Caster came in on left hand front at +1.48 & right front at +1.97, so I am getting King Springs to lower (re-set) the front coils down by around 1", this will also stiffen the front coils but only slightly.

As I have already installed 3 deg caster bushes in the front radius arms, dropping the front down by 1" will mostly give me an added +1.50 more caster, giving a total of around +3.0 degs.

This will also bring the front pinion within 1.0 to 1.5 degs, it will also lift the rear by 10mm adding more down force to the front which could equal another +0.5 deg of caster for me. This will leave me about 4 & 1/2" of travel to the bump stops, there is a spare inch of travel downwards in the front shocks so I can if needed cut a 1/2" off the rubber stops bringing it back to 5".

This should give me a more nose down stance if only a little?

 

[watrob]

Got most of the smaller items finished off this weekend, dash switches & gauges all finished.

Also added a pre air cleaner as beach sand gets into everything?

 

[watrob]

Also dropped in the new coils which lowered to front by an inch?

 

[watrob]

Also fitted the canvas top, with temps being in the 30 deg C range and Summer only just starting thought it wise, also went with alight colour?

View attachment 999401

 

[watrob]

Also measured the wheel base and it's 125mm long than a standard 40, that around 5" I gained.

 

[cult45]

Nice one. Top looks good. Is that rear tyre gonna scrub out on the rear wheel well?

 

[watrob]

Nice one. Top looks good. Is that rear tyre gonna scrub out on the rear wheel well?

No, it misses by inches

 

[cult45]

Sweet

 

[watrob]

I am going to sell my leaf sprung 40 series galvanised chassis, has a Lokka in the rear diff, 4 wheel disc brakes, a good running 2H with 4 speed. Leaf springs are Dakar OME 2" lift, 18 months old with 18 month old Rancho shocks, also has 40 series power steering (connected to 2H power steering pump - no leaks), ARB bulbar and 4 steel rims with tyres as shown in photo.

 

[donniefj55]

Hi what air cleaner box did you use I can't get the diesel one to fit in my 55 am thinking of getting a Donaldson housing?

 

[watrob]

Use a Hilux 1995 to 1998 air cleaner, they bolt straight up, there not quite as deep as the 40 & 60 series ones and it sits neatly on the inner guard ledge. Its also the right height to bolt straight onto the intake.

 

[Oldtoy74]

It was you, I was having a beer back at beach camp on noosa north shore, early Jan after a day of fun hangin at the point and what did i see, a bright 40, slowing down to cross one the natural springs, I was having a good look thinking, it's looks like Watrob beast, I was not sure, as I had sunnies on and not me goggles.
Now that I have just looked at your beast, it's pretty safe to say it was you,
Happy days, next time I will give you wave

 

[watrob]

Yep, that would have been me, spent the day at Rainbow Beach and was heading back to Teewah, have put 600kml on her over the Xmas break, all beach work.

It was a hot Xmas and the beach was the coolest place to be for sure?