Builds Salt wagon My first fj40 (build)

[rkymtnflyfisher]

Better fluid film than rust

That's my opinion in the winter!



Awesome thread, I dig the beach vibes here, it's like a reminder of east coast vacations.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

alright so good and bad today. The good is I got the front suspension installed and It already looks better in my opinion. Unfortunutly I installed the springs backwards first and had to re do it because the front driveshaft was too short... because I installed the springs backwards. below is a picture installed backwards haha. I eventually got it right. the pins and shackles were pretty easy. the Ubolts put up a fight though.

Below is the front suspension all finished.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

The bad today: I started the rear axle seal and bearing job. the passenger-side rear seal was leaking bad going to need to put new shoes on it tomorrow. I actually completed it. However while I was putting one of the axle shafts back in I knocked the top and bottom spider gears out. any trick on clocking these back in. I have never had to remove them or reinstall them and I am struggling with it. any tips would be much appreciated. Picture below is before the came out.

New bearing and seal in at least! it was a bear getting the old bearing out. freezer trick worked really well for the seal and bearing installation though!

 

[B y r o n]

Don't know if this info will help.

 

[120mm]

The bad today: I started the rear axle seal and bearing job. the passenger-side rear seal was leaking bad going to need to put new shoes on it tomorrow. I actually completed it. However while I was putting one of the axle shafts back in I knocked the top and bottom spider gears out. any trick on clocking these back in. I have never had to remove them or reinstall them and I am struggling with it. any tips would be much appreciated. Picture below is before the came out.

View attachment 3461655

I had the exact same problem.

Hard to explain how I do it, but I rotate them in by turning the assembly.

I could show you, but that's the best way I can explain it.

 

[Green Bean]

The spider gear reinstall was one of those RubiK's cube sort of deals. It helped to have third hand. It may take several tries, but be patient, you will eventually get everything to line up.

 

[sterling]

As always enjoying the build and pics!
Please share any tricks or tips on the rear wheel bearings replacement.
My bearings should be here tommorow from @cruiseroutfit .
I bet it's nice on the island today, jealous

 

[Roastchestnuts]

I had the exact same problem.

Hard to explain how I do it, but I rotate them in by turning the assembly.

I could show you, but that's the best way I can explain it.

The spider gear reinstall was one of those RubiK's cube sort of deals. It helped to have third hand. It may take several tries, but be patient, you will eventually get everything to line up.

I watched a couple of videos. seems like this video helps me understand it a little bit better. although he did not actually show it. I am going to try this again this morning. I also need to replace my break shoes this morning. and then hopefully do the soft break lines. then if I finish all of that its rear leafs.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

As always enjoying the build and pics!
Please share any tricks or tips on the rear wheel bearings replacement.
My bearings should be here tommorow from @cruiseroutfit .
I bet it's nice on the island today, jealous

Thanks! It is a really nice fall day out here! one day you gotta make a trip out here. its perfect this time of the year. My biggest tip is have somebody help put the axle shafts back in while you hold all the gears in place. that and have a good bearing/seal puller.

 

[sterling]

Can't go wrong with longboards and Landcruisers.
Thanks for the updates

 

[120mm]

I am not really worried about running bias pys. especially as I run alot of dirty/ 25mph roads around here. rarely do I take it up to 55. additionally I am planning on keeping my kendas for a while at least. and yeah the power kings are not expensive. one of the reasons I am looking at them over the STA branded ones. I think the only down side to the power king ones is that they are directional tires. I do really think the STA super traxions look better than the power king ones though. I think @wngrog ran power kings on his spring green fj40 maybe he can chime in on these. 108 a tire is a fantastic price.

@cppilot I love that 45! I have actually driven a few 1970s ford trucks with bias plys. I am with you though on loosing performance with these tires. I think my biggest concern is how they drive on the beach. I have read they dont air down well. Kinda why I thought the Firestone NDCC would be a good option for me. I have heard from a few friends with willys jeeps that run these and they say they are the best tire for the beach here. Additionally I think a donlop equivlent was a factory tire back in 1964. Thanks for chiming in! I hope all is well in your world. View attachment 3459123

I did several papers back in the day on the history of technology, especially regarding military tech. So I engaged my research brain and did some looking about the "Bar Grip" form of tire, which is what we are talking about here.

It's primary function is to be non-directional and to shed mud.

It works as a tire; when I was a Deuce and a Half driver back in the time when the earth was young, it was the standard military tire. I never really pushed them off road; We also had them on our M151 MUTTs and they worked "ok". They were definitely limited in the wet and on ice, but I never tried to drive them on ice without chains.

After WWII, when most western militaries were using the Bar Grip due to Lend Lease and post war surpluses, a bunch of militaries transitioned to an improved version, which is what the MRF Superlug is based on. The Super Lug design allows the shedding of water, and has more contact area for sand. Technically speaking, if you want the primitive look, the Super Lug would be a better sand tire. Of course, any modern radial off road tire will probably be "better" in objective terms, but if all we cared about is "better" we'd have more modern vehicles to begin with.

Anyway, I really like what you are doing with that rig, and you are tempting me to get new springs, but I love my ride height and the completely squishy OEM springs I have on it, sag or no.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

So got the spider gears all back in. what a pain in the butt that was. took way longer than it should have. kept dropping the little shim thrust-washer things when I would start to move everything. I got smart and put a little gear oil on it to make it stick and that was the trick. I am a little annoyed I installed the rear springs backwards again! you would think I would learn by now. anyways its gotta come back apart again..... I am done for the day though as its my wifes day off too and we want to go to the beach and be together today.

so tomorrows plan is to take everything apart again and re install it correctly. The good news is I have my fathers mini dihatsu fire truck to use while I am working on the land cruiser. and the front suspension looks gooooood.


I only really noticed the springs were backwards when I put the tire on...

dont worry I did put the little bolt pin back in

Also this pinion angle is wonky... Ugh I should have been paying attention. And the break line is like whaooooo haha. Oh well Ill get it tomorow.

My ride for the next few days. pretty fun. hard to back up actually. but beeps when you do back up.

 

[Admiral Snackbar]

The height with the new springs looks perfect honestly

 

[RevISK]

I applaud and appreciate your candor in admitting what is admittedly a boneheaded move with the springs. I can just imagine you so excited to have everything back together that you just threw them on… but to do both backwards twice? I hurt for you because I am not immune from similar levels of doh! moments.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

So I did go ahead yesterday and swap the springs back around. I am getting pretty good at it. It only took me about an hour haha. most everything went well but I did have one issue though. the rear shackles were all the way up pretty much touching the frame after I put it on the ground. It is a stock shackle size maybe I need to put an anti inversion shackle under the or a longer shackle not sure yet. other than that I just have to put gear oil in the rear diff and reattach the front and rear driveshafts. I am wondering If I can lift the car up and pry it the opposite direction? I do have the old shackles that are longer, maybe I should try and attach those and see.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

I applaud and appreciate your candor in admitting what is admittedly a boneheaded move with the springs. I can just imagine you so excited to have everything back together that you just threw them on… but to do both backwards twice? I hurt for you because I am not immune from similar levels of doh! moments.

Yeah hopefully somebody reads my thread and does not make the mistakes I made haha. I think the mistake was mostly due to being tired. I think I should have taken a break when I started second guessing my self. I was correct the first time around haha. My arms are for sure sore today though. Now I just need to figure out this shackle issue. looks to be something common on the threads though.

 

[clrussell]

You will need to get the shackle on the rear side of the spring. Like you said pry it back.

It might be tricky, it almost looks like the spring is to short.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

You will need to get the shackle on the rear side of the spring. Like you said pry it back.

It might be tricky, it almost looks like the spring is to short.

I know I am hoping I will be able to just pry it back over if I droop all of the rear suspension.

 

[Green Bean]

I believe that I used a ratchet strap. Worked like a charm

 

[Roastchestnuts]

After jacking each side of the axle up and lowering it a few times the shackles seemed to correct themselves . Seemed like maybe the leaf packs needed to be worked out. much more happy now with those shackles. Maybe in the future I will get some anti inversion ones.