Build Salted Pork fj55 family wagon build

[Roastchestnuts]

Going to get back at the salted pork project today! I need to weld a few more small things on the drivers side and then I am going to move on to the passenger side. These new tools should help out! My parents and wife got me these for christmas! That nibbler will really help with cutting out patch material. I should have bought a nibbler years ago. I played around with it yesterday and it was really quick and clean. The sander will help out on this project too! I like this Aircat brand I have a spot sander by them and its fantastic. I think this company is based in florida too!

Seems everyone is going electric but I love air tools! I have a electric impact but some of these air tools are just smaller!

 

[Roastchestnuts]

I bought one of these howler brothers T-shirts that they did with toyota! I love that this one is fj55 specific!

still needs some work but the floor is all buttoned up. I am going to start working on the passengers side today. The hardest part of the whole thing is getting the front body mount out of the vehicle. the rest is just tedious work. I didnt want to crawl back underneath for a photo but I did seam seal my welds underneath too. Unfortunately I did find my passenger front wheel cylinders were starting to leak when I was under there. So I will be doing brakes soon too.

 

[roadstr6]

Salted Pork is looking awesome! Keep up the good work, and thanks for the kind words about my Bucky build. I'm honored to be a part of the inspiration for your build.

 

[Comet]

@Roastchestnuts stop by Area 51 on your way through town when you visit family to show off your newest and bestest addition. There’s a crusty 3speed with your name on it.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

Salted Pork is looking awesome! Keep up the good work, and thanks for the kind words about my Bucky build. I'm honored to be a part of the inspiration for your build.

Thanks man! like I said if you are ever on the outer banks please hit me up! Slow progress on the fj55 but its going to be nice when I am done.

@Roastchestnuts stop by Area 51 on your way through town when you visit family to show off your newest and bestest addition. There’s a crusty 3speed with your name on it.

Funny you say that. My wifes sister (the one in VA) got pregnant at the same time as us. The due dates were even in the same week and her water just broke today! we may be up that way at some point within the year for sure. I actually want to find a 3 speed tcase to mate to my 4speed transmission.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

Does anybody have any experience with the cheeper disc brake kits? I have been thinking of putting discs on the land cruiser in the front but dont really have the cash to redo it with the later disc brake axle stuff unless I find a really good deal on a disc brake axle close by In NC.

The kits are the ones I am thinking about below. I could also just redo the drums for a lot cheeper.

Disc Brake Conversion Kits - FJ40, FJ45, FJ55 - 8/1970 - 8/1980 - https://cruisercorps.com/products/disc-brake-conversion-kit-fj40?variant=44131010773178&country=US&currency=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17181974065&gbraid=0AAAAADzALUKy2N8zcnaFDeDKlrHk09OxS&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIwaWFqeLnkQMVLyZECB2jQitIEAQYBCABEgIX2fD_BwE

 

[Pighead]

Does anybody have any experience with the cheeper disc brake kits?

My only experience is in talking people out of buying it. Your drums will work fine until you can find the parts for the good disc brakes.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

My only experience is in talking people out of buying it. Your drums will work fine until you can find the parts for the good disc brakes.

Kinda what I was thinking.

 

[Augustiron]

I have always been of the mindset not to spend any money fixing drum brakes when disc brake upgrades are readily available.

If your drums are working, fine.
if they require $$ to work, better to just spend that $$ to upgrade the brakes once and for all, especially on a larger vehicle like the 55 that you plan on driving with the family.

Buy once cry once
And the difference disc brakes make with a proper dual res MC and booster is fantastic.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

Rust Eliminated. I still need to skim it with some filler and level it out. I Skim filled some of the areas where I welded the pillars to the rockers too. I need to order my color paint from some place. Anybody have any recommendations?

Plan is to blend new paint with the factory paint. Its been repainted you can see that in the sanding in the photo below.

I ordered a generic color (tropical turquoise ) for my samurai project from these guys and it seemed like good paint! Restoration Shop - https://tcpglobal.com/pages/restoration-shop?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=68607503&gbraid=0AAAAAD_q_0KWMIL1Jql6zS7XB2Mq9cR_H&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIyvOvmOPokQMV55XuAR2Tnh4vEAAYASAAEgKYg_D_BwE

I have never had any paint mixed by them. I planning on sending the gas door as a paint sample.

​

 

[Roastchestnuts]

Well I might be at a stand still because my Eastwood 140 welder seems to be not working correctly any more. wire speed seems to not change. and I cant dial in the settings. The voltage i am guessing works But like I said wire speed seems to be the same. I have everything set up correctly the little roller inside is good and the tip is new and the correct .025 size for the .025 wire.. Nothing has changed since I used it yesterday. I'll double check everything tomorrow but I have a feeling its toast. Ohh and it had a good clean ground.

 

[mtn biker]

Well I might be at a stand still because my Eastwood 140 welder seems to be not working correctly any more. wire speed seems to not change. and I cant dial in the settings. The voltage i am guessing works But like I said wire speed seems to be the same. I have everything set up correctly the little roller inside is good and the tip is new and the correct .025 size for the .025 wire.. Nothing has changed since I used it yesterday. I'll double check everything tomorrow but I have a feeling its toast. Ohh and it had a good clean ground.

Are you out of wire?

 

[Augustiron]

The wire feed is independent of ground and voltage.
To isolate and test the drive motor, open the latch that holds the upper drive wheel on the wire so it isn't expected to drive the wire.

Pull the trigger and listen to the motor and watch the drive wheel speed and see if it changes as you move the feed speed potentiometer.

If the drive speed of the wheel changes, your problem is elsewhere. If it doesn't change make sure the knob is well attached to the potentiometer and not just spinning freely on there.
This isolates any issues with the wire, liner, tip and handle.

MIG and Flux Welder Replacement Parts MIG and Flux Welder Replacement Parts - https://share.google/a1Xmoery4BlBwLBXm

 

[mtn biker]

I would open the door and look at the wire spool, especially if you have been doing a lot of welding and then all of a sudden it stops it sounds like it could be the wire.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

The wire feed is independent of ground and voltage.
To isolate and test the drive motor, open the latch that holds the upper drive wheel on the wire so it isn't expected to drive the wire.

Pull the trigger and listen to the motor and watch the drive wheel speed and see if it changes as you move the feed speed potentiometer.

If the drive speed of the wheel changes, your problem is elsewhere. If it doesn't change make sure the knob is well attached to the potentiometer and not just spinning freely on there.
This isolates any issues with the wire, liner, tip and handle.

MIG and Flux Welder Replacement Parts MIG and Flux Welder Replacement Parts - https://share.google/a1Xmoery4BlBwLBXm

Yeah pretty much checked all of that. Drive wheel does not change speed when changing the speed setting. I know the wire jog function to get the wire to the tip quicker works. just no variation in wire speed that I can see when in use. Its an eastwood I am not surprised as I know they are cheaply made in china and then a eastwood logo is put on it. The price was right at the time when I was welding the rear tub on the fj40.

Gives me an excuse to buy a better welder at least. I am thinking a hobart 140ez (I like this autoset feature) or maybe esab rogue em140, maybe a used millermattic 140. I was telling a friend I really want one that will last and is of good relible quality. I have used this welder way more than I thought I would when I bought it. but I only really thought I would be using it here and there but I am on vehicle #3 with it and have used it to fix various other things.

Are you out of wire?

For sure not. before I figured out the wire speed was not working it kept birdnesting because the wire speed was too slow and it would melt to the electrode. I pulled the wire out of the torch and reset everything a few times. I am running one of the bigger (11lb?) spools from harbor freight. It had half the wire left on it.

I would open the door and look at the wire spool, especially if you have been doing a lot of welding and then all of a sudden it stops it sounds like it could be the wire.

Not the wire I don't think. .025 wire and.025 tip

 

[Skreddy]

Yeah pretty much checked all of that. Drive wheel does not change speed when changing the speed setting. I know the wire jog function to get the wire to the tip quicker works. just no variation in wire speed that I can see when in use. Its an eastwood I am not surprised as I know they are cheaply made in china and then a eastwood logo is put on it. The price was right at the time when I was welding the rear tub on the fj40.

Gives me an excuse to buy a better welder at least. I am thinking a hobart 140ez (I like this autoset feature) or maybe esab rogue em140, maybe a used millermattic 140. I was telling a friend I really want one that will last and is of good relible quality. I have used this welder way more than I thought I would when I bought it. but I only really thought I would be using it here and there but I am on vehicle #3 with it and have used it to fix various other things.

For sure not. before I figured out the wire speed was not working it kept birdnesting because the wire speed was too slow and it would melt to the electrode. I pulled the wire out of the torch and reset everything a few times. I am running one of the bigger (11lb?) spools from harbor freight. It had half the wire left on it.

Not the wire I don't think. .025 wire and.025 tip

Did you unclip the wheel though so it’s not trying to push the wire? If the wire is kinked in the hose it’ll do what you’re describing.

A side note; if it’s bird nesting in the machine, the drive wheel is too tight. It should be tight enough to pull the wire off the spool but not tight enough to keep pushing if the wire can’t move down the line. Granted, .025 is thinner and may be easier to keep pushing and kink.

 

[onemanarmy]

I am on my second Eastwood 140 cause the first one just quit overnight.

Thankfully the first one was under warranty and the current one has been ok (up until I just jinxed it now) so your experience does not surprise me.

Pig is looking good though! I may know someone with a couple disc axles too if you want to go that route.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

Did you unclip the wheel though so it’s not trying to push the wire? If the wire is kinked in the hose it’ll do what you’re describing.

A side note; if it’s bird nesting in the machine, the drive wheel is too tight. It should be tight enough to pull the wire off the spool but not tight enough to keep pushing if the wire can’t move down the line. Granted, .025 is thinner and may be easier to keep pushing and kink.

I am on my second Eastwood 140 cause the first one just quit overnight.

Thankfully the first one was under warranty and the current one has been ok (up until I just jinxed it now) so your experience does not surprise me.

Pig is looking good though! I may know someone with a couple disc axles too if you want to go that route.

Yeah Its something wrong with the machine. the drive wheel was set like it was for my whole samurai project and never had an issue with birds nesting. It all of a sudden started working properly yesterday like nothing was ever wrong. I think its somthing wrong with the dial for wire speed. so for now its working but I am ordering a new hobart 140ez welder today. I need somthing/want that I can rely on. @onemanarmy mine is just out of warranty I think. My eastwood plasma cutter also s*** the brick too. but after 1 day. I sent it back and got my money back they were good about this.

also @onemanarmy tell me about these disc axles you speak of!

 

[Roastchestnuts]

asside from some sanding and color I think the fender turned out well. I am gong to try and blend the old paint with some new paint I think. I have bought a few samples of paint to see what works best.

My dad gave me this upper tool box! I finally have some more room for my hand tools. This tool box has been hanging around since I can remember. I think he got it in the early 90s. Its nice he didnt just trash it. Rusty on the bottom because this tool box actually flooded in the hurricane back in 2019 that took my 3rd gen 4runner that had 68k miles...

I have been trhowing everything in this big one below. BOnus all my stickers I get in shipments go on this tool box and my compressor.

 

[Augustiron]

What are you doing to protect the backside of those patches?