Seeking Wisdom

[smcruisin]

I'm looking for any input/suggestions/"if-I-were-to-do-it-again"/pointers on removing a 40 series body from the frame. It's just the tub & cowl; doors/windshield/hardtop are removed.

Is it a four person job, or am I better with six? Any idea of weight? I've taken lots of pictures of the firewall so I hope reassembly will go smoothly. Any suggestions on the under-dash wiring?

I intend on getting the exterior painted (toyota 681 green) and the interior/underside/firewall rhinolined. While it's gone, I'll go to town on the frame with the wire wheel & grinder. I'm hoping to put it into a boat trailer so I can haul it to the paintshop.

Thanks for your input,
Steve

 

[spotcruiser]

It's not too tough. Three guys can lift and move it. Four is better. They fit pretty well in the bed of a full-size pickup (aiming to the rear). Use foam cushions and tie it down to keep it from rocking or moving around.

Don't spend too much time trying to save body mount bolts. Snap'em off if you have to and install new mounts and bolts on reinstallation.

Try to remove the wiring harness intact as much as you can (keep the switches and stuff attached to help with later identification). Don't operate pull cables (vent damper pull, heater valve pull, choke pull) when they are not installed (they tend to separate at the crimp and become unusable).

Do as much repair, on the tub and the chassis/driveline, as you can while you have the tub off. Great time to do a clutch, rear seal, tranny/transfer seal, and cleaning/rust removal/painting of the frame. If you need it, great time to replace rear cross-member and/or braces. Good time to clean up, repair, replace harnesses. Working on the truck is sooo easy with the tub off.

Good luck.
Todd Bull.

 

[beanz2]

If you have the full sets of doors, widnshield, hardtop, etc. still installed, six big guys is mo' betta. Two to 3 can pick up an empty tub.

Dave

 

[Bobsbash]

We lifted my body off with four guys. You could do it with three but make sure they are some big boys.

Don't bother saving your mounting bolts. I had to cut most of mine and the cruisers body and frame was in descent shape. I ended up buying new hardware and made my own body mounts from boat trailer rollers. At that time I ended up rewiring the rear of the fj40 along with taking care of the frame. Made it 10x easier with the body off. Also put in a new clutch.

 

[72cruiser]

i'll hopefully be in the same boat in a couple days/weeks (crossing fingers)

i just have to find a place that i'm sure i can do it all. bein in college/livin in an apt sucks for workin on the cruiser. anybody ideas on renting garage space in upstate sc?


post up some pics when you get to it, i'm very interested.


malphrus

 

[smcruisin]

Todd,
I've already removed (and treated with copper anti-seize) and re-installed my body mount bolts, so they won't cause me any grief. Keeping switches attached -- good idea. Don't operate pull cables -- good tip. I've just finished re-doing my whole tub with Canadacruisers.com panels, so everything behind the base of the firewall is mint. I intend to clean up the cowl & firewall while the tub is upside-down. I'm also hoping to swap an H55-F later this summer, so even though my transfercase outputs weep slightly, they'll have to wait (of course, if the H55-F goes in, it'll get a new clutch). While rebuilding the tub, I removed, disassembled, sandblasted, and reinstalled all three body-crossmembers. The frame under the rear floor has already been taken care of, and you can bet I'm going to take care of the rest of the frame while the body is off (I've even got patches of factory paint on parts of the frame!!!).

Thanks Dave and Bob.

Jonathan,
This has been a long and slow process. If I were to do it again, I'd just buy a whole aluminum tub and cowl from Aqualu.
I've been living at home, so I use M & D's garage, however, it's effectively outdoors except for a roof and one wall. I can't help you on the 'upstate SC' thing, I'm from British Columbia, Canada.
I've been taking lots of pictures, but I havn't been keeping them organised; It'll take a while to collect them all. I know I've lost some pic from the 1/4 panel, inner fender, rear floor install because Dad's camera decided to 'reformat' the memory card.
I see that you're a metals & ceramics guy; I've just finished my 1st year of Eng. at a local college. I'll be going into 2nd year at UBC or UVIC in september. I really want MECH, but we'll have to see what the admission grades turn out to be. Metals & Materials is second choice. I hope you're enjoying the start of your summer as much as I am!!!


Happy trails,
Steve

 

[72cruiser]

haha,

you got that right man.

finished up on friday, now just waitin for the grades to come in...arghhh.


yeah, i love materials. it's a really great program here, and the field overall is awesome. applications everywhere. i thought abt ME a lot, too (huge program at clemson; work with BMW, Ingersoll-Rand, Timken, etc...), but decided on CME b/c i want to work with biomaterials and implant design.


keep up the good work on the cruiser man,
malphrus

 

[HI^C]

just a suggestion, but why not support and lift the tub up and roll chassis out?

i did it that way, worked great. Just thought you could then be able to roll trailer under and take it away. and do oppsite when you go to assemble again.

simple use of floor jacks and some wood.

 

[FredTheMonster]

for the removal I did it myself... not a good idea but it was late & needed it done... for the install where you do not want the bottom you just painted to get messed up use at least 4 guys.

one suggestion, drop the wheels so you are only lifting waist high... much easier.

 

[Sparky_Mark]

I used a couple of 2 x 6 pieces of lumber and 4 guys. You can slide one piece through the rear wheel wells, then the other under the front. Made the job pretty easy (keeps you away from the frame - knocking your knee on the frame extensions while lifting something heavy really sucks).

Invite your unsuspecting friends over to watch a playoff game on tv. Tell them to come a little early, then give them the unfortunate news. Worked for me twice. It's a running joke with my buddies - every time I invite them over, they think that something needs to be done with my cruiser.

 

[72cruiser]

yeah, i love that manuever.

'yeah, and you guys can come off-road with me the next time i head out, aight?...'


malphrus

 

[Lashcat]

something that may help you with the wiring is to also go to store that deals in wiring and electrical (commercial/industreal). They have the label kits. you can get them in #'s or letters. For example say you get #' the first sheet will be all 1's and so on. this will help for when you do not have something you can leave hooked to the harness. you can label the wire and the component alike. This will cut out all the guess work. I use them almost everyday at work. It is a real time saver, not to mention saves you all the head aches too.

the back side of the labels are sticky but you have to make sure the place you are going to put them is clean or you will have problems.

 

[smcruisin]

Thanks Lashcat,
I took 100 pictures with the digital camera of the wiring harness removal, so it should be easy to install (btw, I removed the wiring harness as a unit).

I've had the truck up on blocks for 1.5 years now, and just put it back on its tiny 31's yesterday. It looks SO SMALL!!! It's the type of thing where your mom/girlfriend/wife would say, "it looks so cute". At least I've now got a solid foundation to modify (124,000 km on a rust free BJ-42).



....My brother say's he's going to make fun of it until I 'spring it over! Oh well, at least there is some insentive.... lol

 

[72cruiser]

congrats man


malphrus