Build Shakira - The Colombian 1974 FJ43

[kunzma]

Managed to strip a portion of the red paint off the cowl. Waiting for warm weather this spring to touch it up.
Updated the hinge pins also.

 

[65swb45]

Looks like you used a smoke wrench.

 

[21NDone]

Genie’s out of that bottle…

Next thing you know your getting dropped shipped wooden crates and planning a vacation to Burbank…

Vacation to Burbank? I’m in!

 

[kunzma]

The hinge pins fought me all the way. Heat was the only thing that consistently worked.

 

[kunzma]

While the carb was apart I thought it was a good time to put a refurb kit from Cruiser Cult in the mechanical fuel pump. Easy, quick job.

 

[kunzma]

Went with a Remflex gasket. Hoping to soon be able to get the latest version of the Mark's Off Road/Downey header that @gonzopancho and @PabloCruise are producing. The exhaust on the truck is swiss cheese. One 90 degree turn is two mitered 45s welded together.

FJ40 Mark/Downey Header

UPDATE - My original vision was that we product to ship to you all in time for Christmas. We are going to miss that mark. The short story is that our manufacturer is having a difficult time hiring skilled welders in order to meet demand, and we have been way too busy w/ our day jobs that we flat...

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[kunzma]

The decking of the intake manifold didn't go as planned. While in the machine, the manifold popped free and the cutter took a huge chunk of material out. Went with a different one. Getting close to firing this engine back up.

 

[kunzma]

Thanks to @Denscustom1 for supplying a replacement engine hook. This is in preparation of taking the engine out in the future for some work. Also installed new battery cables.

 

[sogncab]

Almost completely unrelated question. Is Shakira still hot? 20 years ago, she was a smoke show.

 

[kunzma]

Bought some new drum brake hardware and shoes for the rears from Cruiser Outfitters to go with the thicker drums from Mark's Offroad. Shaved down the tabs slightly so they would slide into the slots of the wheel cylinders. Otherwise it was a simple install.
Question for those who might know. Do I need to install longer studs now because I'm running thicker drums? There's no longer any thread beyond the lug nuts.

 

[kunzma]

Almost completely unrelated question. Is Shakira still hot? 20 years ago, she was a smoke show.

Time flies... except in my memories. Still hot.

 

[Polecat]

If anyone knows the answer to this question, please post up. Is the VIN tag normally located on the passenger fender just above the battery tray?

The data plate is on the passenger side of the firewall on my 1980 Colombian FJ43.

Believe there should also be a tag on the drivers door jam.

This is a US (NHSTA, I believe) requirement. A few other countries may also adhere, but in my experience, Colombia is not one of them.

 

[Polecat]

Glad I stumbled on this thread. Looks like you've run into some infamous SA "trail repairs" - seems like you're staying relatively level-headed along the way. Keep it up. Looking forward to following along. Let me know if any comparison photos of my slightly newer rig would be helpful.

 

[kunzma]

I cleaned up some fittings on the new intake manifold. Capped the nipple for the old brake booster. Purchased a nipple for the side port that allowed me to run a shorter line over to the brake booster.

 

[kunzma]

I am wondering about the throttle rod and the odd angle as it goes to the carb. I’m thinking that the bracket at the carb is not the right version. It also has had material ground away to allow it to sit flat at the carb studs.

 

[65swb45]

Matthew,

based on how close the ‘rib’ of your booster is to the hump in the center of the firewall, I’m going to hazard a guess that the truck wasn’t originally designed for rod linkage at all. Run a few image searches for other non-US firewalls and see what you come up with. Come to think of it, somebody else did post recently with a jacked up carb that had a firewall that looked like it had no provision for rod linkage.

As for the lug nuts, you’re fine with what you have. I had to install longer lug studs on my 45 because of aftermarket wheels. Then I got a set of stock wheels from @HKforte and had to run capped chrome lug nuts to keep my goofy long studs covered from the elements.

 

[kunzma]

Matthew,

based on how close the ‘rib’ of your booster is to the hump in the center of the firewall, I’m going to hazard a guess that the truck wasn’t originally designed for rod linkage at all. Run a few image searches for other non-US firewalls and see what you come up with. Come to think of it, somebody else did post recently with a jacked up carb that had a firewall that looked like it had no provision for rod linkage.

As for the lug nuts, you’re fine with what you have. I had to install longer lug studs on my 45 because of aftermarket wheels. Then I got a set of stock wheels from @HKforte and had to run capped chrome lug nuts to keep my goofy long studs covered from the elements.

Thanks Mark. I will run with that suggestion. Looking closer, I am thinking this was not boosted brakes either. Everything seems so cramped.

 

[65swb45]

If you're going to try and make rod linkage work, I have parts.

 

[kunzma]

If you're going to try and make rod linkage work, I have parts.
View attachment 3536399

Thanks Mark. I was looking at that picture in another thread yesterday. I think that the root problem is a PO added the brake booster. It throws the throttle linkage and the parking brake cable out of alignment. Trying decide if a different linkage setup gets me a smoother operating throttle or do I eliminate the booster.

 

[65swb45]

Thanks Mark. I was looking at that picture in another thread yesterday. I think that the root problem is a PO added the brake booster. It throws the throttle linkage and the parking brake cable out of alignment. Trying decide if a different linkage setup gets me a smoother operating throttle or do I eliminate the booster.
View attachment 3536691

You didn’t ask my opinion, but I have one. If you’re happy with the brakes, leave well enough alone and convert the carb to run with a cable. A lot of ROW 2Fs came that way.