Builds Shipwreck

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cruisedeisel said:
Very nice truck! Glad to see your truck in the magazine and (not in your driveway picture) Sick build. Why are their so many gremlins when you custom build something yourself eh?
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lol - several years ago, I oversaw the set up of the Seattle Roadster show (now defunct), and they had an Overhaulin display with vehicles that they had built (and an autograph booth). All had to be pushed into the show - which was pretty annoying for their manager because it was blocks from parking their rig to the show - I asked why they didn't just drive them. He said most only ran once for the show and that was it. A large part of the reason Overhaulin went from a "week" build to the unknown-time build with Chip and Owner test drive at the end was because most people knew that an Overhaulin car was a Christmas tree display (just like a Christmas tree, static, with many shiny bits hung from it).

tl;dr - what makes you think they didn't have the same level of troubles? or - why do you think I have such a lack of respect for magazine editors and writers? (there are a couple that are good, but for the most part their English degree got them their job).
 
so more detail work, these are late 90s F350 van front springs - right diameter, increased wire size, and progressive...


fixing the land cruiser lean by unequal cuts to bring it down to the right length


I need to tune this a bit more... but it's close, very close

but then I got interrupted by my wife's Heep - she filled her inverter and a plug full of water... electric devices don't like water (who knew?)


but we're back
so I added a 2" spacer for a bit of insulation from noise and put it back together... now I have 5" travel (middle of the travel) for the rear and the rig is dead level front/back


for those counting, it was 24" with 31" tires to the bottom of the rocker panel. Now it's 28 with 38.5s and a whole bunch more travel. It's ready for 40s, my wallet isn't ready for them, but finally....
 
so back on the ground it had a land cruiser lean, but the other way... equalized the front coil overs, still no joy.... so time to make both rear springs level


as you can see by the picture, the first strap just could hold the axle twice so time to do something a bit more creative


and install the bump stop too

no more lean.

and it drives excellent. I still need to reset the castor (again) because along with an issue with the driveshaft angle, they changed the castor to the point where it's darty... no big deal, just a quick adjustment

 
I was thinking exploring exit 38 off I-90... never been there, but hear there's some good snow wheeling.... best of all, it's close. Thinking also starting a bit later like 2.

if those don't work, exit 42 and 47 and turn uphill at 5520 should be okay. It's where KCSARA practices their winter wheeling so I've asked TJ to get the 411... hopefully he'll tag along.
 
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fun day.... the crowd (3 land cruisers)


this is a funny picture because prior to this my land cruiser was where I was standing.... then slid all the way back so that I could let the air out of the tires, convenient, no?


and buick laughed


there we go, at the top(ish)


other two cronies


chains are a good thing.... no lockers, 33" tires, but chains




there we go


rough day


ut oh, get the winch out

jowls flying


oops, when you're a photographer, you should laugh


time to pour the beans on




whew, no need for winch




and here is where we turned around
 
Picking up dinner last night at Sahara Pizza in Snoqualmie and I spotted a tan & a green pair of FJ's outside. Recognized it from this thread, nice to meet you. Sorry I was in a rush, we had guests coming. Gotta take your advice and start my own thread for my junk. Hope to meet you and others again on the trails in the new year!
 
Thanks for saying hi, you're welcome to tag along on our next adventures. Most of what we do is posted on SeattleCruiserheads (the link under sgould's responses). I also post (when I remember) most runs on PNW4WD's facebook page. You're also welcome to pm me your email address and I'll add you to the list.

Can't wait to see your build - these things are pretty addicting.
 
Besides sending email to the SeattleCruiserHeads I often post on nw-wheelers.com. Hope we can wheel some day soon. Soon as I have repaired my destroyed front drivers wheel bearings. Might be a whole lot worse when I open it up tomorrow. When the top of the wheel moves nearly 4" in and out, the hub and spindle are probably gone too.
 
So as you know, I went wheeling yesterday.... beside not taking enough air pressure out (18 vs. 8)... things went okay. Well, okay if you consider almost rolling it at 70 mph. Pulled off the freeway and the steering box was loose, again.... on top of this, I've been really needing to tie the frame rails together since all of the force is on one rail... so that was today's work

I suppose if I was doing a full hard-core vehicle, I'd just put a mid-plate in... but I like not rattling fillings out so the solution had to be a be less caveman


first I tied the motor mounts together - but that's pretty weak considering it's only bolted in


so I added a Y member


not a lot of clearance, but my solution (if it hits, and probably if it doesn't) will be move the track bar. It's short, it's on a high-arc and now I realize I can lengthen it and put it on less of an arc which should make 100 mph less scary


*for those without a sense of humor, 100 mph is a JOKE.....
 
In other news, it was lean-popping that started after a hard climb, and got progressively worse as the day went along.... to the point the last climb to my house I was concerned would be on a tow rope behind my H3.... Normally speaking, that means the module went (again)... but it wouldn't start in the morning if that were true. It starts and runs just fine, so I dunno. One of Steve's friends pointed out it didn't sound right - and I agree, it didn't. The left side sounds like it's running lean or half-dropping a cylinder - which has me curious about whether or not I bent a pushrod... so in the other things I'm going to do, it'll be time to do an exploratory valve cover removal.... hopefully it's something simple like a bent push rod....
 
Got my own carnage figured out. Need to replace the outer wheel hub along with all the associated goddies like bearings and seals. The Aisin locking hub inner gear is broken too. Sourcing the parts is looking a bit rough. I need to find a place that parts them out.
 
srgould41 said:
Got my own carnage figured out. Need to replace the outer wheel hub along with all the associated goddies like bearings and seals. The Aisin locking hub inner gear is broken too. Sourcing the parts is looking a bit rough. I need to find a place that parts them out.
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I swap the factory hub gear out when I go to an RCV HG. I have piles of factory hub gears. Send me your address and I will send you one free of charge.
I know SBG and I have not seen eye to eye on stuff in the past, so if he does not want me posting in his thread I get it.
At the end of the day we are all just Cruiser guys.
 
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