Builds Shipwreck

[SuperBuickGuy]

started here tonight

this thing must have been a joy to drive - that rear spring bracket was loose on the rivets...

decided to go the easy route for the bracket




eventually, there will be a bracket that holes this in shear... but I was out of 5/8, fine thread 6" bolts tonight, so it's pinned in place and the oil filter will have to do double duty until I finish this


angle stays within 1/2 a degree through its travel


this is meaningless because without the panhard bar, I've no idea what clears or doesn't. I did the vertical checks and everything was fine


panhard comes on Sunday
thanks for reading

 

[White Stripe]

I like this build so far, you aren't cutting your Cruiser up so much that its no longer a Cruiser when its done. Be interested to see how the suspension performs when done. If people want to cut stuff up crazy they should buy a Jeep or something that isn't so rare or cool in its stock form.

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

I'm a big fan of restomods - so I really try to preserve the lines the manufacturer made. Even the Buick, with its 4" chop, pancaked hood, removal of the door posts, complete change of the grill, bumper, tail lights will still, to the uneducated look like something Harvey Earl designed.

so thanks, it is what I'm trying to achieve.

 

[handcannon]

I realized today that I'm going to have to rely on someone else to give me the spline count. I forgot that I don't have any birfs yet for the 60 axle. I only have the rear axles. I'll try some searching and see if I can come up with a count.

Don

 

[Mudder]

@handcannon FJ60 axles have a 30 spline count at the hub part of the birf I believe from my researching them verse FJ80 axles.

 

[handcannon]

Thank you for that info! I've been so busy last night and this morning I forgot to try a search. I have to leave in a few minutes, so hopefully when I get back late this afternoon I'll remember to do the search.

Don

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

I will get further tonight, but taking a brief break so time to update.
first a shave

then a guess


maybe

time to get an idea of where things landed


it's put in the spot you will see later tonight

I think I will widen the fender... why not?


plenty of room


time for the box


those are a special prybar power-steering-box shim device... very hard to find


panhard test fit

testing

where the bump stops will stop uptravel

and it clears, barely


clears, again


ride height is 27" to the bottom of the rocker panel

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

box would be bolted in place if 7/16" grade 8 bolts were available... in other news, 12mm is a bit larger than 7/16


maybe I'll use the coils... they would last longer




there it is... next update the wheels will be on it


can't do the steering shaft because I didn't get the right tube... no biggie

 

[arnott1t]

hoe much travel did you end up with. Looks great!

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

12 front 10 rear.... I could go up to 14 front, 12 rear - but that would require some judicious trimming of the fenders and I don't want nor need to do so for my intended use.

interesting, the marks for the high-steer arms are stock on the knuckle


and the picture with the wheels "on"... there were some slight problems with getting the studs to fit - but no worries, they're on

 

[chappohj47]

Hey mate just caught up on the thread some fantastic work keep it up

 

[White Stripe]

I wouldn't widen the fenders, I think a 40 looks mean with the tires sticking out a bit. And your a little less likely to beat up the body cuz the tires keep obstacles further away from the sides of the body.

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

I think I've guessed wrong on the weight - my 1st FJ40 had a 302 in it and was stock everything else. With the roll cage, it weighed 5200 lbs with me in it.... this one, I could add 300 lbs to the back and it'd probably be close to dry weight - but it's not compressing the springs like I expected... I could cut the coils, but that would do the opposite of what I need it to do (it increases spring rate). Somehow I need to figure out how to weigh it.

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

I wouldn't widen the fenders, I think a 40 looks mean with the tires sticking out a bit. And your a little less likely to beat up the body cuz the tires keep obstacles further away from the sides of the body.

I like that look too, but I'm thinking about doing a couple inches wider - then it maintains the same proportion that Toyota's design envisioned, not covering the entire tire.

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

sitting on its own wheels again... can't roll it yet because I don't have the drill I need to put the studs in.... but... closer


stiffer springs



start on bolting on the ps box

and better


I still need to box the inside, but that won't come until after I completely disassemble the chassis (after mockup)... then weld, box, plate and otherwise make stronger

which brings me to another shot at the motor mount (there are some who wondered why I didn't box this when I started, this should answer that question)

cause I wasn't done


and removed some brackets to start on mounting the radiator

 

[Flipper1938]

It's gonna be a great looking rig. The 38's look like they belong there.

 

[MicahMan]

That looks awesome. The box is sweet too!

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

shorter pitman arm is coming....

now I need to figure out how far the steering wheel is from the dash so I can mount the new, tilt column

 

[Redgrrr]

Maybe these will be a good reference from a stock perspective, 1974 fj40.

I measured from the end of the horseshoe bracket that clamps the column to the underside of the dash.

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

thank you!