Builds Slight Change of Plans--A BJ42 Build

[Varty Yo]

Great progress!!

Your this far torn apart why not go right the frame and have it dipped and powder coated or galvanized?

 

[Crazjtk]

I'd consider galvanizing, but I really don't have a good lead on sources near me.

 

[caper]

imo 2.5 and 33x10.5 or 9.5 if ya can find em are the way to go , no shims needed and keeps center of gravity lower , and it just looks right , 4 inch if i was doin 35s or bigger but then ya might as well put a big block or regear heavy in it cause the 3b will have issues wit em ,4 inch with 33 just doesn't look right to me just too much space inbetween tires and fenders imo

 

[Crazjtk]

I agree, caper. I'm going to run Dick Cepek Extreme Country 255/85R16s, which are pretty much 33x10.5R16.

 

[caper]

would love If these factory rims were 16s that would be the exact size I would have
Cant use 16' split rims because I love the center caps so much lol

 

[caper]

just put a set of 255/85/16 toyo m55 on one of my cummins love them rims are 6.5 wide so fit perfect and can fully air up if wanted , cant do that 10.5 on factory (5.5 inch I believe)cruiser rims gota run soggy wit them or they balloon in the center , in fact I believe it to be illegal to run 10.5 on the factory rims , but I did it anyways as no one ever seems to have issues so I did it too lol

 

[SuperDuperCruizer]

If you have a chance... can you post a detailed picture of the intake side of the 3B? I'm trying to get a reference for what's original on my truck.

 

[Crazjtk]

Oooookay guys, it's been a few weeks, sorry. I'll get right into the update!

First we took a collection of parts to the local sandblaster. Here's what we got back:

rear step, bumperettes, radiator frame and fan housing, front fender supports, battery tray, skid plates, and light guards, all cleaned.

And here they are after a couple coats of POR-15

Then we pulled the motor and transmission off the frame, stood back, and asked ourselves what we had gotten ourselves into.

Here's an up-close shot of the engine on its blocks. I'm just including it 'cus I like the nitty-gritty pictures.

Not shown: the part where we pulled the front axle and steering gear off and took the bare frame to the sandblaster.
Shown: the unparalleled sexiness of a sandblasted frame that doesn't need any major work.

mmmmmmmm...

That's all the developments through yesterday.
This evening we got the first coat of POR-15 on the frame.

So that's where we're at as of tonight. Coat 2 of POR-15 will probably happen this weekend, then we start putting this malarkey back together. (Hopefully)

 

[Crazjtk]

@SuperDuperCruizer Sorry, I forgot to grab a picture for you while I was working. I'll try to get you some good pictures on Saturday.

 

[SuperDuperCruizer]

@SuperDuperCruizer Sorry, I forgot to grab a picture for you while I was working. I'll try to get you some good pictures on Saturday.

You've already helped out with your recent engine picture. I see a plug in the block where the factory power steering bracket would bolt up. Mine has a pipe. I'm trying to sort out the fuel filter housing and the metal coolant pipe that bolts to the fan shroud. Do you have a temp sensor on the coolant pipe? For the fuel filter housing, I think I'm supposed to have a bleeder valve but the previous owner rigged a line up for the gauges and may have swapped a few things around in the process. No hurries though... I'm picking up a modified 3B radiator today from the shop and I still need to get the gas tank ready before I try to fire up the engine again.

 

[nfs56]

Are you spraying por-15 on it or is this with a paint brush?

 

[Flatlanderfj40]

would love If these factory rims were 16s that would be the exact size I would have
Cant use 16' split rims because I love the center caps so much lol

problem solved
16" Wheels / Rims for Land Cruiser FJ40 FJ45 FJ60 70 Series

 

[Crazjtk]

@nfs56 some of both. The small metal bits were HVLP sprayed, but the frame has been a combination of brushing and using a harbor freight garden sprayer to squirt paint inside the frame rails.

 

[Crazjtk]

Well, I'm back. I've been working on the truck a fair bit, but not much that was worth its own update for. We got the frame fully painted with a couple coats of POR-15, so now the project officially turns the corner towards putting all this madness back together.

Here we have the front Old Man Emu springs, shocks, shackles and pins installed. (Tuesday night)

And a quick close up of it

Then, on Friday, a pretty heavy box got delivered.

Which I of course had to completely unpack.

Couldn't really do anything with them yet though, so on Saturday, we got back to suspension.

All installed!

Then we decided that we were still on a roll, so dad and I got the engine reattached.

Finally, here are the much-delayed pictures of the engine that @SuperDuperCruizer was asking about

 

[SuperDuperCruizer]

Thank you sir... these pictures are very helpful.

 

[caper]

problem solved
16" Wheels / Rims for Land Cruiser FJ40 FJ45 FJ60 70 Series

God dam it those would be $2000 CDN by the time they got here for 5 dirty ole steel rims , they must be made of gold , they would be nice tho.

 

[Crazjtk]

Wow, it's been a bit too long... Sorry guys!

Updates are in order, I guess!

New wheels and tires were installed, and they look sick.

And then we (temporarily) reattached the fenders and tub, so we could get an idea of where the rock rails would go

(wow, it almost looks like a working vehicle)

And here's the tub after getting taken off, and then put back on once the rock rails were welded on.

And then comes the really terrifying part where we start cutting metal off. Like this!

We also removed the fuel tank...

So we could do THIS

(faints slightly)

And here's the other half still on the frame.

And that's where we're to now!

Most of the metal to replace the rear tub is in now. (Except that the people providing the rear fenders sent me one wrong one.)

Next is salvaging pieces off the old tub, and tacking the new one together.

 

[nfs56]

what are the wheel dimentions? 15x8 3.75 spacing? if so did you have any rubbing? also where did you find those rock sliders?

 

[Crazjtk]

what are the wheel dimentions? 15x8 3.75 spacing? if so did you have any rubbing? also where did you find those rock sliders?

The wheels are 16x7, 4 inch backspace. Pro-Comp series 98 rock crawlers. I bought them based on dimension recommendations I found around here. I don't know if they rub yet, since I (Still) don't have the truck together.

The rock sliders are White Knuckle Off-Road sliders.

 

[Crazjtk]

Hi guys, thought I'd check in for a moment. No pictures to share right now, but words ought to suffice.

So, from July to about November, summertime happened, by which I mean the workshop got really warm and house projects turned up, so basically nothing got done on the Landcruiser. However, I have been back to work on it the past few weeks. It's all been sandblasting, grinding, and cutting to get the front half of the tub ready for its new back end, and cut the pieces that we need to save from the back half off.

Oh, and we installed some decent LED lights in the workshop, so we can actually see what we're doing.

Yeah, that about covers it. I'll post a few pictures soon, things should start being photogenic in the next couple weeks.