Stevo's Unofficial Build Thread, FJ60 + FJ62 + FJ80 Axle = FJ68?

[StevoJonesFJ60]

Over the weekend I finished the front brakes up and tested them as well as the front shocks to make sure there were no clearance issues.

Everything looked good so I began bleeding the brakes.
Unfortunately one of the hard line coils burst during the process so that will need to be replaced. I'm going to do the other one as well.
It wouldn't be good to have the other one fail on the road or trail.

Shocks are working out nice, I am just shy of being able to use all 14" of travel in the front.

 

[alaska60]

Sick billies brother..... flex looks awesome too.

 

[StevoJonesFJ60]

Finished up the brakes last night, got em all pumped up and ready to go. Later this week I'll get the front driveshaft welded up and then start to work on getting the motor running again.

Is there anything I should do to prep the motor to run? It's been sitting for a few months.

 

[alaska60]

2f should fire with a battery to it. maybe pump the gas pedal a bit and pray.......
it'll fire right up!
Its a bomb proof 2f steveo!

 

[StevoJonesFJ60]

That's what I figured. Just wanted to make sure there wasn't anything else to look out for.

Tomorrow I am off to get a new rear driveshaft made, and hopefully before the weekend I'll get my new radiator delivered.
Mine is on its way out and I wouldn't want it to take another head gasket with it.

If the rad shows up i'll be able to hook up the engine completely. It sure would be nice to take it for a spin over the weekend.

 

[alaska60]

you must be excited being so close to the end......other than the 6bt of course.

 

[haryv]

Pretty crazy. Seems some one is bucking the recession in NJ and having fun.

Honestly, to have this kind of space to work on a truck like yours here in Vancouver BC, you either have to own a house with a garage or rent shop space. Shop space in the lower income city where I live vs Vancouver, a single car or maybe two space would rent from $1,500-2,000 per month.

Atib land cruisers in Burnaby BC pays $5,000 per month to rent there space. Your lucky you get to use it for free.

What type of mechanical engineering do you do?

 

[StevoJonesFJ60]

you must be excited being so close to the end......other than the 6bt of course.

I hear ya, the 6BT is gonna be great but I definitely want to get some use out of this truck at this stage.

 

[StevoJonesFJ60]

Pretty crazy. Seems some one is bucking the recession in NJ and having fun.

Honestly, to have this kind of space to work on a truck like yours here in Vancouver BC, you either have to own a house with a garage or rent shop space. Shop space in the lower income city where I live vs Vancouver, a single car or maybe two space would rent from $1,500-2,000 per month.

Atib land cruisers in Burnaby BC pays $5,000 per month to rent there space. Your lucky you get to use it for free.

What type of mechanical engineering do you do?

Somebody has to fight this recession, its too bad there really aren't that many local places, with the exception of Napa and Tractor Supply that I have been buying from.

About the shop space, I think how fortunate I am every time I work on the truck. The best part is not only the space but having access to the tools and equipment. Forklifts are so handy for working on lifted trucks. As long as I reimburse the company for any supplies I use they are happy, which makes me happy.

I design ductwork systems for a small HVAC company, not that great of a job. But it does allow me to fund my project and there is plenty of downtime so I get to search MUD for some good ideas.

 

[StevoJonesFJ60]

Found a picture of Bronson next to a friends fzj80.

My truck is a lil bit taller than his.

 

[StevoJonesFJ60]

New radiator arrived today and looks great. www.Radiatorbarn.com is where I got it from.
Free next day shipping and comes with a lifetime guarantee.

Should be installed this weekend,

 

[StevoJonesFJ60]

New radiator is in, along with the PS cooler. I would have had the power steering wrapped up tonight but I stripped the threads out on the box.
I'll have to swap my spare one over. Still waiting on my rear driveshaft. Hopefully that will be finished next week,

 

[StevoJonesFJ60]

No work today, I could have finished the power steering lines and replaced the box. But I decided wheeling the Cummins was a more fun plan.

It only has 2WD right now so its not great in the mud, but it is nice to do some laps around the place with wet conditions.

I love this motor, and can't wait till it gets swapped into the cruiser.

 

[klinetime574]

hehe that thing looks hilarious. Not very muddy though

 

[StevoJonesFJ60]

It was after I washed it, it only made it about 50 ft into a muddy field before the rear axle sunk in.
Had to get pulled out with a tractor.

Once the 60 is finished i'll work on getting it more offroadable.

 

[klinetime574]

It was after I washed it, it only made it about 50 ft into a muddy field before the rear axle sunk in.
Had to get pulled out with a tractor.

Once the 60 is finished i'll work on getting it more offroadable.

haha. Everyone here is pumped about your 60. Every time I click on your thread I get excited that you may have this thing going.

I remember what it looked like originally. It has come a longgggg way. Good work man.

 

[StevoJonesFJ60]

So much for getting a driveshaft made up at a local shop.

The guy wanted $700 dollars for a new shaft, needless to say I'll be stopping by to pick my old driveshaft up later this week.

I went ahead and ordered one of marlin crawler's hd rear driveshafts instead.
for around $350 I'll have a completely new shaft made up in a few days.

Only thing is I will need to redrill my flanges to accept the v6 mini-truck pattern. Not a big deal considering I have access to a local machine shop.

 

[StevoJonesFJ60]

haha. Everyone here is pumped about your 60. Every time I click on your thread I get excited that you may have this thing going.

I remember what it looked like originally. It has come a longgggg way. Good work man.

I wish it was running too, you have no idea how bad I want to take this out.
Its all the little nonsense that kills time.

 

[StevoJonesFJ60]

Engine is well on its way to being running, last night with the help of a friend, I managed to get all of the coolant lines hooked up, all of the electrical lines hooked up, and about half of the emissions finished.

I didn't have my emissions manual with me so I'll have to bring that thursday. hopefully then I can finish up the emissions and get the clutch and fuel lines completed.

If my driveshaft shows up this week I might even be able to drive it around this weekend.

Also for those following this build, what are your recommendations on drilling out flanges? Leave them on the truck or pull them?
Also about the pinion flange, If I pull it off will that mess up the preload on the pinion?

 

[StevoJonesFJ60]

Oh, also I had to ghetto rig up my top coolant hose a bit to clear the Saginaw pump I installed.

And fortunately, I realized that I did not strip the threads on my other steering box. I pulled the one on the frame and replaced it with the old FJ60 box I had laying around. I then realized that the fittings are different sizes after all that work.
I had been trying to thread the high pressure side into the low side all along.

It is sometimes a big relief to learn that the trucks not broken, but rather I'm an idiot.