Builds Stretched 1-Ton FJ40 (4 Viewers)

[Mike Shull]

Rig looks awesome. Motivating me to get back to my project!

The growing season must be coming to a close soon! Thanks!! I’m really excited to get some safety items installed so that I can get this thing out on the road. I.e. seats, seatbelts, cage, etc. I’ve had it up to 40 mph on the secondary roads in 2nd/3rd gear and I can’t wait to see what the rpm’s will be at highway speeds.

 

[Mike Shull]

Here is a glimpse of my comical day. We are 1/2-way through our home remodel projects and I thought that I’d take the Cruiser to a few shops to see if I could get an 4-wheel alignment done since I’ll be driving this on the highway. They both recommend that I go to 4Wheel Parts. Suspicious, I called 4WP while I was at one of the shops to confirm and they do not have an alignment machine. They can only set toe, but they would not touch my Cruiser since it wasn’t stock. I laughed. I can set toe. Both shops seemed mystified and a bit ashamed.

It was a fun experiment that lead me to a new shop right here in Broomfield CO called Altitude Speed and Fab. I’m going to check them out and report back.

The Best Performance Auto Shop | Altitude Speed & Fab

From turbo & supercharger installs, to full engine builds, exhaust modifications, and tuning services - our experts are here for you! Contact us now.

www.altitudespeed.com

Yes, I measured the alignment, and I understand that it’s probably good, but i want it better than good since it will be going 80 mph down the freeway with a camper in tow.

 

[EWheeler]

Here is a glimpse of my comical day. We are 1/2-way through our home remodel projects and I thought that I’d take the Cruiser to a few shops to see if I could get an 4-wheel alignment done since I’ll be driving this on the highway. They both recommend that I go to 4Wheel Parts. Suspicious, I called 4WP while I was at one of the shops to confirm and they do not have an alignment machine. They can only set tow, but they would not touch my Cruiser since it wasn’t stock. I laughed. I can set tow. Both shops seemed mystified and a bit ashamed.

It was a fun experiment that lead me to a new shop right here in Broomfield CO called Altitude Speed and Fab. I’m going to check them out and report back.

The Best Performance Auto Shop | Altitude Speed & Fab

From turbo & supercharger installs, to full engine builds, exhaust modifications, and tuning services - our experts are here for you! Contact us now.

www.altitudespeed.com

Yes, I measured the alignment, and I understand that it’s probably good, but i want it better than good since it will be going 80 mph down the freeway with a camper in tow.

Mike, an alignment on the straight axle is a waste of money IMO. You are cabaple of measuring and adjusting caster and toe. That is all any shop will reasonably be able to do.

And if you want to get really technical, you would need to also align your rear axle, since it is adjustable and affects your vehicle performance at speed. No, I'm not kidding. Just like roll induced steer, you can have mis-alignment of your rear axle that you are fighting constantly.....

 

[Mike Shull]

Mike, an alignment on the straight axle is a waste of money IMO. You are cabaple of measuring and adjusting caster and toe. That is all any shop will reasonably be able to do.

And if you want to get really technical, you would need to also align your rear axle, since it is adjustable and affects your vehicle performance at speed. No, I'm not kidding. Just like roll induced steer, you can have mis-alignment of your rear axle that you are fighting constantly.....

I’m having all 4 wheels aligned.

 

[Mike Shull]

Mike, an alignment on the straight axle is a waste of money IMO. You are cabaple of measuring and adjusting caster and toe. That is all any shop will reasonably be able to do.

And if you want to get really technical, you would need to also align your rear axle, since it is adjustable and affects your vehicle performance at speed. No, I'm not kidding. Just like roll induced steer, you can have mis-alignment of your rear axle that you are fighting constantly.....

I’m honestly getting tired of working on this thing and I’m happy to have someone else dial it in, plus I want to see how close I got it.

 

[clrussell]

I agree with above, you can get this thing really close on your own.

Thrust angle will be the only thing they can change on the rear By changing the link length.

The front they can adjust caster somewhat given your setup. You cannot adjust caster split.

You can adjust front toe in and steering center. There will be no rear axle toe in adjustment

 

[Mike Shull]

I’m not budging here. Ha. I’m just ready to drive this thing and I don’t have any time to work on it until mid-November.

 

[clrussell]

I’m not hassling you for sure. Although most alignment shops wouldn’t touch this.

I Hope they do and do a great job.

 

[Ditcherman]

plus I want to see how close I got it.

I flipped a detachable neck lowboy over years ago and hacked off the nasty walking beam suspension, went to the junkyard and got a couple of air ride axles and threw on it just in time to have the mobile heavy truck alignment guy look at it, who was there to check the other trucks and trailers.
I was worried it might not be able to be adjusted, but he had to explain to me two or three times that when he said "there's nothing I can do for it" he meant it was already perfect.
I hope you're that happy.

 

[Mike Shull]

I’m not hassling you for sure. Although most alignment shops wouldn’t touch this.

I Hope they do and do a great job.

I know that your not and I’m thankful for the raised concerns. Keep them coming. Those prompts have guided me well this far.

I’m probably just a bit grumpy because I am limited with time like all of us and I really want to use my PTO time next year to take this Cruiser to the family cabin. It was the vehicle that we used to travel there in the 80’s and I’d like to see it back there at least one more time. I’ve honestly considered paying the neighbor kids to dial this in and finish it.

 

[Mike Shull]

I flipped a detachable neck lowboy over years ago and hacked off the nasty walking beam suspension, went to the junkyard and got a couple of air ride axles and threw on it just in time to have the mobile heavy truck alignment guy look at it, who was there to check the other trucks and trailers.
I was worried it might not be able to be adjusted, but he had to explain to me two or three times that when he said "there's nothing I can do for it" he meant it was already perfect.
I hope you're that happy.

Sounds like you did great work! I’m hopeful that I’ll get similar results, but I know that it’s off because I’ve taken the lower links and drag link off and I didn’t measure anything when I put it back together. I’m going to have this custom shop do a few other odds and ends while it’s there, like put my lock nuts back on the lower links, finish the A/C and possibly do the exhaust.

I’m satisfied that I’ve taken it this far. Now it’s time to take it on trips.

 

[Mike Shull]

The windshield is in! I dialed the caster in to 5° (it was at zero for some reason) and the toe in a bit. It drives way better.

I have some sort of fuel starvation problem happening that I’ll have to iron out. It starts to surge at 3500 rpm’s in third gear or any gear above 55 mph. I don’t believe that it is vapor locking as it recovers immediately below 55 mph or when I lower the RPMs. I will have to put my scan tool on it and watch the fuel pressure as it surges and see what’s happening then I might check the fuel filter to see if it’s clogged and maybe run some injector cleaner through it but I’m wondering if I use too small of a fuel Line. I will check the size, but I used the smaller of the options recommended for an LS engine. More to come on that in the near future.

Side note, I think that it hit 55 mph in second gear. I was holding on for my life so I couldn’t really look. It’s fun to drive.

 

[Tank5]

It looks great! I like the stance it looks like it has plenty of room for articulation. Great job!

 

[peesalot]

in cab fuel pressure best thing i did with ls.

 

[peesalot]

Stance is sick, that thing will be fun.

 

[Mike Shull]

Thanks, Dennis and Peezy. This thing is so much fun to drive.

I just got back from an hour drive and I got a few bugs on the windshield. I figured out that it must have a speed limiter that is set to 51MPH. It felt like a limiter. I’ll have to have that tuned, which should be no big deal. I have an electronic sending unit otherwise I’d just put a different size gear in there.

 

[Mike Shull]

 

[Ditcherman]

Wow sounds really good!
Also another +1 on the stance.

 

[Mike Shull]

Wow sounds really good!
Also another +1 on the stance.

Thanks! I will as going to lower it but it sounds like I need to leave it alone. It does sound cool. I can’t stop driving it but I need to finish the wiring and hoses under the hood before something moves and gets melted.

 

[AgentOrange]

Thanks! I will as going to lower it but it sounds like I need to leave it alone.

It looks like it's sitting almost exactly in the middle of the coilover stroke, so that's perfect ride height. Agree with everyone that it looks perfect as it