Builds Stretched 1-Ton FJ40

[peesalot]

Remind me which rims you chose ? Look great. While you hear tire chirp I hear aluminum grinding, where is that tank protection, I'd build something so you can drop that thing and not worry.

 

[Ditcherman]

Okay Dennis and others, I launched it in 2nd gear and I was pretty sure that was going to be the end of me and the Cruiser given that I didn’t have a roll cage, seat belts or seats for that matter.

It chirped for a slight moment and launched like a rocket. The front end lifted up so fast and high that it felt like a drag car about to catch air, or a small airplane preparing for lift off. I thought for sure that I was going to lift, or maybe it did. It throws those tires around like they are stock. None of this was caught on camera. We don’t need evidence.

When it peeled out the rear axle hooked like it was solid; no jumps, shutters or any kind of wrap that I could feel. It simply hooked up and took off. Wow. What a difference. This thing has NEVER felt that smooth and hooked. I was holding on for dear life as I kept throttling (yeah, I couldn’t help it). It came down smoothly and straight when I decelerated, which was a pleasant surprise. It used to jump around a bit when I (theoretically) did that sort of thing with it, but not anymore.

I need seat belts.

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I can't remember - did you run your suspension stuff through a calculator? Just curious if you know your anti squat number, and if you targeted a number on purpose. I'm going with the assumption that this is why it felt like a takeoff.

It seems everything is a compromise and as I wind down (hopefully!!) my suspension I have compromised towards a pretty low rear anti squat number to get other things working the way I want.

 

[Mike Shull]

Looks mean. This is great. You are getting ready to really light up the neighbors driveway. .

Thanks! I can’t wait to get some tube welded in. It’s going to be sweet!

Remind me which rims you chose ? Look great. While you hear tire chirp I hear aluminum grinding, where is that tank protection, I'd build something so you can drop that thing and not worry.

Those are 17x9 forged beadlock wheels from Sidetracked Off Road at $375 each. The spare is cast at $325. The aluminum doesn’t hit going around the block. You just wait. I have some amazing plans for the rear.

I can't remember - did you run your suspension stuff through a calculator? Just curious if you know your anti squat number, and if you targeted a number on purpose. I'm going with the assumption that this is why it felt like a takeoff.

It seems everything is a compromise and as I wind down (hopefully!!) my suspension I have compromised towards a pretty low rear anti squat number to get other things working the way I want.

Yeah, I used my scientific calculator. It’s 92%/88% front to rear. It didn’t squat or dive. It stood straight up and launched. I bet it only lifted a few inches but it still surprised me. With leaf springs It used to do a funky twist of the body/frame like a long nosed drag car, front-right up and left-rear down, and it was squirrley when I lifted the throttle. All of that seems to be gone.

I don’t have any nitrogen in the shocks yet so there isn’t any damping at all so I expect the lift will be tamed.

 

[Mike Shull]

Something else to note is that my rear springs have zero preload on them at the moment. They have compressed a little but there is another 1-1500 lbs of weight to add to the rear before I am able to tighten my adjusters.

 

[Mike Shull]

The joke is over and I can’t stand those bulky turn signals any longer. I don’t want to put early model signals on it either. I’m looking for a dual purpose LED floodlight/turn signal and the LED market is overwhelming with options. There were 5 options the last time that I purchased off road lights. Ha!

I’m thinking about using something like this:XP-ULTRA Series 3 Inch 84W LED Combo Pod Light Off Road Lights with White DRL&Amber Turn Signal Light - https://auxbeam.com/products/3-inch-84w-led-combo-pod-light-off-road-lights-with-white-drl-amber-turn-signal-light

Thoughts and/or recommendations? Is Auxbeam a reputable company?

 

[Ditcherman]

The joke is over and I can’t stand those bulky turn signals any longer. I don’t want to put early model signals on it either. I’m looking for a dual purpose LED floodlight/turn signal and the LED market is overwhelming with options. There were 5 options the last time that I purchased off road lights. Ha!

I’m thinking about using something like this:XP-ULTRA Series 3 Inch 84W LED Combo Pod Light Off Road Lights with White DRL&Amber Turn Signal Light - https://auxbeam.com/products/3-inch-84w-led-combo-pod-light-off-road-lights-with-white-drl-amber-turn-signal-light

Thoughts and/or recommendations? Is Auxbeam a reputable company?

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I don't know but if you're going to stray so far away from FJ40 legitimacy as to replace the turn signals with something else you should just get rid of that 8274 up front and send to to me while you're at it.

 

[Tank5]

The later lights do look big with you custom fenders. The round 60s turn signals you can get if you want to keep it somewhat 40 series constant

 

[Ditcherman]

Here a light I have never seen before.
This is at auction today on BaT, supposedly popular in SA restos.

ETA; I think Tank5 is on to something, it’s the perspective with the fenders, and these wouldn’t fit either.

Those little lights in the link look very practical and would probably fit well.

 

[Mike Shull]

I don't know but if you're going to stray so far away from FJ40 legitimacy as to replace the turn signals with something else you should just get rid of that 8274 up front and send to to me while you're at it.

I see what you are doing there. Nice try but that winch is not for sale. Ha! It’s been in the family since 1974 and it has been on three of our family Cruisers.

The later lights do look big with you custom fenders. The round 60s turn signals you can get if you want to keep it somewhat 40 series constant

Thanks. I do like the 40 series look, though I will order those Auxbeam lights and see how they look on there. I can always install them somewhere else if I don’t like them on the fenders.

 

[Mike Shull]

On another note, I spent about an hour this morning weeding through chase style lights with flashing beams and multicolored options that hook to an app and turn the trail into a disco ball theme. I haven’t been on the trails in about five years. Is this what it’s all about now? Lighted multicolored sticks that bounce around and whip everybody with their beams and flashing strobe lights?

 

[Tank5]

Since you are tending farther away from the classic look I thought these might be ok and not catch on anything with their lower profile.

Speedmetal Flush Mount Turn Signals | 44% ($10.02) Off! - RevZilla

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[Mike Shull]

Since you are tending farther away from the classic look I thought these might be ok and not catch on anything with their lower profile.

Speedmetal Flush Mount Turn Signals | 44% ($10.02) Off! - RevZilla

Closeout Sale! Save 44% ($10.02) today when you shop RevZilla for your Speedmetal Flush Mount Turn Signals! Free Shipping on Orders Over $49.99, Lowest Price Guaranteed & Top of the Line Expert Service.

www.revzilla.com

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These are cool and fit my style. I can’t wait to get all of my chrome blacked out.

 

[Firemedic831]

On another note, I spent about an hour this morning weeding through chase style lights with flashing beams and multicolored options that hook to an app and turn the trail into a disco ball theme. I haven’t been on the trails in about five years. Is this what it’s all about now? Lighted multicolored sticks that bounce around and whip everybody with their beams and flashing strobe lights?

Its a whole new world out there now . Country boys listen to rap . all the hard trail are paved now and you can only run them if you have 40s . Not like back in the day when everything was hard and you only had 31s and no lockers . Take it slow getting back in the game .

 

[Ditcherman]

Its a whole new world out there now . Country boys listen to rap . all the hard trail are paved now and you can only run them if you have 40s . Not like back in the day when everything was hard and you only had 31s and no lockers . Take it slow getting back in the game .

I suppose AI will spot for us now?

 

[archie73]

I have an auxbeam mini light bar on the front of mine. Seems decent for the money.

I’m in favor of the early style bullet lights in the bib. Eliminating the fender lights. Just my opinion.

 

[Firemedic831]

I suppose AI will spot for us now?

Not sure who Al is ? Having a spotter is like having training wheels

 

[Firemedic831]

Ditch the big blinkers . If you must have them get some from the earlier model . Or you could do like i did and get some pods and mount up on the windshield . Agree with Archie. get some bullet lights for the bib

 

[Ditcherman]

Not sure who Al is ? Having a spotter is like having training wheels

A.I., artificial intelligence, sorry that I wasn’t clear on that.

 

[Mike Shull]

You all crack me up. I really enjoy reading through the comments and I hope there has been no harm. I can cut my frame in multiple places, slice my dashboard, and totally replace 100% of my drive terrain, but the purists surface when it comes to those front turn signals.

The way I see it I am already wired for fog lights and I have two ugly holes in my front fenders so I might as well experiment with something 1/2 the size of my stock turn signals. I’ll move the pods to somewhere else if they don’t look right on the fenders. No big deal…but I have a good feeling about this

On another note, my radiator finally shipped this morning!

 

[Firemedic831]

You all crack me up. I really enjoy reading through the comments and I hope there has been no harm. I can cut my frame in multiple places, slice my dashboard, and totally replace 100% of my drive terrain, but the purists surface when it comes to those front turn signals.

The way I see it I am already wired for fog lights and I have two ugly holes in my front fenders so I might as well experiment with something 1/2 the size of my stock turn signals. I’ll move the pods to somewhere else if they don’t look right on the fenders. No big deal…but I have a good feeling about this

On another note, my radiator finally shipped this morning!

Yes. !!!!! Pics of you lighting up the neighbors driveway or it never happened . bounus point if you do a donut in there grass