Tear Down / Build Up

mattstoy · Aug 28, 2008

Tub is off! I have to say, I am happy with what I see as far as the condition of the frame. The body, has alot more "spots" then i would have thought, but most is from where the PO cover the rusted parts with new metal. Not sure why if he was going to take the time to weld in new, why he never cut out the old? Oh well, overall I am still happy with what I am seeing. Could always be worse

mattstoy · Aug 28, 2008

pics ddint make it... here

mattstoy · Nov 10, 2008

Geez, I just realized it’s been over 2 months since my last post. I realize this thread is probably boring to some (I am sure a lot of you have seen this stuff a million times), but I plan to keep it going so as I can keep a log of the process for myself.

So to catch up… after the body was off and neatly stored away (ha-ha see pic). I snapped a few pics of my rust spots (most of it being expansion were two peices come together such as the frame boxing & rear spring perch. Howere the Frt x-member is totally shot :doh:

) I have decided that instead of investing in all the blasting equipment and dealing with the mess, that I am just going to take the frame somewhere and have it blasted & have the rusted rot sections cut out and new steel welded in. I can weld, but I don’t know if I trust my welding abilities enough to perform the needed surgery. I want to know the frame is solid and done right!

fj40er · Nov 10, 2008

Keep up the Great work ! ! ! !

mattstoy · Nov 10, 2008

Here is how the Tub and Engine are being stored. I still am baffles as to how an engine stand can support all that weight with only 4 bolts holding the engine on there. I keep expexcting to come out one day and see the engine on the floor and the block craked were those bolts pulled out. I guess I will chalk it up to PFM (pure f-ing magic)

mattstoy · Nov 10, 2008

Time to pull the engine and trany/transfer. I decided to invest in an I-beam trolley and chain hoist. End up costing me $40 more then renting a cheery picker for 1 weekend. But this way I have something to lift with whenever needed. No issues pulling out the Transmission and transfer case. And the engine was pretty simply as well. Not sure why I kept putting it off as much as I did. I did have a hard time getting the fly wheel off though. I just could not break those bolts loose. I tried a wrench on the crank shaft and heat on the bolts. That didn’t work. I ended up jamming a 2x4 between the fly wheel and bell housing. With a lot of heat, lube & that 2’ pipe on the end of my breaker bar, I was able to bust them loose (what a PITA). So I now have the engine on a stand and also tucked neatly away

mattstoy · Nov 10, 2008

Man the last few weeks have just been extremely busy, the Cruiser has sat without being touched for over 3 weeks. I was finally able last Friday (my night designated to the cruiser) to get some more parts removed. I was able to get a good start on the front axle removal. I have most of the steering linkage removed or ready to be encouraged to be removed. By that I mean, I am really struggling with heim joints. The cotter pins that go in the bolt to keep the nut from coming loose are rusted so bad that they snap as soon as I try to wiggle them lose. So I have resorted back to the sawsall and cut the bolt, figuring I will be replacing the joint any ways. Well, even after cutting the bolts, I am still struggling with getting those bolts out. I figure this week I will be able to get some heat on them and us the BFH and knock them out.

mattstoy · Nov 10, 2008

Now a question.... Are there any tricks to getting the pitman arm off the steering box? I tried a puller but I snaped it. I used heat & alot of lube and still nothing? Any ideas? :bang:

Coolerman · Nov 10, 2008

I used PB Blaster to soak the area, then used a large Craftsman puller, and an air hammer with a blunt tip on the back side of the arm. Tightened the puller while hammering on the back side with the air hammer. Popped off after a few attempts. Heat can also help, just don't melt the seal!

mattstoy · Dec 20, 2008

Catching up…. I have removed all the steering linkage. All the heim joints were pretty much cut off. Those things were a real PITA! After I removed all the linkage I moved to the suspension and front axle. I was thinking that the leaf springs would be easy to remove. WRONG!!! I started with the shackles. The nuts came off very easy, but the pins were a different story. I tried everything to persuade those pins out. After about 1hour of getting nowhere, I decided that I would try and remove the stationary shackle. Once again the nuts came off easy, but those darn pins would just not move. I was able to get one side out with a homemade tool. I used some nuts and bolts and put them in the shackle pin plates, thru the hole where the original smaller bolts that hold the pin plate from backing out. This allowed me to get a big wrench on the pin and turn it a bit while pulling on it at the same time.

mattstoy · Dec 20, 2008

. I was not so lucky on the other side. I finally came to the conclusion that these pins are going to be replaced with the new springs, so I might as well make things easy and cut them off. Cutting them made it easy pesy, ha-ha. Now that I had the Axle and leafs removed I was able to get to work on the U bolts. I again made it easy on myself and just cut the U bolts right off! Basically repeated the process in the rear, and now pretty much have the frame completely stripped. I have to go back over every thing and remove some misc bolts, drill some bolts out that broke off, & cut off some welded on growths that accumulated over the last 30yrs! In the midst of all this I have decided that the steering components were in rough shape and that when I start building this thing back up, I am going the route of the Saginaw. After a reply from Downey on the following thread, I have decided to use their rebuilt box and mounting plate (https://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series-tech/253528-saginaw-shopping-list.html ). I have an order in to Downey and as soon as the box and plate arrive, I plan to take the frame, box, and mounting plate out to a shop and have it blasted and rot removed. While its there, I am going to have the shop fab me a new frt x-member set up for the sag box. I am nearing the end of the tear down part. Now comes the real slow down….. And that’s the building it back up! Going to be slow, b/c $$$$ will play a big part in the time line of things! I have some pics on the camera, that I will try and follow up with later this weekend!

DanS HJ-45 · Dec 20, 2008

That's good progress! Keep going!

For rust, I say skip the WD-40 and PB Blaster. Just go buy yourself a case or two of AeroKroil (Kroil). I think it works WAY better than the others.

Good man for just buying a hoist. Renting tools is OK when they are uber expensive, but I firmly believe that having the tools to do it yourself (again) will pay off sooner rather than later. Not to mention: now you aren't on a deadline to get the engine pulled, the engine installed, etc...

Dan

bsmith123 · Dec 20, 2008

steering arm

If you are still having trouble with the pitman you might try a pickle fork ---worked for me

mattstoy · Mar 25, 2009

Wow... everytime I edit this thread, I realize just how long its been since I last posted. Anyway... I am getting ready to get my next update on here, and found my pic of how I got my frame onto my trailer to take to the shop (I am so glad I bought that hoist, it has paid for itself couple time over, since I do most of this stuff myself)

apeterson · Mar 25, 2009

great job!!! love the view out your garage door!!! wish mine was like that.........

I hate looking at other houses!!!

mattstoy · Mar 25, 2009

Thanks! Yes, we out in the coutry & I love it that way! haha However, I am sure its just a matter of time, b/f the fields accross the street get developed

Wow, here again it’s been just about 3 months since the last post (I see a trend developing) my frame is off at the shop, so I have been working on the axles. I have the front axle all but torn down. I still need to get the third member separated from the axle (PITA). I just last night bought some gasket remover. Going to spray that on there and see if it will aid in breaking the seal between the third and the axle. Other then that…..not much to add, as far as description, but I have taken a boat load of pics. Right now I am working on getting the shop ready to start cleaning painting and reassembling. I am on the fence about buying a parts washer, so I am waiting on that. I was able to get my hands on an old oven, so I am going to get set up to start doing some powder coating. Now I just need to get a 220 outlet wired up in the garage and place an order to the Eastwood Company to get a powder coating kit. I am thinking that with spring coming and all the yard work I see in the next few weeks, things are going to be going even slower here in the next few weeks. But, the way I look at that…. Just more time to save some money, as I know parts are going to start draining me real soon!