Techster’s 1973 FJ55 buildup...
- Thread starter treerootCO
- Start date
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Why the little pig didn't get more done over winter break:
The wife wanted to move our home office into our daughter's old room. I had to paint over sky blue with clouds, pull up the old carpet, install hardwood, and build built-in bookcases.
My half -
The wife wanted to move our home office into our daughter's old room. I had to paint over sky blue with clouds, pull up the old carpet, install hardwood, and build built-in bookcases.
My half -
Body is done for a while. It's in paint and clear coat. Next time you see it it'll be on the frame.
I mocked up the 3 link w/ panhard. The links are my old cage tubing for mock up. They'll be 1.75x.375w with QA2 heims. The links all clear each other through more than enough travel. The numbers on the 3-link calc look good, near as I can tell. I need some measurements from a TJ and a SOA pig to get the upper spring buckets places.
The panhard is just bungeed in place to find the angle and length.
I mocked up the 3 link w/ panhard. The links are my old cage tubing for mock up. They'll be 1.75x.375w with QA2 heims. The links all clear each other through more than enough travel. The numbers on the 3-link calc look good, near as I can tell. I need some measurements from a TJ and a SOA pig to get the upper spring buckets places.
The panhard is just bungeed in place to find the angle and length.
jeez...you're not done yet? comon man. what've you been doin? mocking up another cool classroom? 
Made a little progress.
Got the engine placed in the frame so I can begin new motor and trans mounts.
Burned in the lower link frame side mounts.
Mounted the rear bumper.
Got a good start on the panhard brackets.
Mounted a tire and checked the clearance to the lower links.
Moving along.
Got the engine placed in the frame so I can begin new motor and trans mounts.
Burned in the lower link frame side mounts.
Mounted the rear bumper.
Got a good start on the panhard brackets.
Mounted a tire and checked the clearance to the lower links.
Moving along.
Got a little done after school today.
Got the motor on the mounts. Raised up 2" from before for flatter bottom.
Built a damn sexy trans mount for the 203 GRB. No pics. Forgot the camera at home and might get a 35% warning. I have a pair of students who are working on the fabrication project part of the advanced class. They were trying to bend a tube mount but I didn't like what they came up with in the end. I used their bends, but built it way different. Tomorrow they can make some tabs for the frame and get it mounted up. We'll powdercoat the mount tomorrow too.
the plan for tomorrow is to get the frame under the body. That means the engine and trans have to be in and right.
I set the springs between the frame and axle and lowered the weight down on them. I got a good idea how much they will collapse under the weight of the drive train. I can start fabbing up the spring mounts now too. The best news is that the springs didn't try to kick out in any direction. the three link and panhard seem to be locating everything just fine.
edit - I also managed to use an Elmers paint pen to paint the TOYOTA on the grill today too. Looks pretty cool although I do like the silver background with the black letters better.
Got the motor on the mounts. Raised up 2" from before for flatter bottom.
Built a damn sexy trans mount for the 203 GRB. No pics. Forgot the camera at home and might get a 35% warning. I have a pair of students who are working on the fabrication project part of the advanced class. They were trying to bend a tube mount but I didn't like what they came up with in the end. I used their bends, but built it way different. Tomorrow they can make some tabs for the frame and get it mounted up. We'll powdercoat the mount tomorrow too.
the plan for tomorrow is to get the frame under the body. That means the engine and trans have to be in and right.
I set the springs between the frame and axle and lowered the weight down on them. I got a good idea how much they will collapse under the weight of the drive train. I can start fabbing up the spring mounts now too. The best news is that the springs didn't try to kick out in any direction. the three link and panhard seem to be locating everything just fine.
edit - I also managed to use an Elmers paint pen to paint the TOYOTA on the grill today too. Looks pretty cool although I do like the silver background with the black letters better.
I brought a BUNCH of stuff to the same guy(Delavan) to get powdercoated. Nice work he did tho.
I'd like to not have to cut off much of the fender lip since they're actually good on this body, but I doubt I'll have a lot of choice. We'll see once the body is on the other frame.
The inside is a mess. Nothing lines up for more than a few inches. It'll be plenty to weld to and I can cover it with a inside panel.
lil helpers are handy sometimes.
other times, not so much
Must be nice to have free labor...
I read this whole thread, and now must contact Ming. Thanks Gumby..
awesome
Brought the camera, forgot the memory card 
Finished the trans mount tabs and welded them on. Welded the last two slider tubes on. Still have to cut and fit gussets for them. primered the back 2/3 of the frame and painted it.
Dropped the body down on and cut the floor out to clear the raised transfer cases. It's sitting pretty close to right. I'll have the body bolted down soon.
Crappy phone pics for now.
Finished the trans mount tabs and welded them on. Welded the last two slider tubes on. Still have to cut and fit gussets for them. primered the back 2/3 of the frame and painted it.
Dropped the body down on and cut the floor out to clear the raised transfer cases. It's sitting pretty close to right. I'll have the body bolted down soon.
Crappy phone pics for now.
busy day today.
gusseted all 10 slider mounts. I'm mounting the cage off the sliders so it needs to be strong.
Rebuilt the upper spring perches in the rear. I built them to take compression only at first. I found I really liked the way the truck behaved when the springs were captured on top and bottom so they took a lot more downward stresses. They'll do better now.
Got most of the mounts in and tightened up. The two in the center go through the body so i'll need a hand to do those. One of the ones in front needs the threads chased and I didn't have a 10x1.25 die handy.
I should have gotten busy fabbing front spring perches, but I got distracted putting the right vent/light on. What a big difference in how it looks.
gusseted all 10 slider mounts. I'm mounting the cage off the sliders so it needs to be strong.
Rebuilt the upper spring perches in the rear. I built them to take compression only at first. I found I really liked the way the truck behaved when the springs were captured on top and bottom so they took a lot more downward stresses. They'll do better now.
Got most of the mounts in and tightened up. The two in the center go through the body so i'll need a hand to do those. One of the ones in front needs the threads chased and I didn't have a 10x1.25 die handy.
I should have gotten busy fabbing front spring perches, but I got distracted putting the right vent/light on. What a big difference in how it looks.
Then I started putting other things on with the excuse that I needed to find the right tailgate hinge so I needed to thin out the pile of parts.
Put the tailgate together except for the regulator and glass.
Treeroot sent me the wrong back up lenses. He sent me round ones. I think I'll just put some fog lights in the holes. i don't have a back up light switch on my shifter anyway.
The reflectors were trashed. I thought about routing the exhaust through there, but that's a little to pimped out. I'll find some different reflectors.
Put the tailgate together except for the regulator and glass.
Treeroot sent me the wrong back up lenses. He sent me round ones. I think I'll just put some fog lights in the holes. i don't have a back up light switch on my shifter anyway.
The reflectors were trashed. I thought about routing the exhaust through there, but that's a little to pimped out. I'll find some different reflectors.
Got the dash mostly in. I can't find the bolts to the instrument cluster and I have to take a bunch back out because I found a vinyl dash cap for the pad. The wiring's mostly hooked up. I think I'll switch over to the 73 steering column but keep the early mini truck wheel. It's wired to the back, but not all wired up back there.
I installed the master and the blower motor. I threw the clutch master on too, mostly to cover the hole in the fire wall. The windshield wipers are all in, although I feel like the kid in Christine installing wipers before the windshield.
looking good
I had the springs out so I checked the stuff. This is with the bump stop all the way mashed
Was the drivers rear at full droop in this pic? If so...nice!
Looks nice. Starting to look like a truck again. Shake down run in a couple weeks?
It'll be a lot longer than a couple of weeks. Probably a couple of months.
People keep saying how nice it is that I have all these little helpers. I got more done today because they were gone than I can get done in a month of their help.
I still have a bunch of stuff to do to the front. It's getting there, but it'll start slowing down now.
People keep saying how nice it is that I have all these little helpers. I got more done today because they were gone than I can get done in a month of their help.
I still have a bunch of stuff to do to the front. It's getting there, but it'll start slowing down now.
Mystery pig
I am definately going to contact the pig I sent you a message about.
also, is that the "stock" location for the hub sticker, on the heater?.
I am definately going to contact the pig I sent you a message about.
also, is that the "stock" location for the hub sticker, on the heater?.