A moment of silence for the war pig.....she led a disfunctional life.
Techster’s 1973 FJ55 buildup... (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter treerootCO
- Start date
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Spent a couple of hours with the needle scaler and the RustMort. Got about half of the frame looking really good. I have to yank the motor and trans to get much more, but that's not hard.
I'll come in this weekend and spray it all with epoxy primer sealer and it'll be looking good for a while. Hopefully, the nice clean paint will be easier to keep clean and easier to work on.
The old pig body is stripped. Only one major catastrophe. Rather than ask where the bolts to the uncracked dash pad were the kids just started peeling the vinyl off. Hopefully I can re-glue it if the foam hasn't been damaged.
I'll come in this weekend and spray it all with epoxy primer sealer and it'll be looking good for a while. Hopefully, the nice clean paint will be easier to keep clean and easier to work on.
The old pig body is stripped. Only one major catastrophe. Rather than ask where the bolts to the uncracked dash pad were the kids just started peeling the vinyl off. Hopefully I can re-glue it if the foam hasn't been damaged.
Glad to see you are making progress, Sucks about the dash.
yooper
SILVER Star
I'm glad you didn't post pics of the dash. I would have to cry. They don't make those any more. 
Body on the frame. I still have work to do to the frame, but I wanted them together so I wouldn't have to try and move them during winter break.
It's about an inch high in the back from where it will sit on the frame and a good 3 inches taller with the drive train out.
It's about an inch high in the back from where it will sit on the frame and a good 3 inches taller with the drive train out.
LC_Hamma
The Anti-Leafer
You & your crew are doing an outstanding job on this build. Can you snap an interior shot in the rear bed area of the side panels/ rear door? With such clean bodywork, what are your plans for body protection - rocker area & fenders?
I'll get some interior shots this week before and after I weld in the inner panels. I made panels with rolled beads to cover the stock openings all the way up to the B pillar. I will weld those in to provide more support for whats left of the rear door. I do have to remember to run the wires to the quarter panel marker lights first.
The body will get a full exo-cage. I'm planning on frame mounted 2X6 sliders with a 2" stickout. I'll build the cage off of those. I'll build something similar around the rear behind the wheel wells. A big reason for putting the body on the frame today was to figure out where I have to cut that area of the wheel well.
The body will get a full exo-cage. I'm planning on frame mounted 2X6 sliders with a 2" stickout. I'll build the cage off of those. I'll build something similar around the rear behind the wheel wells. A big reason for putting the body on the frame today was to figure out where I have to cut that area of the wheel well.
- Joined
- Sep 28, 2002
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- 559
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- Location
- Kamloops, BC Canada
- Website
- www.shopraddcruisers.ca
I'll get some interior shots this week before and after I weld in the inner panels. I made panels with rolled beads to cover the stock openings all the way up to the B pillar. I will weld those in to provide more support for whats left of the rear door. I do have to remember to run the wires to the quarter panel marker lights first.
The body will get a full exo-cage. I'm planning on frame mounted 2X6 sliders with a 2" stickout. I'll build the cage off of those. I'll build something similar around the rear behind the wheel wells. A big reason for putting the body on the frame today was to figure out where I have to cut that area of the wheel well.
I like it alot................
Good idea on the exo if your doing all that body work.
Around these parts they are pretty much manditory with the tight trails.
Crap, fabbing the bumper took a lot longer than I had hoped. I had a couple of big distractions today, but mostly all I did was build the bumper.
The 1/2 x 2 plate is 12 inches long. It sticks through the bumper about 2 inches with a 1" hole for a shackle. It is welded on both sides on the 2x4x.120 and runs down the frame rails 8 inches. It'll be welded around the frame rails to the 2x4 and the 1/2 plate will be welded to the frame too.
The big plates on the side is where the exo will be mounted to. It sticks out along what's left of the quarters about 2". They're boat-sided and boxed in. Should be plenty strong.
The sliders are 2X6 rec tube. They stick out the same 2".
The 1/2 x 2 plate is 12 inches long. It sticks through the bumper about 2 inches with a 1" hole for a shackle. It is welded on both sides on the 2x4x.120 and runs down the frame rails 8 inches. It'll be welded around the frame rails to the 2x4 and the 1/2 plate will be welded to the frame too.
The big plates on the side is where the exo will be mounted to. It sticks out along what's left of the quarters about 2". They're boat-sided and boxed in. Should be plenty strong.
The sliders are 2X6 rec tube. They stick out the same 2".
- Joined
- Sep 28, 2002
- Threads
- 559
- Messages
- 8,120
- Location
- Kamloops, BC Canada
- Website
- www.shopraddcruisers.ca
Crap, fabbing the bumper took a lot longer than I had hoped. I had a couple of big distractions today, but mostly all I did was build the bumper.
The 1/2 x 2 plate is 12 inches long. It sticks through the bumper about 2 inches with a 1" hole for a shackle. It is welded on both sides on the 2x4x.120 and runs down the frame rails 8 inches. It'll be welded around the frame rails to the 2x4 and the 1/2 plate will be welded to the frame too.
The big plates on the side is where the exo will be mounted to. It sticks out along what's left of the quarters about 2". They're boat-sided and boxed in. Should be plenty strong.
The sliders are 2X6 rec tube. They stick out the same 2".
Its always the way as my wife laughs and says double your estimated time and add little more.
Looking sharp.
No pics from today. I looked up and was late for dinner.
Got the front axle out from under the frame. Built a Medusa axle caddy. Bought and picked up a set of TJ coils. Mocked up the coil and shock placement. Ordered a boat load of steel including 1.5x.25 DOM and 1.75x.120 DOM for front links. Patched the P/S rear corner of the roof, the only rusted part that I had to keep.
I also had to buy, stain and poly a bunch of trim for the hardwood floor I installed for the wife x-mas and x-mas eve.
I got the steering swapped from the 45 to the 50 too. The 45 is all set up with the 4x4 labs steering and the sag 4-turn box, but needs a different lower u-joint and a reservoir. The 50 now has the Howe ram assist, but needs the mount welded in the new location, shaft modifications and the axle side ram mount. I need to box in the front crossmember where I had to cut away to locate the box further forward so the relay rod and tie rods wouldn't interfere with each other.
Sounds like a lot more progress than it felt like at the end of the day.
Still waiting on my Pipemaster tube profile gauge I ordered three weeks ago.
Got the front axle out from under the frame. Built a Medusa axle caddy. Bought and picked up a set of TJ coils. Mocked up the coil and shock placement. Ordered a boat load of steel including 1.5x.25 DOM and 1.75x.120 DOM for front links. Patched the P/S rear corner of the roof, the only rusted part that I had to keep.
I also had to buy, stain and poly a bunch of trim for the hardwood floor I installed for the wife x-mas and x-mas eve.
I got the steering swapped from the 45 to the 50 too. The 45 is all set up with the 4x4 labs steering and the sag 4-turn box, but needs a different lower u-joint and a reservoir. The 50 now has the Howe ram assist, but needs the mount welded in the new location, shaft modifications and the axle side ram mount. I need to box in the front crossmember where I had to cut away to locate the box further forward so the relay rod and tie rods wouldn't interfere with each other.
Sounds like a lot more progress than it felt like at the end of the day.
Still waiting on my Pipemaster tube profile gauge I ordered three weeks ago.
Sunday got almost all of the exterior body work done. I thought I could spray some paint, but my parts place sent me the wrong cartridges for my respirator.
Man, I hate body work.
Steel fab for the next couple of days.
Man, I hate body work.
Steel fab for the next couple of days.
Looks even better in person.
If anyone needs body work done Todd has the "ultimate set of tools", and loves to do it. I bet he would do it for free just so he can get his fix.
If anyone needs body work done Todd has the "ultimate set of tools", and loves to do it. I bet he would do it for free just so he can get his fix.
Bastid.
Got it in the final coat of filler primer this morning, wet sanded the whole damn thing one last time. Ignored all the little flaws the best I could. Started spraying the primer for the paint system and blew out a couple of water drops hiding in the cracks so I'm home for lunch. Paint this afternoon.
Steel showed up this morning too. Gotta get going on the 4 link.
Painted primer and blue this afternoon, then home early to build some shelves for the new home office. White and clear tomorrow.
Got it in the final coat of filler primer this morning, wet sanded the whole damn thing one last time. Ignored all the little flaws the best I could. Started spraying the primer for the paint system and blew out a couple of water drops hiding in the cracks so I'm home for lunch. Paint this afternoon.
Steel showed up this morning too. Gotta get going on the 4 link.
Painted primer and blue this afternoon, then home early to build some shelves for the new home office. White and clear tomorrow.
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I've been following this build and am looking forward to the final product.Based on what you've got done in such a short time I guess you'll be wheeling it in a few weeks.Great idea and great skills.
My highly technical question is,how did you do the lettering on the tail gate? Did you use a stencil or do it by hand?
Thanks,
My highly technical question is,how did you do the lettering on the tail gate? Did you use a stencil or do it by hand?
Thanks,
I did use a stencil, but hand would have been easier and cleaner.
Made some progress today. I need to get more blue paint so I couldn't finish the paint today, but it's all in color and the jams are all cleared so I could mount the doors and the tailgate. I also cleared the window areas so I could install the glass. Tomorrow I'll put down the last of the blue and clear the whole thing.
Finding everything and getting it all back together is the next major obstacle. I was doing pretty good today up to the right tailgate pivot.
Finding everything and getting it all back together is the next major obstacle. I was doing pretty good today up to the right tailgate pivot.
Damn. Looks awesome! Cant wait to see the first dent!
I might swing by tomorrow and check it out.....and use one of your hoists
I might swing by tomorrow and check it out.....and use one of your hoists
Bah! Today felt like a wasted day.
I had to dick with an Escort that stalls and drive to the parts store because they had a problem with my account and wouldn't deliver. Must be why I use a different parts store most of the time.
Folks in and out of the shop all day so I couldn't spray. I hope to get that part finished tomorrow.
Stripped the front axle, cut off all the brackets and ground them smooth. Cut the Ford Superduty shock brackets off of my old coil sprung 40 axle to use as axle side lower link tabs. Measured and aligned. Measured and aligned. Ran 3 link numbers. Measured again.
Then home early to build shelves for the wife. Bah.
I had to dick with an Escort that stalls and drive to the parts store because they had a problem with my account and wouldn't deliver. Must be why I use a different parts store most of the time.
Folks in and out of the shop all day so I couldn't spray. I hope to get that part finished tomorrow.
Stripped the front axle, cut off all the brackets and ground them smooth. Cut the Ford Superduty shock brackets off of my old coil sprung 40 axle to use as axle side lower link tabs. Measured and aligned. Measured and aligned. Ran 3 link numbers. Measured again.
Then home early to build shelves for the wife. Bah.
Tried to stop in arouind 3:30 pm yesterday to check on your progress. Sorry I missed ya. Maybe next week.
