Builds The 60/40 Project (4 Viewers)

[60 40]

But I still had an issue with the under dash parking break to the 60 series axels.....

As fate would have it a fellow mudder reached out to me with an offer to purchase my stock front and rear seats, I was really torn after getting these to work and also love how they looked but needed a place for the parking break and some whiplash protection so out with the old and in with the new.

 

[60 40]

Back to my former employers metal shop for me to make up some new seat bracketts...

 

[60 40]

Seating and parking break are now done but as often happens there's an issue, now the steering wheel is in the way of my knee as I try and shift from accelerator to break pedal so may need to get a smaller steering wheel?

Also in preparation of first start I installed the muffler and tail pipe I used to run that set off car alarms, it's just a place holder and how I can eventually explain to a shop how I don't what it done.

Some remaining challenges including final spring perch to axel welding and installation of the 60 series top hats which will require a different spring pin and lastly my nemesis from the start the dreaded driver's side front shock tower, waffling between a couple scenarios on this one.

Remaining to purchase are some drive shafts (or shorten and lengthen the 60 series ones I have), Bilstein shocks, a battery and all fluids to fill and bleed everything.

Basically almost done!

 

[60 40]

Well shoot there went six mouths.....been procrastinating on pulling the axels and detuning the super heavy OME spring packs. Getting started going in reverse on the project was hard to excited about plus I needed to get a floor jack and find a way to spin the 40 in order to pull the rear axel.....well winter is here and it's time for crab and I bought my first ever personal floor jack!

 

[60 40]

Spun the 40, pulled the axel and built a wooden ramp to load it in the Subaru and down to the metal shop it went. I helped my welder buddy install a lift on his Forerunner in exchange for some nice welds! While there I modified a Ford shock tower to outboard and ground a little more of the drivers side fender to fit it.

 

[60 40]

I detuned the springs and got new center pins and caster shims from Cruiser Brouthers per Nolan's @wngrog recommendations. Man drilling out those springs for the 3/8" center pins at home sucked up several hours and a couple drill bits! Next time I'll take it to the shop and do it for sure. Probably also shed 50# with all the leaves I removed. Now I can compress the suspension by just pushing down on the bumper, definitely going to be a softer ride than stock.

Reinstalled the axels and on to the shock tower.

Also made a little backer plate to help install the bolts in the frame for the shock tower and got it installed. This is huge, getting the shock tower fit has been one of the hardest parts to do without just hacking up the fender. Got the fenders and bib reinstalled and since I was on a roll replaced the turn indicators with new ones I got from City Racer, really worth it as the old ones where likely original and totally oxidized. The new ones had details I never saw in the old lenses!

Was really nice to start moving forward on new items!

 

[wngrog]

A drill press makes that job much easier

Good work.

 

[60 40]

A drill press makes that job much easier

Good work.

Thanks, suspension is much more supple now.

Drill press would have saved a bunch of time and at the metal shop I can use the mill, just wasn't sure what a PITA it was going to be. Learned something new.

Merry Christmas!

 

[Green Bean]

Thanks, suspension is much more supple now.

Drill press woul have saved a bunch of time and at the metal shop I can use the mill, just wasn't sure what a PITA it was going to be. Learned something new.

Merry Christmas!

I ruined a bunch of bits when I drilled out our front leaf springs for the new pins. After I finally finished one side, I took the other to a machine shop where they made quick work of it. It sure helps to have the right tool for the job.

 

[60 40]

Well shoot there goes another year and still not driving my 40. Work and recovering from work with fishing took the priority. Breaks were spent watching other builds and absorbing the collective Muddy Wisdom in preparation for first startup.

One of the most recent challenges was that when I decided to install the 60 power steering and the Ford shock tower I flipped both shock mounts and welding them to the axel. This worked great for the Ford shock tower side but I decided to keep the stock tower on the passenger side so had to flip the mount on the axel somehow....after much debate and waffling on how to resolve this properly I just drilled out and cut off the axel shock mount and reused the bolt on shock mount from the cut off drivers side tower. Got an extra set of Ford towers and will see.......if the non symmetry bothers me I can deal with it in the future.

 

[60 40]

Other than that, bled that breaks and clutch, filled the diffs, tranny and transfer case, half filled the coolant and resolved any leaks!

Got a new battery and hooked it up, horn and most lights work and no smoke from the harness!

Still need a few valve cover seals, air cleaner fasteners and other this and that electrical, power steering fluid and fuel line related but will fill and circulate the oil then add gas or use a small side tank and try and start this thing (for the first time in a long time) in the near future.

Merry Christmas!

 

[60 40]

And time continues to pass by....I've got updates for the last six months.

Fishing has been pretty good!

 

[60 40]

And onto the 40 Tech

I finally received and installed my super slick Vintage Tec choke cable.

 

[60 40]

Took the 60 series drive shafts from the doner truck to a local drive shaft place and they lengthened the front and shortened the rear.

 

[60 40]

Adjusted the valves, did a compression check but only did a wet check got some high and very different numbers hope they even out once it gets running and I can recheck.....

160
140
150
120
120
170

Been using the starter motor and low range to move it in and out of the garage now that I have drive shafts and added gas to the tank but can't get the fuel to flow. Ordered and new fuel pump and battery tray from Cruiser Outfitters and it arrived promptly.

 

[60 40]

Quick install and we are caught up to today.

 

[60 40]

Put the battery back in, poured in a couple gallons of gas, turned it over a few cranks and got gas but no ignition....reconnected the distributer to coil wire I've been removing to drive by starter...

Gave it few more cranks and it STARTED UP AND RAN!!!!

DANG how awesome just idling along nice and smooth like a sewing machine...wow!

Tried to post a video but the best I can do are these crappy screen shots of its glorious smoky first startup in over 21 years, sure its different motor and running gear and all.

Still have some things to address most importantly is when I touch the throttle the RPMs pick up real quick and I need shut the vehicle off immediately. When I restart again ( no throttle) it idles fine till I try and give it gas.......I'm suspecting a throttle return spring or something but the linkage appears to be retracting when I test it with the engine off.

Donno carb might need rebuilding but I'll try and figure out the issue here on Mud first.

 

[charliemeyer007]

Those people that wake up after a transplant are just happy to be alive, they don't care that they are running on used parts.