Build The Architect's '77 FJ40

[MrMoMo]

A good set of cable cutters are worth the price. I have cut through years worth of up to 4/0 cable with these, with no problem.

Klein is a good brand name, probably available at you local Home Depot for about $35.. Look like this:

 

[SSCR]

Very nice work on the cables!

 

[78fj40mg]

Here was what I was doing on New Year's Eve.

My 40 get's a new Starter, Ground, and Winch leads using 1/0 welding cable.

View attachment 1011773


Before:
View attachment 1011772

After:
View attachment 1011774
View attachment 1011779

Excellent work!!
How many feet of cable did you purchase?

 

[GA Architect]

Excellent work!!
How many feet of cable did you purchase?

Thanks! Being such a good price, I bought 25 feet. I have two additional ground leads to complete, the starter to the frame and engine to frame. I should still have about 3 to 5 feet left after all cables are completed.

 

[GA Architect]

I forgot about the heater blower motor resistor replacement I did back in November. The original blower motor resistor had a broken post, replaced it with an Ohmite L50J1R0. Fabricated new brackets, installed a 3/8" X 4-1/2" bolt, washers, nuts, new female terminals, and with a little paint, looks and works better than it did.

Before:

After:

 

[GA Architect]

Finished up the electrical connection on my alternator and installed Coolerman's new plug.
Before:

After:

 

[GA Architect]

Finished fabricating and adding my new grounding cables, one for the starter to the frame and one for the engine to the frame.

For the Starter ground, I had to drill out the 3/8" terminal lug to accept the 10mm bolt on the starter.

For the Engine ground, I just took one of the easily accessible bolts that attaches my power steering pump to the engine block and I added an 8mm bolt to the frame in an open hole.

 

[GA Architect]

Some parts from Warn Winch came in yesterday. Here is what I did last night and this morning. It isn't a full rebuild of my winch, but more of cosmetic upgrade.

Package I got from Warn:

Photos before the upgrade:

 

[GA Architect]

Here is the photos of after my winch up grades. New control box cover, installed Raychem shrink wrap on the motor wires, used new stainless steel clamps, installed new boots on the motor terminals, and used stainless steel bolts to finish it up.

Yep, I painted the flip cover black...it was brown (rust)...Just me, "making it mine".

 

[tls3601]

Very nice work.....now we are all wanting to upgrade our connections!

 

[GA Architect]

Very nice work.....now we are all wanting to upgrade our connections!

Well, I'm not totally done with the winch work. I'm going to re-spool that cable to clean the look up a bit.

Next for my 40, I'm looking for side mirrors, and some good ones at that. I'm trying to source a set of these, Euro mirrors (87901-90803 & 87902-90803).

Any one ever installed the Euro Style mirrors on their rig to replace their OEM ones? If so, are you happy with them?


Anybody ever install these from SOR?

 

[sggoat]

So I finished up a modification I started a month or so ago, installed my Toyota JDM AE86 steering wheel. For anyone needing a poor man's way of removing the steering wheel, well I got the answer. First, find two M8x25MM bolts, two washers, and one big washer or other small piece of metal.
View attachment 1007581

First, remove the center covering of the steering wheel. Install the two M8's and washers, but don't tighten them down yet. Place the larger washer or piece of metal below the bolts/washer and torque each bolt till the steering wheel pops up.

View attachment 1007582


Original steering wheel:
View attachment 1007583

New Toyota JDM AE86 steering wheel:
View attachment 1007584
View attachment 1007585

What are you going to do with that useless, old OEM steering wheel?

 

[GA Architect]

What are you going to do with that useless, old OEM steering wheel?

Hang it in my office, along with my kids art, kids photos, convention badges, the first dollar I made for my business, Hooters koozie, golf photos, business license, Architectural license, old wooden golf clubs, deer heads and antler mounts.

 

[Honger]

Hang it in my office, along with my kids art, kids photos, convention badges, the first dollar I made for my business, Hooters koozie, golf photos, business license, Architectural license, old wooden golf clubs, deer heads and antler mounts.

Sheesh... it'll fit right in!

 

[BU5H P1G]

View attachment 1015451

I would recommend discarding the steel winch cable and replacing with the new sythetic types. Weight reduction and serviceability far outweighs the old steel 'hand shredder' cable

 

[G-Cat]

I would recommend discarding the steel winch cable and replacing with the new sythetic types. Weight reduction and serviceability far outweighs the old steel 'hand shredder' cable

Tough to keep the synthetic out of sun/UV damage on the old Warns...UV significantly reduces synthetic's life-span.

 

[FJ404345]

Very nice thread GA,

Keep up the good work !

 

[GA Architect]

I would recommend discarding the steel winch cable and replacing with the new sythetic types. Weight reduction and serviceability far outweighs the old steel 'hand shredder' cable

Yes, I'll probably get rid of the steel cable for the synthetic.....I'll be researching that in the near future.

Tough to keep the synthetic out of sun/UV damage on the old Warns...UV significantly reduces synthetic's life-span.

For 99.9% of the time my rig's winch sits under a Warn cover, thus UV probably wouldn't a problem.

 

[MrMoMo]

I got mine here: http://www.winchline.com (no affiliation)

Mine came with the last 8 feet of line covered with a sleeve, so when it's wrapped on the winch drum the line is not exposed to UV, and the last drum wrap protects the layers below...

I believe this is the one I got....
http://www.winchline.com/3-8-x-100-winch-line-with-fairlead-thimble/

 

[Racer65]

Well, I'm not totally done with the winch work. I'm going to re-spool that cable to clean the look up a bit.

Next for my 40, I'm looking for side mirrors, and some good ones at that. I'm trying to source a set of these, Euro mirrors (87901-90803 & 87902-90803).

Any one ever installed the Euro Style mirrors on their rig to replace their OEM ones? If so, are you happy with them?


Anybody ever install these from SOR?

Are those SOR mirrors the same as Euro mirrors in the first photo or different? The SOR site says these are convex mirrors. Not sure if that's a good thing or if it'll just get annoying.

Otherwise, I like the design of the arm; it looks like the mirror would be held in place firmly. My main complaint with the OEM mirror is that it gets out of position easily.