Build The Monkey is Back

[cruisermatt]

So is she back home yet or!?!

We’re still getting wrapped up but it’s getting very close.

 

[cruisermatt]

I got really sick which took me completely out of commission for more then a week a few weeks ago, so I am a bit behind on updates here but work has been progressing in the shop. Finally caught up with everything so back to regularly scheduled programming.

I did get the rear differential out rebuilt with new bearings and an Eaton locker.
The cross pin was the worst shape I have seen yet besides all the ones I've sheared clean in my own rig. Somehow the ring/pinion gears were in great shape though.
Axle housing got all new hardware as well since most of it was stripped

 

[cruisermatt]

Terrain Tamer parabolic suspension installed ...

 

[cruisermatt]

In the in the push to get it running/moving, HVAC took a bit of a pause. Justin was back on that this week. We may have gotten a little overboard with the plumbing.

In case I didn't post it we are using a RHD HVAC unit from Austrailia that was basically just a underdash unit and "Good luck!". We honestly prefer to make it all ourselves anyways as most of the plumbing that comes with these types of kits isn't that great.

Everything is very tight between the HVAC and the firewall.
Last pic is the view through the LH kick-vent opening which actually makes a very nice access port to get to all this. Heater hoses are OEM 3FE oil cooler hoses of course.

 

[cruisermatt]

HVAC unit final installed besides wiring.
We had to make the mounting brackets for this as well.

 

[cruisermatt]

Now for the engine bay, starting with the heater lines. The AC kit came with a universal plastic electric heater valve which we tossed immediatly in favor of the OEM and a little bit of custom plumbing

We also elected to punch a oval hole in the firewall rib and use a OEM heater valve grommet to support short sections of hardline (sections of the stainless oil cooler pipes we make)

Hoses are OEM 80 series 1FZ heater hoses

 

[cruisermatt]

 

[cruisermatt]

And finally the AC lines.. We even made sure a intake cone fits so Josh can add one himself at a later date (this one is borrowed from another project)

Finally.. time to pull a vacuum on it.

 

[Chamba]

Fantastic Matt/Justin/Aiden, it's looking really good. I'm getting REALLY excited to get 'er home and finally start enjoying it. Great work.

 

[mdsims]

HVAC unit final installed besides wiring.
We had to make the mounting brackets for this as well.

Looks like the old Clardy style unit

 

[Chamba]

Looks like the old Clardy style unit

I would have loved to get a Vintage Air, but they don't make them for the RHD. This was the best I could find for Correct Hand Drive. It's an Old Air unit. Hopefully it's up the beautiful work Justin did on everything else to make it work.

 

[Jdc1]

I would have loved to get a Vintage Air, but they don't make them for the RHD. This was the best I could find for Correct Hand Drive. It's an Old Air unit. Hopefully it's up the beautiful work Justin did on everything else to make it work.

Old Air is legit.

 

[sadovnik]

Correct Hand Drive

LOL

 

[Chamba]

Cool update Pic from the boys at Matt's Cruiser Spa: it's 92° here, so that's a 50° drop in temp...... well done Justin.

I just hope the fan has enough oomph to cool the cabin here in the swamps.

 

[knuckle47]

I could almost swear it looks exactly like the a/c unit installed by Toyota dealer in my ‘74 FJ40 back in 1976. I don’t remember if I ate breakfast today let alone the A/c unit installed 50 yrs ago

 

[cruisermatt]

Most of the universal underdash units are put together with the motors, evaporator/heater cores, and registers all from the same universal catalog, and just have different blow-molded housings for different applications, so they all look very similar.

 

[cruisermatt]

Old- extremely heavy. everything was super thick wall - most likely industrial use material.
New exhuast will be 100% Stainless, downpipe to the catalytic converter in progress

 

[cruisermatt]

While that is in progress the rear hubs and brakes needed to be finished buttoned up.

Old wheel hubs were in awful shape.

The brakes themselves weren't terrible but some hardware had been cobbled or missing/broken, and the drums had some uneven wear so putting some fresh drums, shoes and cylinders in and fixing hardware as needed. We also are fortunate to have new Japanese FF hubs available
The spindle seal surfaces definitely have seen better days, but there's not much we can do about that without spending a LOT of Josh's money, and they weren't leaking at all, so will test out some of the new fancy Terrain Tamer double lip seals on them an carry on. They just need to hold in wheel bearing grease so I am not concerned about it.

 

[Chamba]

Looks great @cruisermatt . Should sound great, I love Magnaflow. Tuck that cat up as high as you can please obviously.

Excited about those Terrain Tamer seals @orangefj45 : my mate Lochie in Australia was very happy with them. This is the perfect application for them. But those hubs? SCHWING.

 

[FloridaLife]

My previous H55s all had the 40 series top loader with the 40 series cane.
The position of this one is not good. I don't plan on spending the money for a 40 series top loader (I will keep looking for one each time I'm back in Australia, but not holding my breath), so I'll make this work. I plan to cut the bottom of the shifter, tilt it about 10°-15° towards me and re-weld it. I actually think it's a LHD shift cane. I would love an '81-'84 40 series shift cane, but coming upon those these days is rare. I had several of them years ago but I sold my personal stash of Cruiser goodies.

I know this is an older post so you've probably 've probably resolved this already, but couldn't you just heat it up good and red hot with a torch and then bend it exactly to where you want it?