Builds The Weasel - HDJ80 build (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Ragnaroek
- Start date
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- Thread starter
- #22
After already posting some pics in the wdydwy80tw-thread, here's my attempt of relocating the front axle slightly forward for propotions and clearence while simultaniously correcting the caster for at least 2" of lift.
Initially I bought some radius arm drop brackets from @eimkeith (shoutout to him as a seller, communication was super quick and easy, shipping to Germany took only a few days!) which fit really well and are a great and easy solution imo. But somehow I wasn't really happy with the look of both radius arm mounts basically stacked on top of other, two sets of holes etc. Especially with the oncoming roadworthyness-inspection in mind. Or maybe i just had another stupid Idea and took the hard way just for the sake of it, idk.
First removed the lower part of the original bracket
Started making a thing, using the factory Part and the drop bracket for reference.
Since the original bracket tapers on the outside ends I had to cut, bend and reweld the outer half of the new one.
Burned the two halfes together and plated some of the open parts for reinforcement. Cut some holes in the top as a drain for mud and water.
Added some bracing to the underside, ground the welds flat.
Cleaned the remains of the factory brackets up and melted old and new together.
So now i've got some really sturdy, nearly factory looking RAMs with the bolt hole positioned 50mm down and 25mm forward of the original location.
And If i don't count the roughly 12 hours it took me to make and Install them, they're probably also the cheapest way to it. At least a lot less $$$ than a set of arms. Plus the therapeutic fun of building something from scratch, with only an image in your mind.
Initially I bought some radius arm drop brackets from @eimkeith (shoutout to him as a seller, communication was super quick and easy, shipping to Germany took only a few days!) which fit really well and are a great and easy solution imo. But somehow I wasn't really happy with the look of both radius arm mounts basically stacked on top of other, two sets of holes etc. Especially with the oncoming roadworthyness-inspection in mind. Or maybe i just had another stupid Idea and took the hard way just for the sake of it, idk.
First removed the lower part of the original bracket
Started making a thing, using the factory Part and the drop bracket for reference.
Since the original bracket tapers on the outside ends I had to cut, bend and reweld the outer half of the new one.
Burned the two halfes together and plated some of the open parts for reinforcement. Cut some holes in the top as a drain for mud and water.
Added some bracing to the underside, ground the welds flat.
Cleaned the remains of the factory brackets up and melted old and new together.
So now i've got some really sturdy, nearly factory looking RAMs with the bolt hole positioned 50mm down and 25mm forward of the original location.
And If i don't count the roughly 12 hours it took me to make and Install them, they're probably also the cheapest way to it. At least a lot less $$$ than a set of arms. Plus the therapeutic fun of building something from scratch, with only an image in your mind.
mudgudgeon
Resident galah
Nice work. Looks like it grew that way
- Thread starter
- #24
While taking measurements for the new rear bumper i wanted to know If i can make the original mud flaps work with my modified quarter panels.
No, not at all.
For some reason it looked so ridiculous to my tired brain I couldn't stop laughing for the next three minutes.
No, not at all.
For some reason it looked so ridiculous to my tired brain I couldn't stop laughing for the next three minutes.
Maybe some Rally Armor style mudflaps could look goodWhile taking measurements for the new rear bumper i wanted to know If i can make the original mud flaps work with my modified quarter panels.
View attachment 3573163
No, not at all.
For some reason it looked so ridiculous to my tired brain I couldn't stop laughing for the next three minutes.
- Thread starter
- #26
Built a rear bumper today. Not exactly heavy duty, but it's more of a cover for the towbar and crossmember anyways, not really structural.
(Yes, i know the tailgate's got a giant hole. I'll replace it once i'm done wielding heavy pieces of steel around the truck...)
(Yes, i know the tailgate's got a giant hole. I'll replace it once i'm done wielding heavy pieces of steel around the truck...)
- Thread starter
- #27
The build slowed down again, spent to much time at work to finish some long time projects for different customers.
But I acquired some tires,
some wheels,
painted things,
fixed dozens of PO-hackjobs
and ripped out all of this disgusting stuff
Oh, and I deleted the broken ABS, the rotten LSPV and started rebuilding the brake system, but I totally forgot to take pictures of that.
But I acquired some tires,
some wheels,
painted things,
fixed dozens of PO-hackjobs
and ripped out all of this disgusting stuff
Oh, and I deleted the broken ABS, the rotten LSPV and started rebuilding the brake system, but I totally forgot to take pictures of that.
Made in Spain…. What tires are those? Pics of sidewall? We like tires!
Nice project! Good job!
- Thread starter
- #30
Michelin XZL retreads by Vrakking/Kraiburg. So French tires, retreaded by a Dutch company with rubber made in Spain by an Austrian tire manufacturer.
Sidewall is nothing special, standard dump truck tire. They're 88lbs each, but nearly indestructible.
Big ol’ donuts!Michelin XZL retreads by Vrakking/Kraiburg. So French tires, retreaded by a Dutch company with rubber made in Spain by an Austrian tire manufacturer.
Sidewall is nothing special, standard dump truck tire. They're 88lbs each, but nearly indestructible.
View attachment 3639837
- Thread starter
- #32
The Weasel build ist going slow and steady, lots of tiny things and tasks, but no big accomplishments were made.
I had to dedicate some of my precious shop time to getting my Hilux ready for summer vacation and forestry work. TÜV-inspection, new radiator and fan clutch, new suspension all around, bullbar and winch, rack for the RTT...
I had to dedicate some of my precious shop time to getting my Hilux ready for summer vacation and forestry work. TÜV-inspection, new radiator and fan clutch, new suspension all around, bullbar and winch, rack for the RTT...
- Thread starter
- #33
This project ist - again - going way slower than i hoped for. Today was the first day spent in the shop after ≈ 2 months. Family stuff, work, little projects around the house... Oh, and two weeks of summer vacation with my GF, traveling and camping in southern France.
- Thread starter
- #34
But back to the 80: Today i started on the exhaust, since the full 3" system a bought a while back doesn't really fit with my rocker panel chop, sub tank, high clearence hitch etc.
Got some 3" pipe, 90° bends and v-bands from the stash, bought a 24" straight through resonator/muffler and started fiddling the exhaust into the non existent space between frame and transfer case.
Turbo dump pipe i made yesterday:
Got some 3" pipe, 90° bends and v-bands from the stash, bought a 24" straight through resonator/muffler and started fiddling the exhaust into the non existent space between frame and transfer case.
Turbo dump pipe i made yesterday:
- Thread starter
- #35
Time for an update. Exhaust ist welded up, axles are back under the car, brakelines halfway done.
Still waiting for my springs and shocks. 3" OME Comps (3039/3040) and Bilstein 5160's meant for a long arm, lifted JK. I really hope that combo will work, got both of them pretty cheap in a sale.
Had to start on the engine so i get my injectors redone before the rest ist finished. Timing belt and water pump are next.
Still waiting for my springs and shocks. 3" OME Comps (3039/3040) and Bilstein 5160's meant for a long arm, lifted JK. I really hope that combo will work, got both of them pretty cheap in a sale.
Had to start on the engine so i get my injectors redone before the rest ist finished. Timing belt and water pump are next.
Last edited:
- Thread starter
- #38
Got all of that nasty stuff cleaned out, some hot water @ 3000psi paired with an industrial grade degreaser made quick (altough messy) work of it.
I blanked off the EGR ports and put the valves back on to keep the TÜV-inspector happy.
- Thread starter
- #39
The Bilstein 5160 I wanted to use seem to be really well made, nice shocks, but imo the are a bit on the weak side strenghtwise for a beast like the 80. M10 threads and only a 14mm shaft just did't look right on the cruiser. So they'll probably go on my GFs '99 Hilux or on a buddys project truck.
Instead I ordered some +5" EFS Xtreme shocks actually meant for an 80 series. And man, those are sturdy. 65mm (2⅗") tubing, 21mm (⅞") shaft diameter, 11½" of travel.
Since my front axle truss essentially lowered the front bumpstops around 35mm and the rear wheels hit the inner wheel wells before the shocks bottom out i think i can get away with running 5" shocks on a 3" lift without modifing the shocks mounts. Down travel with the EFS shocks is just enough to slightly unseat the OME 3039/3040 springs at full droop.
Instead I ordered some +5" EFS Xtreme shocks actually meant for an 80 series. And man, those are sturdy. 65mm (2⅗") tubing, 21mm (⅞") shaft diameter, 11½" of travel.
Since my front axle truss essentially lowered the front bumpstops around 35mm and the rear wheels hit the inner wheel wells before the shocks bottom out i think i can get away with running 5" shocks on a 3" lift without modifing the shocks mounts. Down travel with the EFS shocks is just enough to slightly unseat the OME 3039/3040 springs at full droop.
