Tortuga2 2 Indy/Caballo Build Thread (1 Viewer)

[FJ40|RUNNER]

I would imagine you're fine...do you run a hardtop? That might require better tolerances, but I had no problems with mine @ 1/8" with a new seal. To get the frame to take a set you have to bend it further than you might think...for it to spring back into place you might have to go say 1" beyond for every 1/4" or something like that.

 

[drnekFJ40]

great thread...great stories...Runner would you just sell the grey top plate of that cluster if it still looks good and no chips in it?I am planning to put Dakota digital in mine,but don't have a top plate...Pm me the price...Thanks Mike

 

[TheHardWay]

Yeah, I put the hardtop on for winter, so I need to get that frame top as flat as I can get it so the 2 w/s to hardtop bolts can be tightened and not put stress on the gasket/glass - or deform the top rail!

 

[FJ40|RUNNER]

Is your frame tweak vertically or longitudinally (z or x)? Mine was longitudinally...if yours is vertically/z I definitely would use a ratchet strap or a jack. Assuming the center needs to come down a ratchet strap would make quick work of it, go to harbor freight and grab a set they're priceless. The stiffness of the lower part of the frame should allow you to just wrap around the whole frame and bring the top section down as the lower section of the frame has a much taller cross section.

 

[FJ40|RUNNER]

Been meaning to ask as I'm looking to pull the trigger on some metal-tech stuff, what's everyone's thoughts on how far I should go cage-wise on what is currently a fun weekend/fair weather semi-daily/light wheeler? My last rig had a metal-tech cage that was pretty awesome, Mark installed it himself with the whole deal (beard seats tied in/proper harnesses/to the frame/etc.). That said, it being a 50% street rig I found my (stupid) HS self rolling around with only the lap belts 90% of the time on the street (where you actually need the harnesses [unless you're rock racing, where you need them as well]). Having done that, I'm not looking to be wearing 6 points on the street (cause I know I just won't), but this rig doesn't warrant 6 points on trails either as I'm not doing anything too crazy.

With that said, I'm thinking about just adding on to the stock rollbar, going to the A-pillar (front profile kit), doing a dash cross bar, doing door bars, tying to the frame at least at the A-pillar (the floor is rotted out there, a must do!), and possibly doing a B-pillar cross bar right at the feet of the B-pillar. I'm pretty torn on the B-pillar cross bar for fear of rear impact with the factory seats, but am thinking the extra structure it will add in other scenarios outweighs the potential negatives in rear impact? I'd love to do something proper like a diagonal on the B-pillar to add some triangulation, but feel that is too bad for the street in a rear impact.

Ultimately it's such a compromise given street vs. offroad use, I figured I'd see what other people thought about it. Additionally, does anyone think it is downright stupid to leave the factory B-pillar for vanity purposes? It's of smaller wall thickness, but I already hate putting a cage in as it fxxxs up the appearance of the rig...I am trying to be smart with adding where I should while not taking away from originality. The only reason I would be leaving it is for the radius of the bends and belt mounting...but it is a slippery slope. I see myself welding in a proper full cage and then picking up the angle grinder and going to town on the rest of it, only finishing when I've built myself a proper crawler!

 

[TheHardWay]

Longitudinal, the strip the rear view mirror attaches to. It's odd, the bottom strip that rests against the cowl is perfectly straight, as if the windshield had been lowered against the rest pads, then someone stood on each side strip and bounced up and down until it became concave. This is a used w/s to replace my existing one, so I'm able to lay it on a couple Workmates benches and use pipe clamps to work that curved top strip back to straight. I don't want to tighten too hard and risk going too far - the rest of the frame is perfect AND the same Olive Green as my rig. Hardtop will stay on until summer, so no rush.

 

[FJ40|RUNNER]

Oh so it is bowed downward (if it were attached to your rig)? Easiest in that case would be to wrap it in a packing blanket and put a hi lift in to open it up a bit...it is nerve wracking, but unless you man handle it a bit it won't hold it's shape post-adjustment. Biggest concern is the paint in your case, just make incremental steps checking as you go. It will not stay in position unless you 'bend' well beyond where you want it.

 

[FJ40|RUNNER]

I realize my proposed method sounds a little hack, but to make an adjustment on something like that it takes quite a bit. Also, absolute worst case, if you went too far you can go back the other way. It isn't a part that sees any sort of cycling or anything that would be negatively affected by being slightly compromised metalurgially.

 

[TheHardWay]

With the w/s in the up position, sighting along the top of the frame from driver side to passenger, it curves towards the interior with middle 1/8" gap from a straightedge against the face of the frame, just below the front edge of the roof. The last thing I want to do is heat it or beat on it.

 

[RobNasty]

If anyone could use it for parts let me know I'd be happy to box it up and send it





If anyone could use it for parts let me know I'd be happy to box it up and send it your way:

I'd like to have those gauge cluster parts - I saw someone else asking about the face plate - If you want to send him the face plate, I'd still like to have the "guts" - I have at least one broken needle! (I'm over in Bloomington, IL, not terribly far from you)

 

[FJ40|RUNNER]

Over Christmas break Brittany and I decided to take a quick couple day trip to Niagara Falls on the Canadian side. While we've done a handful of trips together we hadn't done anything going east, and neither of us had been there. Additionally, Brittany hadn't been up to Canada so we figured we could check that off the list.

Conveniently around the same time I stumbled upon a FS thread where red_toy was selling a handful of things to clean up his shop, located in Zeeland, MI. We ended up planning on hitting the road, driving up through NY into Canada, staying for a couple days in Niagara Falls, then driving back through Canada across MI to Zeeland then heading back home.

Unfortunately we decided to go at the least photogenic time of the year...during the winter while it WASN'T freezing. The couple days were cold, wet, and windy, but it was still cool to get to see.

After getting there late at night, stopping by one of the local brewpubs (Taps, was pretty cool and very reasonable for a pitcher!), and discovering the post-christmas-miracle unopened wine-coolerish thing in the hotel fridge, we woke up for a day of knocking around the area. We first went for a quick run to get a feel for things and got to check out the falls up-close, didn't get any pics because I didn't have my phone on me. After that we went to the Niagara Falls Historical Society (just happened to drive by on the way to breakfast and figured we'd stop in). Brittany didn't want to try the War of 1812 costumes on for the photo op?!:

We then did the touristy stuff and wandered around the falls...as you can see it was very gray while we were there:

Unfortunately between my lack of camera skills and the weather we left the falls with a total of 0 good photos...as cool/impressive as they were I doubt it's a place we go back to. Along with the falls there was a hell of a lot of this:

The tourism aspect of it was a little overwhelming!

That said, later that afternoon we discovered Niagara-on-the-Lake (aka the Loveliest town in Canada), which was an awesome town with a bunch of wineries that produce ice wine. Additionally, there was an awesome brewery in an old church called Silversmith...truly one of the coolest breweries I've been to (beers were good too):

The next morning we hit the road and pointed toward Zeeland...the drive ended up being a grueling 10+hours of freezing rain and hangover, definitely amongst the worst conditions I've ever driven in.

We made it to Zeeland around lunch, and Mike and I proceeded to fit all the parts into the truck, including an unorthodox mounting of an FJ40 hardtop:

Overall it was a good trip, and I'm very happy to have come out of it with a hardtop/year-correct doors as well!

A week or so later I got the hardtop and doors mocked up...didn't sit down on the tub fully as I think the posts on earlier hardtops go too deep into the channel of 79+ tubs, but it was cool to get a quick bit of inspiration:

Added to the list now is a quick restoration/respray of the hardtop and doors, with target completion date being when the snow and salt are gone from the roads.

Along with the hardtop and doors Mike sold me a pair of late model aprons and a couple hoods (early split hood in very good condition, late non-split in fair condition)...I'll post them in the FS section shortly, let me know if those are things you're looking for.

Chase

 

[Snowdogyyz]

Just found this thread. Where are you in Indy? I'm in Zionsville. I have a 74 40 and a buddy of mine down the street has a 79 40. Sounds like a 40 meet up should be in order!

My rig-

 

[FJ40|RUNNER]

Too cool absolutely...I'm in broadripple. Great looking 74, I actually stumbled upon your build not too long ago. You guys do the badlands much? Would be fun to go on a cruiser run I've not since living in OR like ten years ago!

 

[Snowdogyyz]

Cool. I've never been. I moved here about two years ago from NC. Not big on hitting the rocks after getting the body work done! Would love to cruise some trails, old forest roads, etc. We'll have to have a 40 ride or meet up soon.

 

[drnekFJ40]

Snowdog,I have lived in NC for over 10 years and love that place..Lived about 35 miles south of Wilmington on the coast...What make you to move up north to IN?I guess work..The same think what make me move to TX..You did good job on 40!!Anyway ,I am ready to order Dakota digital cluster and I know you put one in your truck.Are you still happy with it?Do you have the GPS unit or just regular?

 

[drnekFJ40]

Chase,I might not even need that back cage for my cluster bezel..But that guy was nice and was ready to ship it to me-he don't need it most likely..So problem solved!!! I wish to know some people with cruisers around here it would be great..I have seen one time cruiser meet in Outer Banks,NC by the coast-there was a lot of FJ40s ..It was sweet...

 

[Snowdogyyz]

Snowdog,I have lived in NC for over 10 years and love that place..Lived about 35 miles south of Wilmington on the coast...What make you to move up north to IN?I guess work..The same think what make me move to TX..You did good job on 40!!Anyway ,I am ready to order Dakota digital cluster and I know you put one in your truck.Are you still happy with it?Do you have the GPS unit or just regular?

Cool! I grew up in northeastern NC and then spent 20 years around the RDU area. I love the NC coast. We still go to Holden Beach every year. I miss NC! Moved to IN due to a job opportunity for my wife. We love it here but certainly miss where I spent 40 years of my life!
I bought the regular DD unit and I absolutely love it. Even though my 40 is not stock, I like things to be stock "looking" where I can. The gauges work perfect. I love having the RPM gauge right there and it looks stock until you light it up at night! Expensive, but worth it. MPH gauge was set using a gps app on my iPhone and is very accurate.

 

[drnekFJ40]

Man,Holden beach is about 7 miles from me Do you know Ocean Isle beach?I live in Shallotte between those 2 beaches..I still kept my property down there ,going there once a while and even have NC licence plates.It was easier and lot cheaper to put my 40 on NC licence plates instead of TX.Less taxes,no safety inspection,no horn check ,less insurance etc...Anyway...does your speed and mileage still going of of GPS or you just used it to set it up once and now is going from your transfer case electronically?

 

[sandro lopes]

ha sempre um portugues em todo o lado

 

[Snowdogyyz]

Man,Holden beach is about 7 miles from me Do you know Ocean Isle beach?I live in Shallotte between those 2 beaches..I still kept my property down there ,going there once a while and even have NC licence plates.It was easier and lot cheaper to put my 40 on NC licence plates instead of TX.Less taxes,no safety inspection,no horn check ,less insurance etc...Anyway...does your speed and mileage still going of of GPS or you just used it to set it up once and now is going from your transfer case electronically?

I do. We used to go to ocean isle when I was really young, then switched to Holden. Great Jamaican restaurant in OI called The Sugar Shack. My older generation family (many now deceased) used to live in Shallotte. I go to Jumpin' Java pretty much everyday we are at Holden! Know the area very well.
Speedometer was initially set using a GPS app to monitor distance and to test accuracy. When you first drive it, you essentially mark the beginning and end of an exact mile to calibrate the gauge. Speedo runs off a pulse meter that goes where your old Speedo cable connects in the TC case.