Updating a 1990's build (1 Viewer)

[SNLC]

So I am just about ready to start a new project. It is a 1974 FJ40 that was built up in the 90's with all the 1990's gear and style.

It has a 400 small block coupled to the stock 4spd. Old MAF SoA kit, even has Rancho 5000's! It is your pretty typical 1990's style build.


I am completely redoing the front end. Set pinion angle, cut and turn to set caster, FJ60 knuckles and disc brakes, RCV axles, Harrop E-Locker, Marlin high steer kit. Fox shocks are going in front & rear. As well as regearing the truck to 4.88.

Installing a FAST fuel injection kit on the motor, new AA radiator and fans and a serpentine pulley kit. Manifolds are getting ceramic coated.

Disc brake conversion front and rear. Power steering install as well.

There is a bit more in the build but that is the bulk of it. I will start posting pics tomorrowish.

Cheers

 

[gwalt584]

can't wait to see the details of this.

 

[SNLC]

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

All set up...

FJ60 donor axle

Goodies!

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

One more pic of the goodies!

Cheers

 

[69LC]

Nice rebuild! Red leaf springs-at least they weren’t chromed...

 

[greenbeasty]

Yep, that is Old School! Looking forward to seeing your work on this!

 

[SNLC]

Yep, that is Old School! Looking forward to seeing your work on this!

It drives so awful! It is kind of funny. Tons of power but geez you almost kill yourself trying to keep it on the road. Definitely reminds me of when I was a kid.

A lot of fun doing a project like this and I always enjoy test driving something before a build and after. I would have to really screw this up for it not to drive better after the work! Caster is out probably 15*! When you put down the power you can feel the rear pinion deflect so bad you think the driveline is going to toss it's self.


Few other things in the build I have not mentioned. RuffStuff rear traction bar to control this pinion deflection. All new brake lines in the whole truck. I just can't let it go back to the client without them, they are that bad. Ford shock towers unless RuffStuff works out better for Fox remote resi shocks. The Rancho 5000's that were in it had maybe 8" of travel! I can get this truck flexing real nice by putting in the right shocks in terms of length. Obviously, the rear is going to be the hard part in terms of fitting a nice long shock. Bump stops need work, there isn't any on the rear. I am a guy that likes bump stops to do their job so will be dropping them as needed to limit compression before the shocks bottom out. Droop wise, well just have to see how it plays out but I am not a guy who likes a shock to limit droop.

Been more than a year since I threw down some hours on a grinder, really looking forward to stripping the front axle bare if you can believe that!



Cheers

 

[SNLC]

So I thought I would share a little back story on this truck, cause' to me it is a really cool thing.

The owner got this truck when he was 16yrs old in high school, he is 40 now. His dad bought it for him as (I think) his first car. His dad had a Bronco pickup and his brother a Jeep. They all did the home builds on them and all wheeled them together. His brother grew up, went to college, sold the Jeep and moved away. His dad died a 1/4 mile from the house about 15yrs ago, killed by a drunk driver.

So ya, the truck has seen a lot of years and good history with the owner. Needless to say, just like a bunch of you guys, I am sure, this truck has HUGE sentimental value. It is NOT for sale kind of thing and never will be! In this sense I feel privileged to work on it and make it better for him. He is jonzing hard to have it done, be able to drive it and not nearly kill himself. Massive reward on a personal level in a project like this and being able to deliver what the owner wants on a truck with such sentimental value. I know well how it will make him smile when he gets it back from me! That is worth a lot of my effort and motivates me to get it done and done right.

80% of use is street for this truck. There is no denying it is a lot of show n' go. However, it is still going to wheel pretty sweet when I am done with it. The owner doesn't rock crawl but he does like to go snow wheeling and hit up remote fishing spots deep in the woods. It will eat all that up no probs.

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

The Marlin high steer kit is out of stock for who knows how long. So, going with a Front Range kit, sending off the FJ60 knuckles to be machined next week.

Serpentine kit for the engine is ordered.


I am working on the steering and FAST right now. Both are out of the truck and I am starting on install.


Cheers

 

[SNLC]

Few changes made.

Wanting to level out the truck, it sits a touch higher in the front. MAF kit is to blame but we are not getting rid of it. Springs are stock but were re-arched + 2" sometime ago. It is already running some 6" or so shackles in the back and I am not going longer to level it out. I am tossing in some stock flat old leaves from an FJ40 to bring it down and I will fix it from there in terms of level. It rides to high anyways right now.

AA annoyed me by sending the wrong radiator so I went and just ordered up a nice 4-core complete kit with fans and shroud from elsewhere and saved a few hundred bucks!

There was only silicone on the intake manifold to block. *sigh* Scraped and cleaned now and ready to install the new manifold with new gaskets in the morning. Looking forward to installing this FAST kit.

Cheers

 

[N919HJ]

Make sure the sticker on the windshield stays put!

 

[SNLC]

Saginaw p/s is installed. The Fast system is mostly installed. Front shock towers being cut out. Knuckles are at FR Off-road being machined. Serpentine kit is installed.

The Saginaw MAF kit was not fun to install and time consuming but I got it done, big improvement from the old stock worn out set up. Owners home made bumper made it a pain to install but the bumper is welded on the frame in like six places and they are big huge welds. Really didn't want to cut it off and re-install so I worked around it.

Got a Champion 4-core radiator with fan shroud, SPAL fan and thermostat switch. It fits very nice and for the price of the package I am real happy.

Cheers

 

[74fj40]

I cant read. Do you have any pictures?

 

[SNLC]

I cant read. Do you have any pictures?

Haha, I do but I am holding out. They are coming though.

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

AA wrong radiator

New Champion, very right radiator!

MAF P/S kit installed, still need to burn int he mounts and runs the lines.

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

Working on the FAST wiring. The v8 swap had used a Painless kit, looks alright but it is kind of a rats nest so I am cleaning things up a bit in terms of routing as I go. O2 is going to go into the RHS, only need to run a few wires into the dash. After this I will plumb it. Oh ya, obviously the new master cylinder is mounted up. Serpentine pulleys can be seen int he pics as well.

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

Oh ya, this too.

Cheers

 

[74fj40]

Looking good. Can’t wait to see more. Excited to see how the fast system runs. Keep up the good work.