jim land
SILVER Star
try some rust converter on those bolt heads , it dry to a black finish
Vel's '76 resto-mod (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter velillen
- Start date
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- Thread starter
- #102
I actually considered that since i have some rust convertor already, but i can get grade 8 yellow zinc SAE bolts really cheap from work so the time/effort factor its just easier to swap them out
- Thread starter
- #103
Well woke up way earlier than planned so got some good time. Decided to work on the engine placement. Got the old mounts all off after some struggle...the red Loctite was a pain in the butt.
Once I got the welder dialed back in things went a lot smoother. Mounted the wire backwards which kept causing issues. Then it took a bit to get the settings dialed in.
But got the drivers side scab plate welded in. Got the passengers side welded up on two sides. Also cleaned up the engine mounts in the sand blaster. Got the mount mocked up and am pretty happy with it. It ended up being the 19.5" back from the front cross member that Downey recommends.
Also took the PO's automatic shifter off the trans tunnel. Thankfully he left the holes for the shifters pretty much intact. I used that to help located the engine. Its pretty well centered in the hole, if not a tad bit towards the rear. Theres still a good ~3" of clearance from the back of the engine to the firewall.
Hopefully tomorrow I can get the scab plate finished up and the engine mounts done and everything painted. And see how far I get on the transfer case stuff
Once I got the welder dialed back in things went a lot smoother. Mounted the wire backwards which kept causing issues. Then it took a bit to get the settings dialed in.
But got the drivers side scab plate welded in. Got the passengers side welded up on two sides. Also cleaned up the engine mounts in the sand blaster. Got the mount mocked up and am pretty happy with it. It ended up being the 19.5" back from the front cross member that Downey recommends.
Also took the PO's automatic shifter off the trans tunnel. Thankfully he left the holes for the shifters pretty much intact. I used that to help located the engine. Its pretty well centered in the hole, if not a tad bit towards the rear. Theres still a good ~3" of clearance from the back of the engine to the firewall.
Hopefully tomorrow I can get the scab plate finished up and the engine mounts done and everything painted. And see how far I get on the transfer case stuff
- Thread starter
- #104
Probably wasn't the best way to do things but got all four scab plates welded in, all for mounts welded in, the engine bolted down, the new AA propeller installed, and the propeller loosely bolted in. Got the engine mounts all painted up. For the transmission mounts I only got some primer on them for now. Once I pull the body and have better access I may end up doing some better clean up of the welds and then top coat. The drivers side trans mount wasn't bad to do at all but the passengers side had some...interesting challenges. The welders I always work with joke around about how you aren't really a welder till you can make a weld upside down, reaching around something, and able to only in one specific position which is of course painful to be in for more than 2 seconds. Well outside of the upside down part I got to experience that! Reaching around the top of the transfer case while looking between the housing extension and propeller. And trying to weld right handed (im left handed). But its done!
After that was all done I decided to look at the front shocks and FJ60 power steering. Loosely got the front fenders on and got the shock towers tacked in place. Took a quick look at the power steering but was getting hungry and it was close to cleanup time for work so stopped there. It looks like itll mount up right where I'd figured it would though (and will require some fender cutting)
The one "new" issue I discovered is Ill have to probably flip the lower shock mounts. Right now looking straight down from the top the bottom of a shock would be 180 out of the pin. But that should be a somewhat easy fix...cut it off and reweld it. Or see if theres a pin I could replace it with....either way ive got time for that fix
After that was all done I decided to look at the front shocks and FJ60 power steering. Loosely got the front fenders on and got the shock towers tacked in place. Took a quick look at the power steering but was getting hungry and it was close to cleanup time for work so stopped there. It looks like itll mount up right where I'd figured it would though (and will require some fender cutting)
The one "new" issue I discovered is Ill have to probably flip the lower shock mounts. Right now looking straight down from the top the bottom of a shock would be 180 out of the pin. But that should be a somewhat easy fix...cut it off and reweld it. Or see if theres a pin I could replace it with....either way ive got time for that fix
- Thread starter
- #105
Not to much progress but did get some stuff done and also have the alternator bracket made up....well I think so at least. I don't have any small 3/8" bolts to really test it out but I got it painted in the meantime.
But I did take advantage of some sales and coupons and orders a decent amount of stuff.
-Got a 2.5" exhaust "kit" that all has expanded ended on one side. Should make welding them together easier than butt welds (for me at least!) It isn't everything Ill need but is definitely enough to get going.
-Picked up a Fj60 H42 inspection cover and shifter (package deal). Not totally sure if the inspection cover will work with the AA bellhousing or not. Its definitely going to need some modification in the quick test I did....exactly how much is to be determined.
-New Aisin Clutch Slave. Its not pictured as I already amounted it. Works perfectly with no bracket needed for mounting. BUT ill need to figure out something for the return spring.
-Fittings for the FJ60 power steering to go to -6 size hose. Not super happy with PSC over them (fittings themselves are fine) but that's another story.
-Miller "welding" long sleeve shirt. Got tired of grinding debris and weld splatter ruining sweatshirts and flannels so figured id give this a shot. Supposed to be better for grinding sparks and the such.
-Lastly the barkbox for the dog showed up at the same time so it got to be in the picture. The pup will be happy with his two new toys and treats.
But I did take advantage of some sales and coupons and orders a decent amount of stuff.
-Got a 2.5" exhaust "kit" that all has expanded ended on one side. Should make welding them together easier than butt welds (for me at least!) It isn't everything Ill need but is definitely enough to get going.
-Picked up a Fj60 H42 inspection cover and shifter (package deal). Not totally sure if the inspection cover will work with the AA bellhousing or not. Its definitely going to need some modification in the quick test I did....exactly how much is to be determined.
-New Aisin Clutch Slave. Its not pictured as I already amounted it. Works perfectly with no bracket needed for mounting. BUT ill need to figure out something for the return spring.
-Fittings for the FJ60 power steering to go to -6 size hose. Not super happy with PSC over them (fittings themselves are fine) but that's another story.
-Miller "welding" long sleeve shirt. Got tired of grinding debris and weld splatter ruining sweatshirts and flannels so figured id give this a shot. Supposed to be better for grinding sparks and the such.
-Lastly the barkbox for the dog showed up at the same time so it got to be in the picture. The pup will be happy with his two new toys and treats.
