What farmers do in the winter (SOA and reversal update)

[CoFarmer]

I was going back and forth on weather or not to post a build thread but have received "positive feedback" on my project so I have decided to. This is the second FJ40 I have rebuilt. First one was almost completely Toyota rebuilt so this time around I'm going more aftermarket. Starting with a 69' FJ40

So far I have rebuilt my SBC motor, and 465 transmission. I have torn down both a 203 and 205 which should make a doubler when I get a burst of energy in the next week or two.

Truck is torn down to frame and I will do a 25" stretch this week or next.
I'll keep you posted.
Thanks

 

[CoFarmer]

A few more

 

[Mr Cimarron]

Wow. That was some cleaning you did. Nice work.

 

[CoFarmer]

This week I have been jumping back and forth between a few projects on the vehicle depending on my attitude, however, I wrapped up my frame stretch. Put in just under 2 feet. At the front (behind engine section) I cut and re-angled the frame so I didn't add another tangent to the frame. In rear I made my extension. Took me about a half day to get everything exactly where I wanted it. I ran a string perfectly parallel to the frame and ran it about 25' out the back where I took my measurements. Over 25' my frame is only out of parallel by about 1/8". In the rear I reinforced the frame with a piece of channel pressed back into the frame. In the front I just used plates since I never actually cut it apart, just bent it. Capped everything back up at the end, unless you know where to look it shouldn't be noticeable from the outside.

 

[CoFarmer]

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[CoFarmer]

Last one

 

[Dieseler]

What is your body plans after the 25 inch stretch are you stretching the tub also or doing a truck bed mod.

 

[CoFarmer]

What is your body plans after the 25 inch stretch are you stretching the tub also or doing a truck bed mod.

I'm leaning towards a truck with a larger cab. See what mood i'm in the day I get to body parts I guess.

 

[Rock40]

I like it!

 

[CoFarmer]

Last big step for the winter/ spring, finished my entire powertrain and mounting system. Just trying to get this out of my shop and into one of the storage buildings at this point. From front to back; SBC w/ handful of upgrades, but nothing wild (cam, intake, carb, ingnition). Stock SM465. NP203 (doubler). Then the NP205 with twin stick upgrade. Everything in this photo has been taken down 100% and rebuilt. If it moves, it was taken apart and replaced. For the most part this is all stuff that has been done before. I did build my own adapter for the doubler. I couldn't decide on the ORD or NWF version and just decided to make my own. It also allowed me to tie my rear mounts into it. I decide to use four points of contact for mounts. Two standard on the SBC block and then two in rear, however, I split the difference between one in center (for 3 point) and having them out by the frame rails. I figure this is a balance between allowing frame torque but still having some torsional strength with low gear ratios. Overall, I'm pretty happy with the adapter. Everything milled up really clean and tight. I'm going to put the entire powertrain in deep storage somewhere. Hopefully leave the frame out in the farm yard somewhere and if by some miracle I take a weekend off before the fall maybe dive into my SOA project.

 

[CoFarmer]

Took me about 7 months to do a weeks worth of work, however, over the summer months here and there I picked away at my SOA and reversal. I have made new lower profile mounts up front, pulled the packs apart and refinished them as well as lined them with graphite powder. Took a few lower leafs out to loose some lift but added a full length leaf to help with the SBC weight. Built some shackles and made them all run "in frame" to also save some height too.

Only unique thing I did was pre load everything. I know a lot of people say you just have to play with your shackle angle but that's not my style. I weighted everything I am putting back in then took a weighted average based on location in the body. Then placed that same amount of weight at calculated center of balance and used water as shown. From there I set all my pinion angles as well as shackle angles. One picture should show shackle angle at full weight, bare frame, and straight up and down. Under full weight shackle should run right around 60 degrees.

 

[CoFarmer]

Few more

 

[swelltimes]

Nice work! Cool seeing the pics of laying out the frame mods and suspension parts.

 

[middlecalf]

The only thing I see missing in your process is the use of bailing twine.