Wilma's Buildup thread - FJ45LV (1 Viewer)

[foxfab]

I'm having a guy in PA do my tank for the 25's,

http://www.gas-tank.com/

He cleans and lines them similar to the POR kit. But if the gas tank kit is anything like POR's rust inhibitor kits, I'll pass. Their rust prevention stuff sucks ass.

Jason, use the blue wrench. If theres any gas left in the tank, you'll know it DONT BLOW YOURSELF UP.

 

[fogblanket]

had a procutive week sneaking out and working on Wilma.. was able to remove all the body mounts and get the body up on blocks on the frame.want to get the trarny installed then it will be moveable and i can then contempte taking the bod y completely off or not.
I got the body sanded and another coat of high build on it. i finally got the tailgate sprayed with epoxy primer. i also got chasis black on
the front half of the frame. it needs a second coat but it is slowly coming together

here are some pics of the progress

 

[fogblanket]

3 more

 

[fogblanket]

1 more

 

[Mikesta]

looking good!

 

[peepers]

jason... i cant come down on the 3rd. i have to work. definately some other time though

 

[AlaskanWheeler]

Do you have a link to the Firestine stuff?
Thanks

 

[foxfab]

Bob's email address is:
"Bob Firestine <gutsrus2k@yahoo.com>"

 

[merbesfield]

looking great. but what are you doing about the floor pans. i have not read all the posts so i may have missed it. power steering setup looks sweet. i also have a complete 2F drive train from a 78 FJ55 i was thinking about using. it has PS. do you know if it would work in the LV or will i have to do something like you did?

 

[fogblanket]

Thanks it has been a fun project so far. got some hours in this week end mostly getting the clutch in and some sanding of the body. and cutting off the old trailor hitch crap. oh and i dropped the gas tank much easier than I thought it would be.

anyway I don't see why the 2f from a 78'fj55 would not drop in with the right motor mounts. i am using the stock ps pump on my 872f to run a saginaw system. I woulthink you could mount the fj55 steering box and use its parts fine on an lv. I just went with t he beefy crossmember casue itwas in a sense easier.

the floors are hopefully coming from Panama i am hoping that Paul can get some built that aren't terrible expensive. there isn't much other rust on my lv besides some minor patch work so hopefully the floors willfit right and work.
tree root is setting the hole floor pan up and Mike is doning a few other sections as well.
Jason

 

[treerootCO]

Looking great!!

Paul has the OE parts now and we are working on prices. Reproductions are a little ways out but will be available.

• Complete floor, braces
• Rear bumper and brackets
• Tailgate complete with inner panel
• Inner panel tailgate
• Early license plate brackets

 

[fogblanket]

a little ways out = ??/??/??
what about the vent assemble that is between the hood and the windsheild.
i need the flap piece mine is in bad shape.
jason

 

[treerootCO]

probably a few months, we have to give Paul time to work his magic. The vents, I'll have to look. I doubt mine are any better than yours.

 

[foxfab]

My 25 floors took 3-4 weeks for production and another 3-4 weeks to get here.

 

[fogblanket]

got some time in on the lv recently that i haven't posted about.
i have been slack about taking pictures but i have finally gotten the roof primed with epoxy primer. hope to get another coat on it tommorow.. I lgot the clutch in and am set to hoist up the tranny. i made brackets to bolt the stock 87' 2f tranny crossmember to but i was at a buddies house this past week end who was doing a H42 to H41 swap and i was under looking at things and it occured to me that his 81 fj40 and seeing how it has the same tranny trasfer case combo and i was wondering if anyone has used this crossmember for this swap?
i figure picking up a setup if i can find one and see how it fits.
Jason

 

[foxfab]

stop being +++ and just go for it.

 

[fogblanket]

 

[zebrabeefj40]

Is the trans in yet? I make house calls if'n you need help...

Nick

 

[fogblanket]

Well I got some good fathers day time in yesterday on Wilma. since I don't have an engine hoist and I am pretty much doing everything on my own. I rector setted a lovely crane to get the transmission/transfer case up off the floor high enough to get a floor jack under to help take some of the weight.
my crane consisted of 2 metal collapsible saw horses (the ones you get at home depot that you can extend the legs on). so I had those set up through the holes in the floor from each side so they could be as close as possible.and bolted a pressure reated 4x4 across the top then used a come a long to lift it up.
anyway I was able to get the transmission up and in. At first I could not get the input shaft splines lined up but a call to Foxfab had me putting it in gear and turning the output until it slide on to about 3/4" from all the way on. I am so close. I used a clutch alignment tool so i know it should be lining up with the pilot bearing. before i start cranking it in with the bolts. I just want to make sure thats a normal occurance.
I also finished up the mounting brackets for the crossmember so once i get it all on and bolted up i can finally get the back end of the engine off jack stands and move the lv around the garage to make body work and things a bit eaier.
I didn't take pictures yet not really much to show except my rector set tranny hoist
Jason

 

[zebrabeefj40]

Jason,

DON'T DRAW THE TRANS UP WITH BOLTS! That's how ears get busted off trans cases. Most likely you need to wobble the trans one way or the other to get the input shaft aligned with the pilot bearing. Sometimes they drop right in and sometimes you gotta fight'em. You can also buy a couple bolts from Home Depot/Lowes that match the treads of the bell housing. Cut the heads off and thread the bolts into the bell housing. Use them to help guide the trans the last bit of distance. Once you get the trans within an 1/8" or so then start drawing it up with the bolts. Make sure the dowel pins line up with the trans as it snugs up too.

HTH,
Nick