Wilma's Buildup thread - FJ45LV (1 Viewer)

[fogblanket]

Mike I will be careful when I remove the front crossmember in that besides some surface rust it is in really good shape. you might be better off just swapping it in. i am not sure how yours is my mine is boxed on the inside the boxing is resessed might be more pain than its worth to try and weld it all.
all the steering stuff is in good shape I even have the colum shift linkage too that I won't be using in that I will have a 4 on the floor.
i'd love to trade you the parts for credit towrads a new floor
Jason

 

[fogblanket]

It's been awhile since I posted prgress, but I have been working away just not making alot of progress been working on getting the front crossmeber out with out damaging it. the top bolts/rivots came off alright but the bottom 6 provided weeks of entertainment. but I was able to get used to some of my new tools so it wasn't time wasted.
below is a pic of the member out and of the vacant space.
then of the new one sitting int he general area that it will reside.

 

[fogblanket]

now before i can get the new crossmember in I need to clean prime and paint the front frame, guna have to do the frame painting in sections due to my limited space but it will all get done. anyway in order to get my new crossmember in I will need to trim the boxed portion of the frame as seen in the pics below.
question what do you all think is the best way to do this?
thanks Jason

 

[krzyabncanuck]

Not too sure but maybe a cut off wheel. Was wondering about this project, good to see its still going forward.

 

[fogblanket]

yeah thats what I figured cut off wheel and alittle of every other tool i own too
thanks i keep plugging away slowly
Jason

 

[foxfab]

cut off wheel would be cleanest, but you could have that out in 30 seconds with your new torches

 

[fogblanket]

Ok I have made some progress. I got way laid with transmission issues on my fj62 but seem to have a handle on those now and have been able to put some time in on Wilma.
I finally go the new crossmember in. i think I wooried too much about removing those inner frame peices I asked about. they took me 5 minutes with a sawzaw.
anyway it took me many attempts to get the new crossmember in. at first I tried putting it together with the saginaw box mounted to the side brace. i had to spread the frame a bit with my high lift jack and got it all in place then found i was unable to get some of the new bolts into there holes with the sag box there so it came out but i had to drill a hole in the fframe to get a socket in there. oh well I needed to have that hole anyway incase i ever change out the box so it was good time spent.
so the i get the box side all put together then have to use the high lift again to pull the frame back together and voila i now have a supper beafy powerstering setup.now i can get the rest of the frame cleaned up and painted
Jason

 

[fogblanket]

you can see my new access hole for the steering box bolt in the second pic above. its the mediuem sized hole with the 2 smaller holes at 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock on either side of it.
here are 3 more pics

 

[foxfab]

bling!

 

[peepers]

jason... i have a camera you can have/use. it just sits... for payment you can help me install some OME springs and torsion bars in a 100.

 

[fogblanket]

ok been real busy this week on my cruisers in generl. on my fj62 i put an extreme valve body installed drove less than 3 mile son the test drive and had a tre blow out....

anyway i also got alot done on the lv. I finished stripping the paint on all the sides and the interior areas that are in good shape. cleaned up and preped the front half of the frame for paint and shot a coat of epoxy primer on the frame and on the whole tub inside and out.

i also got the transimmison cleaned up and painted with some marine engine paint. hopefully get that installed soon.
jason

 

[fogblanket]

2 more

 

[fogblanket]

I need to spell check before I post. I also got a coat of high build primer on everything hope to sand it down and repeat the process a few more times
Jason

 

[krzyabncanuck]

Coming along very nicely man. Keep it up .

 

[fogblanket]

Thanks alittle bit here and there. I will get it done eentually.

Question thought on my list of next hurdles is to drop the gas tank in that i want to clea it out and paint it.
A) what is the best method/solution to clean out a gas tank?
B) I have the skid plate thing off but am unsure how to go about dropping the tank. any one have any pictures of doing it?
thanks Jason

 

[krzyabncanuck]

Not too sure about dropping your tank but as far as cleaning it out you can do it yourself or have a radiator shop do it for you. I am going to do mine myself because my radiator shops will not touch them. I bought the POR15 kit to do mine.

 

[Mikesta]

Thanks alittle bit here and there. I will get it done eentually.

Question thought on my list of next hurdles is to drop the gas tank in that i want to clea it out and paint it.
A) what is the best method/solution to clean out a gas tank?
B) I have the skid plate thing off but am unsure how to go about dropping the tank. any one have any pictures of doing it?
thanks Jason

There are 4 bolts I believe with 2 bands that hold the tank up. Hard to get too but I think thats all you need to do. be careful of the stem though... I broke one of mine off while removing.

 

[fogblanket]

hmm I found those bolts I was hoping there was an easier way
Jason

 

[fogblanket]

will look intot he por 15 stuff thanks
Jason

 

[Mikesta]

hmm I found those bolts I was hoping there was an easier way
Jason

There is, you can cut the Metal straps. But then you'd have to get to those bolts anyways to get the straps out and put new in. I don't think you can get new straps though... I'd save them

I did it with the body off from above.. Much easier than from below... from below is difficult.