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my new fj-40 family truckster

75K views 571 replies 87 participants last post by  alboy79 
#1 ·
well ive gone full circle with my builds over the years. started with an fj-40. moved onto a buggy. then to another cruiser buggy. and now with the addition of our second child I sold my 3 seat cruiser buggy so I can have a comfy 4 seat cruiser again.

yes this wont be a full build like my old rigs. But with a newborn and a 3 yr old, finding time to build is nearly impossible. I had to jump at this one because it had alot of stuff I already wanted.

New build specs will be:

tearing out leafsprung suspension. Putting a 3 link panhard style front suspension with 2.0 coilovers
Rear suspension will be a trailing arm design with 2.0 coilovers
removing the brand new rebuilt dana 300 for a 3 spd stack or 2 spd atlas.
ditching the butt dragger gas tank. not sure on what ill do yet for a new tank.
Roll cage will be tore out and rebuilt from scratch.
and lastly some kind of body protection. going to do some budbuilt rear corner guards. not sure for cowl protection yet.
new corbeau bench seat in rear.

and im sure much much more.

Current specs:

73 toyota landcruiser fj-40 west coast rust free tub and frame.

Drivetrain:
6.0L Vortec LQ4 from 2003 Silverado (professionally installed and dyno tuned)
TH350 with Art Carr shifter, remote cooler/electric fan unit
Dana 300(Novak trans adapter, Advance Adapter twin stick conversion, master rebuild kit professionally installed with 0 miles)

Front Axle-
Dana 60
Custom narrowed axle
35 spline alloy inner/outer shafts with super joints (and full set of spares)
5.38 gears
ARB air locker
Hydroassist steering
Disk brakes
5x5.5 lug pattern
Dual Wilwood front and rear master cylinders and brake pedals for cutting brakes

Rear Axle-
Ford 9”
Custom narrowed axle
Backboned and trussed
Strange Nodular third member with pinion support
Detroit locker
35 spline alloy shafts
5.38 gears
Disk brakes
5x5.5 lug pattern
Dual Wilwood front and rear master cylinders and brake pedals for cutting brakes


Overall:
Sprung over wagoneer springs with torsion bar in the rear
Custom 30 gallon tank (under vehicle)
Suspension seats with full 5 point harnesses
On Board Air- York compressor
Warn 8274 with synthetic line (dash mounnted in/out switch, regular controller, and wireless remote controller)
K&N air filter





 
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#429 ·
if I don't have to work ill be there. if I do have to work ill be there after lunch for the mullet run. pig roast ill be there later. have another family party during the day.

I still need to source a 1.5 x 8" hydraulic ram setup for heims. cheapest im finding with heims is $175. surpluss center rams have mounts that ill have to change on my axle :( for $80
 
#435 ·
the fwd oil pan that had a crack in it is now a breathable oil pan..

found out last night that jumping causes clearance issues with the front axle yoke and the fwd car pan. the truck pan is a lot shallower in the front. didn't pay attention the car pan hangs down an inch lower in the front. kaboom. half dollar size hole in the pan. but I did fog for mosquitos driving around after the hole.
 
#436 ·
the list before aug 10th:

put new uncracked fwd oil pan on.
remake my big ass skid plate to clear the new oil pan and get rid of the 4" drop I built in for the truck pan.
redo mount for steering ram. hook up lines and bleed
pull t-case and fix shifter rails and broken twin stick mount
cut and slot front frame rails and try and fit bump stops.
 
#445 ·
had to put the truck oil pan back on. car pan hung to low in the front.

bought a new surplus center ram and made new mounts to hopefully keep this one from getting hit at full stuff.

then finally added some front air bumps that I have been dreading for a long time. packaging was a major pita. but hopefully everything clears and ill find out Saturday running the obstacle course at R@V



 
#449 ·
ran out of welding wire tonight at 10:30. all I had to do was weld the last bump stop pad on the axle for the drivers side and one tab for limit strap. sooo frustrating. was hoping to spend tomorrow night doing a once over and start packing for r&v.
 
#450 ·
bent my steering wheel. bent my bump stop pad on drivers front and broke my lower link mount on rear axle frame side. luckily it was just partially wripped so nothing else broke with it. looks like just some time and fab rework and ill be ready to go again.

 
#457 ·
grille hoop or not? that's the next question.

working on a guard for the steering box before loonie run. also looking at making a bar like whiterhino has to protect my windshield frame and then adding a grille hoop with tie it to bumper tube.

downside is I like the simple look of it as is.

what ye gr8lakes say?
 
#461 ·
My windshield hoop has allowed me to push into things that many others won't try. And it has saved the windshield on those dumb occasions where those of us that actually wheel in slippery conditions may slide into a tree. I've never hesitated to push it where I may flop because I was worried about my windshield. There were 2 guys on our trip to Harlan that skipped Lion's Den purely because they knew they would hit their windshield. For me, it was a non issue.

The only time I was on my lid was in a freak situation where no one saw it coming. With the windshield and grill hoops, I did zero damage other than a tear in my bikini top. Without them I would have fubarred both my hood and windshield. To me, it's simply a no brainer for ease and no worry.

Do I prefer the looks without it? I don't think it really matters. I own the jeep to wheel and have fun. No doubt I will now be more cautious after the body swap but I still intend to not worry about rubbing my windshield cage on a tree.

But is there anything here that stands out to make you not want it in these conditions?
 
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