1964 FJ40-ground up

[CruzrDave]

I'm going to be installing 1984 toyota front axle, 1992 V6 wide axle and other cool things. I'll write what I'm doing and what I've already done and other info when I can.









Update-Its been 2 years since this post. see below

[cruzila]

Why a mini front   Are you going all mini t-case and everything  

[CruzrDave]

I like the cruzr drive train, its worked flawless for me in the past but I what I have with my 4-runner, but in a FJ40.
     Heres a few of the goals and reason for my project. This will be a slow build as money is tight and so is time.
1. I will get more ground clearence with the truck axles then the cruzr and they are wider when running the front spacers and a  wide axle rear.
2. I plan on installing a FJ80 E-locker in the front and standard E-locker in the rear both with 4.88.
3. 700r4
   
Whats already done:
1. Stripped down the Cruzr
2. Sand blast the frame
3. Boxed some of the rear frame
4. Beefed up the rear crossmember
5. shackle reversal
6. SOA with Cruiser diffs
7. Power Disc brake
8. Wasted time with a local guys cruiser parts, The parts are laser cut and really nice but suck crap for trail use. Waste of time and I'll need to redo these front frame pieces before I can continue with the toyota truck face lift.




edited

[CruzrDave]

Well, I started working on my FJ40 again. I haven't really touched it since 99' . I got to involved with the trucks ( I had 3 in since then ). BigMikes thread got me intrested in repost mine . Anyways since I'my done with my truck for now the FJ40 flame has been lite again.

I ditched the cruiser drive train and picked up a 85 front axle and 1987 rear axle. I also picked up a 1994 Vortec v6 and 4L60. I still unsure about some things like single case or dual because of drive shaft length. I have decided to use a TBI 350 that I have instead of the v6.
First order is to get axles back under it.
This past week I got the front axle under the cruiser. I moved the axle 2 1/4" from the stock location. The truck spring width is 29" and a cruiser is 27". I didn't want to cut the stock perchs so I used one of the Marlin Crawler SAS hangers and out boarded the front springs to Mini truck spec. The FJ springs are also wider. I plan to use a FJ80 E-locker up front so I needed to use a mini truck width spring. I bought the  OME 2" spring for a 85 diesel truck. They are 1" longer then my stock springs and have the same free arc. I hope they don't sag to much once I mount the 350   It looks good, I post some pics when Mike brings me the Camera. Tonight I mesured the rear springs and decided to go width OME 2 1/4" 85 mini springs. I picked up a set of the sloped rear hanger and they can be easly installed were the factory rear hanger is. The rear shackle should end up mounted on the bottum of the rear frame crossmember/bumper. It should move the axle back 3" from the stock location. I think the rear will be inboarded an inch on each side.

Also my Bro has a 67 that I'm doing the same thing to. His is still togather until the springs are all mounted on mine, its the unjacked with sample cruiser

[BigMike]

BigMikes thread got me intrested in repost mine .

[CruzrDave]

Well unfortantly the shop camera has not shown up yet so I have no pics.


I finished undoing all the what I had already done. I had to remove the frame tubes and hangers for the cruiser SOA I had on there because they would have been in the way of the larger truck frame tube that I will use. I got the out board mesurments for the frame tube and the spacers for the front shackles figured out.

I also got the front axle cleaned up and modified for the electric locker. The PS box is causes some problems with the SAS crossmember. I might have to mount it higher and father back then usually found on FJ40's. I mesured the front axle at 2.75" forward of a stock cruiser axle. I have the rear OME springs on order and I also order a TLC Concepts Frame box kit for the rear.

Like Chris said I should just put my FJ body on my truck

[BigMike]

Like Chris said I should just put my FJ body on my truck

Yeah but then your still stuck with the 3VZ

[CruzrDave]

Thats not true because I still can drop in my 4.3 Vortec or 5.7TBI 

I got the OME rear springs today. They have a little more arch then I thought. All the OME spec's are in Metric so I guess I got the mesurments off a little. No big deal I'll get some weight on them and see how it sits. I had ruled out using the frenched hager becuse it moves the hanger up in the frame, That may work know. I got the PS box mocked up tonight. The pitman arm is just about level and I will only need to clearance the SAS crossmember a little.

I agree Mike 

So where is the Camera

[TURBO]

                                                                                                                                   .


hey dave sounds like you got alot done.....
too bad you had to redo it all 
oh well keep working

oh here's a pic

[CruzrDave]

Ok here are some pics our some pics taken last fall

[CruzrDave]

These pics go with reply#3. This is the front hanger and frame tubes installed to out board the front mini truck OME springs. Also the PS box required me to notch the SAS crossmember. I all later had to ground on the box for additional clearence.

[CruzrDave]

My cruiser along with lots of others had  "frame flex". The rivets hold the inner and outer frame rails together stretch and loosen over time. One of my friends has to undo the hood latch's so the fenders and grill can move with the frame and not rip apart. I'm try something new. I have stitch the frame with 1" welds every 2". I hope this will help stiffen the frame. The Roll cage will also be tied into the frame.

[CruzrDave]

This is the last thing I've done to the cruiser. I have not touch it since January of this year. No money until I sell my truck. I used the frenched hangers. This was trcky because the cruiser frame widens as it goes to the rear. So I had to mesure twice and mesure twice and cut once, Came out right on the money.

[CruzrDave]

Here is the only rust my cruiser has.   Years ago I bought the CCOT rear tailgate replacement channel for this. I didn't really like, seems kind of wimpy. I might do somthing different or beef it up a little. Andy work at Cruiser Out Fitters for 5 or 6 years and gave me a few idea's on make my own channel. Thicker so I could bolt a tire rack and not have it crack down the road.

[79coyotefrg]

i wish i had a 40

[CruzrDave]

I love Cruisers. My brother picked this one up about a year ago. 1967 with factory drop tail gate

[Ferg]

When I had my rear rust fixed I used C channel.  On edge, like a 'C', the stuff is incredibly strong.  Slice it a few times to get it to bend/curve the way you want and presto!  Replacement panel that strong as $hit.

[51504ROCK]

hay dave,

cant beleve you are selling your pickup,  but this project looks like it should be prety sweet. i was wondering what type of welder you are using?    did you do thows weld? they look great. i am looking into getting a welder and want a good one. any sugestions. sorry about my spelling    

[CruzrDave]

hay dave,

cant beleve you are selling your pickup, but this project looks like it should be prety sweet. i was wondering what type of welder you are using? did you do thows weld? they look great. i am looking into getting a welder and want a good one. any sugestions. sorry about my spelling

Yep, those are my welds. I have a few years under my belt. I really wanted to buy a miller 250 but I could not afford to buy one at the time. I've always used millers. I've 4 family members that have millers to. I bowered my cousin's miller 210 when I did the SAS on my truck, I loved it and I shed a tear when I gave it back. I bought my welder from snap on . I cost a little more but I make $20 a week payments. I also got a TIG attachment for it. Its a nice welder. I also have a trusty Lincoln Buzz Box. I learned to weld using and stick welder doing "hard facing" on farm equipment almost 10 years ago. Also what I like about the snap on "muscle mig" is the spool housing detaches from the main unit so you move around or up in the bed of a truck easier then a one piece unit. That is the "white Box" on the left side of the welder.

Don't worry about the speilinn this anit no pieret4x2

[TrackVino]

Nice welder. I can see why you chain it down 

[Dooner]

Hey Dave, have you had a chance to get to the Cruiser lately? I imagine you guys have been loaded down pretty good getting the new shop up and running. How about some more pics. I got the same rust on my FJ as yours plus some ahead of the rear wheels. I have some cracks in the doors and hood as well. Im thinking you are on to something with welding up the frame to reduce flex.
More pics! More pics!

[LCOwner]

Check out the classic Toys-4-Fun sticker

[CruzrDave]

Toys 4 Fun . Good eye. Its been a long time since the club disbanded. Last I heard Dave past the torch to someone down in Visalia.


I have touched the cruiser in a while. Here is the up date. I will start a new thread for each of these cruisers when I get started on them:

Since I sold my truck to build the 64 cruiser a few things have changed. I came across a chance to pick up a 1969 FJ40. To get the cruiser I had to buy a SAS/rear lift kits and my labor to install the SAS/rear spring swap on his 1994 4-runner. I'm in the middle doing the swap right know. My plan is to get the 69 ready for spring. I missed the Tin benders, Rubithon and MCR this year so I need to get out wheeling nest year. So I bought a 700R4 ToyBox, Front/Rear ARB's and 4.88 gears. I will use the 99 Vortec V6 I bought from Dean. I will be doing a SOA with 35". I am also treading Dean the PTO winch that the 69 has for a set of FJ60 axles. I bought an 8274 and bumper off Marlin. I just have to buy pizza and beer for Dean when he comes over to help me. We will also be doing a ToyBox instructions for the GM autos and the H42/41 at the same time. Deans has a H42 4.70:1 ToyBox.

I didn't give up on the 64. I picked up a1998 3.4 Tacoma V6 and a R150F with a 5.15 gear set. I have a mini truck t-case but I ran out of money before I could buy the 4.70 gear set. I did pick up a used TRD e-locker for the rear.

Here is the 69 cruiser. Its not in my possession yet.   But here is a teaser pic.

[Dooner]

Sheesh! thats a good looking Cruiser Dave! Looking forward to watching the build. Are you planning to do a frame off build on this one too?
Mike

[CruzrDave]

Thanks, its costing me a lot to get it(money and time).

I won't be doing a frame off. I may change the body mounts since I have poly kit floating around but that will be the extent of any body bolts coming off. I'll just be doing motor/trans swap and changing to the wider FJ60 axles. I hope to have his 4-runner done in the next few weeks. I can seem to only find time to work on it on the weekends.

[Dooner]

I know what you mean, my Cruiser is always last on the ol priority list. Say does the 60 use a centered diff or offset?

[4THEWKN]

The FJ60 axles are just like the FJ40's (offset) but wider. Man I was going to start taking the FJ60 apart this weekend but ended up cutting firewood all weekend!!  But next weekend it's on. Dean........

[LCOwner]

Toys 4 Fun . Good eye. Its been a long time since the club disbanded. Last I heard Dave past the torch to someone down in Visalia.

Now and then I run with Mike Bennett over at the AMA Quick Silver Enduro and Molina at Clear Creek.  I also run with Larry Polistrini and I thin he was in T4F at one point.