Project Land Cruzah

[Dooner]

What we have here was a perfectly good ol school 71 FJ40 with a 327 SBC Turbo 400, Saginaw P/S tilt column stock axles and springs w/ 2" add a leafs & Rancho 5000s quick silver shifter, vac 3 speed transfer case, on alloys w/ 33's etc. Ive had the cruiser since '90 using it as my DD until around 98 or so.

I always wanted to put a 4 speed in the 40 and set it up spring over with 35s soo here goes nothin'

[Dooner]

Here's the Cruzah being led into the barn.. it didnt suspect a thing! Off with the roof!

[Dooner]

Hey wait a minute, I was using that! The Croozer was starting to catch on

[Dooner]

In goes the Mini truck axle in the front along with new 35s

[Dooner]

Hmmm the Mini pads are a bit wider than the FJs.. guess we better out board them some how. Heres the right side hangers

[Dooner]

What to do about the rear end? How about trying out a Mini! Side by side comparison with the 40 axles. Looks like the same width to me. Ended up getting a rear end drum to drum from BrokeOkieTy off the board, Very cool guy, Thanks Ty .

[Dooner]

Looks like we need a bit more wheelbase,   better reverse those springs!

[Dooner]

Thats more like it! This will give me a little more drive line, just need to trim up those fenders a bit

[4THEWKN]

Look'in real good bro!!! The 35"look good with the SOA.

[unclejpl4x4]

   

[Dooner]

Thanks guys heres a shot of the FJ spring plates mounted SOA and Marlin high steer crossover setup. I had to relocate the center pin holes because I moved the front axle forward 1 inch. I picked up a set of forged arms from Marlin and took them to the wire wheel, buffed em out then clear coated them for a bit more bling!

[83rocktoy]

How far back duos the axle move when reversing the springs?

[Dooner]

Right around 3 inches

[83rocktoy]

Thanks for the info.

[Dooner]

Dropped the SM465 off on Rocky's work bench on Friday to swap the 32 spline main shaft out for the shorter 10 spline (this will let me hookup to the Toybox). Ordered up the 4.7 Mini Truck transfer case. Thanks goes out to Dean for advice and helping me carry in that stinking SM465 .. Hope your back is alright!

Thanks again for the help Dean
Mike

[CruzrDave]

Looks great. So are you going to run a single Truck case or a dual case combo? I didn't get to talk to you we you droped off the trans.

[Dooner]

Im looking at using the toybox housing as part of a single case set up (for now). What would it take to set this thing up as a dual set up?

Mike

[Hammerhead]

What would it take to set this thing up as a dual set up?

Uhh, money...   

[Dooner]

Dang! why does it all have to come to money!

[BoG-ToY]

looks good, Hey, I need money for my project truck.....now taking donations....whatever I dont need I promis I will send to dooner so he can get his dual tcase

[RCKSQRL]

Wht does the driveline angle look like fro the front. I am assuming that you did not cut and turn the knuckles.......
I am thinking of doing somethin very similar to mine and the angle is concerning. (not to mention the length of my springs.)

[gotrocks]

Can you get more pictures of your cruiser.  I like your build.  And how about some pictures of your rear fenders on how you cut them.  Keep it up.

[Dooner]

Actually one of the reasons I used the Mini front end was to avoid the cut and turn. Im not certain what the front drive shaft angles are going to look like as I dont have the tranny / transfer case in yet. The front axle is an 83 using the factory spring perches. Im trying to keep the 83 factory geometry as much as possible to eliminate variables that I would have to figure out later. Im pretty sure that those guys at toyota are better at geometry than I am. That was my motivation to keep the front springs factory, not reversed like my rear springs. I could have gained another 3 inches for a total of 4" further forward but the curvature would have put the axle at a different caster angle. Another concern was steering geometry as the drag link and tie rod would not be parallel anymore.

:EDIT: I ended up using an 85 front housing and doing the cut an turn for 6' of caster. I also ended up reversing the springs like I said I wouldnt! I figured ah what the heck!

[Dooner]

Actually I still havent cut the fenders out yet. The sawsall is sitting on the shelf ready to go. Im still not 100% sure what I want it to look like. A buddy of mine wants me to hack the whole rear of the wheel well out, but I really like the lines of the Critter's tail end. Im probably going to enlarge the cut out following the existing cut by like 6" to the rear.

Any Ideas would be appreciated
Mike

:EDIT:
To be clear the prior owner opened up the fender wells with an air nibbler. I ended up enlarging the opening to the rear with my good ol angle grinder with a 4 1/2" cutting wheel. Just gotta be real careful and take your time, watching your marker line and keeping inside it, not really all that hard to do really.

[Dooner]

Heres the Toybox

[Dooner]

Heres the long shaftedted SM465. This will never do  465 is being reshafted with a 10 spline that sticks out like 2"  as we speak

[Dooner]

Power Steering Cooler for the ol saganaw.

[Dooner]

Chevy Clutch pedal for the 465, fits good only had to lop 1/2" off of the pivot bushing to get it to fit in the stock pedal location. Pedal is a bit longer than the FJ's so i'll have a little more leverage to move the 12" clutch.

[Dooner]

Had a chance to play with the Critter the other day so I copied Cruiser Dave and did a little frame welding! Still need to box in the rear frame horns though.

[Dooner]

Heres the Heart and Soul of my project. My primary goal was to achieve good gear reduction in a short drivetrain to maximize driveshaft length. My goal was attained in both areas with the 6.55:1 465 1st gear and the 4.7 toybox / minitruck transfer case fusion, all in a 32 1/2" package.
What I hadnt counted on is that the Legend MARLIN built the 465 HIMSELF!
Rocky built up the T Case and got it all together. Marlin said that the internals were in great shape when he opened the 465 up, so I lucked out there too. Marlin also said that they spent way too much time cleaning this lunker up, bead blasing the case making her all pretty, replacing bushings just in case and a couple of crusty bearings, But that just goes to show you the extent of the quality of workmanship that goes on in those hallowed walls.   Thanks goes out to Dean for advice and getting me hooked up, Rocky for his case building skillz and to Marlin for takin an interest in a crusty ol chevy 4 speed     Oh and uh sorry bout the fire your workbench Marlin!