73' FJ40 - The Garage Cruiser

[daniresch]

looks soo good!!

[MAD]

damn.  very nice.

[redrocket93]

Updates: The cage from metaltech showed up today, so we started mocking up along with the fuel tank. Glad we did cause the fuel filler tube and seat cradle hoop didn't jive.



So I decided to lean the tube back to clear the filler.





Man-a-fre 28 gallon fuel tank. Very nice.



Cage installed, mounting holes drilled in the floor and bolted down. Getting a sun tan.







Also started working on the Howell EFI setup. About 90% done, just need to tie up some loose ends. Throttle cable installed and working. Should be making loud noises soon.

[jrock]

Looking real good

[Dooner]

Looks sweet! I'd say double check clearance between the windshield wiper motor and the bar across your A pillars before you burn everything in hard. I thought I had plenty of room on mine, but the windshield really pulls back when you crank down on the knobs..

[Jud]

Good Job dude! This thing is coming along really nice.

[redrocket93]

Time for some updates.

While it was away the owner had the inside of the tub and the rockers Line X'd. I think it came out great. It's a little dirty from sitting at his house the last few months.







I bolted up the tube fenders. Still need to make some adjustments.


Also pulled the thirds to rebuild them and install ARB's.

Today I bolted up the fuel tank, fuel pump, filter and plumbed the entire fuel system. Installed the distributor and plug wires, wired the fuel pump, PCM and ignition and it fired right up and ran great. Gotta love open headers on a sunday afternoon in yuppie town.

Video of engine starting for the first time.
Time for some updates.

While it was away the owner had the inside of the tub and the rockers Line X'd. I think it came out great. It's a little dirty from sitting at his house the last few months.







I bolted up the tube fenders. Still need to make some adjustments.


Also pulled the thirds to rebuild them and install ARB's.

Today I bolted up the fuel tank, fuel pump, filter and plumbed the entire fuel system. Installed the distributor and plug wires, wired the fuel pump, PCM and ignition and it fired right up and ran great. Gotta love open headers on a sunday afternoon in yuppie town.

Video of engine starting for the first time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tx50WBkvy_I

[daniresch]

motor sounds great! this 40s came a long way!

[redrocket93]

Been chippin away at this thing trying to get all the little stuff done.

Got the fuel pump and filter permanately mounted. Ended up mounting them under the floor on the passanger side between the frame a rock slider. Used a factory fuel filter out of 3.4 Tacoma because I like the way it has a nice bracket to bolt it to any flat surface. After that I built a skid plate, drilled and tapped the rock slider support bars and bolted it to them to keed debris from bouncing off the pump and filter.




Got the battery in place using a Ruff stuff box. Cut out a plate and bolted it to the firewall where the old heater fan box was. Welded the RS boxt to that and also added a big gusset under the box.





Gauges in place. Went with all speedhut gauges. Also using a GPS speedo for ease of use and accuracy. Not pictured is the fuel gauge that will be mouted on the dash to the right of the cluster.



FJ80 brake master cylinder, FJ40 booster bolted and place and most of the brake hardlines plumbed.



Radiator puke take installed and plumbed.



Next up is wiring and final assembly of cage, seats and other misc stuff. Should be good to go by mid summer. Working 50 plus hour weeks at my normal job and being a Dad are not leaving me with much time to monkey with this. I'm not worried though, my 4runner is trail ready. :flipoff2:

[AaronB]

Nice work.want to come do my brake and fuel lines.

[redrocket93]

Nice work.want to come do my brake and fuel lines.

Haha, no thanks! Brake lines are such a pain. Some advise though, get yourself a good double flaring kit. I was using a cheap parts store kit and absolutely hated it. Finally broke down and bought a matco kit from the tool truck and it's like night and day. It was a little spendy but I'll have a good kit forever.

[TimberlineBryce]

[redrocket93]

Worked on the cruiser last weekend and today. Got 90% of the wiring done, gauges in and working, all lights including indicators and turn signals working, PS system filled and bled, all brake lines plumbed and hooked up. The end is in sight, however after filling with coolant, it started pissing out of a freeze plug in the rear of the engine, so out will come the transmission and t-cases. CRAP!!!

I'll snap some pics tomorrow but here is a video of it running and steering. Gotta love the sound of an SBC with open headers.

[redrocket93]

New updates. After pulling the transmission out to replaced the freeze plugs in the rear of the engine. I built drivelines and drove the cruiser around my neighborhood and noticed the clutch was slipping real bad. Found that we used to thick of a throwout bearing and it was not letting the clutch engage all the way.

1 step forward 2 steps back. Pulled the transmission again and installed the correct throwout bearing. Drove it and the clutch worked great.

Finally some forward progress was made this weekend. Installed metal tech rear bumper with tire carrier and cooler rack. Also had a buddy of ours in the truck toolbox business build a huge aluminum drawer for the cargo area.

Also got the warn 8274 mounted with synthetic rope and a single row LED light bar.

All that's left now is to tidy up some loose ends in the wiring, bolt in cage seats, windshield and hood. The end is very near.

Pics

[Dooner]

Man you've really been getting after it! The rig is
looking really sharp!

[redrocket93]

Thanks! It's getting so close. It's maiden voyage will probably be the round up this year. Can't wait.

[Dooner]

Got any updates for us?

[Slolyfe]

Looked awesome at the Roundup!!! Good meeting you guys.