fj45 rat rod (ish)

[Heath]

Done some overtime so spent a little time dreaming of what to spend it on.

Not enough for a pallet of Tui (nice drop that), but found this trans oil cooler on amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/70298-Hi-Tek-Supe ... WHSH6VLR9C

I wonder what postage is worth?

[niblik]

It's ~$50.

Including exchange rate and postage is $302 on my doorstep.

[Heath]

It's ~$50.

Including exchange rate and postage is $302 on my doorstep.

Fark, thats cheaper than I figured.

Might have to "buy now"...

[niblik]

Double check my figures of course.

[Heath]

Of course. I'll go through the checkout and see what it comes to before I jump right on in. Still cheaper than NZ though. (Been looking online locally, but must check via phone for some local prices first though just to confirm)

[Heath]

Nice wheels. I'd prefer a solid back that I can paint and chrome trim, but these are okay. I like that the centres are multi stud (old holden/chev and modern holden) so when/if I upgrade the rear axle I dont have to buy another set of rims. 15/7 up front and 15/8 on the rear is the plan.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing ... =585757730

These ones are sweet too (wrong sizes for my liking)

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing ... =585192325

[Heath]

Oh yeah starter is out and going to be tested tomorrow.

Its filthy dirty on the outside so maybe its just full of crud.

[Heath]

Starter tested out fine.

finally got some truck time and refitted it, but ran out of time to test it. I did fit some new earth cables so hopefully that will sort the issue.

Next week maybe...

Will hopefully get the chassis sorted in the next 2-3 weeks.

I did spend some hot rod cash on my prado unfortunately. The exhaust rattling finally got the best of me and I had a flexi put into the system (what a difference - should've done it when I had it made years ago).

[Heath]

Grabbed some HQ/WB body mounts today (the rubber doohickee's with the crushtubes etc that go between the body and chassis) - little by little its getting closer.

So when its in for the chassis massage I'll get some body mounts welded up too. I figured I'd leave the engine/trans on the chassis so the body can be put on nice and low. I can always lift it with packers if it is too low and I may as well get it done at the same time.

Might drop the body on next weekend (got visitors this weekend with little kids so no go on the rod - BUGGER) and sort out where the final location is so it can be properly fitted later.

This hot rod business is expensive when you start to add up the little things and I haven't really gotten far yet, but I guess so is any pursuit.

[coxsy]

a tad over $2k on the safari last month, so have fun with the rod build

[Heath]

Chassis work is about 1500-2000, but its got to be done right so no compromising there.

Not complaining mind you, I knew it wouldn't be cheap, but the end result will be something unique...

[Heath]

Still no Rumble in the drive way.

Changed the earth leads over and had starter checked. The earth jumper lead stayed cool this time while the positive lead got hot. I didn't change the positive lead I made to connect the jumper to the starter and am now suspecting it is the point of resistance. I'll sort that this week at work (or some time) and hopefully it'll run.

It did turn over a bit faster (maybe 300rpmish but not for long enough to catch) so I'm getting there.

Bloody new auto pan gasket is still leaking so I bought a new one ($9 so cheap enough to redo) and will put this one on with some gasket goo (or similar product - just the barest of smears mind you, don't want to spoil the chrome bling... ).

Considering its been a weekend of babies and toddlers I'm surprised I got anything done. and to top it off Rolleston residents are now warned not to drink the water (must boil it) so its beer o'clock...

[Heath]

Okay had a few issues lately.

Battery being sourced this week hopefully.

Chassis work has been deferred by "she who must be obeyed". Apparently we have spent too much already on the credit card (better not say I'm getting a battery yet on the Visa) , so more time to plan and measure/dream and re-measure etc.

The chassis mod has changed slightly already. The chassis isn't a square shape (has a bevel out of the inner edge) so I have extended the cut out from the square area in the front where it is to be narrowed (taking out two 90 deg bends) to a section near the midpoint of the chassis (where it is square as well).
I'll get 150mm added in length too to help with balancing the length of the deck with the body length (getting the look right only).
The engine will be moved rearward 200mm and lifted 15mm (to clear fuel pump). This will mean a new set of mounts (might get a crossmember made up to suit - will discuss with fabricator).
Of course all the narrowing and shifting rearward of the donk means the transmission crossmember will need to be moved rearward and modified too (chopped to fit taper - was going to have to modify this anyway to fit the 350 trans).
I'll get the body mounts the height of the chassis rails and then pack them up to suit the transmission height/engine height.

So maybe a better outcome with me having to rethink things a little. I'll get the cab and drop it on the chassis to double check things soon.

One step forwards and one slightly sideways/and back a little.

[Heath]

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10 ... 9990040958

Not much fuel and runs a bit shitty but good oil pressure. Needs timing etc sorted, but it runs.

[tomsoffroad]

Bet that felt good? Awesome. So full steam ahead now?

[Heath]

Yep the missus said I had a grin from ear to ear.

Good motivation to keep me going in the shed over the cold months ahead.

Chassis is off for "mods" soon too which is why the engine had to be started now. Have to whip it out before the mods and need to fix a leaking trans gasket (new gasket and some gasket goo should do it) while I have it securely bolted down.

Will be good to be able to park my prado in the shed again for a while...

[Heath]

Found a few leaks in the trans. Though it was the pan gasket (still might be), but have tracked some other definite leaks.

The shift shaft seal, the speedo drive and possibly the governor cover. Surprisingly the dip stick o ring, the detent cable seal and the accumulator aren't leaking ... yet.

Anyone suggest an auto transmission parts place I can get some seals etc from in Chch?

[ClassicCruiserSpares]

Take them to Seal Imports in sockburn, they'll have what you need.

[Dr_PC]

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10200469883404462&l=1219209449990040958

Not much fuel and runs a bit shitty but good oil pressure. Needs timing etc sorted, but it runs.

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

[Heath]

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10200469883404462&l=1219209449990040958

Not much fuel and runs a bit shitty but good oil pressure. Needs timing etc sorted, but it runs.

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

LOL I have it recorded on my phone and watch it occasionally too.

[Heath]

Found a few leaks in the trans. Though it was the pan gasket (still might be), but have tracked some other definite leaks.

The shift shaft seal, the speedo drive and possibly the governor cover. Surprisingly the dip stick o ring, the detent cable seal and the accumulator aren't leaking ... yet.

Anyone suggest an auto transmission parts place I can get some seals etc from in Chch?

Went to ATP and they grabbed the bits I wanted off the shelf. $28 all up for two shift shaft seals and a new steel speedo bullet. So a few little jobs planned for the weekend, just have to figure out getting the old seal out.

[Heath]

Bloody wind last night. Picked up the almost pristine fj45 bonnet I had laid down out of the wind behind the house, and slammed it into the house wall. Dented the front curved bit (great to have to reshape without looking like shit) and popping the strengthening rib off. Must have hit hard to do it - lucky no damage to the house I can see. Cant figure out how the NW wind went over/behind the house (SW side) and picked it up before moving it towards the N. Msut have been a hell of an swirl there.

I swear some days, God or someone is trying to stop me mixing up jap, yank and aussie parts for my rod.

[Heath]

Well the last remnants of the cruiser parts I didn't need have gone to the scrap heap in the sky (Chassis bit and old tray parts - well gone to the dump).

Now that's gone I have a small bit of space for other stuff

Looking for a pair of front doors without the quarter window. Don't need the glass (but need the mechanism - broken windows are fine.), the doors will be cut down so new glass will have to be cut anyway.

Oh yeah anyone have a reasonable condition bonnet for sale - my one has a bloody big dent in it

Other than that not much to report, but I do now have a small collection of 6 Quadrajet carbs (3 to rebuild one in good nick but ecu control so I wont bother with it and two junkers for parts). Just sourcing parts from US of A to do the repairs.

Had a chat to a media blaster and will drop off the cab rear panel (and roof) for cleaning up. May as well see what I'm playing with - should've done it before I started cutting and welding. Might end up reskinning the damn thing if the rust is too bad or finding another one to start again with.

[Heath]

Cleared the deck of all the fiddly little household chores so settled in to sort the transmission leaks.

Speedo drive leak was simple. Undo bold, pull out old drive 'bullet' and insert new one (little oil on o rings first), do up retainer bolt.

Right onto the manual selector shaft seal. Should be really simple as I bought a tool from the US to do this. Simply slide it over the shaft until it makes contact with the seal then turn it so the threaded section grabs the seal and then using the bolt in the top just wind the bolt in to pull the seal out.

Simple right.

Wrong.

The shaft is 1/2 inch dia and the clearance in the seal remover is 12mm Internal dia. I think maybe the guy packing/building/selling these has made an error and perhaps they are only for later model GM vehicles not old ones. Not worth sending it back (postage is worth more than the bit) so I will try to get it drilled out to 1/2 inch for next time.

So I ended up using a dremel tool with a tiny drill bit to put little holes in the seal. I then used a pick set to carefully pull it out. All the while trying not to damage the shaft or seal contact areas. 5 min job - became 35mins.

But all done now. Just hope that stops the leaks or else its more mucking around...

One step closer though.

[Swamped]

depending on the size of the seal you can screw a little self taping screw into it and use a hookbar on the screw. I do axle seals like that.

[Heath]

depending on the size of the seal you can screw a little self taping screw into it and use a hookbar on the screw. I do axle seals like that.

Seal is about 18mm across with 13mm gap in middle - used a 1.5mm drill as anything bigger might not fit (and give me a bit of safety margin)

[Heath]

I dropped the seal remover into an engineer to spin a touch out of the centre on his lathe (ID should be .5 inch).

Will test fit it when I get it back. Wont actually pull the new seal out but if it fits it will live in the toolbox (with a spare seal) until next time.

Oh and so far no leaks... so far that is. Fingers crossed it's sorted.

[Heath]

Took the seal extractor in to get the centre milled/drilled out to 1/2 inch yesterday. Picked it up and didn't have to pay.

It was buggered. The thin tapered hardened steel opened up like petals. Lots of splits and basically a small expensive paper weight.

Not happy but what can you do? The guys doing the work warned that if it was hardened it might not be able to be drilled out - they were right.

Just make one next time I think. 1/2 inch ID pipe with a nut welded on the end to take the bolt (to ease the seal out). Taper the pipe down and put some notches (thread starts) to catch the edge of the seal. I guess hardened would be best.

Never mind its back to using a dremel and small picks for me if I need to do it again soon.

[surfer x2]

I've got a seal removing tool for those sitting at work you can use if you need to do it again.

[Heath]

I've got a seal removing tool for those sitting at work you can use if you need to do it again.

Cheers man!! I hope I don't need to take you up on that.


Heath.