I've started with a 1976 fj45 with a 2f motor and a gas conversion. It had a bit of cancer in the doors and guards but was roadworthy (ish). I bought it with the plan of making a project out of it. I think even owning a car of this age requires a generous and patient attitude let alone turning into something useable.
The first prob I had was the brakes. It has had later model front discs added but the master cylinder was stuffed so I replaced that and it stops like a regular car now.
It seemed to be running fine and after a few weeks I decided to go on a bit of a drive down south and about halfway to Albany the big end went in a fairly spectacular way and I had it towed back to Perth.
This accelerated my plans for the modification somewhat but this is what I've come to expect. After a couple of weeks I found what I was looking for, a shorty with a 351 cleveland (not fitted but with a complete conversion kit), power steering and the doors and guards were in much better knick than the troopy.
So now I have joined the ranks of bogans across the world with a bunch of decrepit bombs in my front yard.
I'm not a mechanic or anything but I think the big blue bit is sposed to go in the front.
The next step was to remove the 2f and plonk in the '51. The old motor came out pretty easily but the '51 is giving me a less than easy time.
The biggest prob is getting the motor aligned properly with the chassis. The kit I have has the engine and gear box mounts. I have fitted the mounts to the engine and gearbox and loosely bolted the gearbox mounts in hoping this will give me the alignment for the engine mounts to be welded in. At the mo the motor is sitting out of allignment with the chassis by about 1cm over it's length, so I may have to do a bit of modifying to the gearbox mont to get the alignment right.
This is where it's at right now but things should start moving along as soon as the alignment is sorted.
The plan for this build is to find a happy medium between an everyday rig and a competant holiday off roader. At the mo it has a stock 4sp gearbox but I would like to get a bit more top end speed out of it. The guy I bought the shorty off said it had high speed diffs. did the bj42's come with these? And if so will they make enough difference or should I go the 5 speed? Or maybe go both?
I am also planning on using the power steering out of the shorty and the handbreak. Does anyone Know if these are easy (bolt on type) procedures.
I been playing around with photoshop to get my paintjob sorted and here is the one I like the best at the mo.
And here is one that would be fun but probably not one to consider for a while.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers
