LJ70 Build Thread!

[Birder]

have you got a link to any more pics of that truck? build thread maybe?

It comes from here Ben

http://forum.ih8mud.com/70-series-tech/438463-bumper-build-up.html#post6239534

 

[Crushers]

i do like the design of that bumper ...

Saw this on the web ben looks smart

 

[Crushers]

we are still working on the build, the owner keeps adding more and more to the truck so, although the initial turn around was to be June, then August, then Oct it is not the end of Dec ... IF he doesn't decide to add something else.
I appreciate the compliments on the troopie build, it has not been easy.
I look forward to reading more threads on this site as i just found the "landcruisernet" yesterday.
Cheers from Canada
Wayne

Ben, I am not sure if you have seen this rear bumper

http://forum.ih8mud.com/70-series-tech/436341-troopie-build-5.html#post6259469

Its a troopy but may give you some ideas, the bumper starts on page 5 of the full build

 

[Ben]

have you got a link to any more pics of that truck? build thread maybe?

It comes from here Ben

http://forum.ih8mud.com/70-series-tech/438463-bumper-build-up.html#post6239534

thanks mate.

we are still working on the build, the owner keeps adding more and more to the truck so, although the initial turn around was to be June, then August, then Oct it is not the end of Dec ... IF he doesn't decide to add something else.
I appreciate the compliments on the troopie build, it has not been easy.
I look forward to reading more threads on this site as i just found the "landcruisernet" yesterday.
Cheers from Canada
Wayne

Ben, I am not sure if you have seen this rear bumper

http://forum.ih8mud.com/70-series-tech/436341-troopie-build-5.html#post6259469

Its a troopy but may give you some ideas, the bumper starts on page 5 of the full build

Wayne, the quality of the work thats going into that build is very impressive!

im yet to see anyone else in the UK capable of doing such an amazing job of re-building a landcruiser.
i spent about 6 or 7 hours reading every single post of your build thread.

im hoping one day, i might be able to do work to that sort of quality!

 

[Crushers]

Thanks Ben for the compliment, much appreciated.
It has been a lot of work but more than actual work is the thought process behind the mods. i have lost count of the number of nights i woke up with another conflict to an idea that popped up.
but
it has been an enjoyable experience too. i am looking forward to seeing this one completed and in the hands of its owner.

anyone can do this work as long as they are willing to try, learn from the mistake and try again. failure is not trying at all.

now, when i get some time i need to explore this forum more. thanks for the warm welcome.

cheers
Wayne

 

[Ben]

had a very busy week. being trying to strip the last of the parts off the 4-runner, as im weighing it in next week. but i found a few hours last night to do some more on the rear bumper.

first i used my angle finder to work out what angle i wanted the corners of my bumper to be at. the angle finder is good, in that it automatically splits the angle in 2, which makes getting mitre joints a lot easier.

couldnt quite visualise how my selected angle would look, so i made a template out of 1/4" ply.

marked and cut the end of the bumper to the correct angle.

cut the 2 end pieces.

cut 2 middle pieces.

making sure they matched up to the template.

and tack welded everything together.

it was late last night, and had been a very long day, when i finally stopped working on the bumper, what i missed was that the bumper ends, which id purposely left long were touching the tyres.

so when i went to leave for work today, i spotted it was touching the tyre. 5hit! almost made me late. had to get the grinder out and chop a bit off the drivers side so it cleared the tyre.

so today after work, my boss let me use the workshop.

first job was to mark and cut the ends of the bumper at the length and angle i wanted them.

next i fully welded everything together.

next i cut 2 pieces of 4mm sheet steel to cap off the ends.

and welded them in place.

i needed to space the bumper back a bit, as it was almost touching the body below the rear lights, so i cut a piece of 80mm x 10mm steel.

cleaned the rust off the metal inside the bumper.

dropped the steel in place, and then mig welded it in place.

used a flap wheel disc to smooth down all the welds.

i used the mag drill to drill through the 4 holes id put in the bumper originally, and through the piece of 10mm steel id welded on the back.

the next detail of my rear bumper, is something id thought up many months ago.

to have the exhaust exiting through a hole one side of the bumper. and in exactly the same position on the other side of the bumper, have a hole the same size with a fog light behind.

marked where i wanted to drill.

the 3.5" hole saw i bought when i fitted my ironman snorkel, was the perfect size for the hole i needed.

im having a 2.5" stainless steel exhaust system made next week, and i called the chaps who will be making the sytem for me, and i told them of my plans and asked how much clearance they would need through the bumper so that the exhaust wont hit the bumper and rattle. i was thinking of using 3" tube which would have given a 1/4" of clearance around the exhaust pipe, but the chaps said just over 3" would be better.

anyway..............back to the bumper.

out with the trusty hilti drill (hilti make the best power tools available).

5mins and plenty of cutting fluid later, i had a hole right through my bumper.

cut a piece of tube.

i thought i might have to file out the hole a bit, as the tube was ever so slightly larger then the hole saw, but i managed to hammer it in place.

welded it in place.

1 nice hole through my bumper.

painted the back with red oxide paint.

i then bolted it back in place, and painted the rest of it with red oxide.

still need to drill another big hole for the fog light on the other side, and i also want to add some more bolts to fix the bumper to the chassis.

i did think of adding high lift jack points, but decided this isnt necessary, as the ones in the rock sliders are perfect for changing wheels.

need to make a tow bar next week, so i can trailer the 4-runner to the scrap yard, so i picked up some 20mm plate today.

must get to bed now, as got to be up in 6 hours for my weekend away laning and camping in wales, which will sadly be the last trip in my truck.

 

[Ben]

this bumper looks very smart. but......................

i think having my exhaust coming through the rear bumper is a better design, than the one below. as id be worried about dropping off a rock step and squashing the exhaust between a rock and the bumper.

 

[Crushers]

that hole for the exhaust is perfect to prevent crushed tail pipe end. if you get them to put a hanger off the bumper to the pipe as it enters then you shouldn't have any rattle at all...

nice work, love that angle finder that divides the angle into two... makes for easy work.

congrates.

edit: you posted the same idea as i did at the same time...ignore.

 

[Ben]

thanks, great minds think a like Wayne!

 

[wobbly]

Why will it be the last trip in your truck?

 

[Ben]

Why will it be the last trip in your truck?

because im taking my truck off the road until i export it to OZ when i emigrate next year.

and the reason im taking it off the road till then is that my insurance company want £1.70 per mile to insure me!

im not prepared to pay that much, seems like a total rip off.

ive tried calling around trying to get it cheaper, but most insurance companies wont even insure me, due to 5points and 3 accidents in the last 2 years. apparently they dont like that kind of thing.

got to get up now, stick 60litres of veg oil in the tank, and then im off to Wales to meet up with the others.

 

[Chas]

I feel for you Ben with your insurance problem, I hope your last trip, for now anyway, will be an epic one

 

[wobbly]

Ouch, thats a bitter pill to swallow.

Where in Oz you going - somewhere where the trails are long , beers cold and Sheila's appreciate a good mechanic (but hopefully aren't fussed about his driving record....)?

Pete

 

[Ben]

was a fantastic weekend!

full report and pics to follow shortly in the green lane section.

going to Melbourne to start with Pete, and will have to stay in Victoria for the 1st 2 years. after that im free to go where i want.

i want to go to Byron Bay in northern New Southwales, but that state is not currently sponsoring carpenters, so will be in Victoria for the 1st 2 years. which isnt bad at all, nice and close to the Victorian High Country, where theres loads of great trails.

when i was over there i worked for 4months, and then bought a 4x4 and drove 6000 miles around Australia in 2 months, the first leg of the journey was following an off road route through the Victorian high country from Melbourne to Sydney!

was an amazing trip. i will try and dig some pics out when i get chance.

 

[wobbly]

I thought about Oz a few years back, one of the states was trying to recruit british police officers, you had to go for 2 years, after which you could stay permanently, I looked into it and it turned out that the state police had the reputation of being the most corrupt and they were trying to recruit to improve their image, didnt fancy that overly much, no-one turning up to help when you were in a gun fight - I've seen Serpico !

4 kids and elderly parents later, can't see it happening for me now, have to look forward to my dotage where I can spend my kids inheritance.

 

[Ben]

few pics of the new rear bumper in daylight.

it did its job well on one of the lanes, and saved me damaging the bodywork.

i did think of cutting and riveting on some pieces of stainless steel onto these corners, so that i wont have to keep re-painting them, but im not sure it would look right.

need to get it finished and painted black.

 

[Crushers]

paint is cheap ...

 

[Ben]

with only a week to go till my insurance runs out, ive got a few things to do before my trucks off the road.

firstly i need to take the remains of 4-runner which i bought as a donor vehicle for the 3litre engine, to the scrap yard to be weighed in. hopefully scrap is still fetching a good price.

so that means i need to tow it there on a trailer. the trailer isnt a problem, i can borrow one of those, but as my truck is lifted 4"s and running 35" tyres, the standard towbar would be way way to high!

so ive built a towbar. wasnt going to post about this as im sure people will flame me for it, but oh well. :angry-extinguishflame:

got my local metal fab shop to oxyacetylene me a piece of 20mm thick plate to size.

then used the mag drill to put a load of holes in it, and then bolted this to the chassis with 4 x 80mm bolts i found. i then welded a piece of thick 70 x 90 angle to the back, and bolted this through the bumper and chassis using some M12 bolts.

next job was to wire in some towing electrics.

easily found a big connector that i was able to use the electrical tester on, to determine which wires do which. then wired everything up.

bolted temporarily in place.

once ive done what i need to do with the trailer the towbar will be coming back off, and might never get used again. the towing electrics will be coiled up and kept in the boot out of the way encase i do ever need them again.

started fitting and wiring up my new lights. only fitted the drivers side at the moment, as the other side isnt too bad, only got a very small crack, so might leave the cracked one on for now.

 

[Gav Peter]

Standing by with the fire blanket!!!

 

[wobbly]

Cant see much difference between what you've done and the one on the back of my old 78 - mine had a bracing strut on the back to stop the plate bending outwards.

Pete