I did some more work on the Suzuki project.
I needed to finish mounting the rear A frame/top links.
First I wanted to weld on some chassis reinforcing plates made from 3mm steel.
I cut some 6mm thick angle.
Tacked them in place.
Drilled through the angle and bolted the A frame in place.
Cut some more angle and 6mm thick flat.
Drilled the flat.
Welded the 2 together.
Bolted them on and tacked them in position.
I wanted to remove the small chassis cross member which the fuel tank normally mounts to.
But first I wanted to add a cross member to get some strength back in the chassis.
Used a 51mm hole saw to drill through both chassis rails.
Cut a piece of tube and tacked it in place.
I could then cut the other cross member out.
I needed to finish the front spring towers next.
The passenger side one was ok.
But the drivers still needed finishing as I wasnt sure before whether or not I'd be using the original panhard rod mount or not.
Cut and folded some 3mm steel.
Tacked it in place.
Next I could add the 80 series bump stops.
I could then test the articulation with the forklift.
I needed to shorten a prop shaft for the front.
Ground the weld down.
And knocked the 2 sections apart.
Fitted it.
Then lifted it up again to check clearance.
Thats as far as I got on that project.
I've been keen to sort out some of the electrics on LJ for a while now and with the help of one of the auto electricians at work, I've now got all the bits we think we will need.
Since the 1KZ-T engine went in there has been wires that havent been connected as I didnt know where they needed to go to.
I tried connecting some of them when the engine went in and the oil pressure started working, then shot up and burnt out.
With the help of my factory service manual books the auto electrician identified a little box above the glove box, underneath the dash, which communicates with the instrument cluster and makes the gauges and warning lights work.
We opened it up.
And found some components were burnt out.
Thanks to Toyodiy's reverse search function I was able to discover that the exact same part is fitted to the much more common (down here) 75 series.
I also sourced an oil pressure sensor.
And an oil pressure switch.
With those parts we should now be able to get the oil pressure gauge, turbo lights and low oil warning lights working!
I can then tidy up the wiring loom and run everything neatly in split tubing.
All of the aftermarket wiring is now perfect thanks to the pre Simpson trip work I had done.
I finally made a start on the trolley for my welder.
Cut some steel.
Welded some of it together.
Cut a piece of 3mm steel for the top.
I allowed a gap around the edge for the weld.
Cut some 100mm x 6mm flat.
Welded them on the bottom (this is for the castors to bolt to)
Welded more bits together.
Joined the 2 U shaped frames to the base section.
I cut some 40mm long pieces of 75mm x 50mm box.
And welded them together.
Welded them in position.
I cut and folded some 2mm steel.
Cut out the end.
Laid the upturned trolley frame onto the 2mm and welded it in position.
Turned it the right way up and welded and bent some 20 x 3mm steel on.
The cut out in the top fitted a gas cylinder perfectly and the bent 20 x 3mm on the bottom kept the base of the cylinder from being pushed in towards the welder.
Cut some 40 x 5mm flat and 25mm tube.
Welded them together.
Clamped and welded it in position.
Test fitting the welder, tubes of filler rod and gas cylinder.
I need to add a chain to secure the cylinder, that will attach using a cut out like the one below and the other end will be bolted on.
I need to drill and bolt the castors on the bottom next.
Then I want to bring the welder home and start using it, then I can decide exactly where I want the hooks to be to hang the coiled up earth lead, torch, foot peddle and any other custom touches I want to add.
Then I will get it powder coated the same blue as the work bench.
