Brock's "BRICK HOUSE" build....

[Brock]

Well, I have not done this and would have been easier to itemize and catalog it from beginning...but better than never I guess. First will introduce my BRICKHOUSE as I first knew here. LOL

I bought my FJ after having Jeeps for most of my adult life because of their history, reliability and offroad capability off the floor. My father had a 1984 FJ60 that his sister bought new for when they spent a lot of time in Durango, CO. In the early ‘90s they bought a new one and he bought it from her with original paint, garage kept, everything stock and brought it to South Carolina. Replacement of front hubs, hoses, belts, work on Air Conditioner, body lift, more aggressive tires, window tinting and other minimal changes and creature comforts were added. All in all she is stock and original with no rust that I know of…and he gave her to me. I think he wants her back so we might have to do the join custody thing...LOL Though I admittedly dont have room for her down at my home. That is another story and hope to catalog some of OLD BLUES improvements and such at another time in future....so back to my FJ.


Wife wanted Titanium (she has fetish for silver and metallic gray vehicles) and I wanted Black….though last three vehicles have been some color of RED (red Cherokee, red Indian Chief, red Dodge Cummins 4x4 HD2500) so we compromised and I got BRICK. Immediately thought of song from my youth, “Sheee’s a BRICK….HOUSE…..mercy mercy, letting it all hang out!” Hence her new stage name.
First thing I noticed is it is a very capable vehicle with the worse tires possible on delivery. Gene Reed Toyota would not swap them out for me or even let me pay difference. After 4 hours of negotiating and haggling I am guessing they were tired of me especially after the Manager realized he himself forgot to charge me for the roof rack and all-weather mats during all of my back and forths.
So I started my search for shops that would let me trade in tires and give me more than $25. Finally, heard of shop on other side of town, FRANKIES TIRES. I went to see him and it was coincidently behind a SEX SHOP called Generation XXX. So if it took a long time I guess I could watch who went in and out of the shop trying not to be seen. (No I did not go in…….this time.)
Frankie was a very nice guy…looked at tires…looked at truck setup…asked what tires I was interested. I told him Nittos but they were same as Toyo almost so either one would work. He told me he had great reports on Nitto and for the money he would recommend them. He came back a few minutes later and told me all he could do for me is $600 mounted and balanced for the Nitto Terra Grapplers. WOW! That meant he gave me about $75 per tire as I was getting 5 tires to fill every wheel on vehicle…not just four. So I shook his hand and let him start. He came back and said, I can have 295s on it now if they will fit. He said they might rub UCA a little or fender well it appears but if I was going to lift it they might be okay. Said they were $20 per tire cheaper. I said okay.

So first 2 days of ownership I put on new Nitto Terra Grapplers in 295x70x17 on all five mounting points. They are 8 ply tires, all terrain tread but much more aggressive than the standard BFG AT I have run for 20 years. I had the same tire on my Dodge Cummins 4x4 HD2500 and they road great as E rated tire so was interested to see how the D rated held up.

Nitto Terra Grapplers in 295x70x17

[Brock]

That lifted the truck height somewhat and immediately the wife said she was having trouble climbing in. She asked about side steps (my plan worked ) and I mentioned side bars like my truck had but that were stronger for offroad protection.  So BudBuilt Rock Sliders were ordered. I liked the ones that flare out towards rear to give some extra protection to rear quarter panels and help swing you around tight corners when stumps or rocks are in way. So a phone call was made. Bud answers the phone every time I call…and is always willing to just socialize. BudBuilts went on without a hitch. Used my motorcycle lift to hold them up to each side as they are very heavy and sturdy…bolted right up with no modification needed to brake line that is mounted to frame. Everything was welded nicely with extra gussets for strength. I had gotten them raw steel finish…so prior to mounting I put on 3 coats of Rustoleum Primer and then a couple coats of Rustoleum Black Hammered finish paint. SCHWEET!!!
Some 3M grip tape and no worries about my brides feet slipping off while using as step even though they too are higher than she expected. Oh well..they are mounted and paid for now. Hahahaha Installation time was about an hour total for both sides.
Only thing that sucks...is if I am wearing shorts and forget...and just hop out of FJ and slide over bars like normal....the 3M tape WILL TAKE THE SKIN off the back of your calf and knee.....like sliding into 2nd on hard clay ball field. OUCH....it is a self correcting problem but I am a slow learner.

Right after installation



Right after NORTH MEETS SOUTH at Cullowhee....both sides got some nice stripes and saved my body...

[Brock]

Now I had another issue…the tires were rubbing the body mounts. Not on regular roads but every time I turned into driveway, hit a bump in parking lot, or drove down parents dirt driveway on farm…they would rub terribly. Worse on drivers side as they ate hole in rubber mudflap cover on body mount. Passenger side was okay and not wearing but noticed slight shiny spot on UCA from sidewall. So I drove a week or two and finally broke down and called ToyTec.

I saw they had kits put together to help in the selection (recent visit to website shows the kits are no longer configured…much to my chagrine as I liked being able to read and figure it out alone) but I got their 3” kit that included Front OME coils (Medium) Rear OME coils (Medium) and two billet top mounts for the coil over and strut setup with new hardware. These replace oem top mounts and provide for an extra inch of lift up front to make vehicle sit level front to rear. I decided after talking to ToyTec and being assured I could run my oem shocks and struts fine for a while to do it this way and save some money as I just put on tires and rock sliders.

Went to local Frankies Tire shop and he said he only had one guy he would trust to do it and do it right…but would be two weeks as he is very busy (does a lot of work for local professional hockey team players and their personal vehicles). So went to Gerald’s Tires…a local tire shop with 5-6 shops locally owned. Great service, great work, great (fair) prices. They said they would do it plus an alignment for $300. Twice as much as Frankie but they could do it now…and the local off-road shops wanted $700 to do the install alone. WTF? $700 for 3 hours of work…MAX? Yep….so put down the money as all my friends and new friends from Land Cruiser community were all busy that weekend or did not have strut compressors and after the stories I had heard on how stout the OME springs were I was not about to try myself and need my face reconstructed like a witness protection program participant. I kind of like my ugly mug like it is.

They install it and took about 3 hours including alignment…kid that did it said it was his first FJ…but he drives a Tacoma Pre-Runner and was stoked to see how it was put together and talk to me during installation. Truck was not looking competent on outside to match its drivetrain and off-road lineage.
First thing I did was make max ration turns with a little speed to get weight to go to outside tire and see if it rubbed. IT DID NOT. Then I hit a couple speed bumps and went over the curb in a turn…NO RUBBING…then took dirt road to dump…NO RUBBING. Woooooo hooooooo finally. Did some wheeling on hills and 20-30% inclines and declines stuffing tires and only slight rubbing on the most extreme downhill positions with wheels off camber and stuffed back as far as they would go. Still got some light rubbing when wheeling on passenger side UCA…..but that can wait as it is very, very slight and cant even hear it.


Before Lift



After Lift


Clearance with Body Mount


Rubbing on UCA

[Brock]

So now I got tires, rock sliders, and lift. I need some security for locking GPS, handguns, knives, or wifes wallet and stuff when we go out. So found a site called 4x4 Parts, Accessories, Tires, Fender Flares, Rubicon Express, Poison Spyder Customs - and saw they had Tuffy Center Consoles available. Saw the generous top padding was a welcome addition to the skinny drivers armrest and it would fit without removing armrest for more seating position options for my arm. I did not have passenger rest so placed an order as the money saved about covered shipping through this site. Then I saw all their other things…some great prices in there as they do Group Buys and they are long term…for tires, bumpers…you name it. Anyhow….put the Tuffy on order.
Tuffy arrived and immediately went outside. Took out instructions and it had me remove the plastic insert in the rear of console area to expose the mounting screws. Removed mounting screws and placed Tuffy in its place…reinstalled with new screws that are longer…and it was solid. Since mine would also be holding weapons I wanted it really secure. So got my drill and followed their instructions for secure mount which requires you to drill through hole in Tuffy through floor making sure nothing is in way underneath and not pushing bit all the way through…just enough to get job done. Then crawled underneath and could not find hole with bolt sticking through. Found it and put on washers and lock nut….and then red loctite to make sure it could not be turned by hand if found. Thought about putting tac weld on it as well but may just leave…as if they break in…try to pull Tuffy…realize they cant after couple minutes….then take time to crawl underneath to try and find bolt to cut or back off nut…and then have heat or something to get it loose finally after another 15 minutes…hopefully by then a cop or myself will be standing over them when they crawl from back underneath the FJ under gunpoint or with a 130lb bullmastiff sitting on their chest. Tuffy is great…deep, solid, quiet, and the armrest is great for trips when I can lean over slightly and relax or for place to put arm when wheeling and constantly going between 2nd and LOW on tranny in Low Gear. Highly recommend. Installation was about 15 minutes total.

[Brock]

Next thing I noticed on a long trip was the wind noise with windows down. I am one of those guys that likes fresh air when driving no matter if 95*F or 45*F…within reason. So went to local shop called Cross Country Camper and Trucks as they carry about everything most people need or can order it for you. I got my ARE tonneau for the Dodge there and they have the window vent shields. Paid them a visit and saw they had AutoVentShades for the FJ that were snap in channel. I never cared for look of the stick on covers as they always looked crooked and if they came off left stick residue. So once again went with in channel application. Take them out of box and use enclosed alcohol pad to clean window channel good on inside where tape goes. Then peel tape off of vent shade and snap into place pushing up tight and secure in window channel. Then I roll up window completely and let it push them up and out against channel. Leave windows up for couple days to make sure the tape bonds good…and they are done. They have light grey (smoke) and a dark smoke..which I prefer…but make a noticeable difference with window down as the air whips around corner from flat windshield and keeps water out of cab when I clean window or it starts raining.

[Brock]

Now it is time to decide…bumpers or skid plates. I put a question up on both IH8MUD and FJCRUISER and both gave me about the same answer. Protect what is most expensive to replace first. So I went with skids. Already had BudBuilt rock sliders so he was obvious possibility plus I liked the looks of the Rasta skids and their lightweight given my wheeling was not going to be rock crawling at the level of MOAB or RUBITHON 99% of the time. Then again I saw what ATHENA put hers through and figured she is far more hard core rock wheeler than me so I was likely safe with them as a choice as well. Finally, I was interested in the urethane, high density that Capt Rick and others were fabbing and testing under vehicles. I contacted them and was awaiting delivery opportunities and pricing. Never got a reply but found their website later. Lack of response and information on availability and more real world testing knocked them out of running though they were my first choice for cost and weight initially so I could put other money on other upgrades.
So decided on BudBuilts….got his 4 piece set (did not get gas tank skid at this time…saving some money and using stock one for now that works good as long as you are not slamming down on sharp rocks or stumps routinely)….and the NEXT DAY they were at my door with a red faced and sweaty FEDEX driver saying everytime he comes to my house it is something big and heavy.  Well, next day got outside and started to paint. Got them raw as well. Thought about powdercoating but once it flakes and chips off it looks like crap….so figured I would need to take them down every year or two anyhow for differential fluid changes…I could touch them up so off to store for more primer and paint from Rustoleum. This time Rustoleum had the trigger spray instead of the top button spray. Three coats of primer top and bottom…..then three coats of black semi-gloss top and bottom and time to install. No I did not wait 48 hours for them to cure…they were in sun…dry to touch…so time to install. LOL Did front skid myself…..and got second skid up as well by myself. Next needed help…so hydraulic Toyota jack and piece of 2x8 to the rescue and my wife to steady it. Finally got it all bolted up…placed a sticker on front skid…and done. I smelled fresh paint curing and baking from heat for next week but it was nice to know it was there. Time to install…about 2 hours for me…and another 2 hours total for painting.

[Brock]

I was due to go to Cullowhee camping on the North Meets South Expedition style weekend planned in October. So I needed to get some recovery gear as all my stuff was worn, lost, or up in the FJ60 at my dads little place parked in garage near Piedmont SC on Saluda River. So I go to Northern Tool and see both a knock-off that looks exactly like Hi-Lift but could not confirm if it was made by same company or not…so grabbed the 48” model sitting next to it with the familiar red and black paint and that said HI-LIFT. Also grabbed a wheel accessory and plastic baseplate. Always used plywood before but figured I would go high-tech this time. Shackle, another 30’ snatch recovery strap, hi-lift, base plate, wheel lift accessory, and small chock blocks….and I was out the door.

Now how to store it. So I called Demello and got a set of their Hi-Lift mounts. I had second thoughts as I was thinking about replacing rack with aftermarket BajaRack or ARB so I can get rooftop tent in a year but talked to a heavily modded FJ owner and assured me the weight rating is for moving vehicle and that stationary it will hold 600lbs…at least. So relaxed and waited on mounts. They did not arrive in time for my Cullowhee trip but were at house on following Monday. Installed them on rear of roof rack. Most put on the side for easier access to use sliders as step…but I am tall enough to reach up to rear with no problems and get it. Plus, I saw Heather’s snag on limbs and everything else on trail and figured I would rather have it across the rear…should not affect aero too much as the rack already has two bulbous rails back there hitting airstream…so on she went. Some adjusting to get angle about where I wanted it (about 45*) and trial on error on balancing distance from side to side with handle clip and rubber isolater for jack installed…but got it worked out. Sprayed on some white lithium greast to bolts…put on jack…turned down wing bolts and she is good. Won't leave on all the time as don’t want jack stolen….but it is tested and secure.

Demello Hi Lift mounts on rear of rack


Hi Lift from Northern Tool mounted


No wind noise back there above what rack already produces.....and should not snag limbs like that. Me Likey...


WABFAB.... Long Delivery TimesYou can see my build comments on why I went to WabFab but must retract my support based on customer service. His product is very well built and no issues whatsoever. I got the naked one and primed then painted it myself to match my rock sliders....and is permanently on my Hi-Lift as we speak. My beef is with his customer service and timeliness. My own order took 2-3 months to receive which I thought was a little excessive but understandable given he does it part time after a real job. My problem is how he treats customers that receive raffle coupons through our local events.

A club member of ours won a WabFab coupon during our Lowcountry Boil last Sept 2008....he was very happy and had wanted one for quite some time so things were great. He submitted it in October for order and was told it would be done shortly. In November I ordered my own set after making sure WabFab got the coupon order and also the photographs from the raffle winner as I thanked him for his support....think I also sent him a shirt from the event. All is good. In December no WabFab delivered so contacted again....told I would have mine shortly. In the meantime the winner was also contacting him and told that Paying Customers Go First and then when he has time and no more backlog on paying customers he works on the Freebies. My club member felt second class with those comments no matter how true they might have been.....a customer is a customer from this side of the counter and a COUPON should carry the same urgency and service as a CREDIT CARD in our opinion.
There were a couple more emails back and forth and I had received mine shortly after Christmas but my club member still had nothing. Last email sent was 19 February 2009 and same response....."no did not forgot, but behind and paying customers come first before freebies." So waited another month and contacted Slee Offroad to see if I could buy an adapter from them to give to my Club Member to replace the WabFab he still had not received 30 days past last email contact with WabFab. Two weeks later my friend had his adapter from SLEE OFFROAD plus more....the Slee kit comes with not only a Rock Slider adapter but also the wheel adaptor and another option...all in the same kit. He had sent the ENTIRE KIT to my club member for the price of the WabFab to help him out since he had been waiting 7 months.... Now that is customer service...even if he would have charged full price. Yes they are in order or No they will be 4 days behind...it ships on time....is great product and the vendor was up front and truthful in the entire process. THAT IS SERVICE WORTHY OF OUR MONEY.

So while the WabFab product is very nice, very well built and a great tool for our High Lift jacks on round rock sliders.....if you order one be ready for a long delivery period of 2-3 months for paying customers....or much more if a Raffle Winner based on our personal experience. If time is not an issue.....then feel confident the product will be great from WabFab.....if you desire it in a shorter time period and dont mind the extra cost associated with the Slee product then might be better off going through Chris Slee. Just my 2 cents.

I recommend Slee Offroad Jac-Kof Tool 100% NOT WABFAB

[Brock]

Finally, saved enough for my first bumper. I went with a rear partially because the front is more expensive than rear. Also, LUCRUM was offering his ingenious swing-out tire carrier and accessory rack that would fit the oem bumper, WARN bumper and a couple others…or you can get an adapter kit and make it fit ANY bumper if you do your own measurements and welding.



The problem is the Group Buy was done when I had no money….but contacted him to see if anyone had backed out. Nobody had but he said one of his suppliers was delinquent and he could add me in if I let him know in a couple days. So I did, and found a great price on Warn Bumper online whose shipping was $65 from Truck Customizers.

Found some others that were cheaper but their shipping was $150 – 175 which jacked it up higher. I tried to support a supporting vendor but they could not meet the price and they said they understood completely if I went with other place. Checked to make sure it was valid company and saw many others had bought from them…so I placed the order. Bumper was here in three days. Already powder coated so no Rustoleum this time…LOL. So planned to do it on Saturday and asked wife to stick around in case I needed help. It turned out to not be as bulky as I expected but I was afraid of the cutting required after hearing horror stories on ill fitting Warn bumpers and such. SO I read 20 times…measured and verified another 20 times before cutting once. Then I cut sparingly. First step was removing current bumper and corner pieces to see what I had. Then I had to tape off bumper to make cuts. I was scared to death so checked and double checked and with a combination of hacksaw, jigsaw and locking knife that was scary sharp…I made the cuts on one side and test fitted. Looked good…so did other side. Hung bumper on frame to check and it would not go all the way…so found that where I was hesitant to cut…I really did need to cut more…so trimmed a couple times and tried again…finally PERFECTION. So popped corner plastic back in place and slid underneath to start with the WARN supplied hardware mounts and bolts. First I had to reconnect the rear bumper parking sensors. Piece of cake. Zip tied them up and now to hardware. After some tight fits with wrenches and bolts…it was tightened down, torgued, and secure. Tested backup sensors and they recognized my wife on both sides so figured they were good. Bumper installed…flush contact on sides…great fit with 33” tire and did not require me to remove or reloate my oem trailer hitch which is one reason I wanted to use the Warn versus some others which required an adapter or use of their hitch setup. So very happy.

[ajstoy]

looks good!!! great write up..the mod list only goes on, and on, and on....

[Brock]

Was looking through Overland Journal or something...and saw a nifty recovery option instead of a receiver hitch mounted shackle. I always worry about dropping the pin in the dark....in the deep mud...in the water...and losing it and not being able to recover my vehicle. This one is a double hook style....just slip snatch strap over both hooks and go.....no pins...no moving parts....rated to 30,000 pounds...and looks bad ass too.
Double Trouble Hook


Got a tshirt too.....