AM General FJ-8A

Falcan likes how the hood just comes up like a regular car without half of the fender well being attached to either side of the hood. Mine is a FJ8C model so it is just a rectangle hood without the side fenders being connected in anyway. Was going to attach some pictures but it asked me for a url address. I have them saved to my computer, the pictures I mean.

 

Hey Sarge,
I'm pretty sure I know what you mean. And in thinking about it, I can see that cutting just the part on Lorrie's front end from the plane of sheet metal on which the Windshields are, to the break downward to the plane on which the Grill is, would give MUCH the same effect that you have on your FJ-8C model.

Would love to see some of your JPGs.

BTW, for JPGs of Lorrie Van Haul BEFORE this most recent refurbishment, click here:

http://msamericanpi.bravehost.com/dodge.htm

Hope this finds YOU doing well.

JC

 

Well, I have downloaded some pics to photobucket so lets see if that site works. I need to take closer pictures of the hood area. Anyways, here is the site.

http://s974.photobucket.com/albums/ae224/ssgtwright/FJ8C/

 

You can post pics on here from PhotoBucket. Hit the "share" button and copy the "IMG" line (or you'll see a few lines pop up when your cursor is over the photo), then paste that line into the forum here. That should show the pic here as long as you keep it in PhotoBucket.

 

Hey Sarge,
Handsome young truck!

I notice that your windshields are canted back at the top, while Iscream's windshields are vertical. Lorrie's windshields are like YOURS. It's amazing how closely YOUR van and Lorrie are similar. I think that maybe Lorrie is bigger than either YOUR van and Iscream. BTW, does YOUR van have a name?

I also noticed that your windshield wipers are pivoted at the bottom. Lorrie's are pivoted at the top. I'm having a bit of a problem finding Blades.

Anyway, thanks for the JPGs.

Hope YOU are well.

JC

 

My truck is definately smaller in size. As for a name goes, I am thinking either "Da Bomb" or "The mini Kahuna", since I live here in Hawaii now! Blades, I know mine uses a 12" blade which are somewhat hard to find also. Their is a guy from Texas who used to work for the postal service and I left his info on page 8.
His email is (mrmobilemech@aol.com) and his name is John Ross. He should be able to tell you what size blades you need or at least what direction to look into to get blades. His ebay store is postal jeep parts plus. Great guy to deal with for hard to find parts. His store says if it isnt listed, call him or email him with what you are looking for and he will get back in touch with you. I hope that this may help.

 

Hey Sarge,
Lorrie has 4'-1" between the Rear Wheel Well Covers, AND 8'-2" from the front of the Rear Door to the base of the Driver's Seat Pylon, giving a clear area large enough to carry a 4'-0" X 8'-0" piece of plywood.

I suspect that FalconVan's Iscream is going to be a bear with the engine that he has stuffed into it. What engine do you have? Lorrie has the ubiquitous 225 Slant-Six, with 145 hp.

Lorrie's Windshield Wiper Blades are 19" long.

Had an interesting incident with the Winshield Wiper Motor some years ago. The ORIGINAL WWM stopped working in 1994. Went to a salvage yard looking for a replacement. They guy at the salvage yard pointed me to a bin with WWMs in it. I had the ORIGINAL unit with me, and so I dug through the bin till I found one that was identical. Now mind you, Lorrie is a 1967 model. The WWM that I found in the bin that was identical had a tag on it saying it was for a 1989 Oldsmobile!

HEY... This is GREAT! I bought Lorrie from the Houston Post Office. If this John Ross is in Houston, he may have even worked on Lorrie!

GREAT INFORMATION. Thank you so MUCH! I'll most certainly give the guy an inquiry.

It DOES! Thanks again for the info.

So NOW, it's back to Page Eight!

Hope YOU are well.

JC

 

Sarge, your truck looks really solid! It should make a really cool vending truck. Dont ever let loose of it; they're becoming few and far between.

Today should be test drive day; here's a shot of the cam break in going on as we speak! Over the last weel I've been getting brakes, exhaust, plus a bunch of little details lined out. I'll let you know how it goes!

 

Hey Mr. FV,
And "TRENDY"! Don't forget TRENDY!

I don't know how much you've driven a right hand drive vehicle, but they are REALLY nice for driving around town. When you make a right turn, you can see the curb so that you don't run over it. And when making a left turn, you can see the curb on your right when the turn is complete.

The only problem that YOU might have with Iscream is that when you are on a two lane blacktop behind a truck or bus, you can't see oncoming traffic if you want to pass.

Lorrie doesn't have THAT problem because she isn't fast enough to PASS anything. Something that YOU can't say with Iscream and the Engine that she has!

I've often thought that a Front View Mirror on the Port side that would permit looking forward around a bus or truck that one was behind would be efficacious.

Anyway, keep up the good work.

JC

 

TEST DRIVE SUCCESSFUL!!! Just a few blocks but it goes, stops, steers, and shifts.

 

WOW!!! Looks brand new off the factory floor. Have to see more pictures of it now. How was the test run? Found a 1987 FJ8C for sale in Oahu and its been on craigslist for over a month and they are asking $2500 for it. It looks pretty solid. If I can sell my Chevy M1008 military pickup truck I would offer them $2000 for it since I would have to ship inter island. Here is the link (http://honolulu.craigslist.org/oah/cto/1803133243.html).
You need to post more pictures before you do any detailing so we can see what you have done. It looks great.

 

Thanks Sarge! Test run was good but lots of adjustments to make. Carb needs adjustment, brakes pull to one side, shifter needs tweaking; but all in all, a good first ride. I'll try and get some more pics; lots more more to do before its done. I'm sure a few months at least. Plus the funds are really low so that may slow me down some more.

 

I do know about the funds. Thats why I am selling my Military M1008 pickup and selling some household furniture so that I can move into a smaller place to rent. Hopefully I can have this truck sold by next week.
Bunch of emails from what I will call scammers asking about it and thats all I have been getting. Glad to see that it ran good without to many problems. Keep us informed.

 

Alright Falconvan, Thanks for the inspiration. I've been wanting one of these for quite some time now and finally pulled the trigger.I just purchased a 1984 FJ8C a couple weeks ago with some rust and minor body work needed. I have the motor and tranny out and am getting ready to send it to the media blaster.

 

what a great project. Great progress and so clean looking!

 

Thanks for the words of encouragement, folks. 1/2 the enjoyment of doing a build is when others appreciate it. Otis, that's great that you bought one! Start a thread on it so we can check out your progress. Too bad Sarge is across the ocean or we could all get together for an FJ cruise.

 

I know. I wish there were more people with these that haven't been converted to ice cream trucks and candy trucks. I'm having the worst time finding parts for it. I think I've figured out all the lights so far, including a similar pair of back-up lights, but still need a new right front vent door. So if anyone out there has a vent door that you're willing to part with, please let me know. I do have one off of a DJ5 but it's just not the same. I'd like an original since it has rolled edges. Any how, my truck is quickly becoming a community project. My mechanic is helping out with dismantling it, my neighbor is gonna help me out with the body work and painting, and I have a childhood friend that's willing to taxi it over to the different shops for various work. I wish I had a garage like you Falconvan, luckily I have a few friends that have shops and skills.

 

If we can get enough people together maybe we should start a rally or a stepvan show? It'll be like sturgis but way smaller.

 

Otis P.Body, look at my postings on page 8 and 11. John Ross has the vent doors right now on killbay. His phone # is on page 8 and e-mail address on page 11. Or go to his store on ebay (postal Jeeps Parts Plus) or type in FJ8C. I think he had 4 vent doors for $25 each. He also has the manual which he sells for $75. He even has more parts which he doesnt list on ebay. He is from Duncanville, TX and a nice guy dealing with when looking to find those hard to find parts.

 

Over the last few days I got the head/tail/brake/signal lights all working, built a battery hold down, did some more adjustments on the brakes and took a few more spins down the road. It's definately getting better. I pulled it out and cleaned it up after I got home from work today, it's gotten really dusty. Next well start on the doors and bumpers. I've got a friend working on the hood.

 

Looking great!!!!! What are you doing as for the bumbers? Are you going to use the originals, diamond plate, chrome or something else that can replace the originals???
Me, I do not like my rear bumber, solid all around but wire mesh welded to the top where you place your feet. I would rather mine be a little bit wider to place your feet on plus I like the diamond plate alot better then that wire mesh thats on it right now.
Keep up the great work!!!!

 

Thanks, Sarge. As far as bumpers; I'm going to use the stockers and just paint 'em white. Might as well keep it simple.

 

yah I bought a front right vent door from him that he pulled off of a DJ5, It's a good replacement but does not have rolled edges to match the one on the left side. It does fit but I'm trying to match the left side. If I can't, I'll probably buy another one from him to replace the left side door.

 

Have you done a google search on (FJ8C Parts, Postal Step Van Parts or Postal Jeep Parts)? I have only seen like 3 stores and PJPP was one of them. Most ask to call to see about parts availability or they will try and look for you.
I am having a hard time on craigslist trying to sell my military Chevy M1008 pickup truck. Some idiot keeps posting a (reply ad) above my ad talking smack about me and about my truck that I am trying to sell. Must have been the jerk who wanted to buy it but be put on a payment plan of zero down, $50 a month for 56 months. Thats like 4 1/2 years and I had to laugh and say no way!!! Guess this guy started posting on craigslist saying that my truck is crap and that I am trying to steal money from the person who should buy it.
Guess their always 1 or more jerks in every crowd trying to block someone from selling a item that they are trying to sell. This jerk did it to me 3 times in one day so hopefully he has been banned from posting anything on craigslist now.
I will keep a eye out for some vent doors for you. Let you know if I should find anything.

 

Hey Mr. FV,
I used to be the Public Relations Director/TV Producer with an Offshore Drilling Rig Crane Manufacturer. Marine Cranes are ROUND. Diamond Deck Plate (DDP) comes in RECTANGLES. We had LOTS of scrap. I salvaged a bunch of lightweight DDP, set up the Plasma Cutter to make the pieces, and paid one of the Welders to come in on a Saturday and weld up the Bumpers for Lorrie Van Haul. Also installed the Front Fenders and Rear Bumper using DDP. And here is what THE Front Bumper came out looking.



BTW, about the removable Hood. See where the "little" Access Panel is in the front? I'm thinking about cutting that whole panel between the front DDP Fenders out and making it one big hinged Access Panel.

Anyway, we (Lorrie, Ms. American, the felines, and myself) are awaiting the advent of Tropical Storm (soon to be Himicane) Alex. We are a little less than 900 miles to the North, but should be getting some 20 to 30 mph winds and about two to three days of rain.

Hope this finds YOU all doing well.

JC

 

Hey Mr. OPB,
Make it to where you HAVE to have a Right Hand Drive vehicle. That's be sure to keep it smaller than Sturgis!

BTW, have reinstalled Lorrie's ORIGINAL Steering Wheel.

She had one like Mr. FV's, but I've opted to go back to the ORIGINAL.

So NOW I have an EXTRA Steering Wheel. I've contemplated it, and I think I'm going to install it on a DUMMY Steering Column on the Left Hand Side, and then put a BIG STUFFED GORILLA behind it to make it look like it's the one driving Lorrie.

That ought to get some humorous reactions!

HYAAW

JC

 

JC, that is how I would like my rear bumber to be like. My rear bumber is like 6" wide on top with wire mesh welded to it. Not too praticle as using as a foot hold climbing into the back. Like mine to be a liitle wider and diamond plated on top. The front bumber im not too much worried about. Its doing its main purpose as a front bumber so the only thing I might do is prime it and paint it black or have it chromed depending on what color I paint the van. I do like the diamond plate on your fenders.

 

that's a bad ass little truck.... And the Olds power makes it 100x cooler, gotta love a BBO... can't wait to see it finished.. It's way cool even though it doesn't "fit" the board....

I think if it were mine though It'd be a little more top heavy due to the fact that'd it'd be up in the air w/ 4x4 CJ parts...

 

Thanks, Lefty. Like I said on another board; white step van- ho-hum, yawn.......add BB Olds......!

 

JC got any extra DDP lay'n around? I think It would look great on my first step on both sides and on my rear bumper.