AM General FJ-8A

Thanks; that manual has been a big help! I was pleasantly suprised to read that all FJ vans had a 3:73 geared posi rear!

 

Nice logo, Looking good!

 

Thanks, Merlin. My wife came up with that one. I like the one on your truck; the whole truck looks pretty killer, in fact.

Last night was a bad night; I had my trusty glass guy come look at the windshield and he warned me that it was going to be a really tough one to install and that he wasnt responsible if it broke. He had me help him and of course, it broke. If it was anyone else I'd have been pissed but I've been using him for years and trust him. It's flat glass so hopefully it wont cost too much to get a new one cut. I did get all my inside panels wet sanded so we'll be painting and installing them this weekend.

 

That's a rendering from one of the photoshop wizards here although I might build the next truck that way. Sorry to hear about the glass. Guess it was a day for breakage I cracked the pass window in my sedan yesterday so I have to get a new one cut today.

 

That sucks; I hope we both make it out on the cheap. That's a rendering? Awesome; wish i had those kind of skills.

 

OK, I got a new windshield on order; should be done Wednesday. I had them cut it all in one piece instead of using two pieces with a divider. Yesterday I got the final inside panels painted. Then I started putting some generic Dynamat insulation on the inside. I got the spring window mechanisms cleaned and greased up; then put the door back together with new window channel; and finally installed the door and the inner panels. I just got one side done, we'll work on the other today. Also, here's the roll of coin grip rubber flooring I bought. I'm doing the whole floor, front to back, with it.

 

Looks good, Are you gonna have AC?

 

No, no room for it. Its about as spartan as it gets; no PS or PB, either.

 

I've only seen these ice cream trucks, never had any. My dad told me when the music played he was out of ice cream, and going back to the store for more ice cream. Damn old man. Looks to be quite a build. Nice work

 

Thanks, man. That avatar you have is killer; I remember laughing my butt off when i saw that picture or one similar a few years ago. Good quote, too; about as true as it gets.
Finished up side the other side today. The doors seem to work nice and slide easy. I'm going to be making a headliner covered in black ozite carpet with some inset lights and speakers. I also need to cut new panels for the roll up door; that will probably be the last item on the list.
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Wanna say that its looking good but I can not say that. Instead I have to say it looks damn GREAT!!!
Soon you will need to put your (before and after) pictures together in one spot or on the same page together.
Can not believe how she looks now compared to when you first got her.
Talk to you all soon,
Sarge

 

Thanks Sarge; what I usually do is put together a slideshow with some music behind it when I finish one so I'll probably do that shortly.
Over the last few dyas I've put some soundproofing on the ceiling, finished cleaning up the rear wiring harness and installed the inside corner panels and some upper pieces that will hold the headliner, and cleaned up, painted, and installed the door hardware. I needed to chrome the headlight rings and grille but just couldnt spring for the cost so I'm trying this two part chrome finish that Eastwood sells. You have to paint it over gloss black and then put a clear on it. I saw it on My Classic Car on TV and it looked pretty slick so I'm going to give it a shot. Here Ive got them painted black but the directions say you have to paint it in 50% or less humidity so today was out.

 

Gotta let us know how that chrome stuff works out.
Like to do something like that with my rims and bumbers.
Just learned something about these door handles and locks. They are garage door locks/handles. I was surprised when I was at the hardware store looking for lawn mower springs and saw the door handles.
I know now where to go if I need to change the handles.

 

I think that a milk truck or an ice cream truck would make an excellent road trip vehicle. I wonder where you could put the head.

When I was in highschool there was this hippy looking dude that had a hot rod step van that he lived in. It was pretty cool in an odd sort of a way. Had a big block chebby and a 4 gear. It was so far from the seat to the shifter that he usually shifted with his foot.

Do us a favor just don't put "FREE ICE CREAM" on it.

 

You got it; no free ice cream on this one. I'll bet your buddy's truck was cool with a 4-gear. I thought about doing a stick on this but a right hand drive with a clutch would have been tough to engineer.
Here my chrome coating attempt before the clearcoat; you're supposed to wait 24 hours before the final coat. Does it look like real chrome? I dont think so but it does look better than standard chrome paints I've tried. Maybe it'll look better after the clearcoat. Either way; this was $60 and the best price I could find to get these three pieces chromed was $350. I'll live with it for now.

 

Here's my recommendation for this product: save your money. I sprayed the clear on today and it looked great until I came back an hour later and the whole finish had lifted and cracked. I have no idea what happened; I watched their application video and followed it to a T. I wiped it all off, said the hell with it, and grabbed a can of silver caliper paint I had on the shelf. Looks as good as it did before I put the clear on. It'll have to do for now. I'm aggrevated.
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Bear with me; I went a little picture happy today but got a ton of work done. First off, I needed some speakers so I was going through old band stuff and found a 2- 8" guitar monitor cabinet I built many moons ago and havent used in several years. I cut it in half, put a new side on each half and will be mounting them to the wheelwells. I wanted speakers on the ceiling but when you open the rear door it comes right to the back of the seats so that wasnt happening. Next I cut some 1/8" plywood for headliner panels, installed some conversion van lights, covered them in black Ozite and there you have it. Worked all day from 6:30am to 5:30pm but I'm really happy with the results. Even my beautiful wife pitched in and helped.
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Last three

 

Got the new windshield in this morning; I decided to order it in one piece rather than two like the old one. I also got the floormat cut and the speaker boxes finished. Not that you'll be able to hear the radio but it has them, anyway. I'm going to let the rubber mat relax for a few days before I glue it down as it was rolled up for a while.

 

That van looks great! The one-piece windshield looks much better. I like the way your grille and headlight panel came out, even with the "chrome" paint. Very nice build.

 

Still looking good! Does not even look like a mail truck anymore.
Just wondering, were these ever used as milk trucks back in the early 70s?
Having flashbacks of being a kid and remembering the old milk truck coming to the house and filling our little metal milk box with 4 bottles of milk and taking the empty bottles. I even remembered what the old driver looked like still. Some ol Italian man about 50 and always chomping on a half smoked cigar and him dressed in a white uniform and white hat.
Man, the good old days.
What kinda trucks did they use back then delivering milk?
Makes my day seeing the progress that you have made with her.
Sarge!!!

 

Thanks Patrick, I like the one piece better, too. I'm not crazy about the finish on the grille and headlight rings but maybe the next owner might want to spring for some real chrome. I'm about at the financial limit and I still need to rebuild the back door.
Sarge, I think the old milk trucks were made by Divco or some other weird brand like that. How's your truck coming along?
I got some of the rubber glued down tonight (that 3M 90 spray adhesive is some serious stuff) and a couple other little jobs done. I've also got hubcaps, trimrings, and mirrors on the way. Other than the back door, this thing should be done next weekend. I might just have to run it over to the local show even if the door isnt on it yet.

 

Well, other than putting the back door on and a couple minor tweaks; I believe I can call it done. I finished up the wiring and it all works, swapped to an auto choke on the Holley (and found a pretty good vacuum leak in the process so it runs much better), finished glueing down the floor, put on the mirrors, hubcaps, and trim rings, put in the side window glass, and several other minor jobs. I took it a few miles down the road and everything seems to be great. It's running smooth, it's loud as hell, and it'll smoke the tires pretty good so I'm happy. I'll throw a few pics on when the back door is done next week and try to get a burnout video done if I can ever get my son to take a few minutes and help me with it. I might put a start to finish slideshow together if I get the the time. But there she is; just a little under a year from start to finish. Cant wait to cruise as soon as I get plates on it!
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A job well done, Looks great!

 

Thanks, Merlin. Now it's time for some serious garage cleaning and getting back on my 48 Plymouth this winter.

 

Looks better then great. Wish I can start working on mine.
FV, what is your email address? I have a car question to ask and thought that you may be able to answer it.
I think I have a blown head gasket on my 94 Mercury 3.8L.
Want to throw you a email and tell you the signs and the problems that I am having.
Sarge

 

Check your PM, Sarge. I left it there.

 

Very nice build-You can be proud of the fact that ya built something real off beat!

 

The book helped a lot; thanks for letting me copy it.

 

And I always thought the FJ-8 was a Chinese built fighter plane!!