[rusty_tlc]

Year: March 1975, no factory front disk
Nick Name : 'Ol Rusty, my son named it.
History: From what I can tell the body came from three or more donors, the engine may or may not be the original, it has the oil cooler but I have been told that was an option in 75. Other than that it was pretty much stock whem I bought it.
We purchased it in 1993 for $3000 and kept it pretty much stock until 1997.
In 1997 we had some work done by a local shop:
-Saginaw manual steering conversion
-Front shackle reversal
-ARB lockers F&R
-Confer Aux tank
-Confer rear bench seat
Here is how it looked a couple of years ago


But it looked like this more often


For many years it was my daily driver. My commute was from Reno to Carson City. This route took me through Washoe Valley, considered to be the Burmada triangle of weather in N. NV. In winter white outs are common even in good weather because of the high winds and build up of snow in the valley.

A few years ago I hooked up with the local TLCA chapter. Everything changed.
One trip over Fordyce riding along in another rig and I was hooked.
For the first year I read everything I could find on the internet about modifying an FJ40. A lot of stuff here on Mud, and a lot of stuff on other sites.
Then I started working on the finiance committie,
A lot of negoation later I started working on the new and improved 'Ol Rusty
The list:
PS conversion by PSC, ( w/ rock ram, not installed)
SOA
HySteer by Pro Comp
Toy Box
Orion t-case
HFS Front bumper
Warn 8274-50 winch
STC (Kayline) Soft top
Metal tech family cage.
Front disk conversion/mini truck knuckle swap
Longfield Birfs and inners.

Over two years and a lot of help from Mud later it was done.

This is me the first time out of the garage


I still grin when I remember it.

I'm pretty happy with the results. I had never done anything like this before, so I'm sure there are things that will need to be modified. But overall it seems to work well:


The first technical trail I will do is Fordyce Creek, the equivelent of jumping in the deep end of the pool after one or two swimming leassons. Hey, I never said I was smart! But I may have a great spotter along, I'm hoping that will help make up for my lack of skill.

[Hot_Eighty_Chick]

Congrats!!!!

Looks great!

[camcruiser13]

awesome rig, what size tires you got.?

[rusty_tlc]

Originally Posted by camcruiser13

awesome rig, what size tires you got.?

36" TSL Super Swampers.
I got them used for cheap.
Next fall I hope to replace them with new shoes.

[yooper]

Your bezel is upside....HEY! YOU DON'T HAVE A BEZEL! OMFG!




























J/K I always liked your rig. Good to see it here.

I think I have an extra bezel if you want one. Yours for the cost of shipping...

[yooper]

Are you happy with the soft top? Did it require any permanent bodywork mods (like holes drilled, etc.)?

[rusty_tlc]

Originally Posted by yooper

Your bezel is upside....HEY! YOU DON'T HAVE A BEZEL! OMFG!




























J/K I always liked your rig. Good to see it here.

I think I have an extra bezel if you want one. Yours for the cost of shipping...

Originally Posted by yooper

Are you happy with the soft top? Did it require any permanent bodywork mods (like holes drilled, etc.)?

I have a bezel, I'm dodging the bezel police.

Yes you have to drill a couple of holes for the ST. In my rig thats no big deal, the body is pretty well swiss cheese any way. The ability to convert to a Safari top and back in a few minutes is great. The only thing I would do different is keep my hard doors, the full soft doors suck at any highway speed. The ST is loud at highway speeds but so was my Hard top . I think the dB level may be a bit lower with the ST though. It is definately less drafty then the old HT.

[2badfjs]

nice write up, sweet rig!

i love that color green. i was planning a color similar to that for my 40,but i think i'll end up camoing it.



jim

[rusty_tlc]

Originally Posted by 2badfjs

nice write up, sweet rig!

i love that color green. i was planning a color similar to that for my 40,but i think i'll end up camoing it.



jim

You like my $25 paint job huh?

Krylon Hunter green, I painted myself in the garage

For what I plan to do with this rig and it's current body condition it was the perfect solution to the oxidized $200 Maco paint job it had before.

[CaliCruiser]

Great rig Dan!

I am definetly a fan of the stupid low combination.



Dylan

[rusty_tlc]

Originally Posted by CaliCruiser

Great rig Dan!

I am definetly a fan of the stupid low combination.



Dylan

Thanks, I like your rig too.

[scouthead]

sweet rig...how do you like the soa?

[rusty_tlc]

Originally Posted by scouthead

sweet rig...how do you like the soa?

I wish I had done it years ago.

[2badfjs]

Originally Posted by rusty_tlc

You like my $25 paint job huh?

Krylon Hunter green, I painted myself in the garage

For what I plan to do with this rig and it's current body condition it was the perfect solution to the oxidized $200 Maco paint job it had before.

heck yea! aint nothin like a good o'l shake and shoot.
and, you don't have to worry bout scratch'n it

[JJS]

Awesome rig. I'll bet she's fun to drive. I dig Krylon hunter green. Parts of my rig are that color.

[numtel]

I've got rustoleum hunter green. It's slightly different. Your rig looks nice.

[rusty_tlc]

Originally Posted by numtel

I've got rustoleum hunter green. It's slightly different. Your rig looks nice.

Yeah I was to cheap to pay the extra $0.50 a can for Rustoleum.

Thanks.

[Renoron]

How do those two colors match up to Toyota's Rustic Green (621?)

Nice!!!

I didn't see your truck in the parking lot after the last BBC meeting.

My green is seriously fading........

[rusty_tlc]

Originally Posted by Renoron

How do those two colors match up to Toyota's Rustic Green (621?)

Nice!!!

I didn't see your truck in the parking lot after the last BBC meeting.

My green is seriously fading........

It blends pretty well, you have to feather it in. I did that on the door frames since I didn't paint the whole interior. If your body is in any kind of shape I wouldn't recomend the krylon route, my whole tub is a waste of time. I'll bring it to the next meeting. You didn't see it last time because I drove our new/used 100.

[Walton]

You did a great job on Rusty....

[IDave]

Ooo ooo. Sooooweeet! Did you get the Krylon kraps?? How do you sand out the dribbles?

[high country cruiser]

hey since your in reno have you ever ran mustang canyon ?it's behind the old mstang ranch that's closed now there's a huge quarry or some mine there maybe a landfill ,but the canyon is gorgeous and it's a river bed or something.drove up once out of sacramento had a great time,it took sometime to find it but well worth it.....we came in on the side where the firehouse is which is on the oppisite side but it works....you go through the new houses to get there if that helps. it is on the map.....we can only do fordyce and the rubicon so many time before we go in search of new trails....

[24HOURSOFNEVADA]

Originally Posted by high country cruiser

hey since your in reno have you ever ran mustang canyon ?it's behind the old mstang ranch that's closed now there's a huge quarry or some mine there maybe a landfill ,but the canyon is gorgeous and it's a river bed or something.drove up once out of sacramento had a great time,it took sometime to find it but well worth it.....we came in on the side where the firehouse is which is on the oppisite side but it works....you go through the new houses to get there if that helps. it is on the map.....we can only do fordyce and the rubicon so many time before we go in search of new trails....

I believe the above pic is on the trail you call "Mustang." We locals call it "Bronco Canyon".

[rusty_tlc]

Originally Posted by IDave

Ooo ooo. Sooooweeet! Did you get the Krylon kraps?? How do you sand out the dribbles?

No dribbles, well a few but I wiped them off with a clean rag before they dried.
I did a lot of very light coats.

[rusty_tlc]

Originally Posted by high country cruiser

hey since your in reno have you ever ran mustang canyon ?it's behind the old mstang ranch that's closed now there's a huge quarry or some mine there maybe a landfill ,but the canyon is gorgeous and it's a river bed or something.drove up once out of sacramento had a great time,it took sometime to find it but well worth it.....we came in on the side where the firehouse is which is on the oppisite side but it works....you go through the new houses to get there if that helps. it is on the map.....we can only do fordyce and the rubicon so many time before we go in search of new trails....

Originally Posted by 24HOURSOFNEVADA

I believe the above pic is on the trail you call "Mustang." We locals call it "Bronco Canyon".

Yes the picture is from Bronco Canyon. From High Countrys description is sound like the same canyon.

It's about 30 or 40 minutes from my house if I use the road behind Damonte Ranch HS. I don't think I would compare it to Fordyce or the Rubicon, but it's a fun little trail for a Saturday afternoon run. There is another trail in the same area we call Dead Horse, again not in the same league as Fordyce or Rubicon but a great place to flex out a rig and check out suspension mods.

[rusty_tlc]

Originally Posted by Walton

You did a great job on Rusty....

Thanks.