new '77 FJ40...questions (long)

subzali · 01-31-05, 02:36 PM

Just got back from Grand Junction CO with a “new” ’77 FJ40! So now it’s time to come out from being a lurker and pester you guys with questions! However, at the moment I need parts and advice. I just wanna see what kind of availability we have on some of these items. Anybody got advice on finding these?
-Rear heater
-Plastic defroster vent
-Parts for a front heater
-Land Cruiser emblems
-Left and Right rear view mirrors
-more to come…

Okay…tech advice now. I was fiddling with the front heater and broke the little metal controller that turns and changes it from def to vent to heat…what now? It broke inside the heater and it looks like there are some parts floating around in there. Is it easy to take this beauty out, get that stuff out and replace this part?

Trying to start the vehicle sometimes if you turn the key it just clicks like the battery is dead. But if you turn it back and forth a few times it always catches eventually and turns over fine. Is this starter contacts or solenoid? How to proceed with that?

Steering has a big dead spot in the middle…it drives pretty straight but is there a way to tighten this up to make it more drivable?

It needs new shocks. What are some not-too expensive options for general driving around with many interspersed Moab and other mountain camping trips from Denver etc.?

Turn signals do not work. Could be relay because I guess they worked not too long ago…would this be the place to start? The indicator lights on the front fenders work when the running lights are on, but no turn signals.

Front axle rebuild is a two-day job the first time right? I got a write up from somewhere on the internet…what kind of parts kits do I need to get?

After filling up it smells like gasoline inside. Is there a common place to look for leaks or wherever it’s venting? Also are there typical places that the exhaust leaks from in the three-piece exhaust manifold?

Just one more for now that I’ll just keep mulling over…I noticed with the headlights on if I turned on certain electrical components with certain combinations (bright lights + windshield wipers, dim lights + fan on high etc.) the lights would dim in and out and the “amp” would jump back and forth. Any ideas?

Sorry for the long post but I just have a bunch of things I want to take care of quick. Thanks.

Poser · 01-31-05, 02:41 PM

" Anybody got advice on finding these?
-Rear heater
-Plastic defroster vent
-Parts for a front heater
-Land Cruiser emblems
-Left and Right rear view mirrors
-more to come…"
Welcome.

Please put this in the wanted section....

/wanted-parts/

Will have better luck there..

-Steve

Poser · 01-31-05, 02:57 PM

" Trying to start the vehicle sometimes if you turn the key it just clicks like the battery is dead. But if you turn it back and forth a few times it always catches eventually and turns over fine. Is this starter contacts or solenoid? How to proceed with that? "

Are the battery cables/connections to the starter solenoid and battery tight and clean?

Could be the contacts in the solenoid.

I have also seen the ignition switch in the column act this way before it fails.

If all your connections are tight and clean, I would ohm out the switch and verify that it is not your issue.

" Turn signals do not work. Could be relay because I guess they worked not too long ago…would this be the place to start? The indicator lights on the front fenders work when the running lights are on, but no turn signals. "

Some good reading here on this....

http://forum.ih8mud.com/search.php?searchid=167812

" It needs new shocks. What are some not-too expensive options for general driving around with many interspersed Moab and other mountain camping trips from Denver etc.?"

Any good quality heavy duty shock from Napa or other auto store should work for this...

" Front axle rebuild is a two-day job the first time right? I got a write up from somewhere on the internet…what kind of parts kits do I need to get? "

Information on this can be found here...

http://www.ih8mud.com/cruisertech.php

in depth, right here...

http://www.birfield.com/~morgan/tech/axle/index.html

Talk to Cdan right here about Toyota parts...

Getting to cruiserdan....

If you do not have a Toyota Chassis and Body manual, and the 2F engine manual..get them.

Good luck!

-Steve

camcruiser13 · 01-31-05, 03:02 PM

i got a rear heater

camcruiser13 · 01-31-05, 03:02 PM

and i know where you can find the rest of your wants

nuclearlemon · 01-31-05, 06:55 PM

are you the kid who bought my friend kim's cruiser?

i have a front heater you can have...condition is ok

as for everything else, i welcome cruisers in my driveway to wrench on stuff all the time.
front end...no problem...i've done way too many. since you're in denver area, go see ron at rocky mountain cruisers...tell him ige says hi and buy a front end rebuild kit. this will get you everything except inner and outer hub bearings and those can be sourced at any bearing shop like whistler bearing. i'll get the numbers for you.

electrical...don't ask me...ih8electrical

shocks...go to carquest or napa for cheap decent shocks...they'll be way better than spending 10-15 more on brand names like rancho5000s.

on the steering, new tie rod ends, a center arm rebuild kit are available from ron also...and we can adjust the steering box very easily. sometimes adding grease to the center arm will make it more tolerable for a while.

check the filler hose to the tank...it will often crack and you will smell gas there. fill the tank and sniff the vehicle along the passenger side while looking for wet spots to help narrow it down.

if you want to swing by and wrench or b.s., pm me and i'll give you my contact info and addy. also, swing by the rising sun meeting this wednesday at stevenson toyota. i'm the vice commander and can be found at the front of the conference room

Romer · 01-31-05, 07:00 PM

Ige,
Why don't you post that shot from last week of 4 cruisers (FJ40's) in your driveway all with the hoods up. Oh and your 60 in the back. It was kind of nice watching Treeroot work on his rig instead of him watching you work on his rig!

Ken

Diescipel · 01-31-05, 07:12 PM

Ah shite subzali I just did a huge post for ya on the cruizers.com site. I shouldah just said come post it here!

mmm dinner....

B

nuclearlemon · 01-31-05, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Romer

Ige,
Why don't you post that shot from last week of 4 cruisers (FJ40's) in your driveway all with the hoods up. Ken

here ya go

DocB · 01-31-05, 09:51 PM

For shocks look at KYB gas-a -just; cheap and good on a stock or light to medium duty 40. Steering loose: get new tie rod ends, a new steering shaft "rag joint", and an alignment from a good shop. Broken heater: get a Carhart coat. Portable from cruiser to cruiser.

Magoo · 02-01-05, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nuclearlemon

here ya go

nice pic! my junk right in front.

swing down to ige's on a weekend when we are workin on our junk.we can help ya out.
shawn

subzali · 02-01-05, 06:25 PM

another thing that's come up - there are two vent holes in the distributor cap, and my dad (I haven't actually seen this yet) was thinking that that could cause problems with water and dirt getting in. Any thoughts?

nuclearlemon · 02-01-05, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magoo

nice pic! my junk right in front.

swing down to ige's on a weekend when we are workin on our junk.we can help ya out.
shawn

and you can see it peeing in my driveway

Romer · 02-01-05, 08:05 PM

Most folks would spend the few bucks to replace the gasket on the rear diff rather than just putting fluid in.

Magoo · 02-02-05, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nuclearlemon

and you can see it peeing in my driveway

shit! was hoping you wouldnt notice

Magoo · 02-02-05, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Romer

Most folks would spend the few bucks to replace the gasket on the rear diff rather than just putting fluid in.

i like to mark territory everywhere i go

nuclearlemon · 02-02-05, 03:01 PM

between peeing and puking, that evil cruiser has marked plenty of my driveway

subzali · 08-04-09, 11:56 AM

I was just rereading this thread and the other one:
Progress...but more questions lol

that I started soon after bringing my 40 back home in 2005. Now I'm a couple years out of college, a few years of Cruiser knowledge under my belt, and these threads are making me laugh. If you check out the links in my sig line you'll see I've come a long way with this truck (at least I think I have), and it's been a fun ride. I've gotten to be really good friends with most of the Rising Sun group, and I am surprised at how little I knew about these trucks at the time I got this - most of these questions I'm asking in this thread here seem pretty common by a lot of new owners - and they are things that don't really seem too difficult now that I'm 4 1/2 years older.

Now all the issues mentioned above plus some others have come and gone, now I'm only down to a couple "major" things that just require new parts. Have done some mods, some upgrades, and a lot of wheeling. Met some great people, made some good friends (including Ige and Romer who posted a lot in this thread). Thanks IH8MUD and Rising Sun, lets keep the party rolling.