Uglina's (78 FJ40) Fix-up Thread

TEQ · 02-14-06, 12:26 AM

Last fall I decided I wanted an FJ40 and began learning all I could about them. I got lots of great advice on this board, and have been a regular lurker since. I am absolutley digging the build-up threads, especially buckroseau's. I've joined TLCA. I have carefully watched eBay, Craigslist, Hemmings, and the for/sale/wanted forum here for the "perfect rig". I've test driven half a dozen rigs.

My goal was to find a late model rig that was usable as a daily driver out of the box, mostly original, and a candiate for tinkering/restoring as a way for me to cut my teeth on a full frame-up restoration.

Thanks to Bull (he pointed me at the ad), today I finally made the big leap and purchased my first FJ40.

Until I can come up with a better nickname, I'm calling it (haven't decided on it's sex yet) "Turd" because it's Mustard Yellow.

{EDIT: Her name is Uglina. My 13 year old daughter says so.}

See pictures later in this thread.

Details:

Background:

Build date Nov 1978.
Originally from Texas.
Body restoration by CCOT in '94.
Moved to WA in '95.
I'm the 3rd WA owner.
71k original miles (documented).

Drivetrain:

Completely stock motor.

Suspension/Lift, Wheels/Tires:

Stock suspension.
CCOT Power Steering (PO - Circa '94)
CCOT Front Discs (PO - Circa '94)
Ugly (imho) white spoker wheels. Soon to be replaced with original factory steel wheels with hubcaps.

Interior Enhancements:

CCOT A/C (PO - Circa '94)
AM/FM/Cass with CD Changer, sub, & rear speakers. No metal damaged (PO).

Exterior/Armor Modifications:

Tow hitch/reciever (PO).
H4 headlights (PO).

Long term I don't really know what my plans for this rig are other than I will do nothing to it that impacts it's originality. I really would love to make it better than factory-new with a frame off restoration someday, but I don't really know if I'm really capable...yet. My short term plans are to enjoy it by driving it to and from work regularly. Along the way I know I will be fixing all the little things.

It leaks a bit of oil and I want to have someone take a hard professional look at the motor. Reliablilty is paramount while I'm still convincing my wife this was a good idea.

I want to replace the wheels with stock steel wheels/hubcaps.

Dash pad is cracked.

Steering has a bit more play than I'd like.

etc...

First real question: A PO had installed a weber/OME carb. The most recent PO had removed it and put the original factory carb back on. I noticed tonight that the air cleaner assembly is not bolted to the block where it should be. The two pictures below illustrate. Note the missing fastners. It *feels* secure, but clearly this can't be good, right?

89s rule · 02-14-06, 11:38 AM

Congrats, looks like a nice rig. Stick with the factory carb, a better option in most peoples opinion. I second getting rid of the white spokes.

No clue on the air cleaner bolts, but certainly could not hurt to have it bolted down. Looking fwd to more pics!

Colorado Boy-74-FJ40 · 02-14-06, 11:47 AM

Nice looking rig. I too am going to keep my rig all origonal. My Dad was the origonal owner of mine and I also want to do a frame-up someday. I am battling rust right now.

TEQ · 02-14-06, 12:54 PM

Here are some more pics I took before I bought it...

TEQ · 02-14-06, 12:56 PM

3 more

Colorado Boy-74-FJ40 · 02-14-06, 01:01 PM

Do you mind my asking what you paid for it?

TEQ · 02-14-06, 01:08 PM

more...

TEQ · 02-14-06, 01:09 PM

more...

bull · 02-14-06, 03:00 PM

I just took his new 40 for a spin! Very Solid! Its a rarity that you come across vehicles like this. I thought my 78 was nice. This thing blows it out of the water.

Draken · 02-14-06, 03:49 PM

Very nice rig indeed....where was this advertised...I thought I was pretty up to date on the local rigs for sale, but this one surprised me....

cruiserhead · 02-14-06, 04:19 PM

Very,very nice.Good luck with it.Yes I would bolt the air filter down.

kellyo · 02-14-06, 04:26 PM

Congrats on a very nice looking rig. Should be lots a-fun. Your addiction has just begun. These things are like "crack" as one is not enough and there is always something else to buy, build or "improve" on. Good luck.

Benson · 02-14-06, 04:33 PM

A couple of points:

1. Why would you have to restore that rig at all? Don't bother with a frame off - it looks great already.

2. Please don't call that rig "Turd", no matter the color. Come and look at mine before you decide on something derogatory. Also, the sex of the rig s/b female if you are a dude. It could save you some embarrassment over the cb when yelling on the trail

and,

3. Congratulations. That is one sweet ride.

Robert LaDuke · 02-14-06, 06:30 PM

Congrats on the new truck! She's a beauty.
Stock steel wheels with caps and 33's would be my choice.
I got all those aircleaner bolts from SOR .They might still be available from the dealer.
I got a New dash pad too. The SOR replacement pad is a good one. Cheaper than buying an OEM and looks identical.

spotcruiser · 02-14-06, 08:01 PM

Yep, nice rig. SOR has replacement hardware to match stock.

shotgun · 02-14-06, 08:15 PM

Thats a great looking rig! Just one point . I am the original owner of a 78 and it came from the dealer with those exact white spoke wheels. I assume they are the "stock" wheels. Welcome

TEQ · 02-14-06, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Draken

Very nice rig indeed....where was this advertised...I thought I was pretty up to date on the local rigs for sale, but this one surprised me....

Bull noticed it in the Micronews (Microsoft Employee ads). The guy selling it is the father of a MS employee. Older guy, retired air-force. Had the rig for about 3 years just for fun. He purchased it from somone else in Redmond who purchased it in '95 or '96. Prior to that it was bought from CCOT in '95 by "Auto Advice" in Tacoma.

TEQ · 02-14-06, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benson

A couple of points:

1. Why would you have to restore that rig at all? Don't bother with a frame off - it looks great already.

Because I like the idea of perfecting things with my own hands. That said, I'm not entirely what will happen. For now I will just enjoy and tinker. Or is that tinker and enjoy?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benson

2. Please don't call that rig "Turd", no matter the color. Come and look at mine before you decide on something derogatory. Also, the sex of the rig s/b female if you are a dude. It could save you some embarrassment over the cb when yelling on the trail

and,

Good points, all. I am somewhat constrained by my significant others; specifically my wife, 12 year old daughter, and 10 year old son. My kids have traditionally named all our cars and picked the sex. But "turd" was my idea, and I would never let them use language like that

.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benson

3. Congratulations. That is one sweet ride.

Man, I had fun tooling around in it today. Grins ear to ear.

TEQ · 02-14-06, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shotgun

Thats a great looking rig! Just one point . I am the original owner of a 78 and it came from the dealer with those exact white spoke wheels. I assume they are the "stock" wheels. Welcome

Is your motor original? Would you mind taking a few pictures of your engine for me? I think the air cleaner assembly on this rig is from an earlier model, which explains why the mounting holes don't line up and the bolts are missing.

I am also curious as to what a stock/original wiper fluid system looks like.

Thanks!

-cek

lone gunman · 02-14-06, 10:43 PM

sweet 78 one of the nicer ones, maybe i will see you around the area. i met bull last summer at cruiser days in canada he had a very nice 45 up there and this huge ass great dane that road in the back. maybe i will see you up there next summer ya never know?

congrats on the FJ40

bull · 02-15-06, 12:59 AM

Here are some crappy night photos.

honk · 02-15-06, 06:33 AM

TEQ, they're a popular target for thieves - don't let it out of your sight, and never leave it on the street.
They're very easy to swipe and the parts are easy to sell.

MDH33 · 02-15-06, 08:32 AM

It's painful to see someone else driving my dream cruiser.

Mustard '78 FJ40. Perfect. Congrats.

TEQ · 02-15-06, 08:44 AM

Back to my original question:

Quote:

Originally Posted by TEQ

A PO had installed a weber/OME carb. The most recent PO had removed it and put the original factory carb back on. I noticed tonight that the air cleaner assembly is not bolted to the block where it should be. The two pictures below illustrate. Note the missing fastners. It *feels* secure, but clearly this can't be good, right?

I've looked more closely at this. Bull thought maybe the air cleaner was from an older model, and that is why the bolts don't align. I actually don't think that's the case...the air cleaner looks different than his because the intake tube is missing the flex piece and final "horn". But the air cleaner appears to be the same model.

But those bolts don't align, and no amount of torquing will get them to.

The PO also had the manifolds machined to fix an exhaust leak. I thought maybe they really ground down the manifolds such that the carb was closer to the block, causing the mis-alingment. They would have had to take off 1/3" or so for this to be the case, and looking at the manifolds they don't look that thin. So I don't think that's it.

I think the carburator is the wrong one for this model. This would also explain why there are two emissions tubes (those little rubber guys about 1/4" diameter) that are not plugged into anything. In fact the whole emissions stuff looks horribly disfigured

.

So: Is it likely that a carb from an older model mounts the air cleaner slightly further to the right, causing the misaligned bolt holes?

bull · 02-15-06, 10:18 AM

TEQ,

Carb model shouldn't throw off the alignment of the air filter housing. I've swapped several carbs off and on and never had an alignment issue. One way we can figure this out is to swap my 78 air filter housing with yours and see if mine fits. I still think it is an earlier air filter housing, note that your housing doesn't have brackets for holding the vacuum lines and the extended intake.

I think you should take it off and make sure nothing is interfering with the alignment underneath the housing. Then take mine and try to make it fit. Shouldn't take too long and will give you a definate answer on what is going on.

One more thought? I could have a california model that has a metric crapload of smog equipment vs yours which is looking more like a federal version. Hence the lack of all the vacuum lines you see in my photo.

I'm sure somone can chime in and or post some engine photos.

TEQ · 02-15-06, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bull

TEQ,
I think you should take it off and make sure nothing is interfering with the alignment underneath the housing. Then take mine and try to make it fit. Shouldn't take too long and will give you a definate answer on what is going on.

Good idea. I did take it off last night and it doesn't look like it can fit on the carb any way other than the way it is now.

bull · 02-15-06, 10:38 AM

Another idea!

See if you can get the engine ID number. It is located on the passenger side of the engine on a flat plate. Then you can figure out if the engine is correct for the year.

Here is the engine id chart. http://www.sor.com/2fengine.html

projektdotnet · 02-15-06, 11:58 AM

Nice rig...i didn't catch if there was a price listed anywhere in this thread

Robert LaDuke · 02-15-06, 12:07 PM

Here's a pic of my engine. It's a 12/78 CA model.
Your carb looks to be a two barrel, shouldn't be the cause of the miss alignment. Maybe the intake exhaust man. was changed to an earlier year?.

TEQ · 02-15-06, 12:53 PM

Robert, your engine looks sweet. I would love to get a set of high-res photos of it from all angles to use as a reference for cleaning mine up...

Do you know the details of the difference between the CA and regular models in '78?

On the manifold issue: anyone know if the manfolds from different years placed the carb differently?