With the work I've been doing to prep for the FJ40 Cross Country Expedition (Link) I figured it was time to start my own thread to "give back" since this forum has helped me immensely in the roller coaster of 40 ownership. This is no Rust Bucket level of entertainment but should be a source of at least what not to do
I started out as a Samurai guy having built, refurbished, and wheeled them (10 of those little guys) up until I started wheeling my SAS'd dual cased 94 4runner exclusively. It will go wherever I need but wanted to get back to a more stock rig that the top can be removed and always loved 40's.
My budget was pretty slim after paying off my wife's car and you cant get much on a slim budget with 40's as I learned. My criteria was; running 2F engine, complete hard top, 4 speed, front disks, "mostly" original, salvageable tub and most importantly clean title. Oh and all this at the sub $2k price range . I had a couple false starts, driving 6+hours one way to look at one in KY but one man's idea of clean frame differs from others...(aka completely rusted out) and showing up a day late on a couple others. Ended up finding my cruiser in southwest Indiana via Craigslist.
Its a 10/78 with a 2F, H42 and factory t/case/axles(more on those later) with decent doors/hardtop sides and ran with starting fluid before loading on the trailer.
Thinking back, should this have been a parts rig?... probably... is it going to be more work than I anticipated?... likely... do I enjoy working on it?... most definitely!
It does have some PO modifications/hack jobs like any self respecting midwest 40 should.
SPUA (bone jarring) lift springs
Rusted transmission hump and el cheapo eBay floors crapily installed
Diamond plate to cover the usual suspects. Guy I bought it from seemed perplexed when I suggested there was rust under them...
Ironically better than I expected
It will need a rear sill, quarter panels, rockers, front floor, windshield/frame, fiberglass roof/gutter, and much more but is usable in current condition body wise.
First order of business was get it running decent, removed scary house wiring and got it to fire up. I tracked down many parts in the classifieds here. Big thanks to all those I purchased from, everyone was extremely nice, helpful and generally went out of there way to get the deals to run smoothly. I also picked up a brand new Fuji brand carburetor from Racer65 which replaced the clogged Mopar 318 holley junk that was on it when purchased. The Fuji carb is awesome and made in Japan! Also put on new Aisin water pump, fan clutch, fuel pump and washed 5lbs of clay out of the radiator.
Rebuilt free melted light switch, painted over the rusty spots with some green paint, and installed some used front turn signals so it actually looks like a 40.
The latest round of repairs included all new rear brakes, rebuilt fronts and new seals on the tcase output and pinions, and steal the tires off the 4runner since it broke a Longfield and 4 knuckle studs the last time out. Still need to bleed the brakes so my wife can have her parking spot back even though my son loves it in there, he always goes "vroooom... vrooom" when he see's it. Had to pose the Gelande II Cruiser on the real thing, interestingly I have owned the RC version longer... and it was cheaper...
So now that we are up to date I can add to this as things progress. Trying to get some new to me leather Subaru seats mounted up so I can meet up with the guys on the cross country run in mid October. Hopefully its good enough to play with them
I started out as a Samurai guy having built, refurbished, and wheeled them (10 of those little guys) up until I started wheeling my SAS'd dual cased 94 4runner exclusively. It will go wherever I need but wanted to get back to a more stock rig that the top can be removed and always loved 40's.
My budget was pretty slim after paying off my wife's car and you cant get much on a slim budget with 40's as I learned. My criteria was; running 2F engine, complete hard top, 4 speed, front disks, "mostly" original, salvageable tub and most importantly clean title. Oh and all this at the sub $2k price range . I had a couple false starts, driving 6+hours one way to look at one in KY but one man's idea of clean frame differs from others...(aka completely rusted out) and showing up a day late on a couple others. Ended up finding my cruiser in southwest Indiana via Craigslist.
Its a 10/78 with a 2F, H42 and factory t/case/axles(more on those later) with decent doors/hardtop sides and ran with starting fluid before loading on the trailer.
Thinking back, should this have been a parts rig?... probably... is it going to be more work than I anticipated?... likely... do I enjoy working on it?... most definitely!
It does have some PO modifications/hack jobs like any self respecting midwest 40 should.
SPUA (bone jarring) lift springs
Rusted transmission hump and el cheapo eBay floors crapily installed
Diamond plate to cover the usual suspects. Guy I bought it from seemed perplexed when I suggested there was rust under them...
Ironically better than I expected
It will need a rear sill, quarter panels, rockers, front floor, windshield/frame, fiberglass roof/gutter, and much more but is usable in current condition body wise.
First order of business was get it running decent, removed scary house wiring and got it to fire up. I tracked down many parts in the classifieds here. Big thanks to all those I purchased from, everyone was extremely nice, helpful and generally went out of there way to get the deals to run smoothly. I also picked up a brand new Fuji brand carburetor from Racer65 which replaced the clogged Mopar 318 holley junk that was on it when purchased. The Fuji carb is awesome and made in Japan! Also put on new Aisin water pump, fan clutch, fuel pump and washed 5lbs of clay out of the radiator.
Rebuilt free melted light switch, painted over the rusty spots with some green paint, and installed some used front turn signals so it actually looks like a 40.
The latest round of repairs included all new rear brakes, rebuilt fronts and new seals on the tcase output and pinions, and steal the tires off the 4runner since it broke a Longfield and 4 knuckle studs the last time out. Still need to bleed the brakes so my wife can have her parking spot back even though my son loves it in there, he always goes "vroooom... vrooom" when he see's it. Had to pose the Gelande II Cruiser on the real thing, interestingly I have owned the RC version longer... and it was cheaper...
So now that we are up to date I can add to this as things progress. Trying to get some new to me leather Subaru seats mounted up so I can meet up with the guys on the cross country run in mid October. Hopefully its good enough to play with them
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