Yet Another '77 FJ40 Project

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T

Tachyon

10 Year
Joined
Aug 14, 2013
Threads
1
Messages
22
Location
Middle Tennessee
I bought a 1977 FJ40 in pretty bad shape last weekend, and it's going to be a long, long road to what I envision.

FJ40.webp


I'm looking forward to sharing my adventure, and learning everything I can about my new Toyota.
 
Welcome to Mud (gulp). Does it run?
 
It's finicky, but it runs.

It moves forward and backward. It stops. The lights come on. The horn makes the appropriate noises.

The previous owner drove it up onto the trailer I moved it with. I didn't see them, but they took the battery out while we tied it down, so it wouldn't start at the other end...

We just rolled it off.

I bought a battery, and it would crank and run. I'm going to get some cheap rubber put on the existing wheels and go from there. I'm also having someone look at the tub to see what they can do to get the driver's seat off the ground...
 
Tachyon said:
I'm also having someone look at the tub to see what they can do to get the driver's seat off the ground...
Click to expand...

so you don't weld?
 
Be sure to take LOTS of pics, or no one will believe what it looked like when you started. Check out local Craigslist for used welders for sale.
 
X2 My neighbor IS a welder, and would charge me $75/hour!
 
wow, that's a project ... my view is, if the frame is good, everything else is fixable/doable assuming you have time and/or $$$ ... I say and/or because there is usually a $$ part, but if you're handy and willing to learn it can be mitigated ... it can be a lot of fun and a great way to meet some really nice people ... :)
 
Rear is always the first place-not unusual.
Welcome..-- and post as many pics as you can--as Rook-E said the bezel is right, so you're on your way:flipoff2:(standard welcome here--)
Think a pressure clean would reveal a lot of hidden treasure(and maybe some refurb opportunities---)
The turn sigs don't look to be 77--maybe PO added?
How close are you to Milan?
 
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sggoat said:
The turn sigs don't look to be 77--maybe PO added?
Click to expand...
The date of manufacture is Jan. 1977. I presume that is a 1977 model.

sggoat said:
How close are you to Milan?
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I live in Spring Hill, which is just south of Nashville. Milan is about 130 miles away from me.

I have a friend who welds, and he's going to teach me how to MIG weld so that will save some $$ over time.

If it's electrical, I can do it. I'm a fair carpenter. I'm willing to learn and I'm not afraid to get dirty.

My CFO (wife) won't let me be lazy and throw money at problems that can be solved with work and creativity. Thus a $500 project truck.
 
winnie said:
wow, that's a project ... my view is, if the frame is good, everything else is fixable/doable assuming you have time and/or $$$ ...
Click to expand...

Good news and bad news.

Good news. It started and ran.

Bad news. I poked the frame in a couple dozen places with a screwdriver and it went through the frame in 10+ different places. Cutting/replacing the back section wouldn't bother me; but the center section near the body mounts and around the motor mounts are probably not fixable.

So it appears I have a donor car.

Tom
 
This is what the dumba** previous/previous owner (PPO) did to my windshield frame. I am not a welder. If you're looking to part out, let me know - send some detailed pix if the frame is in good shape.

IMG_0443.webp


IMG_0444.webp
 
Read some of the frame-off restorations before you decide to part it--you may find that it is not totally gone, and can be fixed(you will of course need ~ 300 lbs of welding rod)-ha!-just kidding
Seriously-some frames have 'bad spots' they may not be spread to the whole interior-potentially patchable(is that a new phrase?)
 
I'm not ready to give up on this truck. I'm going to watch the classifieds and craigslist for possible replacement frames.

Sadly, I didn't know about @Monty231 having a frame for sale locally until just now, after he'd sold it.

Has anyone used one of the Aqualu frames? I'm sure I can find another FJ40 project truck for less than the Aqualu frame, but at the moment, a brand new frame has a certain attraction. :bang:
 
as @sggoat has suggested, have a really good look at your frame, maybe it can be salvaged ... I'm sure there are plenty of Cruiserheads in your neck of the woods that could help with that process ...

an Aqualu frame is about $2400US plus shipping, etc, ... then again, maybe you can find another truck with a blown motor but good "bones," and use whatever is salvageable from your truck to make one truck out of two ... plenty of options ...
 
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