ROTW - Senor Aguas - Nov 3rd

[Senor Aguas]

I grew up with a 40 in the family since I was 5, so I’ve always wanted my own. My dad and I did a lot of work to that '73. Its now been repainted, has a 4 speed/split transfer case, 4 wheel discs, rebuilt 6 cylinder, lifted 4 inches, 33's etc.

After college, when shopping for a toy vehicle (Cruiser shopping mostly), I somehow got talked into a high mileage ‘93 FZJ80 instead of a 40. After building it up, and spending a lot more on parts than I paid for the 235k mile vehicle, I soon got bored and got the bug for a 40 (80's are still awesome).

Fast forward to today, here’s my ’67 FJ-40. I acquired it in a straight trade (another mud member) for the ’93 FZJ80 that I built up. Some of you may recognize the 40 from a previous ROTW. It was 90% of what it is today when I traded for it.

Here's basically what it looked like when I got it (and it doesn't look much different now):


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[Senor Aguas]

When I got the rig, it had a lot of new/upgraded parts:

Rebuilt 350 with TBI from a Caprice. RV cam but exact specs unknown
SM420
Spring over axle conversion with flipped front springs.
All Pro Hysteer with heims
ARB rear locker – not hooked up yet.
Toyota E-locker – not hooked up yet.
30 spline longfields w/elocker spline
rear fine spline axle shafts.
37" Goodyear MT/R's
stainless extended brake lines
Wildwood proportioning valve and gauge
saginaw power steering
mini truck knuckles/hubs
Mini truck booster and master cylinder
Series 102 AE rims balanced with equal powder
ARB snorkel
3 speed transfer case
Mazda seats front,
Converted to floor shift 4wd instead of vacuum

And these new parts:

Radiator
Clutch master/slave
Thermostat
Upper gaskets
Distributor cap/rotor
Spark plugs
Exhaust (minus muffler)
New inline fuel pump/line
TBI unit rebuilt
New windshield

Here's an engine pic:

 

[Senor Aguas]

After we made the deal by email and phone, I met the owner in Salina, KS (6+ hours from my house) and we swapped vehicles and were on our way back. The 40 drove fairly well, but whined so loud that my friend and I had to stop at a Walgreen’s to get some ear plugs. My long term plans included a new tranny, so I wasn’t too upset about the trade.

The whine turned out to be the transfer case, but in the wrong diagnosis by my former mechanic, I ended up with a NV4500 and Advance Adapters bellhousing. I never liked how the SM420 shifted anyway. After a rebuild on the transfer case and some break in time, the whine is down closer to a normal FJ40 level.

The front pinion angle bothered me so I had the front axle cut and turned by that same mechanic.

I ebayed the ARB snorkel because it wasn’t hooked up to the TBI and I didn’t like it anyway.

A rear axle seal was leaking so I took that time to install rear disc brakes. It took me a while to figure out how to pull the c-clips with the ARB in there! Google and ih8mud came to the rescue. I chose the Cadillac rear calipers for the parking brake but I have not hooked it up yet. I will make it work!

The original gas tank was crap (JB welded but still leaked fumes everywhere), so I replaced it with a new factory one from CruiserDan. $230 or so delivered I think. The later model tanks will work on a ’67! I also replaced the rubber filler hose piece that connects it to the body. Finally, I replaced the sender with a new one (but didn’t match my cluster apparently).

The Saginaw box started leaking so I replaced it with a 4.25 turn box from a 1976 Jeep J20.

The 40 was too tall to fit in my garage with the hard top installed, so I have been on a quest to lower it. First, I installed a low height shackle reversal (from Proffitts). The stock shackles were too short, so I made some with a sawsall and a belt sander.

 

[Senor Aguas]

Then, when installing the new shackles, I removed 2 leafs from the front. I plan to remove a leaf from the rear and maybe weld on some new lower profile (and longer) perches. I will adjust bump stops as needed. For anyone thinking of removing a leaf or two—I suggest starting with 1. I plan to pull it apart and put a leaf back in it. Its pretty soft as it is.

I welded in a couple cross bars and made an overhead center console to hold some overhead LED lights and my CB.

I mounted an Army ammo box between the seats for an arm rest and center console. Also mounted an old aluminum Army box that my dad had behind the seats for lockable storage.

I’ve only been wheelin a couple times and don’t have good pics. Here’s a couple:

 

[Senor Aguas]

Future mods as money, time, and motivation allow:

1. Raise fenders or buy and install tube fenders. My first attempt at wheeling since I lowered the front showed me that my tires get into my fenders easily off road. Is it easier to install the tube fenders or to raise the stock fenders? Neither one looks all that easy.

2. Bud Built 3/16 thick quarters (already sitting in my garage). I’m going to get a body man (dirt biking buddy) to help me with this one.

3. Iron Pig Offroad skid plate (already purchased, but trying to figure out how to deal with the broken off rusty skid plate bolts).

4. Hook up the ARB air locker. I have a CO2 bottle, a 90 psi regulator and an air switch, so I’m trying to go that route.

5. Fix other rust (there’s not too much of it on this one besides the quarter panels) and start repainting it. I think it will always be a trail vehicle, but I’d like for it to look a little better.

6. New seats (thinking Corbeau Moab currently, but maybe Mastercraft). I want something with a low seat height (that stupid gas tank). Any suggestions for a low seat?

7. Gauges. Almost none of my gauges work. I replaced the speedo cable, and it worked great for about 100 miles. Then it sounded like something got chewed up in my cluster, so I unhooked it. Gas gauge only goes up to ½ tank—probably a mismatch between my sender and cluster. I’ll probably go with Autometer for the new gauges, but I want something that doesn’t draw too much attention to itself. Probably black gauges with a gray panel.

8. 4 link rear. I’ll probably go with the kit from Proffitts. I haven’t experienced axle wrap problems yet, but I’d rather do this than install a anti-wrap bar. I’m pretty easy on the throttle. I’m thinking TJ rear springs, but not sure on which ones to get (stock, 2.5 inch lift, etc).

 

[lowndsy]

very nice looking machine there mate, do u mind chucking up a few more pics of the master cyl and booster?

i have just updated my 70' fj but i cut off the top part of the reo plate that goes up the fire wall, bored out the centre hole n drilled new mounting holes, looks like yours has been spaced out from the firewal to avoid this?

 

[bsmith123]

nice

nice 40 and great to see the action photos!

 

[FJFOOL]

Nice truck, looks like you're getting set up pretty well for the trail. I like the engine compartment, pretty clean looking !!

 

[Senor Aguas]

Here's a better shot of the brake master cylinder/booster. It had a setup from a mini truck, but in my swap to rear discs, I ended up buying a new master and booster for a Land Cruiser. The booster ended up being the problem but I got it last. It has not been spaced out.

 

[Senor Aguas]

And since those were older pics, here's a couple newer ones. The bumper that came on the rig stuck out about 4 inches too far from the frame and was too wide for my taste. I cut the ends off with a sawsall, and took about 4 inches out of the frame mounts and welded it back together to get it closer to the frame. Its so close now that I had to clearance the bumper for the saginaw box.

Also, there's a pic of my mirror. My friend got a blast cabinet, so I tested it out for him with my mirror. Replaced most of the hardware with stainless. It kinda sticks out compared to the state of the rest of the rig.

 

[DevilDogCruiser]

Nice rig man. I'm in fayetteville also. I've never seen your rig around town. Were are you at?

 

[Senor Aguas]

Thanks, I've had it less than a year, and don't drive it much around town. I had a white built 80 that I drove a little more that you might recognize, although there is another one in town that's nicer than mine was. I'm on the west side of town between Mount Comfort and Wedington.

 

[Adventure Teq]

Very nice, very nice.

I like what you've done to the front bumper, much better. Great job on the shackles. Doesn't it seem like the fronts should be a little longer though, isn't the spring resting against the frame?

Quite the long list of upgrades there. That's a pretty solid 40.

 

[Senor Aguas]

Thanks. Yeah, the shackles were too short so I made the new ones. Here's a pic of them installed (3/4 inch longer):

 

[AKcruiserfreak]

Looks nice! I envy your 350 and NV4500. Any pics of the tranny and adaptor to the transfercase?

Thanks
TK

 

[DevilDogCruiser]

Thanks, I've had it less than a year, and don't drive it much around town. I had a white built 80 that I drove a little more that you might recognize, although there is another one in town that's nicer than mine was. I'm on the west side of town between Mount Comfort and Wedington.

I may have seen your 80. Not sure. Im over off of Wedington.

 

[lostmarbles]

That engine bay photo in post No. 2 makes it look like one of the best 350 installs that I've seen.



Looks like it is meant to be there!

 

[BrianSanDiego]

6. New seats (thinking Corbeau Moab currently, but maybe Mastercraft). I want something with a low seat height (that stupid gas tank). Any suggestions for a low seat?

Hey buddy,

I hate to corrupt your killer rig's post with a shot of my jalopy! but here ya' go

Here is a pic of the seats I was telling you about. Mastercraft Rubicon. They are super comfy suspension seats and they fit very well in the Crusier. I believe they are actually thinner than the stock buckets at the seat and back, so you can get them lower and back further than the stockers. I'm 6'3" and fit very well with these in there.

I plan on tying them into a new cage when I get that far. For now they are a little cobbled in.. but sturdy, with bars bolted front to back on the stock seat mounts, and then bars bolted side to side, and seat mounted to them.

Hope this helps,
B.

 

[Walton]

Very nice ROTW from a fellow 1967 owner.....

 

[Senor Aguas]

AKcruiserfreak, here's a pic that shows the adapter, as requested.