Hoz 78 FJ40 Restoration

[Hoz FJ40 CO]

Hey guys I'm redoing a build thread so please bear with me. I acquired and sold a 73 and bled in a 78 build at the same time.

The story of the 78 FJ40 build with dates will progress through the next couple of days.

Jan 15, 2011 I picked up this 78 FJ40 complete with hard top, extra 72 tub in good condition and it ran really well. The PO bought it from his friend who owned the truck for 20 plus years and used it around his shop for errands and what not. He also used it to shovel his shop out and stored bags of salt (not a good idea in a 40, but welcome to Iowa) and it literally rotted the rear floor out.

A couple of pics of when I bought it and then it sitting safely in the barn.

 

[Hoz FJ40 CO]

I was in the middle of restoring my 73 when I decided I wanted to restore a stock height FJ40 so I sold the 73. The 73 doors, hardtop, fenders, hood, bib were at the body shop already so I parted this 78 out and sold all body panels less the tub to the new owner of the 73 who is a current MUD member. The body parts on both ends were in about the same shape so it was a wash.

Here are some shots of the body panels getting attention at the body shop.

Date is 2-4-11

 

[Hoz FJ40 CO]

Date 2-16-11 :

Gary (body man) sent me some pics of the pieces that are primed and getting painted today. The fenders were pretty chewed up and he has smoothed them out and everything is coming together beautifully.

I am picking up the hardtop, hardtop sides, rear swing out doors, rear flip up door, front doors, hood, bib, and headlight surround on Saturday. The truck and tub will be picked up in two more weeks.

Here are some pics of the primed pieces and hopefully later today I will have some pics of the painted pieces.

Monday, I will drop these parts off at the glass company so I can have all the glass put back in and this will be ready for assembly.

 

[Hoz FJ40 CO]

Here are the painted body parts

 

[Hoz FJ40 CO]

2-18-11 :

Bought 5 Factory Steelies from a MUD member in FL and dropped those off to be sand blasted and powdercoated.

 

[Hoz FJ40 CO]

3-16-11 :

Email from my body man :

Tubs coming along. hope to get the bottom sprayed today. after it's all primed. and sealed. lots of work!! put the bottom angle iron on last night. the metal was actually stretched on the left so it wouldn't pull straight would have had to cut it and re-weld. Since the holes were all equidstant I bolted the iron on both sides and tacked it in places and used seam sealer. It looks great and should make your truck look tough. it also bolstered and strengthened the sides like you wouldn't believe. It flexed before. Not now!!! ...He went on to say that he'll have the underneath painted tonight and should have the tub ready to spray the interior tomorrow.

Pick up truck on Friday...more pics to come!!!

 

[Hoz FJ40 CO]

3-18-11:

Final Painted Tub pictures. Going to pick it up Saturday. Looking forward to seeing the color in the daylight. Will have more pics of tub on frame and build up pics coming soon after as well.

 

[Hoz FJ40 CO]

3-23-11 :

Picked up the truck from the Bodyshop. I have been looking forward to working on this truck for a while.

 

[Hoz FJ40 CO]

3-29-11 :

This past weekend I have been grinding and painting the frame with POR15.

Everyone says this stuff is nasty when you get it on your hands. They are right I'll be wearing this stuff for a while. However the fit and finish of this product are awesome.

I have a Brand New OEM gas tank from Toyota that I will paint with POR 15 so that it will last for many years after I have sold it and the next guy will be very happy that someone took the time to properly coat the tank.

 

[hawkeyealum]

I was so confused when I first opened this thread. I had to scroll back to the top to re-read the first post. I get it now

 

[Hoz FJ40 CO]

3-31-11 :

Talked to my buddy Mike who is a wiring expert/fabricator and he is helping me wire up the 40. The rolling chassis you see in his garage is another MUD members build.

 

[TROOPERIIandFJ]

 

[Hoz FJ40 CO]

4-3-11 :

This weekend alot of progress has happened and the wiring is coming together beautifully.
1) Firewall getting wired up and all parts reattached.
2) Had to cut the tranny hump to size since its a 72 tub on a 78 frame.
3) Gas Pedal brackets were entirely different so had to custom fabricate the gas pedal, the emergency brake bracket and the bracket that holds the steering wheel. All in all it looks great and works great as well.

I am using new JIS bolts to install most things back on the body and on the inside of the truck. The zinc bolts look great with the red and give everything that new truck look.

 

[Hoz FJ40 CO]

4-3-11:

Powdercoater called me and he dropped of the freshly blasted and coated Steelies.

A few more pics.

 

[Hoz FJ40 CO]

4-3-11 :

Mockup the fenders, apron and bib to make sure everything is fitting correctly.

 

[Hoz FJ40 CO]

4-4-11 :

I pulled the factory seats out and put in my Green Bay Packers bench seat. The seats were in great shape and I got the seats from Smitty in Green Bay, WI (thanks Smitty).

The drivers seat has been moved back and is a great fit for me. Enjoy the pictures.

 

[Hoz FJ40 CO]

4-4-11 :

I picked up the 40 at Mike's place and the attention to detail in the wiring and fabricating is amazing. New zinc bolts sticking out all over the place. I need to apply weather stripping and bolt everything back together but I took her out for the first time tonight with my mechanic and it was pure joy.

I am going to be working hard at getting the front and rear turn signals all hooked up so I can drive this baby all around town. She's not perfect (rear quarters and a couple other issues) but we're on the downward slope at this point and I can still take her out and enjoy her this year.

Enjoy the pics they will keep coming as I get her assembled.

Some poser pics but what the heck still a cool shot
Another poser shot but doesn't she look awesome. Still excited about driving her around the block tonight. Whohoo!!!!

 

[Hoz FJ40 CO]

4-8-11 :

Tire Time...with much research and much yacking with other MUD members have finally decided on the right tires for this build.

With alot of research and price comparisons I went with the 235-75-15 Tall/Skinny BFG Mud Terrains
Got the wrong size nuts but will fix that Saturday.

Before you even say it I like white letter out. Some purist and bezel police disagree but then again this is my build.

'78 is the only year to have 4:11s and fine-spline pinions.

 

[TROOPERIIandFJ]

I like white letters out too. Those look like a similar tread pattern to the KM2's. What size in inches is that?

 

[CruiserMoose]

Hoz, very nice! It gives me hope that one day I can get to this point with my build. Thanks for sharing.