1976 FJ40 refresh

[Volcanic Iceberg]

I decided to start a thread to document the refresh process on my 1976 Fj40. Im not entirely certain at this point how far I am going to take this one because in many ways it is in rough shape. But there is enough good that I am going to make a go of it and I kind of like the challange of taking something that has been neglected and turning it into something to be admired. That, and I just love FJ40's and 1976 is the Ideal year for me being the year of my birth. So I am willing to look beyond the blemishes and see the diamond in the rough.

I bought the truck for a whole $500 after it had sat under a pine tree in someones driveway in Las Vegas for at least a decade, probably more. These are the picures I had to go on from the craigslist ad. I called the guy and made the deal sight unseen and picked it up the next day. In the mean time he had to fend off all the other would be buyers.

 

[Volcanic Iceberg]

From the craigslist pictures I could tell that it had an aux. fuel tank which was a bonus, But I really couldnt tell much more than that. Here are some pictures from when I picked it up. I was pretty excited to find that it had a FST tail gate. and a nice set of 2 peice headers

 

[Volcanic Iceberg]

Once I got it home I went through everything to see what I had. A lot of duplication of parts. Some good, some junk. One thing I knew was that the Engine had to come out.

 

[Volcanic Iceberg]

Rather than try to rebuild and peice together the original engine which was missing the head and various other bits, I decided to see if I could find a running 2F. After a couple weeks I found one within drivind distance out of an 83 FJ60 that had good compression #'s. - 148 at each cylinder. It was pulled for a SBC conversion and had been previously owned by a toyota tech, which is the only way the P.O. could explain how strong the engine was. I loaded it up in the back of the FZJ80 and headed home.

 

[Volcanic Iceberg]

I got it all preasure washed in preparation for the install. Cleaned up rather nicely. Then I pulled the original engine and Tranny out of the 40.

Here is Cruiser in its new home. Dig the Bald eagle grill emblem

 

[Volcanic Iceberg]

Next, Because I am impatient for visual progress, I had a set of BFG 33X9.50's that I had been saving mounted up on a set of stock steelies that I had been saving. I sandblasted and painted the wheels grey with 3 coats of paint and 2 coats of clear. Because the wheels were designed for drum brakes, I used a 1/4" spacer and ground a little bit off the calipers to get them to fit.

 

[Volcanic Iceberg]

Got the headers painted with 2000 deg. high temp paint. They came with the cherrie bomb glass packs too. We'll have to see how that goes.

 

[SteveH]

Nice job saving an older rig and putting a 2F in it - you look like you're having fun, and that's a big part of it!

 

[dx379]

Fun build. Subscribed

 

[Volcanic Iceberg]

Well after much though, and weighing all my options, I have decided to shift gears and go in a different direction with this build. I deeply need to get a cruiser on the road. Its been 2 1/2 years since Ive had a running 40 and its all I can think about. My kids are still little and Ive always want them to have the 40 experience. - The RUNNING 40 experience, Not the project experience. (we'll save that for when they are older). My wife keeps reminding me that I have had a complete original Horizon blue 71' Fj40 sitting in my yard for the past 2 years with a blown engine. And here I am working on the 76' that is far from complete and litterally riddled with holes, wiring issues, and bad mods from the P.O.! What the heck am I thinking! So I have decided to take the best parts and get the 71' on the road. Already switched the stock steelies and tall skinnies over.....2F and 4speed tranny install are next week. Sorry for those of you anxiously awaiting this build. I will be posting up progress on the 71' in another thread.

 

[misterpepper]

Smart decision. Looking forward to helping you pull that old blown F and dropping in the 2F. That's a great base to start from and I like the direction you want to go with it.

 

[cbmontgo]

Oh how I love the stock steelies...

 

[subzali]

Details on the OEM FST tailgate? Didn't know there was such a beast?

Curious to know how available this piece is, what the hinges look like, if there is additional reinforcement, and how it latches to the body. Pictures please

 

[Living in the Past]

Details on the OEM FST tailgate? Didn't know there was such a beast?

Curious to know how available this piece is, what the hinges look like, if there is additional reinforcement, and how it latches to the body. Pictures please

These pop for sale on ebay and here pretty often. Here's a picture of one of my soft top models. The post 74 soft tops were not as common as earlier years. Don't know about this 76 but in 75 at least the spare tire carrier stayed on the passenger's side. I can get you better pictures of this one if you want. While it has rust spots in the corners the sill is all original as is the orange paint. The PO bought a replacement tail gate before I get it not sure why the rear sill and floor aren't rusted so I doubt the tailgate would have rusted either.

 

[subzali]

That's pretty cool, does it have cables to help support it while it's down? Also, I was surprised to see a soft top tailgate on a '76 (figured they were out there for earlier models, but since the tub opening changed width for the ambulance doors I figured there wouldn't be too many survivors). Thanks for the picture! Additional pictures would be helpful! Don't want to hijack the thread though...you can email them to me! Thanks!

 

[Living in the Past]

This 76 was not a soft top from the factory. The holes on the rear are for the ambulance doors. Plus the license plate bracket is the earlier style. Not the light itself but the spot welded bracket. Curious if the tailgate came from a RHD vehicle from another market.

But to get this back on track I will say that is a pretty clean 71 from the one picture posted. 71 the last year of the heavy steel and first year of the dual circuit brakes plus the first year of the brake booster. I'll watch for the new thread.

 

[Volcanic Iceberg]

This 76 was not a soft top from the factory. The holes on the rear are for the ambulance doors. Plus the license plate bracket is the earlier style. Not the light itself but the spot welded bracket. Curious if the tailgate came from a RHD vehicle from another market.

True, the tailgate would have come from an earlier year. I have one on my FJ40 expedition trailer as well that came from a 63' FST. Not sure why the tailgate was on this one but it was defenitely retrofitted by P.O. the tailgate will eventually be installed on the 71 to replace the rotted barn doors. Makes for a great bench, or place to prepare lunch on the trail. But first I have to replace the cancerous rear sil.

I worked on the 71' today. swapped out the rear springs for some less tired stockers, added extended shackles and new poly bushings. Sits level now and is less squishy. Big thanks to MrPepper for resquing me with some usable spring pins after I bashed the crud out of mine trying to get them out.

 

[Volcanic Iceberg]

71 the last year of the heavy steel and first year of the dual circuit brakes plus the first year of the brake booster. I'll watch for the new thread.

Its also the first year of the 3rd gen top. (1st gen = ripple, 2nd gen = recessed windows, 3rd gen = flush windows, 4th gen = wing windows). Also first year of angled long jump seats and 3 piece bench seat.

It is in decent shape overall. some body rust, but complete and it's straight. No accidents. Im pretty excited.

 

[Volcanic Iceberg]

Here is a picture - post suspension mods. sits level now. That little job took all day. Its all about torches, sledge hammers and cheater bars.

 

[hedgehog23]

looks like you emptied the tool box for that job what exactly did you do with all them calibrated tools?