Father-Daughter 1972 fj40 revival

[69LC]

Since getting our daughter - CC's fj40 home we have been working on it a bit at a time, trying to find front disk knuckle assemblies and figuring out how to break free the engine. We finally got it to turn this evening! I snapped off the few remaining skidplate bolts, removed the clutch dust cover, removed the seat material-mouse nest and pried against the bellhousing and the flywheel with a pry bar. I've turned it at least one half of a revolution and it seems to be getting better. A couple more squirts of Sea Foam in the jugs seemed to help.

I found another giant mouse nest in the air cleaner element. It was stinking up the whole garage.

While I was working on the above items, Christina grabbed a ladder, vinegar water and a scraper and scraped most of the lichen blooms off of the roof. She had a couple of pretty large lichen piles!

I also tried to remove the top half of the thermostat housing, but both bolts snapped off. I intended to take it to work to media blast and possibly weld fill. Would this one be better to replace?

Doesn't my daughter looked thrilled to have her allergies being attacked by old mice nests and lichen? (crappy pics via her IPad)

Matthew

 

[JohnnyC]

Cool project... Will it be her first car?

Will hers be nicer than yours

To ans your Q ... I would replace it

 

[69LC]

This is her first vehicle, and eventually I hope that hers will be much nicer than mine! I don't ever intend for mine to be pretty, just functional and well beaten.

 

[JohnnyC]

Very cool... My daughter is only 9 but has expressed interest in a Pig or 60 series... She's liking the pig because she wants a pink car... And " that's only fitting" she says...

I have several years to convince her out of pink

I hope one day to be doing the same with her... Congrats in the project... I'll be enjoying it from afar

 

[DSRTRDR]

I'm about to put some pink stuff on the LX450

 

[1973Guppie]

nice, subscribed.....

 

[D'Animal]

Looks like a fun project. Hope your daughter stays interested.

Sent from my iPhone using IH8MUD

 

[Glacierskier]

Cool

Subscribed.

 

[fj401978]

Since getting our daughter's fj40 home we have been working on it a bit at a time, trying to find front disk knuckle assemblies and figuring out how to break free the engine. We finally got it to turn this evening! I snapped off the few remaining skidplate bolts, removed the clutch dust cover, removed the seat material-mouse nest and pried against the bellhousing and the flywheel with a pry bar. I've turned it at least one half of a revolution and it seems to be getting better. A couple more squirts of Sea Foam in the jugs seemed to help.

I found another giant mouse nest in the air cleaner element. It was stinking up the whole garage.

While I was working on the above items, Christina grabbed a ladder, vinegar water and a scraper and scraped most of the lichen blooms off of the roof. She had a couple of pretty large lichen piles!

I also tried to remove the top half of the thermostat housing, but both bolts snapped off. I intended to take it to work to media blast and possibly weld fill. Would this one be better to replace?

Doesn't my daughter looked thrilled to have her allergies being attacked by old mice nests and lichen? (crappy pics via her IPad)

Matthew

Do you need one? I have an extra one...$20.00 plus the trip. Let me know

 

[69LC]

Do you need one? I have an extra one...$20.00 plus the trip. Let me know

I will let you know. I haven't even started looking locally. And thank you sir!

 

[69LC]

Our goal today is to pull the carb and start cleaning it up. I'll post pics.

 

[69LC]

Carb off and more rust than expected...

We got the rear hatch open from the inside. The outside handle rusted off. To get the barn doors open, I had to break off the 6 small tire carrier hinge bolts. The hinges are seized and the tub corner is bad.

What is the emissions do-dad in the last picture? Can I eliminate it?

 

[69LC]

I found a bunch of straight axle disk brake parts locally for $20 today! I still need birds, lockouts, rotors and calipers, but we're getting there. I have a buddy at work who may have steering arms and a tie rod and maybe some of the other needed parts if he doesn't need them. The knuckles will go to the degreaser at work tomorrow and then the blaster later.

 

[corleykj]

That looks like a great project with your daughter. Subscribed.

 

[DSRTRDR]

What is the emissions do-dad in the last picture? Can I eliminate it?

.yes.

 

[69LC]

I just rolled the engine over with the starter for the first time in 20 yrs! I have the plugs out so the oil pump could oil the engine. I'll probably steal my son's carb to get this going.

 

[69LC]

and thanks HairyApple for the thermostat housing!

 

[69LC]

While cleaning front axle parts for the disk brake swap my daughter combined hot water, dish soap and vinegar in the cleaning bucket. I would never have thought of the vinegar bit, but it worked wonders with loosing rust. Her hubs are painted and ready for bearings and seals. The spindles are ready and I have to hit the knuckles with the parts washer at work to remove the remaining nasty old grease. I may need to buy more knuckle stud cones and nuts since not all of the hardware was with the random parts I found.

I also attempted to swap the carb from my son's 69, but it seems pretty different in how cables and other lines attach to the 72.

 

[landcrusher909]

Awesome thread, keep the pics coming and post up anything you might need

 

[69LC]

Thanks landcrusher909, I do need some mini truck style steering arm cones, shims and nuts unless the earlier drum brake stuff is compatible. I have one new knuckle backing plate and redrilled an IFS hub knuckle/hub seal to work. I am also debating scavenging the birfs from my 69 or my son's waiting fj62 front axle in the meantime. My truck is down waiting to get the 6.2 diesel swap so I can allow to spare parts and would love to build my front 9"/toy hybrid with 80 knuckles. I have 81 fj40 rotors ordered and have a parts donor for calipers and master cylinder from a 90 4runner.