Doing a lot of little things to my 11/69 FJ40 so I figured I would document them. I did an intro but this is where I will post my slow build. Mud has been a great help and I am sure I will continue to rely on this as I go through it.
My plan is to work on this truck as I enjoy it. I dont want to do a 3 year full frame off. I dont plan to drive it in the winter up here so thats is when I will be doing most of the work. This winter Im just going through it, replacing and updating engine items. Getting it to where I can enjoy it. In the spring Im going to address the suspension. Eventually I think I will get an aluminum tub and repaint paint it.
I purchased 11/69 this summer. Ive always wanted on since I was a kid. My great-uncle had one in the woods he would never sell to my father until it eventually rotted away and he had it dragged out. Ive always been a Toyota fan, having owned several myself and in my family. Even interned at TMS in Torrance in 2007. I drove a 96 Tacoma through college which I sold to get a commuter car. Ive had a few toys but downsized when I bought my house.
Id been casually looking over the last three years and found one beautiful roller I still want to buy but the guy got nostalgic and backed out while I was arranging a trailer. In May after I got back from visiting a friend teaching in Rwanda I knew I needed to get serious. I found it in Mass. The previous owner had it a few years. He told me it came out of a barn in Maine. He put new shoes on it, put in new axles (77 Im told), tightened up the steering and added a roll bar. He said he rebuilt the trans, t case and carb. The first two leave puddles and the carb only runs on one barrel right now. I think the t case needs a front seal and the trans maybe overfilled. The PO put a Rough Country lift in it. I put 400 lbs in the back and flexed it every night for over a month (big part of why I hardly drove it this fall). I went through its issues in a post a while back. Its a brutal ride I will likely replace.
It has its warts but I love it. Its a 3 on the tree, vac shift t case F engine rig. It came with tall skinny BFG 33s on power coated factory wheels. The body has a good amount of rust. The floors are junk, patched together. Rockers are held together by diamond plate, so are the rear corners. Roof is solid. Fenders are there but need work. Frame looks solid.
Ive driven it only three of four times on short trips around town. Right now it is in my small garage with the hood and bib off as I work on the engine.
My plan is to work on this truck as I enjoy it. I dont want to do a 3 year full frame off. I dont plan to drive it in the winter up here so thats is when I will be doing most of the work. This winter Im just going through it, replacing and updating engine items. Getting it to where I can enjoy it. In the spring Im going to address the suspension. Eventually I think I will get an aluminum tub and repaint paint it.
I purchased 11/69 this summer. Ive always wanted on since I was a kid. My great-uncle had one in the woods he would never sell to my father until it eventually rotted away and he had it dragged out. Ive always been a Toyota fan, having owned several myself and in my family. Even interned at TMS in Torrance in 2007. I drove a 96 Tacoma through college which I sold to get a commuter car. Ive had a few toys but downsized when I bought my house.
Id been casually looking over the last three years and found one beautiful roller I still want to buy but the guy got nostalgic and backed out while I was arranging a trailer. In May after I got back from visiting a friend teaching in Rwanda I knew I needed to get serious. I found it in Mass. The previous owner had it a few years. He told me it came out of a barn in Maine. He put new shoes on it, put in new axles (77 Im told), tightened up the steering and added a roll bar. He said he rebuilt the trans, t case and carb. The first two leave puddles and the carb only runs on one barrel right now. I think the t case needs a front seal and the trans maybe overfilled. The PO put a Rough Country lift in it. I put 400 lbs in the back and flexed it every night for over a month (big part of why I hardly drove it this fall). I went through its issues in a post a while back. Its a brutal ride I will likely replace.
It has its warts but I love it. Its a 3 on the tree, vac shift t case F engine rig. It came with tall skinny BFG 33s on power coated factory wheels. The body has a good amount of rust. The floors are junk, patched together. Rockers are held together by diamond plate, so are the rear corners. Roof is solid. Fenders are there but need work. Frame looks solid.
Towing it home
Probably could have driven it, but did not want to before I got to go through it.
Ive driven it only three of four times on short trips around town. Right now it is in my small garage with the hood and bib off as I work on the engine.
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