- Thread starter
- #81
I do too. I have a few extra lower bib hinges that are stamped FJ25. Perfect touch.
Builds 1958 project Sundune
- Thread starter Indygbd
- Start date
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whitey45
SILVER Star
Exactly why I bought my own tire machine a few years ago,with all the projects and tire changing it paid for itself real quick! Just don’t tell your friends you have one!! Looking foward to the end result of this beauty!
middlecalf
SILVER Star
I’ve got the STA’s (15” wheels) on both my old cruisers. You’ll know when your on a gravel road, and so will your inner fenders.
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- #86
I have heard that before about these tires. Luckily this truck will never see gravel. Probably barely see pavement once complete.
HelloKitty65
SILVER Star
When did the brake inspection ports end on FJ40's? Would they have been on a 1962?
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- #89
It’s been awhile so I decide to give an update. The original body was pretty shot. Floors were so bad that when I removed the tub it folded in half. Literally in half. I have another 1959 tub with good floors however it has bondo on the quarter panels. So I decided to use the tub from my rust free 1961 fst. I know, before you tell me it’s different, I found that out the hard way. Little differences add up. Upper quarter panel rails are about 1/8” narrower on the 1958. Floor around transmission tunnel is different. Fuel tank filler tube location is different. Rear quarter panel arch, front dash stamping, cowl kick vents, height of tool box under seat is different, tailgate vs filler panel mounts, spare tire mounting bracket, rear wheel wells are different sizes. Yes, I realized all of this after I made decision to use the 61 tub. So, I will in fact continue doing all the metal work and ruin 3 tubs to make one perfect 1958 tub. Then after I start dismantling the tubs I see a guy post on Facebook that they are making fj25 body panels now. That will frustrate you to say the least. Anyway, since I want the 1958 to be perfect I will have to do the work. I don’t want @Living in the Past to point out all of the incorrect differences when it’s finished! Just teasing......
So I cut the good rear quarter panels off with wheel wells, floor patch panels, rear sill, fuel tank location pieces, and fixed the dash, filled holes in firewall, and filled the kick panels in so far. I guess the plus side is I can do the work and it will look great when it’s done. Plus, the 1961 tub was ridiculously clean.
Bare steel blasted photos below.
So I cut the good rear quarter panels off with wheel wells, floor patch panels, rear sill, fuel tank location pieces, and fixed the dash, filled holes in firewall, and filled the kick panels in so far. I guess the plus side is I can do the work and it will look great when it’s done. Plus, the 1961 tub was ridiculously clean.
Bare steel blasted photos below.
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- Thread starter
- #90
I took a vacation so progress has been slow. It should pick up now. Kids are about back in school. That will give me a bit more time to work on it.
Front floor is fixed, tool box/battery access area has been swapped to correct height side panels and access to mid frame mounted battery tray. Now working on removing the 1961 rear quarter panels and replacing them with the 1958 side panels. When rear quarter panels are off I will dolly out the bend and dent in the rear bed floor.
Another hundred hours or so and the transformation should be complete.
Front floor is fixed, tool box/battery access area has been swapped to correct height side panels and access to mid frame mounted battery tray. Now working on removing the 1961 rear quarter panels and replacing them with the 1958 side panels. When rear quarter panels are off I will dolly out the bend and dent in the rear bed floor.
Another hundred hours or so and the transformation should be complete.
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scoobiedubes
SILVER Star
Looking good Gabe! I can relate to how hard it is to make progress with the kids around - but cruisers can always wait, the kids are only young once 
100 hours plus
breaks I assume.
100 hours plus
breaks I assume.
middlecalf
SILVER Star
That’s cool to see the early tool box with the battery access in the floor, and then knowing they moved the battery to the engine compartment and closed the access in the floor, still with a triangle tool box, then migrated to the square tool box, until it went away completely.
Do you have a trick for dollying out the “bend” in the bed?
Do you have a trick for dollying out the “bend” in the bed?
- Thread starter
- #93
I will let you know after I get it out. I usually dolly it from both sides. Sometimes I use some heat and air with dolly work. Will keep you posted.
- Thread starter
- #94
The transformation is coming along now. Its starting to look like a fj25 tub. I still can't believe I had to cut apart a clean perfect tub. I also have figured out that since these were hand built noting is the same or lines up perfect like you would think. After close examination of 2 1958 tubs and a 1959 tub I noticed a few things. On one the passenger floor has a different number of ribs. The trans tunnel holes were in slightly different locations, the upper quarter panel rails were different thicknesses, ect..... The list goes on and on. That is not counting the 1961 to 1958 differences. Since the humidity is high here it's starting to flash rust. I'm planning on blasting one last time before putting it in primer.
If I get all the changes done right the first time it will be amazing. Hopefully I do not notice any changes after its painted! I would cry!!!
I decided to double check the body mount locations carefully next. An inch one way or another would be a nightmare after its completed.
If I get all the changes done right the first time it will be amazing. Hopefully I do not notice any changes after its painted! I would cry!!!
I decided to double check the body mount locations carefully next. An inch one way or another would be a nightmare after its completed.
scoobiedubes
SILVER Star
It’s looking great Gabe. FYI use Gibbs gun oil on the bare metal to keep the surface rust off. I have a swamp cooler in my garage so I used it on tools etc as well. Seems to do the job and pretty easy to apply with a rag.
wonder what the story is with all these different tub differences? Pretty sure they were all made in the same factory, and given that the drive trains were pretty much the same you wouldn’t have expected body changes but apparently so!
wonder what the story is with all these different tub differences? Pretty sure they were all made in the same factory, and given that the drive trains were pretty much the same you wouldn’t have expected body changes but apparently so!
- Thread starter
- #96
Today I decided to take time off working on the body and figured I better get moving on the engine. I pulled the engine, transmission, and transfer case apart. Time for rebuild. Hopefully the internals are all good. I have no idea where to get pistons and rings for an early F105. I guess I’m about to find out. I got pressure washed them today. Found some cool stampings and numbers.
tahoe40/45
SILVER Star
You might want to double check the rear securing of the tool box lid. I think the footman loops behind the tool box that you have are for the short tool box, tall tool box has 2 of the tool box latches bolted on the back side to secure the lid.
Short tool box lid has extended bracket that slides under the footman loops.