1965 fj40 first time build

[buddyguy]

well hello to all,im new here and new to land cruisers so all your guys and gals help will be appreciated. i just got a 1965 fj40 for my birthday and am all over the board on how to build it! im looking for a weekend wheeler that i can take the family out on some trails with nothing to crazy. i have thought SOA and i have thought a 4"spring under lift i just dont know? here is what i have got. stock stock stock! lol engine runs great,brakes need work shifts great and body is dam near mint. it was sand blasted and some guy stuck it out in the rain and long story short it's in my garage. how do you think i should build this old girl? oh i have 4 wheel drums and manual steering and brakes both i want to change,and i would like to do all this my self as fab is no problem for me. thanks for taking the time to look. i will post pics as soon as i can figure out how. lol

 

[buddyguy]

pic's

here she is as i got her

 

[1973Guppie]

way too general of a post here, spend some time reading and then repost your specific questions, not trying to be a dick but this truly is what will work best for you if you need some advice, also post some BIGGER pics for gods sake, we like cruiser porn....

 

[buddyguy]

i would like to do power brakes,disk brakes on the front as well i want to run 33 to 35' tires. would like front diff to be locked and was thinking fj 60 axles or mini truck axles? and as for engine transmision and t case they all work well so i will keep them for now.

 

[buddyguy]

oh and i took that pic with my phone ill try to take some more this week as i work on it,im getting it striped for paint.

 

[1973Guppie]

i would like to do power brakes,disk brakes on the front as well i want to run 33 to 35' tires. would like front diff to be locked and was thinking fj 60 axles or mini truck axles? and as for engine transmision and t case they all work well so i will keep them for now.

on a 1965 you have a ball and claw birfs, not easy to upgrade to discs, best solution is to swap in later model axles front and rear then you can swap in minitruck or fj60 discs up front and monte carlo in the rear. Read some on this stuff in the FAQ.

if you are driving on street, front arb is the best way to go, not the cheapest though.

HTH, Noah

 

[My wife said no FJ!]

Not to offend you, but sell your '65 to someone who would restore it properly back to what it was in 1965, and buy a newer 1976 - 1978 FJ40.

What you want out of this very cool old rig is beyond its capabilities, and will cost you way, way more than just buying a newer rig. Everything on the old '65 was good enough to last it this long, and in the hands of the right owner will last many many more years as a great old 40. What you are planning will involve having to change just about every single thing, and some mods will not be just a bolt in upgrade.

Looks like you have a corrugated top '65 model, which was only made until mid '65, and is not only a pretty rare model, it is also in many ways very different than a newer 40.

Buy a newer '76 to '78 40...even if you keep the '65 parked as is and never touch it, you will still save money buying a newer 40 for what you want to get out of it vs doing what you want to the old '65...just my 0.02

PS...if you still plan to go ahead in tearing up the old '65, save all the old parts, and send me a PM...I could use them.

 

[buddyguy]

well i got her running and driving and she runs great, i think i will sell it as the more i look into it your right just not the model i want to build a trail rig out of, now what do i ask for it? as far as price?

 

[My71FJ40]

Not to offend you, but sell your '65 to someone who would restore it properly back to what it was in 1965, and buy a newer 1976 - 1978 FJ40...What you want out of this very cool old rig is beyond its capabilities, and will cost you way, way more than just buying a newer rig....if you still plan to go ahead in tearing up the old '65, save all the old parts, and send me a PM...I could use them.

DING, Good advice NO FJ.

 

[buddyguy]

well thanks to all very very much,i have found a 1975 fj40 im going to buy and sell the old girl.