So this FJ 40L project has come a Long ways
I bought It as a project with a cracked head In 1986 with 36,000 miles on the odometer It came with a Best top soft top,the Po said he had left the OEM soft top when he bought It.
I had it back on the road In a few weeks, cheep fix then.
I drove It off and on,for the next couple years,Deer hunting too.
The 40 was parked at my dads house 1988 until I moved into my house in 1994.
400 V8 power steering A/T or 5 speed disc brake Dana axles roll cage no top !
I started the frame off project by stripping the frame I was going My buddy welded up a shackle reversal & 4 "springs kit from BTB products.
I was on my way ! ......So I thought
Job, Kids, family, life work, work, work,very little time to do anything.
fast forward 2004 I have working On the Las Vegas strip Construction for 10 years with tons of over time and no vacation for the first five years
mostly @ night. never enough time for my projects.
Got laid off
Time to do what I want, A 3 month my son and I went on a landcruiser building marathon spent the spring doing body work Quarter panels and rear seal I did all the welding :whoops:
My 17 year old did a lot of the grunt body work
My painter buddy helped with all the finnish work
Then set engine and transmission transfer case on frame,
Body work took longer than I first thought
Mistakes I made a few
I started buying parts any thing OEM that was still available I bought It
I wanted just a nice running FJ40 I was completely tired of the 3 speed three of my cars had 3 speeds so no 3 speed and at this time I was completely devoted to keeping the Old School look !
bought a running 2F with bell housing and a four speed
set of hard doors from E-Bay (Paid too much)
2F with OEM Oil cooler Rebuilt new bearings,pistons,cam, oil pump,timing gears,fuel pump,M-O-F fluid heat riser.
1F Non-USA distributor with Pertronix ignition
Head milled
H42 new seals
New Diaphragm Clutch, clutch master & slave
3 speed Transfer case with conversion kit from Marks off Road
NOS Vacuum transfer shifter
71 1F carburetor Built by Marks off Road
SOR headers,with exhaust kit
completely Rebuilt 9 mm Brakes new master,tubing,hoses and wheel cylinders.
Mini Truck Power steering Kit from Classic Cruiser's
Original Plan to install A/C (now on hold)
New Warn locking hubs 10 spline
Gray Powder coated OEM Rims 5.5"X15" BFG M/T KTO and 67 and later hub caps.
Ordered a Pakistan soft top 1 year wait
Body Modifications
OEM hard doors
I added a 68 OEM backup light
Later style running boards
CCOT HFS front Bumper
In the mean time we go to paint I wanted the original Blue We tried to match The color, sampled painted two different blues none looked right we could not find the original Capri Blue T310 (I know now) on the PPG color chart.
said she would like Beige Color First a New beatle VW Beige...No
Then a Sand Beige T464 ...No
finally the wife decided on T416 Dune Beige
SEM tint-able Soft bed liner inside and out
Soft Top destroyed !
This got very frustrating..... Time to take a brake.....IH8MUD to the rescue best money spent... research and a few months later back on tract
Little bit at a Time ... one problem solved ... move on to the next....
Finial touches
Ok after 4 years working on my project Its finally ready to hit the Road
A big Thank you to All my IH8MUD Family .... Dusty 66
LONG TURM PROJECT
I bought It as a project with a cracked head In 1986 with 36,000 miles on the odometer It came with a Best top soft top,the Po said he had left the OEM soft top when he bought It.
I had it back on the road In a few weeks, cheep fix then.
I drove It off and on,for the next couple years,Deer hunting too.
My oldest Son He's is 26 now !
In 1988 I got broadside by a new Nissan Pickup the Nissan was totaled he nailed me on the spare tire. then two months later the 1F gave it up on the freeway with 39,000 on It The 40 was parked at my dads house 1988 until I moved into my house in 1994.
Plan A was total trail rig !
400 V8 power steering A/T or 5 speed disc brake Dana axles roll cage no top !
I started the frame off project by stripping the frame I was going My buddy welded up a shackle reversal & 4 "springs kit from BTB products.
I was on my way ! ......So I thought
Job, Kids, family, life work, work, work,very little time to do anything.
fast forward 2004 I have working On the Las Vegas strip Construction for 10 years with tons of over time and no vacation for the first five years
mostly @ night. never enough time for my projects.Got laid off
Plan B Driver with the Old School Look & feel
Time to do what I want, A 3 month my son and I went on a landcruiser building marathon spent the spring doing body work Quarter panels and rear seal I did all the welding :whoops:
My painter buddy helped with all the finnish work
Then set engine and transmission transfer case on frame,
Body work took longer than I first thought
Mistakes I made a few
I started buying parts any thing OEM that was still available I bought It
I wanted just a nice running FJ40 I was completely tired of the 3 speed three of my cars had 3 speeds so no 3 speed and at this time I was completely devoted to keeping the Old School look !
bought a running 2F with bell housing and a four speed
set of hard doors from E-Bay (Paid too much)
2F with OEM Oil cooler Rebuilt new bearings,pistons,cam, oil pump,timing gears,fuel pump,M-O-F fluid heat riser.
1F Non-USA distributor with Pertronix ignition
Head milled
H42 new seals
New Diaphragm Clutch, clutch master & slave
3 speed Transfer case with conversion kit from Marks off Road
NOS Vacuum transfer shifter
71 1F carburetor Built by Marks off Road
SOR headers,with exhaust kit
completely Rebuilt 9 mm Brakes new master,tubing,hoses and wheel cylinders.
Mini Truck Power steering Kit from Classic Cruiser's
Original Plan to install A/C (now on hold)
New Warn locking hubs 10 spline
Gray Powder coated OEM Rims 5.5"X15" BFG M/T KTO and 67 and later hub caps.
Ordered a Pakistan soft top 1 year wait
Body Modifications
OEM hard doors
I added a 68 OEM backup light
Later style running boards
CCOT HFS front Bumper
Paint
In the mean time we go to paint I wanted the original Blue We tried to match The color, sampled painted two different blues none looked right we could not find the original Capri Blue T310 (I know now) on the PPG color chart.
said she would like Beige Color First a New beatle VW Beige...NoThen a Sand Beige T464 ...No
finally the wife decided on T416 Dune Beige
SEM tint-able Soft bed liner inside and out
Oil Leaks,brakes leek,wrong water pump, electrical, Ignition , Alternator and gages don't work !
Soft Top destroyed !
This got very frustrating.....
Time to take a brake.....IH8MUD to the rescue best money spent... research and a few months later back on tractLittle bit at a Time ... one problem solved ... move on to the next....
Finial touches
Ok after 4 years working on my project Its finally ready to hit the Road
I am driving the 1966 FJ40 to Death Valley on a 4 Day back country off road trip !
A big Thank you to All my IH8MUD Family .... Dusty 66
Excellent work and dedication!
