1968 FJ40 "Barn Find" (it runs!!!) (1 Viewer)

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Joined
Aug 2, 2019
Threads
45
Messages
873
Location
Wilmington, North Carolina
Hey there, my friend and I are college students up in NC, he lives in a house and there's an FJ40 parked in the basement and has been sitting there since 2002. The cruiser isn't even that rusty, relatively speaking. The guy who owns the rig told the past occupants if they get it running they could just have it... Yea I know kinda crazy. He's got an 80 and I got a BJ75 Troopy, among my father's multiple cruisers as well. Here's some photos below. The entire front end is very solid! Even the front fenders. The rear is where it gets pretty crusty but nothing unsafe or impossible to repair.

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Well yesterday I went over and in a couple of hours we had it running! At first no power was getting to anything, so I pulled the main ground for the battery off and cleaned everything up, boom power. Then we had no spark, sanded the points, cleaned them with electronic cleaner... still no spark. It turned out it was literally as simple as 6 new spark plugs. Put some fuel down the carb and BOOM it runs! There is no key for it sadly so I had to just jump the ignition coil and the starter for us to get spark and the starter to work but it runs! smooth and well. See the video below. Excuse the crunchy noise, the guy running the wire to the starter isn't as knowledgeable and I forgot to tell him to take the wire off the battery when it started to run, therefore the starter was still engaging while the engine was spinning.



Cool ok, it runs. Free FJ40 we hope...

Being a 68 it has the single circuit drums all around and there is no fluid in the reservoir, clutch it still holding tho. 3 on the tree feels fine. It really seems like the brakes at the moment are the only thing holding it from being able to move around a bit. There are no rear wheels, tires, or drums... all of that is missing. My guess is someone got half way through an axle seal job (since I found an old rear axle seal sealed in a box) and just lost interest.

It seems decently original... not totally screwed with or jerry rigged.
 
A few questions, I made a list last night of parts we would need to get it running that I saw but there's obviously stuff I'm not thinking of off the top of my head, any recommendations??

Needed
x2 Brake Drum: $80 Brake Drum - FJ40, FJ45, FJ55 1963-1980 - https://cruisercorps.com/collections/brakes/products/brake-drum-fj40
Brake Master Cylinder Rebuild Kit $18
Brake Master Cylinder Rebuild Kit - Fits 1/1958 - 7/1970 4x/5x Applications (BMK35014K) - https://cruiserteq.com/brake-master-cylinder-rebuild-kit-fits-1-1958-7-1970-4x-5x-applications-bmk35014k/
Drum Hardware $22 Brake Hardware Kit - Fits 63'-7/80 FJ40/55 DRUM Front & Rear - https://cruiserteq.com/brake-hardware-kit-fits-63-7-80-fj40-55-drum-front-rear/
Belt $10 Alternator - Fan V Belt - OEM - FJ40, FJ45, FJ55 1968-1974 - https://cruisercorps.com/products/alternator-fan-v-belt-68-74-oem
Diff gasket Differential Gasket FJ40, FJ45, FJ55, FJ60, FJ62, BJ 1958-1990 - https://cruisercorps.com/collections/driveline/products/differential-gasket
Thermostat $30
Thermostat - Fits 1958 - 1/1979 FJ40/55 w/ F/2F Engine - 82 C/180 F (RAD03014AFT) - https://cruiserteq.com/thermostat-fits-1958-1-1979-fj40-55-w-f-2f-engine-82-c-180-f-rad03014aft/
Thermostat gasket $3
Thermostat Housing Half Gasket - Fits 1958-1967 FJ40/55 w/ F Engine (RADH60010) - https://cruiserteq.com/thermostat-housing-half-gasket-fits-1958-1967-fj40-55-w-f-engine-radh60010/


Maybe needed
wheel cylinder rebuild kit Wheel Cylinder Rebuild Kit - Fits 1/1961 - 7/1970 4x/5x Applications - Front Cylinders (BWCRK35040) - https://cruiserteq.com/wheel-cylinder-rebuild-kit-fits-1-1961-7-1970-4x-5x-applications-front-cylinders-bwcrk35040/
wheel cylinder rebuild kit https://cruiserteq.com/wheel-cylinder-rebuild-kit-fits-1-1963-7-1970-4x-applications-rear-cylinders-bwcrk60011/
all new brake linesBrake Lines - FJ40 - 1958-1970 - https://cruisercorps.com/collections/brakes/products/brake-lines-1958-7-1970
clutch master rebuild kitClutch Master Cylinder Rebuild Kit - Fits 9/1966 - 1/1975 4x/5x Applications (CLK40010K) - https://cruiserteq.com/clutch-master-cylinder-rebuild-kit-fits-9-1966-1-1975-4x-5x-applications-clk40010k/
knuckle rebuild4x/5x Series Knuckle Rebuild Kit - Fits 1958-9/1975 4x/5x Series Drum Axle - https://cruiserteq.com/4x-5x-series-knuckle-rebuild-kit-fits-1958-9-1975-4x-5x-series-drum-axle/

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Does anyone have anything else we should add to this? Obviously don't include links or go out of your way to search just throw up some recommendations. We are looking for it to just run, stop, and not blow up while doing so. Not looking to do some full restoration, we just want to revive and ride. At least for a year or 2.

Also does anyone know what to do about the key situation? The ignition has that infamous screw missing from the side of it which I believe means its just FUBAR'd entirely... Should we just figure out some way to just hotwire it more effectively?
 
it looks like the dist or dist wires are sparking all over in the begining of vid ?
It was the wire we were using to jump the ignition coil, don’t exactly why it was sparking
 
What a great beginning!
 
For the thermostat, on the FJ40 there is an additional gasket on top of the thermostat:
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Part number: 90430-40058
 
Before you spend any money on this thing, i would get ownership of the truck or a least a written agreement in hand from the person who holds the title. Once the owner has a running fj40, he could easily sell it out from under you. It is worth way more than "free" just as it sits.
 
Is it a 1968 or 1969 ? Would you share frame number.

I was curious myself. My 9/67 68 model has the tall single level pads on the hood. See these one has the two level which might help determine how long the single level tall one lasted. But this one have the A pillar plaque which started 3/69.
 
For the thermostat, on the FJ40 there is an additional gasket on top of the thermostat:
View attachment 3194785
Part number: 90430-40058
thank you would have never known!
Before you spend any money on this thing, i would get ownership of the truck or a least a written agreement in hand from the person who holds the title. Once the owner has a running fj40, he could easily sell it out from under you. It is worth way more than "free" just as it sits.
Yes we are! everything is now on pause until we get it sorted. Also probably wont start off with telling him that it runs, I don't want to be deceiving but also... should it go back into the hands of someone who just let it sit and rot for 20 years cause of 6 spark plugs and a rear axle seal job?

If he seems like a genuine man of his word, then maybe tell him it runs. Otherwise, maybe offer him a decently low amount of money for a non-running FJ40

Time will tell, now we just hope for the best until my buddy can dump tons of money into this money pit haha
 
Where at in NC? I am in Raleigh. I have a 69 I have been slowly fixing up, very similar to what you have on your hands. Might could offer some help and advise as you tackle various things.
 
Where at in NC? I am in Raleigh. I have a 69 I have been slowly fixing up, very similar to what you have on your hands. Might could offer some help and advice as you tackle various things.
🤙 my cruiser is in Raleigh as well, but I’m studying in Charlotte, fixing up my bj40 when I am in town.

Are you in Olde North State Cruisers? (The raleigh cruiser club)
 
🤙 my cruiser is in Raleigh as well, but I’m studying in Charlotte, fixing up my bj40 when I am in town.

Are you in Olde North State Cruisers? (The raleigh cruiser club)
I'm actually not but I probably should look into it. I am sure I would learn a thing or two.
 

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