1969 FJ40 Experts - Pre and Post 03/1969 Production Date

[Relot76]

I am interested in learning what differences exist between the 1969 FJ40 model year (imported from Japan and sold by USA Toyota dealerships) produced prior to 03/69 and after 03/69. I am the original owner of a 1969 FJ40 (08/68) imported by Toyota through the port of Houston and purchased off the showroom floor in Fort Worth, Texas. I have kept everything as original as possible with OEM parts when available. When I order parts, sometimes the 03/1969 part is the correct fit and sometimes the same component made for 1968 and earlier models ends up being the correct part. My FJ has the F engine (3900 cc) with three on a tree and a “California smog pump” although it was not required to enter the port of Houston.

What known differences have you learned between pre and post 03/69 for model year 1969 FJ40 produced for export to the USA?

 

[Living in the Past]

Interesting your 8/69 has an air pump. Those show up on 68s or parts of the system are there. 69 thru 72 models did not require an air pump in the US market.

There is no set date parts interchange prior to 3/69. Many parts from 68 are the same but other changed during 68 and early 69.

 

[CruiserTrash]

I got a 1969 40 earlier this year and I'm learning a lot about it. Probably the things I know best are the intake manifolds and carbs.

-3/69: Older intake with 2 carb studs, single barrel D40 carb
3/69-9/69: New intake with larger runners and 4 carb studs, 2bbl carb with larger hexagonal bezel around the sight glass (possibly from a Toyota Crown)
9/69-: New intake with larger runners and 4 carb studs, 2bbl carb with smaller oval bezel around the sight glass (continued into 1971)
Note: Either the spacer below the carb or the air intake changed to accommodate the different carbs. I'm fuzzy on this. I also don't know if those dates are hard cutoffs or if there was some overlap as Toyota used up older parts while new ones were just becoming available.

Other things I've noticed but I'm not sure about:
Toyota seemed to be grabbing various parts manufactured at different times when building these. My frame is mid-1968, while other things on the truck are late 1969. I believe mine is all original, which would mean they had a batch of frames from 1968 sitting around ready to go and used one for final assembly in mid/late 1969 when I believe mine was put together (it has the intake with larger runners and four carb studs). I've seen other 69s with similar hodge-podges. I'm not sure how Toyota's manufacturing worked at this juncture - Onur, Dan, and others know much, much more than I do - but I know several other industries from those days operated similarly so it wouldn't be surprising to me.

Earlier 1969 40s seem to have the round turn signals mounted on the fenders. Some later 1969s had the small rectangular ones that show up on 1970 trucks.

Some 69s I've seen have an engine bay ID tag and a door jamb mounted tag. Mine and a few others I've seen do not have a door jamb tag and there are no holes for the rivets which leads me to believe at least some shipped without that.

Again, I am by no means an expert. Just giving the few observations/thoughts I've had since getting my 40.

 

[Relot76]

Interesting your 8/69 has an air pump. Those show up on 68s or parts of the system are there. 69 thru 72 models did not require an air pump in the US market.

There is no set date parts interchange prior to 3/69. Many parts from 68 are the same but other changed during 68 and early 69.

Thanks for the info and alerting me to my important typo. My mfg date is 08/1968 (Model year 1969). Do I understand you correctly that 1968 model year had the air pump but 1969 - 72 did not? My research indicated that California (first state to dictate emission controls) required all new vehicles sold in the State beginning with model year 1968 required some type of emission control device. Since Toyota was just starting to import FJs into US about that time, I just thought to make things simple for them they made all US bound vehicles have air pumps. I remember in the early days when people would want to look under the hood of my FJ, they would say, “Oh, you have a California model.” My dealer’s window sticker (which I still have) states it entered the US through the Port of Houston.

 

[Relot76]

I got a 1969 40 earlier this year and I'm learning a lot about it. Probably the things I know best are the intake manifolds and carbs.

-3/69: Older intake with 2 carb studs, single barrel D40 carb
3/69-9/69: New intake with larger runners and 4 carb studs, 2bbl carb with larger hexagonal bezel around the sight glass (possibly from a Toyota Crown)
9/69-: New intake with larger runners and 4 carb studs, 2bbl carb with smaller oval bezel around the sight glass (continued into 1971)
Note: Either the spacer below the carb or the air intake changed to accommodate the different carbs. I'm fuzzy on this. I also don't know if those dates are hard cutoffs or if there was some overlap as Toyota used up older parts while new ones were just becoming available.

Other things I've noticed but I'm not sure about:
Toyota seemed to be grabbing various parts manufactured at different times when building these. My frame is mid-1968, while other things on the truck are late 1969. I believe mine is all original, which would mean they had a batch of frames from 1968 sitting around ready to go and used one for final assembly in mid/late 1969 when I believe mine was put together (it has the intake with larger runners and four carb studs). I've seen other 69s with similar hodge-podges. I'm not sure how Toyota's manufacturing worked at this juncture - Onur, Dan, and others know much, much more than I do - but I know several other industries from those days operated similarly so it wouldn't be surprising to me.

Earlier 1969 40s seem to have the round turn signals mounted on the fenders. Some later 1969s had the small rectangular ones that show up on 1970 trucks.

Some 69s I've seen have an engine bay ID tag and a door jamb mounted tag. Mine and a few others I've seen do not have a door jamb tag and there are no holes for the rivets which leads me to believe at least some shipped without that.

Again, I am by no means an expert. Just giving the few observations/thoughts I've had since getting my 40.

Thanks! This is really interesting and helpful. It sounds like you know a lot about carburetor mounts from multiple experiences! Using new parts for assembly until a particular design’s inventory is depleted sounds very much like Toyota and most Japanese manufacturing processes in the 60’s and 70’s. Cost and efficiency were always top of mind (as US automobile manufacturers would eventually learn but not until it was too late).

My 08/68 does not have a door jamb plate or any holes or dimples indicating they planned to place one there.

 

[CruiserTrash]

Thanks for the info and alerting me to my important typo. My mfg date is 08/1968 (Model year 1969). Do I understand you correctly that 1968 model year had the air pump but 1969 - 72 did not? My research indicated that California (first state to dictate emission controls) required all new vehicles sold in the State beginning with model year 1968 required some type of emission control device. Since Toyota was just starting to import FJs into US about that time, I just thought to make things simple for them they made all US bound vehicles have air pumps. I remember in the early days when people would want to look under the hood of my FJ, they would say, “Oh, you have a California model.” My dealer’s window sticker (which I still have) states it entered the US through the Port of Houston.

Toyota did have separate vehicles for California emissions at least in the 70s. 1968? Not sure. Where the vehicle entered port wouldn't necessarily matter. Also Toyota's first US dealership was in Los Angeles and opened in 1958 offering the Crown and the FJ25, so they were bringing vehicles over well before your date of 1968.

Interesting that you don't have a door jamb plate like mine.

 

[Living in the Past]

Thanks for the info and alerting me to my important typo. My mfg date is 08/1968 (Model year 1969). Do I understand you correctly that 1968 model year had the air pump but 1969 - 72 did not? My research indicated that California (first state to dictate emission controls) required all new vehicles sold in the State beginning with model year 1968 required some type of emission control device. Since Toyota was just starting to import FJs into US about that time, I just thought to make things simple for them they made all US bound vehicles have air pumps. I remember in the early days when people would want to look under the hood of my FJ, they would say, “Oh, you have a California model.” My dealer’s window sticker (which I still have) states it entered the US through the Port of Houston.

Not sure yours is a 69. Does it have a owners manual showing 69. I have a 9/67 that I've owned for fifty years. My guess you have round front turn signals, hood pad for the windshield to rest on are taller than the those with a F135 engine. Around 1969 the pads were two levels and used until 1/75. The old chrome acorn hub caps. The medium size tail lights. Believe by 1/69 those all changed but not at the same time. My 9/67 has the smaller bolt pattern on driveshaft flanges and ball and claw front axle not Birfield. The dates for those two things is not clear as far as transfer date. I have the 68/69 front reflector on the apron, heater change, pull latch to keep the front seats upright, steering box mounted with four bolts not a clamp, horn button is solid black not chrome around the outer ring, updated knobs on the dash, reverse light mounted in the tub, hazard flashers with the hidden fuse just below the cowl vent. Upholstery changed to gray, wheel gray not black. Plus the obvious padded dash pads. One thing t years later knowing a little more than I did in 1974 is how early was my 68. Didn't think anything about at the time but mine had four gray wheels and one black. I know
Now wonder if the spare was used up of the 67 wheel stack used as a spare.

 

[Living in the Past]

Toyota did have separate vehicles for California emissions at least in the 70s. 1968? Not sure. Where the vehicle entered port wouldn't necessarily matter. Also Toyota's first US dealership was in Los Angeles and opened in 1958 offering the Crown and the FJ25, so they were bringing vehicles over well before your date of 1968.

Interesting that you don't have a door jamb plate like mine.

I do not find any air pumps listed between 3/69-9/72. Looking at the parts system later than 9/72 you will find separate listings for anything listed as a special California part like carburators or manifolds.

I still have one FJ25, a few 61/62 production FJ40s, 9/64 FJ45LP-B. The plaque on the driver's A pillar first appeared 3/69. While that date with the earliest date in the parts system post 1979 that plaque was a US thing not all markets.

 

[Relot76]

Not sure yours is a 69. Does it have a owners manual showing 69. I have a 9/67 that I've owned for fifty years. My guess you have round front turn signals, hood pad for the windshield to rest on are taller than the those with a F135 engine. Around 1969 the pads were two levels and used until 1/75. The old chrome acorn hub caps. The medium size tail lights. Believe by 1/69 those all changed but not at the same time. My 9/67 has the smaller bolt pattern on driveshaft flanges and ball and claw front axle not Birfield. The dates for those two things is not clear as far as transfer date. I have the 68/69 front reflector on the apron, heater change, pull latch to keep the front seats upright, steering box mounted with four bolts not a clamp, horn button is solid black not chrome around the outer ring, updated knobs on the dash, reverse light mounted in the tub, hazard flashers with the hidden fuse just below the cowl vent. Upholstery changed to gray, wheel gray not black. Plus the obvious padded dash pads. One thing t years later knowing a little more than I did in 1974 is how early was my 68. Didn't think anything about at the time but mine had four gray wheels and one black. I know
Now wonder if the spare was used up of the 67 wheel stack used as a spare.

Interesting news and insights - thanks! Yes, mine is definitely a 1969 model year and produced in 8/68 based on every historical look-up I have seen. My drivers manual is 1969. The vehicle characteristics you describe above are the same as mine except all 5 wheels were grey when purchased in November 1968 from the dealership in Fort Worth.

As I learn more from all the helpful comments and knowledge of others, the difference in when Japanese car makers start selling their "new model year" compared to US automakers at the time might be a reason it is hard to know exactly what parts were and were not included in a model year. For example:

• US System:
  New model year cars are generally released in the fall before the calendar year they represent, meaning a car sold in October 2023 would be considered a 2024 model.
  
  
  
• Japanese System:
  New model years begin in April, so a car sold in October 2023 would be considered a 2024 model year in Japan

This may explain why Toyota OEM parts manuals make a distinction for 1969 and later model years after 03/1969 production date. In Toyota's world, they began selling 1970 models in Japan in April 1969.

 

[Living in the Past]

I got a 1969 40 earlier this year and I'm learning a lot about it. Probably the things I know best are the intake manifolds and carbs.

-3/69: Older intake with 2 carb studs, single barrel D40 carb
3/69-9/69: New intake with larger runners and 4 carb studs, 2bbl carb with larger hexagonal bezel around the sight glass (possibly from a Toyota Crown)
9/69-: New intake with larger runners and 4 carb studs, 2bbl carb with smaller oval bezel around the sight glass (continued into 1971)
Note: Either the spacer below the carb or the air intake changed to accommodate the different carbs. I'm fuzzy on this. I also don't know if those dates are hard cutoffs or if there was some overlap as Toyota used up older parts while new ones were just becoming available.

Other things I've noticed but I'm not sure about:
Toyota seemed to be grabbing various parts manufactured at different times when building these. My frame is mid-1968, while other things on the truck are late 1969. I believe mine is all original, which would mean they had a batch of frames from 1968 sitting around ready to go and used one for final assembly in mid/late 1969 when I believe mine was put together (it has the intake with larger runners and four carb studs). I've seen other 69s with similar hodge-podges. I'm not sure how Toyota's manufacturing worked at this juncture - Onur, Dan, and others know much, much more than I do - but I know several other industries from those days operated similarly so it wouldn't be surprising to me.

Earlier 1969 40s seem to have the round turn signals mounted on the fenders. Some later 1969s had the small rectangular ones that show up on 1970 trucks.

Some 69s I've seen have an engine bay ID tag and a door jamb mounted tag. Mine and a few others I've seen do not have a door jamb tag and there are no holes for the rivets which leads me to believe at least some shipped without that.

Again, I am by no means an expert. Just giving the few observations/thoughts I've had since getting my 40.

Larger runner intake started 9/67 and ended 9/69. The intake manifold use two barrel carburators in other markets. Prior to 3/69 there is an adapter to use the one barrel carburetor. The 3/69-9/69 two barrel used in the US was for the US not general market. The air cleaner has a stud from carburetor. This is the only period these carburetors and air cleaners were used and only in the US. I have the air cleaner and believe the carburetor from this period.

 

[Relot76]

Toyota did have separate vehicles for California emissions at least in the 70s. 1968? Not sure. Where the vehicle entered port wouldn't necessarily matter. Also Toyota's first US dealership was in Los Angeles and opened in 1958 offering the Crown and the FJ25, so they were bringing vehicles over well before your date of 1968.

Interesting that you don't have a door jamb plate like mine.

Thanks -- You are correct about FJ25s being imported since the late 50's and California being Toyota's first US market and then the east coast. I recall reading a few years ago that the first Texas dealerships began in the mid-60's with debuts at annual car shows in Houston, Dallas and Fort Worth.

 

[Living in the Past]

I

Interesting news and insights - thanks! Yes, mine is definitely a 1969 model year and produced in 8/68 based on every historical look-up I have seen. My drivers manual is 1969. The vehicle characteristics you describe above are the same as mine except all 5 wheels were grey when purchased in November 1968 from the dealership in Fort Worth.

As I learn more from all the helpful comments and knowledge of others, the difference in when Japanese car makers start selling their "new model year" compared to US automakers at the time might be a reason it is hard to know exactly what parts were and were not included in a model year. For example:

• US System:
  New model year cars are generally released in the fall before the calendar year they represent, meaning a car sold in October 2023 would be considered a 2024 model.
  
  
  
• Japanese System:
  New model years begin in April, so a car sold in October 2023 would be considered a 2024 model year in Japan

This may explain why Toyota OEM parts manuals make a distinction for 1969 and later model years after 03/1969 production date. In Toyota's world, they began selling 1970 models in Japan in April 1969.

Would be curious to see why it is marked 1969. I have a 10/69 70 model I bought from the original owner in 2011. The original owners manual came with it and do not remember anything clearing say it was a 1970 model. I bought a 2/73 FST back in 1994. It didn't come with a owners manual but I bought one from a dealer because they were still available.

I have never heard of any set dates for new models. I remember manufacturer having half model. They is also states deciding what year a vehicle is base on the person behind the counter when it was registered. Looking at Toyota Land Cruisers. The FJ62 ended 1/90 and the 80 series started the same month is a 91 model. Back in the 1960s Toyota wasn't clear as of model years. 68 US requirements that changed the is why could tell it was a 68. 1/75 and 1/79 was the start of both those model years. Other years I 7, 8,9,10 as the start for the FJ40 model during the 70s and 80s. These date were because of changes to the vehicle.

 

[jblatz]

My 08/68 does not have a door jamb plate or any holes or dimples indicating they planned to place one there.

Door pillar data plate started with vehicles manufactured in Jan 1969.

 

[Relot76]

Door pillar data plate started with vehicles manufactured in Jan 1969.
View attachment 3752676

Great photo! My 8/68 does not have one of these. Only ID (now called VIN) is under the hood. 1/1969 must have been when Toyota stated doing this. Anyone have a 9/68 through 12/68 with a door jam plate like the one pictured above by jblatz?

 

[Relot76]

Would be curious to see why it is marked 1969. I have a 10/69 70 model I bought from the original owner in 2011. The original owners manual came with it and do not remember anything clearing say it was a 1970 model. I bought a 2/73 FST back in 1994. It didn't come with a owners manual but I bought one from a dealer because they were still available.
View attachment 3752642
I have never heard of any set dates for new models. I remember manufacturer having half model. They is also states deciding what year a vehicle is base on the person behind the counter when it was registered. Looking at Toyota Land Cruisers. The FJ62 ended 1/90 and the 80 series started the same month is a 91 model. Back in the 1960s Toyota wasn't clear as of model years. 68 US requirements that changed the is why could tell it was a 68. 1/75 and 1/79 was the start of both those model years. Other years I 7, 8,9,10 as the start for the FJ40 model during the 70s and 80s. These date were because of changes to the vehicle.

Just checked my Original Owners Manual. It does not have a model year on the cover or anywhere inside. The outside cover is green and white. Photo not available right now.

 

[rainingagain]

Do you mind sharing your frame number?

 

[Relot76]

Do you mind sharing your frame number?

I just sent you a PM

 

[Relot76]

Just checked my Original Owners Manual. It does not have a model year on the cover or anywhere inside. The outside cover is green and white. Photo not available right now.

Interesting discussion on Toyota not posting model years on Owner Manuals until sometime in the 70's. I just checked my dealer window sticker. It does not mention a year model either. FJ was marketed and titled by dealer as a 1969 FJ40 and hence that is how it was titled by DMV in November 1968. See attached.

 

[CruiserTrash]

@Living in the Past Yes I think things get fuzzy between frame & engine build dates, final assembly, shipping, and registration, not to mention the “model year” wasn't as defined. Mine has a 68 frame according to the Heritage Museum’s records, but the motor is 69. Who knows, thinks we’re different then.

 

[65swb45]

The reason that the 1968 model year saw the introduction of the smog pump, which disappeared again in 1969 was political. US automakers, concerned about competition, lobbied to have the GVWR raised, with vehicles that weighed under the threshold requiring more emissions. Remember, at that point in time, there was no such thing as an SUV. While I don’t know this next point for a fact, it seems reasonable to me that the FJ45, with its 7’ bed, was the actual target. So basically for a year the FJ40 was a car, not a light duty truck.

Anyhow, there was obviously more lobbying by both sides during 1968, and in 1969 the GVWR threshold exemption weight was obviously lowered again and the FJ40 resumed being a truck.

There was also a lot of innovation going on at that point, and features on the FJ40 were changing every few months, with little regard to model year. A turn signal change in January, a carburetor change in March, a center arm and steering box change in July, etc. Things went on haphazardly like that into the early 70s. Booster added a couple months before the 71 year model change, hardtop glass in July a year later. Even the piston change in ‘72 does not neatly line up with a model year change.

When people call me for parts in that time frame, I almost always end up asking them questions that they think are weird, because they are my reference points for getting them the right parts.