Builds 1969 FJ40 named Mavis (2 Viewers)

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Believe it or not, I'm watching Mavis sitting on the driveway being buried in snow. In Tennessee. In March.

Good thing I gave her a good wash before the snow started.
What do you think brought the snow?

Actually, you can blame my wife, she brought it with her from Colorado... She got to Clarksville Friday to visit our son at Ft. Campbell.. lol
 
Started getting into the engine today.

Removed the valve rocker assembly. Was a little surprised it was two piece, and that one of the retaining clips was not installed, but was riding loose in there. Baffled as to what the cone spring next to the mid point is supposed to be doing, because it wasn't doing anything when I found it.

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valve train 2.jpg
valve train 3.jpg


About half the valves were stuck, hard; all but 2 released when I rapped them with my birch hammer.
 
Does that spring help keep the oiler union centered or such on the shaft maybe? But there’s a set screw also. I’m curious as I may be in this position shortly. Hopefully someone that’s done this will reply 😆.
 
Does that spring help keep the oiler union centered or such on the shaft maybe? But there’s a set screw also. I’m curious as I may be in this position shortly. Hopefully someone that’s done this will reply 😆.

I documented how it looked when I took it apart, but I have no idea if that is right. In fact, I'm guessing the clip was supposed to be installed.
 
Does that spring help keep the oiler union centered or such on the shaft maybe? But there’s a set screw also. I’m curious as I may be in this position shortly. Hopefully someone that’s done this will reply 😆.
It's not a set screw.

It's exactly opposite of the oil passage, and serves to keep the two separate halves from obscuring the oil passage. I believe it is screwed full in, then pressed over the "o" rings to seal the two main components together.

The spring was installed backwards on mine and is intended to center the rocker arms, when pressed against the clip. I flipped the spring, installed the clip and all of a sudden everything makes sense.

I got an icy chill in my gut wondering what else in this engine has been botched.
 
That’s good info. Thanks for the details, it’s hard to ascertain any of that from the parts books. Mine doesn’t have that screw. Also the rocker arms have different oil outlet hole locations. It’s a ‘64 F135.
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Went in to transfer the plate today and found out that Montgomery County has broken the code on vintage vehicles. They automatically accessed Hagerty's website and decided the price I paid for this gem of a vehicle was significantly lower than the $31,000 an FJ40 in good condition is worth.

Now to jump through multiple hoops to "prove" it is not and avoid paying $3000 in taxes to register it.
 
Went in to transfer the plate today and found out that Montgomery County has broken the code on vintage vehicles. They automatically accessed Hagerty's website and decided the price I paid for this gem of a vehicle was significantly lower than the $31,000 an FJ40 in good condition is worth.

Now to jump through multiple hoops to "prove" it is not and avoid paying $3000 in taxes to register it.
A bill of sale with purchase price isn't proof enough?
 
I almost got my tires in today. Ordered from an online place that will remain nameless for the moment, and their warehouse shipped 3 out of 5 tires. 4 tires were supposed to be bundled in sets of 2 and 1 sent separately. This is what I received. Each tire is individually labeled and 2 of them were labeled as 2 tires bundled. Sent a picture to their customer service and they are "looking into it".

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The email conversation was classic.

Me:

As the photos show, the warehouse clearly failed to ship two tires.

Two labels say "2 bound tires" yet each label is on an individual tire.

Thanks for sending my 2 missing tires forthwith.

Them:

Thanks for sending those in! I'll get in touch with the warehouse shortly as well as FedEx. As soon as I have a resolution I'll let you know what the next steps are.

And this is not a bot, but an actual human being.
 
It's as good a time as any to frame how this build is going to go.

Mavis is going to be a utilitarian build, with skinny tires, split bench seat and long troop seats. I'd like to keep the three on the tree; it appears to be in decent shape.

I just surveyed the top and decided to keep it a hard top; early on I played with the idea of converting it to an FST, but right now all it needs is a few rivets replaced, a couple of gaskets for the rear curved windows, replace the rubber and a full new complement of screws and bolts to hold it together. That and some WEST epoxy to preserve the fiberglass top.

While it is truly a "Cruiser of Many Colors" right now, the majority of the original paint is red; therefore it will be red once painted.

I'm going to make minimal efforts to "restore" it. This will be a fun truck to explore backroads and green lanes. I have a winch and a lockers that I may put on it. Would like to keep the 1F, but would replace it with a 2F if that makes economic sense.

Once I get it running, my plan is to drive the wheels off it.
 
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Went in to transfer the plate today and found out that Montgomery County has broken the code on vintage vehicles. They automatically accessed Hagerty's website and decided the price I paid for this gem of a vehicle was significantly lower than the $31,000 an FJ40 in good condition is worth.

Now to jump through multiple hoops to "prove" it is not and avoid paying $3000 in taxes to register it.


i know a bit regarding this topic and can help you here with all that JIS Jazz ...........

PM me using the same exact PM we have going from the front fender lamps please

PLEASE do NOT start a new conversation ever , this way all OUR mutual history together in the PM universe is archived for future reference , transparency and clarity

all in ONE Eazy Peezy Place ....:)



also , many thanks for showing folks Erin and My New and Latest Client Gratitude PRIZE Pack items , the ASSY tote to your OEM TOOL Rolls and the PULL SWITCH

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THIS IS THE WAY .......
 
Operation "Convince My Neighbors I'm Not Starting a Junkyard in My Driveway" commenced today. After doing extensive research using multiple sources I realized I didn't give a crap what the correct color gray for the wheels is and rattle canned them Krylon Smoke Gray. I use one of those spray can handle thingies and can get decent results.

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