1970 FJ40 build TX

[1977FJResto]

I got my FJ home last week and finally got to get a good look at her. Most of its in pretty good shape for a 38 year old but I did find a few areas that the PO repaired that Im going to do again for a better repair. After looking it all over the worst areas on the body are the drivers floor panel around the storage box under the seat, driver rocker panel where the floor meets the rocker, and the rear sill, looks like someone backed into something the welded a scab panel over the rear sill. Not too bad overall, Im still going to soda blast the entire tub inside, outside, top and bottom after I replace these panels and start with a bare slate. With any luck I wont find too much else in the way of corrosion. Will post pics tonight of the overall 40. Let the adventure begin!!

 

[alkarich]

Looking forward to seeing the pics.

 

[ellesar04]

Weatherford, TX wouldn't be too long a trip for you to pick replacement panels and such up. Check out:

Toyota Landcruiser FJ40 FJ45 Steel Body Parts

 

[1977FJResto]

Since you mention part suppliers, I noticed there are a few to choose from. CCOT looks like it has taken the time to make some high quality replacement panels, would you agree? They all seem to be within a $30 for the parts I need, so I dont mind spending a little more money if its a real nice reproduction. Who do you all recomend for replacement sheetmetal? Drivers floor, Drivers rocker, and rear sill. Im debating on getting a complete drivers quarter too, you will see why as soon as I figure this camera out!

 

[Texx]

There is no "nice" replacement sheet metal. Every last one of em has to be hacked, filled, stretched, cut, cursed, welded, and hammered, ground, and prayed over. I've tried em all, from the "best" (most expensive, didn't fit worth a crap), to the cheapest (my own fab). All take alot of work, none fit perfectly, and serious welding and fab skills are needed with all of em. Just buy the cheapest, believe me, thirty bucks will make no difference whatsoever.

 

[mcwinery]

Since we are waiting for pics. I have a question.

This is my FJ40. Well not exactly, I dont know how to insert a picture. So you can go to my album and look at the rust buckets current condition. (body completely removed)

I want to check compression. So I connected jumpers to starter and grounded engine. Nothing happened. No click, grind or anything else which would indicate engine turning over. I took the starter to Kragen and had it tested. Passed test with out problem, even since it has been sitting 31 years. I was reading else where that there is a relay for the starter. If so, how do I test compression. If not, why did it not turn over.
See Pic at
https://forum.ih8mud.com/members/mcwinery-albums-begining-picture3775-fj40-teardown-19.html
Also, I did remove all the spark plugs and put marvel oil in plug holes. I turn the engine over by hand and it seems easy enough. Before I do compression check I will pull all plugs to make sure oil is spit out first. Please help.

thanks

 

[1977FJResto]

I went to CCOT and picked up drivers side floor panel, drivers rocker, real sill panel, and flares and body mounts. I started cutting apart the rear sill first, which I am glad I did. I was replacing it because it had been hit in the back years ago. Once removed There was a pretty good amount of rust so Im glad I cut into it. I have been taking pictures and will post them up as soon as I find the disk to download the camera software on this computer!

 

[1977FJResto]

Finally can post pics

As promised here are some pictures of the FJ I piced up about a week ago. Mostly been cleaning it up and looking around but started in on the rear sill. Enjoy!

 

[1977FJResto]

pics of the rear sill, you can see that it had been hit in the back at one time or another

 

[1977FJResto]

some of the progress

 

[1977FJResto]

Also got the engine cleaned up. The PO has it sent out and rebuilt, I hope they knew what they were doing. I took the valve cover, oil pan, and push rod panel off to see if it looked rebuilt on the inside because it sure didnt on the outside and it did, assembly lube everywhere. Figured I would clean it up while I was at it.

 

[jimhendrixx]

Clean and nice.

 

[1977FJResto]

Thanks Jimhendrixx.

Made a little progress today, got the sill all welded in and ground up, mocked up the barn doors and tire carrier and all seems to fit so thats a good sign. Tomorrow I get to start on the drivers floor panel and rocker panel I guess, after that its off to the soda blaster for the body panels. Also heard from the guy Im getting the 1977 FJ from and pick that one up next week so I will finally have a strait frame.

 

[1977FJResto]

floor pan install pics

Got the floor pan installed today, pain in the butt I might add. The PO had fiberglassed the rust around the storage box on the driver side so I ended up dettroting the box trying to get it out. Have to fab up a new one. In the pics you can see that once I got the floor panel from CCOT it didnt cover all the rust so I had to fab up some of the peices. I will post pics as I go, starting on the rocker panel next. First pic is the outstanding fiberglass repair on the drivers floor pan, second is looking up from under the FJ where the floor is supposed to meet the rocker (the new metal is a repair the PO did to the rocker, I will be cutting this out and welding in a new panel from CCOT, and third is a pic of the floor pan on its way out, you can see the center hump support was pretty much gone. Thanks for checking out my FJ, I'll keep you posted.

 

[1977FJResto]

More pics of the floor panel install. Forst pic is the section I had to make that the CCOT floor panel didnt cover, second is the center hump support I had to fab up, and third is once I got it ready for the new panel. If your wondering why it looks like the supports are painted its actually a weld thru corrosion protection spray from the local body shop supply, good product, just clean off all the rust and coat both surfaces with the spray then weld it up. More protection is allways worth the money!

 

[1977FJResto]

And finally installed. First pic is once I got it ground down, second is in primer, and third shoes the inner rocker I have to make the lower inck or so of it due to rust.

 

[DanS HJ-45]

Wait.... That's 1 week of work?!?!

You move fast sir! Is that a CCOT rear sill you bought to replace the original?

Dan

 

[71 redwood]

damn nice.....lookn good,,real good

 

[Hogan]

Nice work keep the pics coming, love the color

 

[1977FJResto]

more progress

DanS- I got the rear sill because the FJ had been hit in the back at some point and was all bent up. The pic of it before I started look ok but the PO had built a panel to cover over the rear sill. The sill itself was the original. Thanks for the noticing the speed, I have been working on it full time due to having some time off work.
Now for the progress, I got the inner rocker fabed up and installed today as well as the drivers rocker. I replaced the Rocker due to another PO repair. I wnted to cut it off and due it again due to the new floor I put in. The first pic is looking up from under the FJ at the inside of the rocker where the floor if supposed to meet up with it, second pic is what it looks like from the same angle with the new rocker and new triangle brackets I had to fab up, and third is same angle in primer.