1972 FJ40: Good year for first FJ40?

[glcmranger]

I have found a 1972 FJ40 for my First Project. I am wondering if 1972 is a good year for a first timer. I am looking at a frame up project. Anything I should know prior to buying this year? Any help would be appreciated. If anyone has pictures or a story of a project that you would like to email me, here is my email. Thanks.

[Glcmranger][/Taz1967@adelphia.net]

 

[Doorguy]

Nothing wrong with a 72. I like the looks and the steel on the older 40's but that's all personnal taste. If you going to do mods: Disk brakes, tranny swap, power steeing they make great Toys. As a completly stock, mostly street rig I would go 76 or later as they are quieter, and have a better tranny, brakes and engine.

 

[72cruiser]

sup man,

i love my 72. plain and simple. easy to work on like all cruisers.
i find that the year also sounds better than most as it rolls off your tongue...

remember, stock it has a column shift 3spd, with no synchros.
if you're goin frame off, and you're not goin resto, i would seriously look into a 4spd (not too much $$$) or even a 5spd (bling bling, toyota's is called an h55f, or you could go with an nv4500)

i have disc up front, power steering, and a 2F engine in mine. the first two areas are ones that i would most definitely address in a build up, the third is not a necessity.

holler at me or shoot me an email if you want to talk abt it, but honestly the best resource for all this stuff is right here on ih8mud. it doesn't get any better than this...


malphrus

 

[glcmranger]

Thanks. It sounds like you had great success with your 72. I will keep you in mind if I run into questions. Thanks again.

 

[CruisinGA]

It depends on your goals. If you want a trail truck, 72 is a good place to start because:
Has better transfer case.
Very easy to swap to an SM420.
Front disc swap is easy and cheap, get stronger birfs compared to middle year cruisers.
4.11 gears.
A strong F has plenty of power for wheeling.

If you were to want to have a good driving truck on the road than can wheel without swapping lots of parts, I would consider a 76 or later for the 2F, 4 spd, and discs. The doors are also better on a road cruiser, less rattles and seal tighter.

 

[72cruiser]

yeah,

i'll admit that some of the other stuff on the laters years would be nice, esp. as this is my dd. honestly when i bought my cruiser, it wasn't like i 'picked' a 72 or anything like that. i had an idea that i wanted disc brakes already on it, so i was lookin for later models, but never found any.

c'est la vie

malphrus

 

[Mace]

Used my 72 as a DD fora very long time.
Worked perfectly. Still has the F and Drum brakes. I can' count the number of times it drove from Reno to Vegas..

 

[IDave]

My 71 is my DD. Love it.

 

[Gundy]

I'd say go for it! Any 40 is a great place to start. I've had my 72 for over 20 years
and it's always been a faithful servant.
My Cruiser, born 3/72, came with a 3 speed on the floor, a tractor motor ("F")
and a bench seat. I wouldn't have it any other way.
Those 4 wheel drum brakes with the 8...count 'em 8....wheel cylinders
can be a bit fussy, but you'll get the hang of them......or disc brakes...
soon enough.
40s can be a canvas upon which you paint the 40 of your choice.
There is NO LIMIT to the mods you can make. Hehe...I have a few
but have chosen to keep the core intact. (see sig line)
Take the plunge!

 

[72cruiser]

sup david,

good to see you get over here every once in a while, stead of stayin on the 80s board.

[hijack on]
do you know when our next upstate cruisers meeting is?
also, who do i need to talk to about our website (i'd like to do a little work on it)
[hijack off]

have a good one,

malphrus