1975 FJ-40 Newbie

[green61bug]

Okay, so I am new to the FJ40 thing. Really the toyota thing. A buddy of mine had one in high school and I always wanted to get one. Ive always been into VWs and never really 4wd stuff. I recently had a chance to trade my Honda(daily driver) for a Fj40 and I jumped at it. May have been a little hasty on this one but it runs great so as long as I get it worked out I will be happy. Heres a few pics from my celly phone.

So... Heres what I know about it. It is a 2F motor that looks as if it was fuel injected at one time because it has a return line? Someone put a D.U.I dizzy on it which seems to be a fairly pricey distributor. It has a lift on it with 33s. Looks to be a combo of leaves and shackles. An aftermarket wiring harness has been installed. Everything works but the ampmeter but the wiring looks pretty haggard. It also has had an ez locker installed in the rear but it isnt fuctioning correctly. I can drive down the road and of course notice it in turns but the main problem is when I am cruising at about 35 or so and left off the gas it seems to engage and the whole truck just starts shaking and vibrating as if it want to flip. kinda scary honestly. I have yet to get it on the highway and see what happens, a little nervous to try. I was thinking my best bet for now is to replace with an open diff. I have been looking around but honestly Im not too sure what I need. I would imagine it has 4:11 gears but i am not sure. Any help with this wold be much appreciated as I am ready to get this thing on the road and make it to uwharrie before the end of the season.

 

[Bang Bang]

First off, Welcome to MUD. (that's just the way folks get welcomed here.....don't know why but it is what it is). Second, looks like a nice 40 that has potential. Third, thank the cruiser gods that you had the foresight to paint that hideous bezel and then install it back correctly. You are well on your way.

As for the locker, don't know why it would engage as you slow down. You may want to open up the diff and see what's going on in there. You sure the problem is coming form the rear?

 

[SAWTOOTH 55 LC]

Looking good.Something is not right with your front drivers shackle angle.I would look into that first.I looks like a beast,congrats

 

[Cruiser Corps]

x2 on Shackles.
Is it just at 35mph that it shakes, or at any speed when you lift off the accelerator?

Welcome to Mud!

 

[ColoradoFJ40]

Will you show a flex pic on top of that Bug?

Looks like a nice 40 and a good dog. Welcome to MUD!

 

[green61bug]

I hadnt noticed the shackle angle at all on the truck. Thanks for pointing that out to me. I'll take a look at it to try and figure out whats wrong with it. I can definitely tell that the issue(shaking) is coming from the rear. It doesn't do it everytime that I am slowing down just every once in a while. I havent really had it up much faster than 35 to see if it does it. Im waiting on some tail light lenses to come in before I drive it too much on the road. Dont want to snag a ticket.

 

[subzali]

Welcome,

Looks like you have a Weber or other aftermarket carb on it - the original Aisan carb had a return line for your model year.

For the shaking coming from the rear, it may be the locker, but if it were me I would pull the rear driveshaft off and make sure the rear pinion nut is tight as well and that the driveshaft is in phase and the bolts are tight.

If you pull the inspection cover on the rear diff, I believe the tooth count is stamped on the outside edge of the ring gear. You could also jack a tire up, and one rotation of the tire should result in the driveshaft rotating just over 4 times if you have 4.11 gears.

 

[jmdaniel]

Susan Kolmen called, and she wants her bezel back!

 

[JohnnyC]

Susan Kolmen called, and she wants her bezel back!

already been corrected it looks like ...or...did he paint it pink

welcome to MUD

 

[Sando Serious]

Nice looking 40. Looks like your dog is already enjoying it.

 

[green61bug]

I see, I didnt know that any carb setup had return lines. Well I got home from work today and my roommate told me that my wheel was actually set back a hair on the drivers side which is the side the shackle angle is all crazy. He measured it and it appears to be about 3/4 of an inch off. After looking underneath we determined that someone changed one side of the leaves out in the front. The drivers side has a deeper arch and that is where I think the difference is coming from... Im planning on replacing the leaves in the front but I am unsure of the lift size. I have to figure that out. I would imagine maybe a four inch lift with the 33s? Maybe someone can tell me what they think by there eyes. Im planning on tackling getting this and the rear end apart on Sunday.

 

[green61bug]

Haha, the bezel got sprayed white so I wouldnt puke everytime I walked past it.

 

[todt]

Oval window with a rag top. My brother and my son are into the bugs.

Sorry I got side tracked.

 

[SAWTOOTH 55 LC]

Try flipping the spring 180,and see how it looks.

 

[green61bug]

So this past sunday my roommate and i pulled the locker out of the rear end. Was a lot easier than I thought for sure. I also got new bolts for the top and rear doors and bolted them back on. So right now Im still not sure what the shimmying down the road is all about. The locker looks clean and appeared to be installed correctly so im thinking that it may be more of a result from the front end not being perfectly square. I am gonna order new spiders to replace the locker. Any suggestions on where i should get a spider kit from? Heres some pics... Oh and how much could I sell this locker for?

Got any idea what these numbers are?

 

[msapers]

Looks like a Powertrax/Lock Right Locker. Also known as a "Lunchbox locker" They retail for about $200-$250 new. You might be able to trade someone here on Mud straight across for their used spider gears. There's really no need to purchase new ones as they don't wear appreciably in an axle that's properly lubricated.