The '75 FJ40 arrived in Jacksonville last week and I drove down and trailered it back to NC. We've had very bad weather and more snow than normal starting the day I arrived back home, and it's been that way ever since. We arrived about 2:00 AM, so we just rolled the FJ off the trailer into the garage because it was so late and the weather was kicking up. I didn't do a good job of manhandling and orienting it in its intended position in its new small garage home and therefore haven't done much inspecting since because two sides are blocked. I'll get to a more detailed examination when the weather improves. I did see a few things that I need to address and hopefully someone in this community can provide some insight, as they always do. I started this thread with concerns about (1) the absence of door panels, and also I had a question about (2) a quiver in the speedometer needle. That started the thread, but I have some other items now that I'd like guidance on if possible, and I will start those as a number 3 and so on. I will also try to provide some pictures and/or video once I finish typing this note. Other things I'd like to solicit advice on are: (3) This vehicle is a 1975 restomod that was a full body-off restoration with new wiring harness, door and window gaskets, etc, etc. The only thing done to the engine was validation that it was running well. Compression checks were done on each cylinder, and the readings were quite consistent between each one. An aluminum radiator was installed as well as Hilux disc brakes all the way around, and, power steering added. Besides all the usual costmetic engine stuff (belts, hoses, etc.), a new carb, and of course the inclusion of all new bolts and screws through out the entire vehicle. The 2F engine was replaced by a 3F supposedly vintage 1984. I'm trying to track down more specificity as to its heritage. I see that the dash does not have a manual choke knob but I know the 1975s with period-correct 2Fs had a manual choke. Puzzled! Given that this vehicle lived in warm climate, there was no heater, dash-mounted or rear floor-mounted in this car. I think there are two holes in the firewall to accomodate the heater hoses, but I'm not sure of that. In order to complete the usual restomod triad requirement (Power Steering, A/C, and disk brakes), I'm debating currently whether to just install a Vintage Air A/C and heater combination, or to just go for the much cheaper vintate Air heater-only approach.
Let me insert here some information about the idiosyncracies of the FJ platforms that were identified as Costa Rican. We all know the US imported FJs stopped in 1983, with that year evidently being the Crown Jewel. But we also know FJs were produced elsewhere in other parts of the world way past that year. Some countries used Dahatsu or Mercedes engines, etc. The thing that was supposedly unique about the CR produced units is that a Costa Rica company was set up in Costa Rica for the expressed purpose of assembling Japan supplied parts and tooling in that country, and at the direction of Japan, and they continued using the F series engines. That went on for years. Interestingly enough, I've been told that my 1975 that was produced in CR, albeit it being left hand drive and similar in almost every way to US models, except for KPH vs MPH, and of course the US got the best features as standard (such as door panels), but a CR '75 may very well have components from '74 or '76, given the expected shuttling of inventory between Japan and CR. After spending six months of each year living in Costa Rica (2013-2018), I can tell you that I've never seen so many FJs in one geographic region; there were tons of them and they were everywhere. And at that time, besides being plentiful, they were dirt cheap. No more! That is no longer the case. Trying to find restorers, resonably abundant at one time, is very difficult these days. I include this paragraph just to explain the anomalies between a US FJ vs. a Costa Rica specific FJ, and that the ones built in other countries without the F series engine are another animal altogether.
So, to continue with the series of questions, starting with number 3, I would welcome any guidance, and I will apologize in advance for this note being so long. So, here we go: 3) Given that this engine is a 3F and supposedly from a 1984 vehicle, even though I have not received absolute confirmation to that, is there a way for me to find out, via embossed engine block numbering, or whatever, as to what year this thing belonged? I have bought the Haynes Landcruiser manual that covers 1975, but I want to have the right engine manual and have the ability to make sure mechanics, or myself for the less complex items (OLF, turne ups, capacities, etc.), can order and repair needed parts; (4) This FJ has the wiper motor mounted at the top of the windshield frame on the inside, which prohibits the passenger's sun visor from closing properly. The car has new sunvisors installed still in the plastic sleeves, but after doing a little research it appears they ordered the wrong replacements which are white in color and designed for '79-'84, and should have been tan in color designed for earlier years.
I read somewhere that there is a replacement available that has been redesigned to compensate and avoid interface with the wiper motor. Can anyone shed light on that?; (5) Back to the engine for a moment, the carb is brand new, but I don't know what source it came from. Is there a way to determine such as stamping on the carb, that it's the right mate for the 3F?; (6) This vehicle does not have door panels, which I would have preferred, but the doors are painted beautifully in the Sky Blue color, but the access panels on the inside of the door are totally in that same blue, whereas many FJs that I've seen that are absent vinyl door panels, seem to always have those access panels painted the same gray as was used on the backs of the front seats. I'm trying to get the correct color for that gray from my CR contact, and I may have the access panels repainted, which would provide some contrast instead of just being all blue. I noticed both window cranks are extremely difficult to turn. I will check this out to see if it's just a grease issue, or new components within the door need replacing. My question really is can vinly door panels be ordered that can be easily applied to these doors? I presume this would require the current access doors be discarded in order to allow the window crank to have enough length to be able to attach to the handle and still be operable. I also assume a vapor barrier would be required over the exposed access area left by the departed metal covers before the vinyl was affixed. Any insight on this topic?; (7) This FJ has wind wings. To my disappointment, there are several things wrong. Both of the push button latch handles are badly pitted and if replacements are not available, which may very well be the case, they need to be removed and made operable, and maybe re-chromed. They look so gummed up, I'm half afraid to attempt disassembling. I think it would start with inserting a pin of the right size into the hole present on each one. The buttons are completely frozen and I know there's got to be washers and screws in there. I guess my question is really regarding the wind wing itself. It appears they put new rubber around both wind wings, but the travel of the glass is very stiff and does seem to interact as smoothly as one would think. Plus the part of the frame, in which the latch is supposed to rest when in the locked position, was painted blue and should have been an unpainted metal or even chromed. The aforementioned item about some of the screws not being replaced, is referring to this wind wing. The screws that hold it in place and that have to be removed in order to allow the window to be serviced, are rusty and stripped. I'll have to fight my way through that. I can't imagine how they replaced the rubber without removing the wind wing, but maybe I'm missing something. Any ideas as to how I would go about correcting this anomaly? If I don't install the Vintage Air A/C and just go with a heater arrangement, I will definitely be using the wind wings; (8) I don't care for the way the way the driver's door rubber seal was installed. I can see the glue all along the edge. Can these recently installed door seals be removed somehow and reused, given they're brand new, and if so, is there a solvent that will remove the remaining glue without hurting the paint? In other words, are there any tricks to doing this?; (9) The door stops on each side are a strip of leather. That can't be right, and I presume they took that path because of the expected high costs of replacing the OEM components. Anybody have any solutions for that? From what I can glean, getting period-correct replacements are high dollar; (10) I don't particularly like the look of the leading edge of the newly redone top. I thing it looks a little unbalanced from one side to the other, as you look at it from the front. I guess my q.uestion is two fold. One, can that leading metal edge be cut out or build up, not with Bondo though, to make it symmetric? And two, is there a low profile light bar that coluld attach to that front drip edge lip to effectively hide that descrepancy? Anyone have any ideas on that?; (11) I guess the most imporant item of all of these has to do with leg room. I'm about 6'1" with more girth than I should have. The problem is that my left leg rides right against the door with no lean to the left permitted at all. That means raising my left let straight up in order to engage the clutch pedal, mostly because of the large steering wheel. I read somewhere that the mounting hardware under the driver's seat can be reversed, requiring that one new hole be drilled, I think, but that would probably make a couple inch dirffence. So, my question is there anyone out there who has attempted this, and what was their outcome.? And, would replacing the huge FJ steering wheel with something much smaller diameter, now made more palatable with the installation of power steeting, would that provide enough relief to make it worth the expense? Of course, I'm the only one who will be able to determine if said modification will work FOR ME, but if someone else has stuggled with this, it would be great to hear their story.
I'm going to stop here, Again, sorry for the length. If you don't see pictures attached to this post, it's because I haven't figured out how to do it yet. I will figure it out tomorrow and post them then.
Tom
