Build 1977 FJ40 - USA Spec Restoration - Father & Son Project - AKA "Blue"

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airon23 said:
Very nice indeed. Keep up the great work.
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SSCR said:
Very nice fab job!
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Thanks guys! I am loving working on this thing and getting excited to see real progress. I tired fitting the back doors and they are going to need a lot of help!! Guess I will start on that tomorrow.

MM
 
Here is a couple pics of the brackets / backing plates and the flat nuts I made. This was not as hard as I thought. I enjoyed making them.

Do you guys know of anywhere on line to buy these?

If anyone needs some, let me know. I can fab some up for them.

MM



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I got the doors lined up pretty good and welded in the lower hinge brackets welded in. After that, I took the sides and doors off. I've got a couple days of grinding, sanding, mudding, body work etc. After that, I will take the tub off and start painting it.

I am going to go with the original "sky blue" any suggesting on the brand? PPG?

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Here is my latest acquisition. 1979-1980 Toyota short bed. I plan to make an overlanding adventure trailer with it. I found it on FB Marketplace only about 30 mins from my house. It has a little bit of surface rust and a few dents but overall it is in good shape. I am totally pumped about this!!!

Anyone know where I can find a tail gate for it??

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My plan is to do something like this after I finish my FJ40.

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Welded up the holes for the old style spare tire rack that mounted on the passenger side and installed the latch hook and bumper for the 1977 newer style spare tire rack that mounts on the driver side :)

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Now on to the body work. I have spent the last three days mudding and sanding. This is going to take some time!!! Put on ear buds and the 80's hair band play list... sand, sand, and more sanding :)

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I picked up a 1982 Toyota tailgate for my overlanding/adventure trailer. It has the center latch and is not the correct one. My bed has the side latches which I like better. These tailgates are so hard to find, and this one was close and really cheep, so I grabbed it. It has a little rust, so If I can't find the correct one at a good price, I will modify this one to work.

I have some cool ideas. I think I will mount some side latches on it and modify the center latch to open a storage compartment inside the tailgate like the FJ60 pic attached below. There is not a lot of room inside this tailgates, but it could hold some jumper cables and a tow strap or two.

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Here is the latest YouTube vid :)

 
More sanding today :)!! Got one quarter panel done and primed. I'll keep working my way around, prime it with some high build primer and block the whole thing.

Here is my latest video :)

 
DirtDauberGarage said:
More sanding today :)!! Got one quarter panel done and primed. I'll keep working my way around, prime it with some high build primer and block the whole thing.

Here is my latest video :)

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I see you have used 6HP/30Gal compressor with HF gun. This compressor used 120v or 220V? What is your experience with such setting? Do you think it will be enough to paint rear 1/2 part of the tube and top?
 
SergP said:
I see you have used 6HP/30Gal compressor with HF gun. This compressor used 120v or 220V? What is your experience with such setting? Do you think it will be enough to paint rear 1/2 part of the tube and top?
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My compressor runs on 120v. As I explained in the video I have only spayed primer through it. My plan is to use the same model gun to spay base coat and clear. There are lots of videos on YouTube were guys have used this gun to spray base, clear, primer, etc. and they have had good results.

My two cents is if you are a pro and you are painting a custom show car, you probably won't be happy with this gun, but for what I am doing (fixing this thing up to drive it, go off road, in the mud, etc.) I think it will be fine. If I need to cut and buff the clear when I am done, I will do it. :)

My stepdad had a brand new FJ40 in 1980 and the paint was full of orange peel, spot welds, and other issues. Toyota's paint standards on these weren't very high. I think I will be able to achieve results at least as good as they were originally.

Just my two cents :)

MM
 
SergP said:
I have seen great result on Unimog 406 painted with HF gun (single stage paint).
I just looking for cheap compressor what can work with the gun. I not a show car person.
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Sorry, I misunderstood your question. Yes the compressor is more than enough. :)
 
Nice progress👍
 
I got a little done today while watching all the super bowl pregame hoopla :)

Still mudding and sanding ALOT!! So I took a break and cleaned the trans tunnel. I used a heat gun and a paint scraper.

After I get it cleaned up, I am going to have to do some rust repair.

Man I am ready to get this thing painted and on the road!!!!

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Here are a few pics of the mud and primer :)

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That's coming out real nice. Can't wait for you guys to finish her up and get it on the road for some enjoyable times. Hopefully weather is getting nicer and I'll be able to get mine out soon.

Btw, I enjoyed your video on tools and getting started on your own projects. The advice to just get into it and get it started is probably the best advice for this type of thing. I've learned so much from doing my little refresh that I would never have known about my FJ40 if I hadn't just done it all myself. Took some time and some mistakes along the way but what better way to learn. Still a lot to go too.
Now I'm on to my next project, and a project it is going to be, 1991 FJ80.
 
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