1978 FJ40 "Barn Find", Refurbish and Preservation

[studawg]

Well, I guess "barn finds" do still exist. I've been wanting an original paint 1975+ 40 for a while now and hoped to find one for a decent price and recently came across this one on FB marketplace, about an hour south of Atlanta. Found out that the original engine was still in it, the fenders weren't cut, and the rear wasn't rusted out, so it seemed like a good candidate. I had actually been wanting to find one without a top and doors, because I plan on driving topless and doorless most of the time anyway, and would want to make an FST out of it anyway for the times I did want a top.

The gentleman I purchased it from had owned for 20 years, and had got it from a friend of his in Alabama who had owned it for 10 years. Odometer says 22k, and from the looks of the cluch and brake pedal pads, along with the fact that all the emissions equipment are still present and intact under the hood, I wonder if its not 22k original. But who knows, and not real important. The PO had gotten it with the intention of sanding it all down and painting it, and had stripped the interior because the gas tank had rusted through and was leaking. But that is as far as they got. According to him, they had it running with an auxiliary electric fuel pump routed to a jug of gasoline, and had moved it around the yard a couple of times until it was parked under this barn sometime in the last 20 years and we pulled it out. PO stated it ran well, no knocks, no smoke, whenever that was.

 

[studawg]

I am one of those crazy purists, so my plan is to do a mechanical restoration, and then treat the rust and preserve the rest. Refurbish everything and just get it back to OE spec. More of a refurbishment to good condition, while retaining the originality as much as possible. The body is solid enough that I dont have to do any sort of cutting and welding. It came with the original seats that are rotten in the bottoms, seat brackets, all the dash pads, the front bezel in chrome, center console, rear heater, spare tire carrier, but no jump seats.

It looks to be mostly stock and original except for these crazy shocks with an air line going to a fitting on both the front and rear bumpers! Has anyone every seen these??? Edit: stock except for the shocks, exhaust, wheels and extended shackles on 32x11.50s. Straight outta 1991 or so!

 

[studawg]

I wasnt sure about the condition of the quarter panels until I got there, and I was glad to see they weren't cut, and on top of that, the flares were attached from the bottom of the lip, and not straight through the side. Pulled them off...

 

[405]

Nice save! Glad you were able to get to it before the PO painted it. That would have been a shame. Being uncut is a nice bonus too. Looking forward to the progress. The truck looks like a great starting point.

 

[studawg]

So after pressure washing it a bit and doing a little spot rust treatment on some of the worst rust places, the next step is to get this thing fired up.

Because of what the PO told me, I believe this thing has run in the past 5-10 years maybe, and I had no reason to think the motor was seized, but I sprayed some PB Blaster in the cylinders, put it in 4th gear and pushed it back and forth easily, and can see the crank pulley move back forth without much effort so I think Im good there.

-Drained the oil, replaced it and filter. Replaced spark plugs, and PCV valve. Replaced battery. Replaced ground wire from battery to frame.

 

[kbahus]

Good find! I see some potential good buys pop up here and there and this rig was one of them, it didn't last long on FB. I am glad to see it on here with a build thread; I always wonder what happens to the rigs that sell on FB as I rarely see them end up on mud. That tub is in fantastic condition from what I see.

 

[troutbum4]

referring to picture #2......... damn, I didn't know Santa drove a 40

 

[schuy2147]

Rad 40! I love the patina and stripes. Look forward to watching this one progress.

 

[FJBen]

Nice, that paint is going to pop!

 

[pb4ugo]

Nice find. They're air shocks from back in the day. It was a thing for hot rodders to put in the rear to raise the back so it had a sort of rake. Other folks used them to level the car if they hauled a trailer. For 4x4's a cheap lift. They offer lift but no flexibility. Too much air and they might pop their balloon.
Did it come with a top and doors?

 

[rainingagain]

The stripes are pretty cool. Looks like you have everything there; just needs a once over. Good luck!

 

[aremell]

Great score - I saw this pop up very soon after buying my latest survivor, and Olive Brown 76. As a lover of crusty original cruisers, I wholeheartedly endorse your plan.

 

[studawg]

Great score - I saw this pop up very soon after buying my latest survivor, and Olive Brown 76. As a lover of crusty original cruisers, I wholeheartedly endorse your plan.

Yes troutbum4, the PO looked just like Santa and told me he did recently start doing Santa gigs in the past few years!

Nice find. They're air shocks from back in the day. It was a thing for hot rodders to put in the rear to raise the back so it had a sort of rake. Other folks used them to level the car if they hauled a trailer. For 4x4's a cheap lift. They offer lift but no flexibility. Too much air and they might pop their balloon.
Did it come with a top and doors?

Interesting, I assumed thats what they were but did not really know any such thing existed. Evidently somebody spent a little money on modifying this thing in the late 80s early 90s, and then according to the story, it mostly sat for about 30 years.

No clue where the top and doors are, PO never saw them either.

Great score - I saw this pop up very soon after buying my latest survivor, and Olive Brown 76. As a lover of crusty original cruisers, I wholeheartedly endorse your plan.

Thanks aremell, and yes I love them original and crusty myself!

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

I dig them stripes and toyota decal. Get it running first. Then other projects!

 

[Aloha Jen]

What a beauty, congrats on the find! Love the red, and look forward to following along on your refurbishment!!

 

[Slapshot]

Great find! Looking forward to seeing it come back to life. I’m sure that red will pop with a little elbow grease.

 

[Paul_A]

I put air shocks on my 1970 LC and used them to correct the rear sag and lean. Not sure they made the ride any better but it sure looked good.

 

[studawg]

So I put a new battery in and turned the key and....NADA. No power. Fuse box looks decent, the wiring looks original except for the electric fuel pump that was added. I am very bad at electrical and not good with a multimeter. Any suggestions on what I should check first? Ignition maybe?

 

[Slapshot]

That’s some messed up wiring. Does it have a fusible link coming off of the battery?

 

[charliemeyer007]

Put it in neutral and set the parking brake. Use a set of jumper cables +terminal red from the battery will be used to touch the proper place on the starter. -terminal black on battery attached to a clean metal spot on the engine. When connected sparks will fly and the starter should crank over the motor.

When working on electrical issues a multimeter and a test light are the tools of choice. If you aren't good with the tools or electrical issues hire a friend to help you sort it out - watch and ask questions about what they are doing and why. Soon enough you will know how to use the tools and have the knowledge to sort out electrical issues.