Build 1978 FJ40 - Lovely “Linda”

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You can rebuild the hazard switch. First turn it off and on like 50 times in a row and see if it will work. All your turn signal bulbs need to work or it will not flash properly.
 
You can rebuild the hazard switch. First turn it off and on like 50 times in a row and see if it will work. All your turn signal bulbs need to work or it will not flash properly.

I removed it and tested it and it’s not grounding out against the case which was my first thought. The hazards work without issue, but it blows the turn signal/ wiper fuse. When plugged in with a new fuse, I can even use the turn signal at least once before it blows the fuse.

The hazard switch on the 78 gets power from the turn/ wiper fuse, and passes that to the turn signal switch. But it also gets power from the brake / stop fuse, and that circuit is fine.
 
I had to rebuild the turn signal switch. There was lots of burned away material around the contacts. I scraped out the loose stuff, then filled it in with MicroBed epoxy. After it dried, I scraped it down flat, cleaned the contacts and put it back together. That was around 1990 - still works.

Wiring is getting brittle in places. Bulb holders are getting more corroded and weaker every year.
 
On Monday, I spent ~3 hours going through the harness and testing my connections and routing again. No luck. Still blowing fuses.

On Wednesday, I rigged up a test light with 2 leads to the fuse holder in the fuse panel that kept blowing. On my way to work, it lit up in 4th gear. And only in 4th gear. A little searching here, and confirmed with the diagram that I was grounding the gear selector switch. In the 1978, 4th gear sends a ground signal to the emissions control computer (4th gear indicator switch - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/4th-gear-indicator-switch.1350319/).

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I think I had mistaken this wire for the reverse 12V+, and connected them. @Ruski helped with the troubleshooting in the parking lot, and only got shocked once as thanks for his assistance. Several miles in and plenty of 4th gear, no blown fuses.

Oh, and the passenger side hood latch failed, so I replaced it.

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@nabbasi well…it stands out against the ….original paint 👍
 
50 miles or so over the last week and the sniper is going great. Over the last few days I’ve gotten the brakes dialed in a bit better. I reset the master cylinder / booster input depth with a gauge (not the fancy Toyota one), and realized I was rowing the wrong way on the drums, so most my pedal play had been resolved. I rebled my brakes again for good measure. They feel a bit over boosted for my liking, but they work well, so I’m going to keep moving. Parking brake works, too.

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Going to wait on suspension to go back and rebuild my knuckles since seals had failed at some point, rebuild the steering center arm and replace the tie rod ends since there are no boots. Parts in transit from cruiserteq/ cruiser outfitters. I hope it goes a bit easier than the ‘67 (the early center arm was a pain!).

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Next up:

Alternator - in transit
Turn signal + wiper short/blown fuses
Rear Drum Adjustment
Parking brake adjustment
Dome light install
Sniper Tuning - ongoing
Drive Linda to work

Terrain Tamer - soon?
Knuckle rebuild + new inner axle seal and bearings
TRE replacement
Center Arm Rebuild
 
That knuckle oil/grease aroma is something you’ll never forget.. congratulations on getting this list down so far…so , what do you do when it’s all done? I keep looking at mine and all I can do is drive it or vacuum the inside…oh, I did get the music playing again
 
That knuckle oil/grease aroma is something you’ll never forget.. congratulations on getting this list down so far…so , what do you do when it’s all done? I keep looking at mine and all I can do is drive it or vacuum the inside…oh, I did get the music playing again
I’m already dreading the smell. I’ve been hitting everything with kroil in an attempt to make everything easier, so that’s going to be quite the change in garage aroma.

Thanks! Slowly but surely. There’s no shortage of projects on this one, but if/ when I do get to a stopping point, I’ve promised myself I’d get back to my 1968 mustang. I haven’t driven it in 4 years!

The kiddos enjoy riding in the jump seats in Linda. I’ve got a rear bench in my ‘67, so this is fun for them. My goal is to get this one to the same level of drive-ability.

Music is an important one! What did you go with?
 
If you haven’t already thought about it, you should consider the Marlin HD axle seals. There might be a specific name for them I’m not remembering right now but the difference is very palpable. Kurt’s gang will know.

Congratulations on getting the list to where it’s at, no small feat.
 
Oh..this one is a bit different. I had a CD/FM/AM/ head unit but removed it. Added REALLY CHEAP Bluetooth amp behind the radio delete plate with a on/off volume control and link it to the iPhone. With Apple Music and Amazon Music it will play from anything there or just say “ hey siri, play XXXX” AND IT DOES.

Acoustically, it’s like a really bad but quality speaker by itself on left and right sides. It easily out plays the drone of 60MPH Land Cruiser cabin noise and plays podcasts as well. It connects to the phone immediately and costs about $18.00 on Amazon.

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If you haven’t already thought about it, you should consider the Marlin HD axle seals. There might be a specific name for them I’m not remembering right now but the difference is very palpable. Kurt’s gang will know.

Congratulations on getting the list to where it’s at, no small feat.

Thanks! I did look into but seems they’re out of stock pretty much everywhere. Just going to go original and keep moving. If the parts arrive early enough Friday I’m diving in.


Oh..this one is a bit different. I had a CD/FM/AM/ head unit but removed it. Added REALLY CHEAP Bluetooth amp behind the radio delete plate with a on/off volume control and link it to the iPhone. With Apple Music and Amazon Music it will play from anything there or just say “ hey siri, play XXXX” AND IT DOES.

Acoustically, it’s like a really bad but quality speaker by itself on left and right sides. It easily out plays the drone of 60MPH Land Cruiser cabin noise and plays podcasts as well. It connects to the phone immediately and costs about $18.00 on Amazon.

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Very nice! I like the radio blank plate with the knob. I did something very similar at first in Blue, but ended up going with a bluetooth boat amp for more sound. Not good sound, just more. Is it this one (or similar)?

I repurposed my “room light” switch and it turns the amp on/ off. No volume adjustment, but I just use my phone.

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Thanks! I did look into but seems they’re out of stock pretty much everywhere. Just going to go original and keep moving. If the parts arrive early enough Friday I’m diving in.




Very nice! I like the radio blank plate with the knob. I did something very similar at first in Blue, but ended up going with a bluetooth boat amp for more sound. Not good sound, just more. Is it this one (or similar)?

I repurposed my “room light” switch and it turns the amp on/ off. No volume adjustment, but I just use my phone.

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Yep! That’s the same but my switch is on/off and volume control…the phone increases volume as well with its volume control. As you said. Not great sound but surely more of it
 
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