1978 FJ40 newbie

[tls3601]

But I do believe the ‘79 and later got beefier pins, not sure about shackles.

 

[Living in the Past]

All true but slightly less underbody clearance on ‘79 and later due to fuel tank and 3.73 gears vs ‘78’s 4.11 which I see as more desireable off road. On road the ‘79 and later was probably a slight improvement. But I didn’t buy mine for pavement.

But I do believe the ‘79 and later got beefier pins, not sure about shackles.

Suspension upgraded started 8/80 along with the split transfer case and hand brake moved to the rear axle. 79 the metal got a lighter. Do not think this was solely for gas mileage but changes in how they were able to produce the 40 series. Same as the 72 which was lighter metal than 71. My real point was updating to newer superior parts is easier 1/79+.

Adding 4.11:1 diffs to 79+ would be much easier than adding a 22 1/2 gallon fuel tank to a 73-78. Also adding a H41 or H55F makes up for the higher diff gears. As for ground clearance from the factory that goes to the 79. The exhaust pipe mounted way below the skid plate on a 78 is much lower than the fuel tank on the 79. The exhaust running below the frame on the 79/80 bad but still better clearance than the 78. Working on a solution for that. Again like I state the 79+ is easier to add upgrades using later 4X series parts is why I prefer the 79+.

 

[tls3601]

Suspension upgraded started 8/80 along with the split transfer case and hand brake moved to the rear axle. 79 the metal got a lighter. Do not think this was solely for gas mileage but changes in how they were able to produce the 40 series. Same as the 72 which was lighter metal than 71. My real point was updating to newer superior parts is easier 1/79+.

Adding 4.11:1 diffs to 79+ would be much easier than adding a 22 1/2 gallon fuel tank to a 73-78. Also adding a H41 or H55F makes up for the higher diff gears. As for ground clearance from the factory that goes to the 79. The exhaust pipe mounted way below the skid plate on a 78 is much lower than the fuel tank on the 79. The exhaust running below the frame on the 79/80 bad but still better clearance than the 78. Working on a solution for that. Again like I state the 79+ is easier to add upgrades using later 4X series parts is why I prefer the 79+.

Yes that is a good point, easier to upgrade the ‘79. I heard that back in the day guys were putting ‘78 axles on their newer trucks. I am planning on checking out either the campsite for Casner or FR300 this weekend. Weather is SO nice right now

 

[danmc00]

@danmc00 , just so you know, the jump seats I have are late (12/79) and hence are gray, with the fold-down legs. Still haven't had time to look for them yet; hopefully this weekend.

No problem at all. I just really want the jump seats instead of forward facing aftermarket. I don’t mind the gray.

 

[danmc00]

Need someone to clarify. I had someone tell me hard top won’t fit this model. Didn’t make sense to me, but I don’t know enough about these FJs yet. When looking for a hard top should I be looking for a certain year model that will fit?

 

[danmc00]

Any ideas on the top?

 

[1911]

Any ideas on the top?

I'm no hard-top guru, but from your photos, you have the lower hinges for ambulance doors, not the late tub that had rounded corners for the bottom of the late ambulance doors. Not sure exactly when they made that change in the tub, but my 12/79-build has them so I'm guessing sometime in 1979. So, you'd want a hard top with ambulance doors (again, not sure what years those started) but earlier than 1979.

 

[Varty Yo]

Great looking rig!!!

 

[subzali]

SOR.com is a great resource to help find model year compatibility. I’m pretty sure hard tops from 77-84 are the same, with the vent windows starting in 77. However the rear ambulance doors changed in 79 so you need to find ambulance doors from 75-78. So ideally you would find a 77 or a 78 hardtop complete with rear ambulance doors to minimize the mix and match.

 

[danmc00]

Here are the two plates I could find on engine bay and door jam.

 

[danmc00]

ID plates posted. Does that help any? I’d like to know as much as possible about this cruiser

 

[TheHardWay]

Dec 77 manufacture date makes it a 78. Color #653 makes it Olive Green. What else do you want to know?

 

[subzali]

The FJ40LV makes it a factory hard top model. If it was a factory soft top it would be FJ40L. V is for Van aka hard top.