Let the color grow on you. In the early '90s, a neighbor of mine with a ghastly smurf blue Jeep Wrangler Islander commented (on my 653 Olive FJ40) - 'your color just looks right out in the woods'. 'Nuff said.
1978 FJ40 newbie
- Thread starter danmc00
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plink01
SILVER Star
Yeah the colour is awesome, Dont change it! I dont think the colours should never be changed. It's almost racist, that's the colour it was born with and it can't help it! It'll definately grow on you, i dont see many that colour around.
BeerM3
SILVER Star
I agree with the recommendations to wait and see if it grows on ya. You have a remarkably intact original 40 and while it's not a "numbers matching 63 Corvette with original paint" it'll always be worth more to a lot of buyers in the original color. That said, I ultimately plan to paint my white one yellow...but it's a frankencruiser 
. Google "FJ40 Bestop" and "FJ40 Soft top". I strongly suspect @Living in the Past is right on his hunch that the original hard top is long gone and was replaced with a Bestop or Kayline. Still cool though!
. Google "FJ40 Bestop" and "FJ40 Soft top". I strongly suspect @Living in the Past is right on his hunch that the original hard top is long gone and was replaced with a Bestop or Kayline. Still cool though!
- Thread starter
- #24
I really like the look of the hard tops. What are the chances of me finding a decent hard top and what do they normally run?
BeerM3
SILVER Star
Search through the classifieds on this forum and craigslist. I've seen $1k for a good top and two sides, but the size of the top is shipping prohibitive. Hunting from Amarillo opens up a lot of drivable opportunities with DFW, Sante Fe and Austin. There's also a big Toyota salvage yard in central Colorado. That $1k is excluding the hatch unless you get lucky. BUT the soft top may be salvageable for a few more years with some cleaning and TLC. Post pics of the vin and soft top frame and people here can better clue you in on what you have.
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firefighterjed
SILVER Star
That color is in my top 3!
Yellow, tan, and your brown are the best!!! I like the above comment “right out of the woods”
Don’t be in a rush to make major changes. Your wants will evolve as your knowledge grows. I think sourcing a hard top is a good idea. If this was a soft top rig from the factory then keeping the ability to have the soft top is also a good idea too.
Focus on fixing thinks they are broken, leaking, worn out, first. Then make modifications later.
Fun project and great rig!!
Yellow, tan, and your brown are the best!!! I like the above comment “right out of the woods”
Don’t be in a rush to make major changes. Your wants will evolve as your knowledge grows. I think sourcing a hard top is a good idea. If this was a soft top rig from the factory then keeping the ability to have the soft top is also a good idea too.
Focus on fixing thinks they are broken, leaking, worn out, first. Then make modifications later.
Fun project and great rig!!
- Thread starter
- #27
I agree that I will let the color grow on me. I’m searching hard for a hard top now and I’ll post the VIN as soon as I pick it up in a couple weeks. It’s still in storage at my dads for now.
Living in the Past
SILVER Star
No need to post the VIN on the plaque on the firewall. The model number at the top of the plaque has the information on the specs. Only thing the VIN would do is tell the production month. That information should be on the driver's A pillar.
There’s no footman loops on the tub, so I doubt it’s a soft top. I think the later jump seats are gray while yours should still be black, so watch out for that. Yours should have the fold down feet though, while some earlier ones didn’t have that.
Super great truck, they’re only original once.
Super great truck, they’re only original once.
- Thread starter
- #30
I’ll have to ask my dad to see if he knew any history of it when he bought it in 1980. It had a soft top at the time but could have very well had hard top originally. I know the jump seats it had when I was growing up we’re black without feet. I’ll try to dig up some old pictures of it when I was a child.
reddog90
SILVER Star
When did the fold down feet on the jump seats start?
My 7/78 truck has fold down jump seat feet, but I have seen earlier '78s that didn't.
reddog90
SILVER Star
My '76 doesn't have the feet. But that doesn't mean it's not supposed to.
Restated: jump seats with fold-down feet came about in the first half of 1978. '76 and '77 US-spec trucks (the many I seen) did not have fold-down jump seat legs.
Living in the Past
SILVER Star
Haven't been able to date the start of the fold down leg but think it was all of 78 if not last few months of 77. I do know the earlier version still had the rubber pads that rested on the edge of the wheel well and also have the folding leg. Believe 4/78 was the last month for those. In my collection of seats I have a set with both the leg and rubber pads.
Welcome, embrace the Olive! Best year but I am biased.
Living in the Past
SILVER Star
In the years before I had a hand held GPS I liked that my 68 Capri Blue FJ40 stood out in the woods. Made it easier to find it when I was hunting. Most the time the white cap was enough but not all the time.
Living in the Past
SILVER Star
At one time I would agree that 78 was the best year. Wished the 79 I bought from a friend had been a 78 instead. But last few years that changed. Adding a ungraded split transfer is easier 79+ when using a hand brake on the rear axle. Handle for the hand brake is on the transmission hump and cable is straight forward add. A H55F is also easier on the 79+. Power steering and A/C were also a option 79+. While I like the 73-78 bucket seats the 16 1/2 gallon to 22 1/2 gallon fuel tank is worth the later seats.
1911
chupacabra
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.
