Builds 1978 Mustard FJ40 Build (1 Viewer)

[dbaird]

The humvee seatbelts just bolted right in. I just re-used the bolts and spacers that were on my factory belts. The tab on the seat was angled the opposite way but i just tightened it down and it bent the right way. My only complaint which is very minor is that the buckle is longer than factory so it sticks up a bit both other than that they work great.

 

[White Stripe]

I would be worried about how close your headers are to your brake booster and master cylinder. Dot 3 brake fluid boils at 400 degrees if there is no moisture. With moisture it's even less. Boiling brake fluid = no brakes. Those headers are probably running around 800 degrees. Going down the street to the grocery store or to a restaurant your probably fine. On a long stretch of highway on a warm day...I would be very worried.

 

[dbaird]

Yes that is something I'm keeping an eye on. So far even with longer drives you can still touch the master cylinders with a bare hand. I'm thinking summer may be an issue though and plan on wrapping the header more with ceramic wrap like i did by the power steering lines. Also most likely going to add a power steering cooler in line before it gets hot again as well.

 

[dbaird]

Got my throttle cable sorted out. Its much better and ive been driving this thing as much as i can lately and so far nothing has broken. Ive got an idea of somethings id like to work on but for now im just enjoying driving it.

 

[dbaird]

New speedometer cable installed! Now all my gauges work. And yes i need gas.

 

[dbaird]

Small update

Ive been driving this turd as much as possible lately. so far so good. Im planning on working on the interior a bit more when i get a break from work. I also need to find a way to lower the front down, i think i might change out the front shackles for shorter ones and see how it looks.

 

[dbaird]

Got a maintenance light for the glovebox outlet. Its pretty neat!

And ive been driving it more and so far so good. I need lower leaf springs in front to get rid of the lean i have. I hope that will sort out my front axle angles as well.

 

[BrianSanDiego]

Looking good. How's that radiator working out for you? I have a similar setup, SBC and Taurus fan, but mine gets a little warm on the freeway.
How does your Champion 3 row do at freeway speeds.
Thanks, B.

 

[tls3601]

Making progress and looking good, I bought one of those little lights as well, they are great!!!

 

[dbaird]

Thanks!!

So far my radiator has been working good. Only complaint is it showed up warped and champion said it was normal. I can notice it when i look through the grill but it functions fine.

 

[luvdamud]

Since when would a warped radiator be normal?

 

[BrianSanDiego]

Thanks!!

So far my radiator has been working good. Only complaint is it showed up warped and champion said it was normal. I can notice it when i look through the grill but it functions fine.

Thanks dude.
My 2, 1" core (similar to a 4 core) never cooled quite right. Read up an S-load on radiators and it looks like having too thick of radiator with an electric fan might actually make it cool worse. Now that my radiator started to leak I'm going to try a 3 row, and the Champion is priced right.
We'll see....
Thanks for the response,
B.

edit: in case anyone is searching on radiators. Installed a Champion 3 row. The quality looks good and it works well...

 

[dbaird]

Decided to start on my front end issue. With the shackle reversal thats on it the front sits way too high. So we decided to re do the reversal.

Started by changing out the shocks. Mine had seen better days and i dont think they are gas charged anymore haha.

Luckily my dad's FJ40 had a newer set of rough country shocks that he took off. So they will have to do for now and the price was good. Free!

Rears on.

And fronts on.

And now for the reversal. Cut off the old hangers and am planning on using the factory hangers up front. Luckily the previous owner kept them with all the extras.

Mocking them up. Will be extending the frame out.

Hard to tell from this angle but the height is much more even. and this is with just weight on the pass side. Drivers side is still up on a stand so we will make sure its sitting even before everything is welded on.

One side effect though is that i may need to change my pitman arm out for one with less drop. Will check clearance once the springs are in place.

 

[dbaird]

Got the shackle reversal all done. Ride height is much better now, no more jacked up hillbilly front end.

 

[dbaird]

Update!

Took the roof off today to enjoy the weather. Never been a fan of convertibles but thinking im going to like this.

Windshield down.

And with the bikini top. My favorite so far.

 

[dbaird]

Since my mirrors attach to my doors and my doors are off we had to look for a way to mount some mirrors. A set of cheap jeep mirrors and a new bracket were the answer. I like how they turned out.

New brackets

And mounted on the windshield frame.

They seem to work ok. Have to wait for the rain to stop to try them out driving.

Also saw this while watching Archer: Vice. Its pretty funny since this pretty much matches my goal for this 40.

I think a family cage and doing something with the seats will be next.

 

[PPRIDE]

Since my mirrors attach to my doors and my doors are off we had to look for a way to mount some mirrors. A set of cheap jeep mirrors and a new bracket were the answer. I like how they turned out.

New brackets

And mounted on the windshield frame.

They seem to work ok. Have to wait for the rain to stop to try them out driving.

Also saw this while watching Archer: Vice. Its pretty funny since this pretty much matches my goal for this 40.

I think a family cage and doing something with the seats will be next.

 

[dbaird]

Update time. Getting ready for a lot of work to be done on the 40. I'm ordering new quarter panels for it and will be getting the whole thing yellow again. Mostly trying to clean it up now. It has been running great and I drive it at least once every week. Decided to show off some of the paperwork mountain that came with this thing.

Folder that was in the 40 when I got it.

Inside is the owners manual and also had dealer wiring diagrams and such from Toyota.

It also has receipts from 30+ years ago for all kinds of things. The big one though is for the 350 conversion that was done by a local Toyota dealer. I had considered swapping this back to the original 2F but given the history of it I think the 350 will stay.

And it was not cheap, especially for 1988.

I will keep updating here and I make progress. I'm looking forward to making it a little easier on the eyes.

 

[dbaird]

Quarter panels have been ordered and I will start pulling the diamond plate off soon! Also got my bezel the right color.

Before

And after

 

[dbaird]

These arrived today!

Going to start working on them soon!