Build 1978 US Market FJ40 Factory Restoration

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Found an original radio!

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81370-60010

LAMP ASSY, INSPECTION


Part DescriptionLamp Assy, Inspection
ManufacturerToyota. This genuine Toyota part is guaranteed by Toyota's factory warranty.

Your Price: $41.11

Retail Price: $57.46

You Save: $16.35

I am now hunting for these.
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Indicative of normal operation of a mechanical points regulator. It only has 2 operating states: off, or full field.
At 2000rpm this effect should be almost unnoticeable as it switches off & on mnay times per second, but at lower engine speeds can be very pronounced.
 
Sounds good. I do have a spare VR, so I may swap out and see if that solves the voltage flicker. I have never had this happen before, and if I am approaching you at night, it would appear as if I am flashing my brights at you - nope just my wonky charging system. Goes from center needle to +30 like morse code. Hmmm....I should translate, maybe my cruiser is trying to tell me something.
 
-... . / ... ..- .-. . / - --- / -.. .-. .. -. -.- / -.-- --- ..- .-. / --- ...- .- .-.. - .. -. .
 
Seller on mud! Along with finding a pristine and correct tool kit :)

I'm trying to re-smog and get her mechanically sound and straight - and then I'll repair the rust and cut-out quarters.

Time is what I am short on right now!

Also a couple of questions

1. I wish I could post an 8 second video on the flickering AMP meter - I need some tips on what that might be or whats causing it. It is annoying, especially at night when my headlights are pulsating like a UFO.

2. My brakes are pulling to the right, dangerously if I have to stomp on them. The proportioning valve is for front to rear, correct? The left/right is not controlled. Where to start? Bleed/new fluid? Or is there something else to investigate? There is no grinding or obvious pad wear/etc.. But if I have to stomp on the brakes it will lock up the front right.


Happy Friday!
 
1. You can link youtube videos into your post. I can't remember because I watch several build threads, did you run LED headlights off the battery or are you running the OE circuit?

2. The proportioning valve is for front to rear. Typically a left or right pull from the brakes is a result or wear or damage. You said no grinding or obvious pad wear. I'm going to assume that means there is adequate pad thickness left? Can you observe uneven wear on the rotors? Do you feel any pulsing when braking? What is the condition of the soft brake lines? When was the last time you did a brake job, and did you notice any sticky pistons?

Assuming the rotors are okay, I would just get a new set of pads because they're cheap and changing them means taking things apart and looking at it. Pay attention for frozen pistons in the left caliper. I replaced a caliper on my 40 recently and they aren't terribly pricey.
 
Your flickering headlights could be the voltage regulator acting up. Maybe remove the sheet metal VR cover and run the headlights at night, and see if there is arcing or weirdness in the VR.
 
I took apart the VR, inspected. It all looks clean, no wear or sticking issues.

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I reassembled and reinstalled. Unless the issue is internal to that coil or something.

I also inspected all connections on the harness and to/from the alternator and soldered any crimp or butt connections.

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I noticed after I cleaned/re-installed, it has a smoother idle (likely just Sam Adams convincing me at that point).

However, the AMP needle really only bounces at idle or sitting at a red light, that's when it gets wonky and lights and fan speed bounce all over, however at rpm's its smooth.

Last question (for today). I know the crossover in hard tops and the seat belt mounts (Thank you SteveH) changed in 76/77 from the hard top to the roll bar. Did the mounts on the hard top remain? Do I have an earlier hard top (75/76) installed on my 01/78 cruiser? Just curious.

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In my photo above. There is a single wire (idle solenoid wire) in a loom going all the way across the engine bay to the carb.

What is/was the stock routing of this wire? If I recall from previous projects, the wire passed under the air cleaner. Can someone verify the grouping/routing of that wire? It looks so wonky going across the firewall.

Thank you
 
On a 78, the wire to ICS comes out of the driver fender harness, along with the wire to manifold temp sensor and wire to brake pressure switches.

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Hard tops are international.
South American and other countries did not have rollbars so the hard top did the trick.
 
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