Those are awesome pics to reflect and look back on! I’m already counting down the days until he can ride in the rear jump seats
Build 1978 US Market FJ40 Factory Restoration
- Thread starter dmaddox
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I let my son drive my 45 when he was 9! First truck he ever drove! He learned what a clutch was early on a motorcycle, so he had no problem! Now he is 18! And been driving my 45 on the rubicon the last few years!! Brand loyalty firmly seated in his brain!! They grow up quick!!
- Thread starter
- #1,403
Love this. It is making me want to dig up more photos of my kids in the cruisers over the years. Just amazing, thank you for sharing these photos Whitey, I know we share a lot of things in common.
So greatful for an iphone over the years, literally have my kids growing up! My son still reminds me we should have never sold the bj45 troopy!!!
- Thread starter
- #1,407
A year ago or two, I bought what I thought were two cases of oil filters (the big ones) - naive as I was, not realizing that I bought 24 small oil filters. I found them for around 2 bucks a filter. They look silly, but for the light driving I do - coupled with religiously changing the oil every 12 months (I drive the cruiser around 500-1000 miles a year, tops)....they'll work fine.
I'm sure some of you will hate on me, here - but I love the look of the old, larger style filters. Now, I have a couple on the shelf still in boxes, but thought, why not use up some of these smaller filters? So, I gutted a large filter and made a "PS" or poser sleeve. Ha!
Oil change with PS
I started by using tape around the base of the filter and use an angle grinder with a cut-off wheel to carefully separate the sleeve:
I then used a high-temp foam gasket, designed specifically for creating oil filter covers (lol). I used two strips to create a "push-on" style cover.
Small filters snuggly fit inside.
I'm sure some of you will hate on me, here - but I love the look of the old, larger style filters. Now, I have a couple on the shelf still in boxes, but thought, why not use up some of these smaller filters? So, I gutted a large filter and made a "PS" or poser sleeve. Ha!
Oil change with PS
I started by using tape around the base of the filter and use an angle grinder with a cut-off wheel to carefully separate the sleeve:
I then used a high-temp foam gasket, designed specifically for creating oil filter covers (lol). I used two strips to create a "push-on" style cover.
Small filters snuggly fit inside.
How's it look on the truck? I think its a cool idea
That engine bay...
Nice! Also bonus thank you for posting pics of your spark plug wire routing... I got the OEM wires and couldn't figure out how to make it look, mine is a bit... abstract...
POPO AGIE
SILVER Star
I can barly remember mine looking like that when I bought mine in 1978.
Beer koozie!!
- Thread starter
- #1,415
Had a fun fall, looking forward to another year of adventures.
I took the cruiser to an event in Brooklyn where it was center stage at a rather bougie joint. Lots of street machines and yet two FJ40's made the docket.
It was fun to chat with so many people about the cruiser. It seems everyone's uncle had one.
Then, a quick vacation to Iceland. My rental was a super fun "Dacia Duster" (my brother, who lived in Romania for two years, where these are made, corrected my pronunciation. It is said like gotcha - but with a "d", "Dotcha".) It was a 6-speed turbo diesel. Very fun to drive.
Being the land of turbo diesels. I had to stop off at the local Toyota dealership and drool over the Hilux and various Cruisers.
Beautiful country. We went on some amazing hikes.
Back home, a new project kicked off - a 1967 Porsche 911. Full restoration in order...or more like resto-mod.
And a trip to the doctors office:
I've been driving the FJ40 more and more. It is just so fun to bomb around town in, running errands.
I took the cruiser to an event in Brooklyn where it was center stage at a rather bougie joint. Lots of street machines and yet two FJ40's made the docket.
It was fun to chat with so many people about the cruiser. It seems everyone's uncle had one.
Then, a quick vacation to Iceland. My rental was a super fun "Dacia Duster" (my brother, who lived in Romania for two years, where these are made, corrected my pronunciation. It is said like gotcha - but with a "d", "Dotcha".) It was a 6-speed turbo diesel. Very fun to drive.
Being the land of turbo diesels. I had to stop off at the local Toyota dealership and drool over the Hilux and various Cruisers.
Beautiful country. We went on some amazing hikes.
Back home, a new project kicked off - a 1967 Porsche 911. Full restoration in order...or more like resto-mod.
And a trip to the doctors office:
I've been driving the FJ40 more and more. It is just so fun to bomb around town in, running errands.
- Thread starter
- #1,416
Not a 911 forum, but plans to make a rather capable street machine, punching this 2.0 out to a short stroke 2.5 (66x90mm), 10.5:1 compression, twin-plugs and ITBs. Should be a fun little screamer. The cruiser conditioned me on body and mechanical work!
Out comes the original 2.0 flat six:
Yes, that is water leaking out of the exhaust.
Block on the bench:
Will be sending the block off for all of the modern machining work (oil squirters, shuffle pin, etc.) to include punching it out to 90mm.
How nice is it, to be able to hand-carry an engine block and toss it in the back of the car like two bags of groceries?
Out comes the original 2.0 flat six:
Yes, that is water leaking out of the exhaust.
Block on the bench:
Will be sending the block off for all of the modern machining work (oil squirters, shuffle pin, etc.) to include punching it out to 90mm.
How nice is it, to be able to hand-carry an engine block and toss it in the back of the car like two bags of groceries?
If 50% of your FJ40 skills carry over to the Porsche, you are golden ! Sounds like a fun time there and one coming up
Probably one of my favorite early 911 model is the 73 RS 2.7, i was lucky to have a customer with a legit fully restored RS! The best aircooled experience ever! Are tthe fenders going to grow
- Thread starter
- #1,419
Oh I'd love to flare the rear, but may keep this 911 factory in the body department. If it were a LWB, I'd be more keen on an RS-like tribute for sure. My goal for this car is a 2.5 short stroke capable of 9K rpms and 270HP, S brakes, euro height. The car won't weigh much when I finish 
I've been inspired by McQueen and a lot of the 60's and 70's vintage racing. It is what drew me to 1967. While I'd have loved to have found an "S", those are just too valuable to modify, and with some handywork and modern machining, easy to replicate.
Not exact cars or even likeness, just some "energy" that inspires what I hope to build. (likley sans livery)
I've been inspired by McQueen and a lot of the 60's and 70's vintage racing. It is what drew me to 1967. While I'd have loved to have found an "S", those are just too valuable to modify, and with some handywork and modern machining, easy to replicate.
Not exact cars or even likeness, just some "energy" that inspires what I hope to build. (likley sans livery)
I have been looking for a 69 thru 73 shell for years to do an RSR build. Was going to use all the drivetrain and suspension from my 87 carerra and I have a turbo setup for the 3.2, big reds,hre,s, keep it as light as possible, sort of a more modern twist on an Early RSR. Soooo hard to find a shell now days, with rusty junk going for 20k! Do you still have the 964?