1mor74!!

[74fjsemistock]

I think I'm gonna be busy this winter.Looks like wrenching time is upon me.Just hauled it up from Dallas.Another 74 with an F.That's goin on a motor stand for a complete work over.It's got a brand new carb...a real one...not like the Weber on my red 40.Oh yeah,I was trying to decide what color this Texas transplant really is but I think I'm just gonna call it Rusty.The tub is TOAST.The suspension is what I needed.Skyjacker 4" springs and shocks sittin on white wagons that look like Americans or the old Norsemans.The wheels are wrapped with some rubber that looks good for a season or two and they look to have decent tread cut...35's.This peice is my parts rig.New exhaust Man.with fresh pipe and muffler.Cowl foward it's good to gEM radio in the G box.Uncut dash.Pads intact.OEM roll bar.Couple extra aprons and the fenders appear to be solid.The damage to this fine peice of Japanese engineering was a direct rusult of leaving it to rot outside with NO TOP ON IT.The rear swing doors are perfect.The freakin tub rotted at all the low spots and and the "drain holes" saved the rest of this rig.The frame is absolutely spotless! I will post some pics or at least take some.The stuff I don't need will be offered up to GCC members after a month or two so please dont ask yet.The next step for me is the Wilwood disc install with the 4" lift and then see what it's like to wheel my red stocker.Man,I'm so stoked! I had to tell the world!!

 

[landcruiserdude]

Congratulations Darryl on your new parts cruiser. I might be interested in the frame when you get finished with it, as I'd like to pick up a spare.

Lance

 

[74fjsemistock]

Thanks Lance.It's headin out to the wrenchfest tomorrow.The frame is sweet and all. Gonna do something about the lack-o-title on this rig.PO says he'll contact the guy he bought it from.I'm not so hopeful.Lost seems to be the move to make.Thinkin maybe strip this thing to the bare and get Sand and Pecan Blasting.Wind shield frame and hood are reserved for the blue rig that rolls a bit.THE OX.I'm antsie as hell.Diffs are dry on the downside and the Warns spun so smooth.Things drummed @ all 4corner .I'll let you know whats up but I'm holding my breath on the fenders.Pecan,please?The running boards are solid w/ 0 rust even the mounts and stuff are Mud free. I just want the sun to come up !!

 

[landcruiserdude]

Yep, today's going to be a nice day to wrench, and be outside, comparted to the weather we had over the last week or so. If you file and get a lost title, it will need to go with the VIN plate on the cowl if you sell it. At least that's what the tag agent looks at when I get titles put into my name. The VIN on the frame is meaningless to most agents. In fact, they don't even know where to look, unless you point it out and mention it to them.

I've got a 73 parts rig, with old registration paperwork, and I may have to do the same as you if I ever try to resurrect it and get it registered/titled. My local tag agent is pretty cool about these old trucks. He knows I'm a fanatic.

I might be interested in the cowl forward (with VIN plate), along with frame, if you need to unload it later on. Keep me in mind.

Lance

 

[74fjsemistock]

Lance called the PO and he said he's sending the paper on this one.Cowl forward on this is clean. The floorboards and trans hump are toast.Engine has 40,000 and no seepage at the pinions.The dash is good and uncut.Question for you...This thing has the radio mounted in the G box and the factory hole in the dash has a plate that says Toyota with the emblem with a couple spring style pressure clips that hold it in place.This is a factory soft top rig and there are snaps that run down the front side of the door openings where the hinges are.What the hell is that about and have you ever seen the clip in radio filler? I'm just curious.I cant figure out these door snaps.Also behind the door where the hole that recieves the upright for my soft top....this thing has a peice in it that has a small hook in it that appears to be secured by the 2 screws that hold the strike assembly in place.What's up with that ?

 

[landcruiserdude]

Darryl, I'll start with the door snaps first. They're not stock. A factory softtop FJ40 can use either the regular hard doors, or, softtop doors (fabric covering like top). Whoever added the snaps along the door openings must have made up some type of covering. The factory softtop does take OEM style twist locks along the top of the quarter panel lip. There's variation in the number depending on vintage. The twist snaps are still available from Toyota, interestingly enough.

Regarding the radio cover plate, I haven't seen in personal a factory style radio setup, but yours sounds like it's the real deal. They're pretty uncommon.

Regarding the striker hook, I'll have to take a look at it in person to give you my opinion. On the surface, it doesn't sound OEM. But, I need to look at it first. In lieu of a door, in the 1970s and 1980s, Toyota sold door saftey straps, which the front part had a metal rod which attached to the door hinges. The strap was canvas, and snapped to a plate which was attached to the door striker. Early FJ40 softtop models (like my 62 FJ40), were different, in that a eye bolt was attached to the dash, rather than using a metal rod/plate like later ones. They also had an attachment point in the rear behind the seats (about where the softtop bows were located).

Hang on to all that stuff. I'd like to check it out when I get a chance.

Lance