Build 1st FJ40, '76 - SMOKEY - Puttin’ her Back Together

[RWBeringer4x4]

Ok, going to keep a running total spent on my $4K "bargain" 76FJ40.

$4000 - initial cost
$526 - delivery fee
$290 - trollhole carb
$20 - iH8Mud support
$65 - new starter
-------------
$4901 as of 3 days in.

^^^You're going to need a bigger spreadhseet. I'm doing this for the Clustertruck. My buy-in price was higher, but I'm looking at an additional $5k in repairs to get it semi-reliable (xfercase, steering, clutch, brakes, suspension). It's good to set it up though because you can use it like a checklist, keeps me honest on the progress I am making, what I'm spending on my "toy" and helps track when the repairs were made, part numbers, etc. in the event I ever 1. sell it or 2. need to do it agian. Pretty funny considering FJ40's we about $4000 brand new, back in the day. Here's to inflation!

 

[Fast Eddy]

I started around the same price. I've slacked off on spreadsheet updates (google docs), but I'm at about $16000 now including selling off a bunch of parts to recoup costs. I've got a stack of misc receipts in the garage from various trips to the hw store and auto parts that totals over $1000 last time I went through it.

 

[Fast Eddy]

What is this? It looks pretty bad. Is this steering linkage?

And this - is this the thermostat? It is not even hooked up.

Rag joint and fuel filter.

 

[Vae Victus]

Rag joint and fuel filter.

Rag joint? Sounds like a Tampon Bar

At least they put another fuel filter inline (although it is lying across the engine block).

 

[Vae Victus]

Ok, going to keep a running total spent on my $4K "bargain" 76FJ40.

$4000 - initial cost
$526 - delivery fee
$290 - trollhole carb
$20 - iH8Mud support
$65 - new starter
-------------
$4901 as of 3 days in.

+$132 for new fluids
-------------
$5033 and its not even close to being able to drive.

 

[RWBeringer4x4]

+$132 for new fluids
-------------
$5033 and its not even close to being able to drive.

After purchasing the FJ40 ($6300), shipping it to DE ($300) and the intial costs to get it running, which put me at about $7500, I had it running just well enough to get it through inspection. The clutch slave cyl failed a week later. The transfercase failed a few weeks after that. Then the battery died. After those repairs (and paying labor to do the t-case) I'm at about $9000 and I still don't trust it more than about a 10 mile radius from my house...Power steering will be about $5-600 in parts plus whatever I have to pay for someone to do the welding. Welcome to project car ownership...

 

[Fast Eddy]

Wait until you go to the Toyota man to buy all new hoses. I think that's about $450 or so for a CA model with the oil cooler.

 

[Vae Victus]

Wait until you go to the Toyota man to buy all new hoses. I think that's about $450 or so for a CA model with the oil cooler.

As Robin would say: "Holy Fing Hoses Batman!"

Google Docs Rox by the way!

As soon as I get another DD to replace the crashed vehicle, I'm going to sell my MINI Cooper to keep my investment cash flow. It was a lot of fun to wrench on, but it is just not me. I'm going to miss it however. 2002 model (first year) - only 40,500 miles on it. Simple, elegant, tight, fast, nimble. Did a supercharger boost (pulley), lowered it (better shocks and springs), race brakes, air intake, ECU modifications, new exhaust. I did it all but the ECU programming. (Put the brake calipers on upside down, couldn't bleed it, had to drive it to the dealer like that (that was fun - no brakes but a little bit of the hand brake) to have them laugh at me and tell me "hey dumbutt, you put them on backwards" )

Took it to the track 2x and had a blast. Track went bankrupt, and the fundraiser that got us out there each year stopped, so no more MINI fun. I'm too old and wise (ahem) to drive fast on the roads anymore. And at 6'3", I look funny piling out of that thing.

Giggle each time I see the 40 now. Can't wait to go through all the "pain" of fixing it up. Strange emotion - dreading each and every project, but elated each time I finish one. Amazed the MINI is road worthy - I didn't know WHAT I was doing.

 

[Titan]

Funny thing, accounting, The most expensive truck I've owned was my Range Rover..THAT was absurd!! she finally went in Georgetown on the way back to OIB, towed it to a local shop,where the owner told me $9436.00 for a used motor installed..i told him to sell her for whatever he could get ..$700..ouch. So after that excapade..my 40 will be a breeze..i think.

 

[Vae Victus]

Funny thing, accounting, The most expensive truck I've owned was my Range Rover..THAT was absurd!! she finally went in Georgetown on the way back to OIB, towed it to a local shop,where the owner told me $9436.00 for a used motor installed..i told him to sell her for whatever he could get ..$700..ouch. So after that excapade..my 40 will be a breeze..i think.

$700? What year was it? Surely you could have parted it out (but who really has time and space to do that?). I owned a Discovery for about 2 years. Bought it new, had electrical gremlins. It survived another crash and was completely redone (not my fault again - really!). Ended up selling it for a new Ford Expedition (yuck hated it). After that, I got the MDX back in '04. Great vehicle.

Enjoyed the size and stature of the LR Disco, but it was trying to be refined when it was not. I enjoy the simplicity of the '40. So basic.

 

[Vae Victus]

... I have to pay for someone to do the welding. Welcome to project car ownership...

Ok, back to Tech here. "Pay someone to do the welding"? - but that's the funnest part!

I bought this about a year ago, and have done a couple of small things with it. Miller XMT 304. Bought it used for $1500, new they are $4000. Don't have a mig gun for it, so even though I spent $400 getting a 208v circuit run in my garage, I did the last project using a Lincoln Cheapo Home Depot 120v MIG that kept tripping the 20A breaker. Made crappy spattery welds and got me laughed at (again) at the welding shop when I brought the project in to be painted.

Also did the project myself rather than paying someone $4000 to do it. Was able to buy the steel, buy a good plasma cutter (Thermal Dynamics), a new compressor, and still come out $1000 ahead.

So, here is what I look like. I am the STIG of welding. (ha ha, I suck).


Here's the mondo welder. I take comfort knowing I can stick weld a battle ship if I ever need to. Actually, I'll not weld much more that 1/8" to 1/4" steel most likely. But, good go know I can.


This is the TIG setup. Done a little of this. Started on some stainless, which is really hard, and quickly learned that I truly do suck. You can see the project I was working on (I own some restaurants and this is some artwork going up in the restaurant - an 8' tall guy holding a guitar, cut out of 1/8" steel).

 

[Vae Victus]

This is when I was grinding down the edges of the art project. Plasma cutter was fun.


The plasma cutter - now I can cut out all kinds of rust.


The "flame" on the plasma cutter.

 

[Vae Victus]

Using the plasma cutter with a buddy to cut up an old box blade that was being recycled. We cut some circles with a circle cutting guide for making some small caliber steel (1/4") targets. We cut some 1/2" stuff off the same blade pretty easily. This $900 cutter will cut up to 7/8" (very slowly).

 

[RWBeringer4x4]

Wow! You're equipped! Welding is on my list of things to learn to do - and my girlfriend's dad has a cheap one...and there is plenty to be done on this truck, but my steering and frame is not where I want to learn. Unfortunately I did things a little backward - bought the truck before the house, so I'm working from a single bay garage at my rental with limited electrical sockets.

So for the time being, and to make a long story short, right now I pay through the nose...

If all goes to plan, a house is about a year or two away, and with the house will come air tools, welders, and plasma cutters

Funny all this discussion of Land Rovers - the mechanic I use for the big jobs is actually a Land Rover tech. Restores old Series III's and Defenders on the side. He has about 4 sitting out in front of his shop. He told me he had 3 offers to buy the FJ40 while it was there - none for the rovers - and they are all in way better shape than the Clustertruck.

 

[Chamba]

Ok, going to keep a running total spent on my $4K "bargain" 76FJ40.

$4000 - initial cost
$526 - delivery fee
$290 - trollhole carb
$20 - iH8Mud support
$65 - new starter
-------------
$4901 as of 3 days in.

NEVER show this list to your wife....

 

[Vae Victus]

NEVER show this list to your wife....

As Sgt Schults says:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34ag4nkSh7Q

 

[Vae Victus]

Wow! You're equipped! Welding is on my list of things to learn to do - and my girlfriend's dad has a cheap one...and there is plenty to be done on this truck, but my steering and frame is not where I want to learn. Unfortunately I did things a little backward - bought the truck before the house, so I'm working from a single bay garage at my rental with limited electrical sockets.

So for the time being, and to make a long story short, right now I pay through the nose...

Someone was talking about taking a $299 welding course at the local college which gave him unlimited access to their welding equipment afterwards. Not a bad solution.... Depends if they have something like that in your area.

I'd love to take a formal welding class myself, but I've not done it (yet).

 

[Vae Victus]

+$132 for new fluids
-------------
$5033 and its not even close to being able to drive.

$169 - Throttle mechanical linkage, eBay
$23 - OTC 6296 Pitman Arm/Tie Rod End Puller
$175 - Titan Quatro 4L SUV Cover (EMP832)
-------------
$5399

Bought a cover to keep the rain "out" of it - leaking badly inside it around the doors and through the engine bay/firewall. And of course it has rained/snowed 5 of the last 6 days since I got it.

Also since I'm getting a new TrollHole carb, I'm going to change from the Weber throttle cable massacre that is going on right now, to an OEM mechanical linkage.

 

[Vae Victus]

Window and door trim sources?

Toyota oem stuff seems redonkulous - $150 for the rear hardtop window, each?

What window and door trim sources are there? (About to commence searching threads as well).

 

[RWBeringer4x4]

My understanding is anything other than OEM won't fit right and is basically a waste of money - but I have no experience as I haven't made it that far yet!