BDSeff1fitty
1987 Toyota 4Runner
- Thread starter
- #21
yea, if the OEM works, then ill try it until it needs fixing. the truck is gonna be mainly a trail rig so "great" brakes are a must.
40 is in
- Thread starter BDSeff1fitty
- Start date
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Holy crap, your truck is changing daily.
BDSeff1fitty
1987 Toyota 4Runner
for some reason I thought this was a 76 fj40 w/ stock motor missing a master cylinder.
BDSeff1fitty
1987 Toyota 4Runner
- Thread starter
- #25
nah, 75 with 76 front axle cut and turned, and a 350 chevy small block (rebuilt 20k ago according to the PO), and i found the master cylinder after i got the hood open yesterday.
Whoa. Settle down. Read this site for a full three months straight and you will find everything you need. This cruiser will/should be with you the rest of your life so there is no rush. Looks like a great rig, kind of like mine but with a little pep. I guarantee you will find the answer to EVERY question you have on here, gone over ad naseum, already. I have never found a vehicle site so passionate about every detail from the blank steel frame to the writing on the nobs on the dashboard like I have on MUD. Hang in there! Temper thyself and welcome to the sickness.
Danimal--Great writeup.
Danimal--Great writeup.
BDSeff1fitty
1987 Toyota 4Runner
- Thread starter
- #27
so after some talking with my dad and figuring out what needs to be done, i think i will be pull everything off, sandblasting my frame and having that line-x. then from their putting stuff on as i go and getting the parts needed. should i fix the rust first before pulling it off the frame or after i put it back on?
Just a few suggestions.
Drive the rig for awhile. 6 months or so.
Or
Sell the rig.
Take that money and buy a east coast mint rig. Then tear it down to the frame and fix all the rust before, during and after.
Search for threads by Rockcod.
He found a very nice looking FJ40, when he got done, I think he actually re-used a piece of the firewall. He could have saved a ton of money (initial purchase) and started with something very rough. The outcome would be the same.
Drive the rig for awhile. 6 months or so.
Or
Sell the rig.
Take that money and buy a east coast mint rig. Then tear it down to the frame and fix all the rust before, during and after.
Search for threads by Rockcod.
He found a very nice looking FJ40, when he got done, I think he actually re-used a piece of the firewall. He could have saved a ton of money (initial purchase) and started with something very rough. The outcome would be the same.
Buy the best vehicle you can afford. Rust sucks it is time consuming to repair and very expensive if you have some take care of it for you, mechanical is way easier to deal with (assuming you are ok with hand tools). Your 40 seems to be in very good shape and already has a lot of work done to it. Post up pics of the entire vehicle and we can help you or give an opinion on areas of concern. As someone mentioned earlier, use the search function and read build threads. These have gotten me through many stumbling blocks.
Dan,
I tend to go about things the wrong way sometimes. Oh, and the part about saving a ton of money, its a cruiser, that'll never happen!
Good luck.
Rockcod
I meant no disrepect at all regarding your build. I hope it did not read that way.
I was just referencing how extensive a frame off resto would be as well as the time and money involved.
I used to think buying 3/4 tubs and bolting them to a cowl was silly. After doing some metal work putting together a tub what a savings the 3/4 tubs are.
Your fabrication skills are terrific! You do way better sheet metal work than I could ever do.
I think for this owner, buying a decent looking and running rig and immediately taking it all apart is not the best thing to do.
I meant no disrepect at all regarding your build. I hope it did not read that way.
I was just referencing how extensive a frame off resto would be as well as the time and money involved.
I used to think buying 3/4 tubs and bolting them to a cowl was silly. After doing some metal work putting together a tub what a savings the 3/4 tubs are.
Your fabrication skills are terrific! You do way better sheet metal work than I could ever do.
I think for this owner, buying a decent looking and running rig and immediately taking it all apart is not the best thing to do.
BDSeff1fitty
1987 Toyota 4Runner
- Thread starter
- #31
i bought this rig as a learning experience, im not in a rush to get it done but i will be working on it any free minute i have to get it done as soon as i can. to be drivable it needs brakes hooked up, steering, drive shafts, fix the engine swap (still need help to find out what parts i need). this truck is mainly going to be a trail rig any ways i just want to learn as much as i possibly can so thats why i am going to go down to the frame. as for the rust i will be cutting the rust out and my friend will be welding up the pieces for me (hes a welder for a living) its not going to be a resto (didn't mean to say it would be if i did), it will just make alot of the pieces easier to get cleaned up and fix the PO's mistakes.
as for hand tools, i have been working on motorcycles since i was little. i do all the work on my bikes myself so mechanicals are not a big issue for me. and my dads an electrical engineer so when time comes to wire it back up he will be alot of help. basically my goal for this is to learn alot more about cars, electrical, and have a reliable trail rig when im done. the engine in it has only 20k on it and the tranny shifts smooth as butter. when i did buy this i knew it was going to get torn down alot and going down to the frame will be alot of extra work but in the end it will making working on certain pieces easier.
rockcod, i read thru all your build threads, you got some sweet rigs and a VERY understanding wife!
danimal, you probly don't think its the best thing for me, but this is why i bought the rig was to tear it down and learn, and to get the rig to be safely driven on the road to the trails going to the frame and replacing whats needed is probly the best why i can think of at the moment and help me learn the most
as for hand tools, i have been working on motorcycles since i was little. i do all the work on my bikes myself so mechanicals are not a big issue for me. and my dads an electrical engineer so when time comes to wire it back up he will be alot of help. basically my goal for this is to learn alot more about cars, electrical, and have a reliable trail rig when im done. the engine in it has only 20k on it and the tranny shifts smooth as butter. when i did buy this i knew it was going to get torn down alot and going down to the frame will be alot of extra work but in the end it will making working on certain pieces easier.
rockcod, i read thru all your build threads, you got some sweet rigs and a VERY understanding wife!
danimal, you probly don't think its the best thing for me, but this is why i bought the rig was to tear it down and learn, and to get the rig to be safely driven on the road to the trails going to the frame and replacing whats needed is probly the best why i can think of at the moment and help me learn the most
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LOL, Dan, none taken. I was referencing the fact that a cruiser is going to cost you no matter what shape the thing is in. You could say it is the nature of (owning) the beast.
1fitty,
Sounds like you have a plan, the means, and the help to see it through. We will be standing on the side lines watching and cheering. Now get to work!!!
Sweet!
I see a lot of rigs get torn down and never reassembled.
I will be standing next to Rockcod on the left coast cheering you on and looking forward to the build.
I see a lot of rigs get torn down and never reassembled.
I will be standing next to Rockcod on the left coast cheering you on and looking forward to the build.
fjwagon
SILVER Star
Nice rig. I think if you have never owned an fj40 the best thing to do is get it running and play with it for while and then tear it down. You will quickly find things that don't work as intended or you just don't like the way it handles. So at the end you do more mods or undo something after you tear it down and put it back together. I own 3 45's and 2 40's and this the thing I hate the most, doing a mod(even reading and asking for opinions before doing the mod) and not liking it. Just my opinion.
BDSeff1fitty
1987 Toyota 4Runner
- Thread starter
- #35
i dont have really any mods left to do, this rig has everything i wanted. its already got disc front, SOA (which i was going to do anyways), cut and turned front axle. and the time i would spend fixing this to be drivable, i would then have to tear it all back apart to do everything i wanted to do.
can any one tell me whats up with the engine to transmission where you can see the flywheel? the starters on the other side so do i need the adapter or i was told by a local truck shop it might need a different oil pan.
Your starter is on the driverside of the engine?
BDSeff1fitty
1987 Toyota 4Runner
- Thread starter
- #37
passenger side. i just found out i have a downey engine adapter which is good news. but fly wheel is still visible on the driver side. ill try and find a camera to get pics up soon all i have is a cell phone that wont send pics for some reason
nice rig
Nice looking rig
I wish I had those nice doors!
even with hidden body work I would say it is not bad at all
looking forward to the build
Nice looking rig
I wish I had those nice doors!
even with hidden body work I would say it is not bad at all
looking forward to the build
BDSeff1fitty
1987 Toyota 4Runner
- Thread starter
- #39
so far the only unexpected body work is the upper wheel wells so im pleased so far. been looking for my camera every where the past couple days and can't find it. my uncle is bringing his engine hoist next week to me when he comes here so i should be able to make some big progress when i get those tools
Dirtys87
Freshly re-tired, becoming that crusty old Vet.
Alright, I'll be the bus driver! Do not deal with JTO if you like your sanity. Do a search on vendors on this site and you'll find a gazillion of outstanding vendors and maybe one or two really bad ones. Then again this is what's so nice about this site, most postings here is "recommendation" and the final decision is on you. I learned so much from this forum. I've built an FJ60 from scratch, on my own soley from information found on this forum and currently building a rolling and drivable 40 again from information from this site. D'animal said it, read this whole site a good once or twice over, particularly the FAQ. There's a crapload of good info in there. Get some manuals, buy them or download them and have your internet up and running, always! Good luck on your endeavour!
