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- #61
Yes I'm keeping it. I think with the increased handling and drivability its a must too.
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40 Restoration...first timer.
- Thread starter Hoz FJ40 CO
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- Thread starter
- #62
Figured out a solution to the cut up dash. Swapping tubs with the body man tomorrow. Will be able to pick up the completed painted truck on Mar 18th.
This tub is great. A tiny bit of rust that is going to get cut out and replaced and body smoothing and this is good to go. Plus looks to have all factory metal yet unlike the tub that came from the PO. I'm excited to see how this turns out. The plus is I have good rear quarters and a good rear sill in the new tub. Guess I understand how you can have new expensive parts laying around. Now I have 2 new rear quarters from CCOT and a new rear sill from CCOT collecting dust...lol
Swapping out old tub (picture 1)
For the new tub (picture 2)
This tub is great. A tiny bit of rust that is going to get cut out and replaced and body smoothing and this is good to go. Plus looks to have all factory metal yet unlike the tub that came from the PO. I'm excited to see how this turns out. The plus is I have good rear quarters and a good rear sill in the new tub. Guess I understand how you can have new expensive parts laying around. Now I have 2 new rear quarters from CCOT and a new rear sill from CCOT collecting dust...lol
Swapping out old tub (picture 1)
For the new tub (picture 2)
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- Thread starter
- #63
Email from my body man : 
Tubs coming along. hope to get the bottom sprayed today. after it's all primed. and sealed. lots of work!! put the bottom angle iron on last night. the metal was actually stretched on the left so it wouldn't pull straight would have had to cut it and re-weld. Since the holes were all equidstant I bolted the iron on both sides and tacked it in places and used seam sealer. It looks great and should make your truck look tough. it also bolstered and strengthened the sides like you wouldn't believe. It flexed before. Not now!!! ...He went on to say that he'll have the underneath painted tonight and should have the tub ready to spray the interior tomorrow.
Pick up truck on Friday...more pics to come!!!
Tubs coming along. hope to get the bottom sprayed today. after it's all primed. and sealed. lots of work!! put the bottom angle iron on last night. the metal was actually stretched on the left so it wouldn't pull straight would have had to cut it and re-weld. Since the holes were all equidstant I bolted the iron on both sides and tacked it in places and used seam sealer. It looks great and should make your truck look tough. it also bolstered and strengthened the sides like you wouldn't believe. It flexed before. Not now!!! ...He went on to say that he'll have the underneath painted tonight and should have the tub ready to spray the interior tomorrow.
Pick up truck on Friday...more pics to come!!!
- Thread starter
- #64
Final Painted Tub pictures. Going to pick it up Saturday. Looking forward to seeing the color in the daylight. Will have more pics of tub on frame and build up pics coming soon after as well.
Living in the Past
SILVER Star
That tub was a 73 or maybe a 74 but not a 71. The tub you picked up is a 72. A few things changed between 72 and 73. The steering changed. The opening between in the firewall is different. The 73 and later steering column cover bolted to the firewal, while the 72 and earlier just passed thru it with a seal. Later is easier for for some steering options. The transmission cover and opening are different. The later being longer and taller making it easier for different drive train. Plus the gas tank changed btween 72 and 73. The filler neck changed completely in both the tank and tub connection. There are other changes like bench to buckets seats, radio opening added. Turn signal indicators moved from the dash to the speedo face. I know now that it's painted you may not want to switch some of old tubs parts over but may want to look at mods you might have to make. The 72 tub looks to be in a lot better shape and would have been the route I would have taken also.
- Thread starter
- #66
@LivingInThePast : That is good to know. I am unbolting the pedals tonight in the old tub and adding them to the new tub this weekend. Any issues you see or will these bolt right up?
As far as the seats go I'm still up in the air about those. I have a really nice set of bench seats and a really nice set of buckets. I'm going to wrap the frame in foam and set both sets in there and see which one I like better. I've been learning towards the bench as my girlfriend like sit almost on top of me. She hates the center consol in my 4runner so thinking about the bench. Gotta keep her happy so I can keep tinkering with my 40's.
As far as the seats go I'm still up in the air about those. I have a really nice set of bench seats and a really nice set of buckets. I'm going to wrap the frame in foam and set both sets in there and see which one I like better. I've been learning towards the bench as my girlfriend like sit almost on top of me. She hates the center consol in my 4runner so thinking about the bench. Gotta keep her happy so I can keep tinkering with my 40's.
- Thread starter
- #67
Picked up the truck from the Bodyshop. I have been looking forward to working on this truck for a while.
Here are some pics :
Here are some pics :
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- #68
Well my project has changed directions.
Here's the back story. I found this Cruiser on Craigslist back in Sept 2010 and it needed everything and was over my ability to recreate this truck. I called my buddy who is a Diesel mechanic and asked if he was interested in helping me with this project and he was like 'Heck yeah, buy it!!!' Well as life goes he just found out that he's going to be a father (which is awesome) but he hasn't had time helping me with this project. Hmm lesson learned, if you can't do it yourself don't buy it.
Anyway I bought a parts truck that is actually in good running condition. I drive it around the parking lot almost everyday. The drive train in great, the body sucks. Well since all my body pieces are back from bodyshop I thought why not put all my newly painted body pieces on this truck that runs. So that is what I'm doing.
I'm getting some help from a local mechanic to help me/show me peel all the electrical off the bad body and pull that body off...then put the new body on and re-intsall the wiring that we pulled out. From there I will restore all the knobs when they are back in the truck. I know the purist will have comments for a 78 frame and motor with 73 parts but since this is my first build and I plan on driving this truck for a few years I guess I don't care.
Anyway I'm going to get the 73 that has the 350 TBI all wired up and running so I can sell it.
Here is what I have in mind.
Pic 1: 73 Body and Frame with 350 TBI Motor
Pic 2 : Painted and ready to be assembled 73 Body Parts
Pic 3: 78 FJ40 going to take off badly rotted body and front end and replace with 73 Tub
Here's the back story. I found this Cruiser on Craigslist back in Sept 2010 and it needed everything and was over my ability to recreate this truck. I called my buddy who is a Diesel mechanic and asked if he was interested in helping me with this project and he was like 'Heck yeah, buy it!!!' Well as life goes he just found out that he's going to be a father (which is awesome) but he hasn't had time helping me with this project. Hmm lesson learned, if you can't do it yourself don't buy it.
Anyway I bought a parts truck that is actually in good running condition. I drive it around the parking lot almost everyday. The drive train in great, the body sucks. Well since all my body pieces are back from bodyshop I thought why not put all my newly painted body pieces on this truck that runs. So that is what I'm doing.
I'm getting some help from a local mechanic to help me/show me peel all the electrical off the bad body and pull that body off...then put the new body on and re-intsall the wiring that we pulled out. From there I will restore all the knobs when they are back in the truck. I know the purist will have comments for a 78 frame and motor with 73 parts but since this is my first build and I plan on driving this truck for a few years I guess I don't care.
Anyway I'm going to get the 73 that has the 350 TBI all wired up and running so I can sell it.
Here is what I have in mind.
Pic 1: 73 Body and Frame with 350 TBI Motor
Pic 2 : Painted and ready to be assembled 73 Body Parts
Pic 3: 78 FJ40 going to take off badly rotted body and front end and replace with 73 Tub
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- Thread starter
- #69
Since this build has changed directions I will update the work I have been doing on the 78.
This past weekend I have been grinding and painting the frame with POR15.
Everyone says this stuff is nasty when you get it on your hands. They are right I'll be wearing this stuff for a while. However the fit and finish of this product are awesome.
I have a Brand New OEM gas tank from Toyota that I will paint with POR 15 so that it will last for many years after I have sold it and the next guy will be very happy that someone took the time to properly coat the tank.
This past weekend I have been grinding and painting the frame with POR15.
Everyone says this stuff is nasty when you get it on your hands. They are right I'll be wearing this stuff for a while. However the fit and finish of this product are awesome.
I have a Brand New OEM gas tank from Toyota that I will paint with POR 15 so that it will last for many years after I have sold it and the next guy will be very happy that someone took the time to properly coat the tank.
- Thread starter
- #70
The 78 40 :
I talked to Mike this morning and he is picking up the 78 to have all the wiring transfered over to the new tub. He says the harness is in pretty good shape so he is just going to pull everything through the old tub and put in the new tub. This is going to be expensive to say the least but worth it in the long run. I will update with pictures of his progress as the week goes on.
The 73 40 :
I am going to the farm to get the 73 40 to get over to Mike so he can hook up the throttle body injections and the Painless wiring so the truck can run. Then will get all the front clip put back on the truck, the gas tank put back in along with the front and rear seats. Mike is also going to lengthen the front and rear drive shafts for me so I can drive this around for a couple weeks.
My New JIS bolt kit showed up today. Woot woot!!!
Pics to follow.
I talked to Mike this morning and he is picking up the 78 to have all the wiring transfered over to the new tub. He says the harness is in pretty good shape so he is just going to pull everything through the old tub and put in the new tub. This is going to be expensive to say the least but worth it in the long run. I will update with pictures of his progress as the week goes on.
The 73 40 :
I am going to the farm to get the 73 40 to get over to Mike so he can hook up the throttle body injections and the Painless wiring so the truck can run. Then will get all the front clip put back on the truck, the gas tank put back in along with the front and rear seats. Mike is also going to lengthen the front and rear drive shafts for me so I can drive this around for a couple weeks.
My New JIS bolt kit showed up today. Woot woot!!!
Pics to follow.
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- Thread starter
- #71
Ok here's an update on the build's.
I am getting both trucks wired up at the same time. I stopped by the shop tonight to drop off some parts and of course take some pictures.
Pic 1) The body has been moved from the 73 to the 78
Pic 2) Front end of the naked 73 (hehe) and the 78 getting wired up
Pic 3) Front end of the 78 need some minor fabricating for the steering wheel and the ebrake but other than that good to go.
I am getting both trucks wired up at the same time. I stopped by the shop tonight to drop off some parts and of course take some pictures.
Pic 1) The body has been moved from the 73 to the 78
Pic 2) Front end of the naked 73 (hehe) and the 78 getting wired up
Pic 3) Front end of the 78 need some minor fabricating for the steering wheel and the ebrake but other than that good to go.
- Thread starter
- #72
This weekend alot of progress has happened and the wiring is coming together beautifully.
1) Firewall getting wired up and all parts reattached.
2) Had to cut the tranny hump to size since its a 72 tub on a 78 frame.
3) Gas Pedal brackets were entirely different so had to custom fabricate the gas pedal, the emergency brake bracket and the bracket that holds the steering wheel. All in all it looks great and works great as well.
I am using new JIS bolts to install most things back on the body and on the inside of the truck. The zinc bolts look great with the red and give everything that new truck look.
1) Firewall getting wired up and all parts reattached.
2) Had to cut the tranny hump to size since its a 72 tub on a 78 frame.
3) Gas Pedal brackets were entirely different so had to custom fabricate the gas pedal, the emergency brake bracket and the bracket that holds the steering wheel. All in all it looks great and works great as well.
I am using new JIS bolts to install most things back on the body and on the inside of the truck. The zinc bolts look great with the red and give everything that new truck look.
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- Thread starter
- #73
Pic 4) Mockup the fenders, apron and bib to make sure everything is fitting correctly.
Pic 5) Powder coater dropped off the wheels yesterday. I think they are a little too light so I may paint them darker gray.
Pic 5) Powder coater dropped off the wheels yesterday. I think they are a little too light so I may paint them darker gray.
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Looks good and making good progress, I would leave the wheels alone, the contrast against the red and the tires will stand out and look great imho. GL and keep the pics coming
- Thread starter
- #75
I pulled the factory seats out and put in my Green Bay Packers bench seat. The seats were in great shape and I got the seats from Smitty in Green Bay, WI (thanks Smitty).
The drivers seat has been moved back and is a great fit for me. Enjoy the pictures.
The drivers seat has been moved back and is a great fit for me. Enjoy the pictures.
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very cool.
I also think the wheel contrast could be cool but wouldn't argue if you took them just a shade darker either.
I also think the wheel contrast could be cool but wouldn't argue if you took them just a shade darker either.
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- #77
@nspctr1 : I am looking into Universal Vintage Tires so the cool old tires may just be enough. We shall see. I'll post pics as soon as I get them here and mounted.
@Hawkeyealum: I've waited 2 months for these wheels to get blasted and painted. I also had my 4runner wheels blasted and painted and I think he got mixed up about the colors. Next time I will get them blasted and painted them myself. CCOT sells a correct color kit.
@Hawkeyealum: I've waited 2 months for these wheels to get blasted and painted. I also had my 4runner wheels blasted and painted and I think he got mixed up about the colors. Next time I will get them blasted and painted them myself. CCOT sells a correct color kit.
- Thread starter
- #78
Update on the tires : Looking into getting these : Cooper Courser Traction / Hercules HDT 7.00-15 30.4” OD
Here's a great link for anyone looking for the tall skinny tires : https://forum.ih8mud.com/fj25-owners-group/192576-army-tires-6.html#post6509058
- Thread starter
- #79
I picked up the 40 at Mike's place and the attention to detail in the wiring and fabricating is amazing. New zinc bolts sticking out all over the place. I need to apply weather stripping and bolt everything back together but I took her out for the first time tonight with my mechanic and it was pure joy.I am going to be working hard at getting the front and rear turn signals all hooked up so I can drive this baby all around town. She's not perfect (rear quarters and a couple other issues) but we're on the downward slope at this point and I can still take her out and enjoy her this year.
Enjoy the pics they will keep coming as I get her assembled.
1) My mechanic Mike and I (I'm practically jumping out of the dang seat I'm so excited.
2) Some poser pics but what the heck still a cool shot
3) Another poser shot but doesn't she look awesome. Still excited about driving her around the block tonight. Whohoo!!!!
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looks good!
