40 Restoration...first timer.

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Joined
Nov 10, 2010
Threads
99
Messages
1,238
Location
Grand Rapids, MI
Well this is my first Fj40 rebuild. I bought the truck thinking I would make it a rock crawler but I just can't see myself beating this thing on the trail. I'm building it for a trail rider/weekend driver and like the clean look of a more factory rig.

Thinking about a small 2.5 OME lift with 33" tall BFG's. I like that clean look.

Anyway I've owned the truck for 3 months and will get this thread as up to date as I can.

Here are some pics of the disassemble. Roll cage is a Maltech Family cage I believe and not pictured.
71fj40teardown1 (2).webp
71fj40teardown2.webp
 
The original color I believe was white but who can tell after 35 plus years of repaints.

I want red FJ40 single stage paint so I went to Fleet Farm and bought a couple rattle cans and Kyle and I paint each side a different shade of red to determine what color shade I preferred.

Drivers side is Massey Ferguson Red and Passenger Side is International Harvester Red.
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After determining and following a few restorations I think I'm going to go with an original Toyota color code to try and keep it more original.

Anyone have a line on color codes and where to get this single stage type of paint?

I'm thinking of these colors at the moment :

1) 71906 Vesuvlus Red Code : T1708

2) 71912 Toumaline Red Code : T1713
 
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First weekend in November we removed the body from the frame. A few guys, a few more beers, some tools and a skid loader got us heading in the right direction.
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dissasemble tub.webp
 
First weekend in November 2010 we removed the body from the frame and took it down to get it soda blasted. The gentleman who soda blasted it charged $100/hr. He originally told me $400 bucks and I negotiated down to $300. He did an awesome job.

If your in Iowa I have his name and number. He does restoration on old 34 Ford coupes and such...perfectionist.

Included before and after pics.
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Timeline of the primer is first week December 2010.

After we picked up the tub from the sodablaster we determined that it was time to get this thing cleaned up and ready for primer. Nothing like blowing a few hundred bucks and having this thing flash rust.

I went with a really good primer cause I still wasn't sure what type of paint I was going with. From spending many hours reading other peoples restoration projects I went with Dupont Chromasurfacer 7704S.
preprimer.webp
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Items to finish up in December include :

1) Reattach tub to body to get ready for paint.
2) Get tub and body and all body parts to the paint shop.

3) Disassemble Hard top and remove glass to get ready for paint. Local Autoglass shop is storing all glass and gaskets for me while this gets painted. Its who ya know:)

4) Get tub, front bib, hood, fenders, hardtop, rear gate, rear door painted. Dropping off at body shop on 12/31/10.
Order rear quarters and rear sill from CCOT and get those welded in.
Cut out 5 inches from rear of tub and weld in new metal (someone fixed with glass bondo looks like crud).
 
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Nice work so far! Glad your saving this one!
Not a lot of 40's left in Iowa I dont think!
Next time Im back visiting family Ill have to pop in for a peek!
(born and raised in CR)
 
Looks like you're off to a good start! I prefer a milk crate to the 5 gallon bucket for joyrides, but to each is own ;)

:cheers:

Tucker
I like the feel and fit of the 'custom buckets'
 
@Fj404life : your welcome to come up anytime. We've always got cold beer in the fridge.
@Subzali : The title says '73 but with a VIN decoder its actually a '71. The engine is a Chevy 350 with Throttle Body injection. Sounds mean with no exhaust hooked up.
@JohnnyC : Not sure of the rear steel thickness. Haven't gotten into yet. Will keep this thread updated though. Rear Quarters/Sill should be delivered in a couple weeks and then I'll get sheet metal to repair the rear.
@FJforty : Thanks.
 
Hey - I had the same seats as you for a while. Installation on them was a breeze ;)

Jonny
 
A front loader and a fork lift sure make for handy restoration tools....
 
Looks good Travis, I'm a little to late but if you look in the glove box you can usually see the original color. I'll keep looking for updates and will have to drive up some weekend.
 
This weekend I have been disassembling parts to get ready for paint. I am ordering new rear quarters and a rear sill from CCOT on Monday. Will continue to pull the doors apart, pull hinges off the hood, remove windshield glass, hardtop glass and so on. Here's a couple pics.
reardoorspaint1.webp
frontbibfrontdoors.webp
hartopsideshardtop2.webp
 

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