Build $400 ‘70 FJ40

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Daniel, I wish I had the $ for your troopy. I feel your struggle! gotta do what ya gotta do!
 
That is a great score. Glad you found it. It looks solid so that is a huge win there. Subscribed!
 
Snapped a few quick pics. Lots of surface rust, but nothing to bad imo. Looks like there was an undercoating that’s falling away. Hope next week will provide ideal weather to tear into the farm forty and see what needs to be done or if she’s to far gone.
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Need some advice....to far gone to do a restore? Or should I use some parts for trailer project and sell off the rest? If it can’t be restored I may just keep my Troopy instead of selling as I don’t think I’d do well not having a Cruiser. :D :D
The rear floor has been covered up and there’s rot where the rear meets the front section for the seats.
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Two more.
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The Jade Bean said:
Need some advice....to far gone to do a restore? Or should I use some parts for trailer project and sell off the rest? If it can’t be restored I may just keep my Troopy instead of selling as I don’t think I’d do well not having a Cruiser. :D :D
The rear floor has been covered up and there’s rot where the rear meets the front section for the seats.
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I think it depends on what you want and what you can afford:
If you’re looking for a cheap wheeler, then your at a good starting point. 350’s are pretty cheap, 4speed(Chevy) are a lot cheaper than 5speeds and they’re often attached to 350’s, adapters can be had fairly cheap used. Driveshafts can be adjusted pretty cheaply in the world of mods. Get some seats out of a pick-n-pull. Learn to weld, even if not pretty, it’ll save you a ton of dough. Even redneck fan will likely get you out of the woods. Most of all have a beginning build plan, keep it in doable bites to avoid burn out.
It looks like your a long way( and $$$) from a restore to concourse. That being said, I’m sure others have started with less.
A pressure washer would get the moss and grime off. This may give you idea of wether you want to proceed to media blasting.
 
Since you have a family, and that cruiser is not really a concourse resorable cruiser this is what I would do. I would first check the condition of the cowl area and see if it has easily treatable rust. That would tell me if I am gettting a full tub or 3/4 tub. Then I would get the 3/4 tub or full tub depending on condition of cowl from aqualu. I would strongly consider a fj43 tub and either stretching your current frame or just ordering a new fj43 frame from aqualu. A fj40 3/4 tub from aqualu is 4000k shipped. Making it a fj43 would give more room for your family. Ordering a tub vs repairing will get you on a faster track in your restoration by quite a bit and reduce labor time by a lot but will cost a bit more up front in cash. If you want to keep it a fj40, then carefully evaluate the frame and if it has any cancer. If no cancer then get it sand blasted and galvanized or por15 or other chassis paint.
 
archie73 said:
I think it depends on what you want and what you can afford:
If you’re looking for a cheap wheeler, then your at a good starting point. 350’s are pretty cheap, 4speed(Chevy) are a lot cheaper than 5speeds and they’re often attached to 350’s, adapters can be had fairly cheap used. Driveshafts can be adjusted pretty cheaply in the world of mods. Get some seats out of a pick-n-pull. Learn to weld, even if not pretty, it’ll save you a ton of dough. Even redneck fan will likely get you out of the woods. Most of all have a beginning build plan, keep it in doable bites to avoid burn out.
It looks like your a long way( and $$$) from a restore to concourse. That being said, I’m sure others have started with less.
A pressure washer would get the moss and grime off. This may give you idea of wether you want to proceed to media blasting.
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Good insight! Thank you!
 
White Stripe said:
Since you have a family, and that cruiser is not really a concourse resorable cruiser this is what I would do. I would first check the condition of the cowl area and see if it has easily treatable rust. That would tell me if I am gettting a full tub or 3/4 tub. Then I would get the 3/4 tub or full tub depending on condition of cowl from aqualu. I would strongly consider a fj43 tub and either stretching your current frame or just ordering a new fj43 frame from aqualu. A fj40 3/4 tub from aqualu is 4000k shipped. Making it a fj43 would give more room for your family. Ordering a tub vs repairing will get you on a faster track in your restoration by quite a bit and reduce labor time by a lot but will cost a bit more up front in cash. If you want to keep it a fj40, then carefully evaluate the frame and if it has any cancer. If no cancer then get it sand blasted and galvanized or por15 or other chassis paint.
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Ohhhh...I stretched 40 would be sick!
 
Another 40 trailer...
Well I’m going to turn it into a family camping trailer and Cruiser wall art and then part of the rest. Hope all aren’t to bummed. :D
 
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