Build 70 FJ40 (Here we go!)

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lazarus18

lazarus18

10 Year
Joined
Oct 3, 2014
Threads
30
Messages
293
Location
Tyler, Tx
Welp, as the post says... "Here we go!"

I just bought my first 40, yes I said my first as I hope there will be more coming down the road hah. After owning a 100 series for a few years I knew I was going to need a 40 and soon.

I look forward to learning more about 40s and the community that has been built around them. I appreciate everyone's help in advance and am excited to get to work on it.

More to come down the road, pickup day is this weekend and it cant come soon enough!

FJ40 1.webp


FJ40 2.webp


FJ40 3.webp
 
Geezer Cruzzer said:
Looks pretty nice for the age. Flip the bezel before the "bezel police" spot it!
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Absolutely, first thing I spotted! Once it’s here in the driveway it will be a matter of minutes and then all will be right in the world 😂
 
I was fortunate enough to pickup this nice looking roll bar from @Buffchief. Turns out he was only down the road from me in the next town over.

Thanks again, @Buffchief
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Also, I was able to pickup a spare tire carrier with hardware from @hyhpe. Thanks again for the help!

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lazarus18 said:
I was fortunate enough to pickup this nice looking roll bar from @Buffchief. Turns out he was only down the road from me in the next town over.

Thanks again, @Buffchief
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Also, I was able to pickup a spare tire carrier with hardware from @hyhpe. Thanks again for the help!

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Good deal!! Glad to help and had a nice visit with your FIL. Maybe we'll meet up at some point. Any questions on mounting it give me a shout.
 
lazarus18 said:
Welp, as the post says... "Here we go!"

I just bought my first 40, yes I said my first as I hope there will be more coming down the road hah. After owning a 100 series for a few years I knew I was going to need a 40 and soon.

I look forward to learning more about 40s and the community that has been built around them. I appreciate everyone's help in advance and am excited to get to work on it.

More to come down the road, pickup day is this weekend and it cant come soon enough!

View attachment 4033919

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That looks solid!!
 
Paul_A said:
That looks like a really solid rig--congrats!
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Thanks, Paul! There is rust for sure but we are going to take the body off and get the chassis and everything cleaned up, reshot and do the body after that.

What I’m now on the hunt for is more than likely a solid option for a 2.5 lift (advice needed) as I’m not sold that I want a 4inch yet. I love the stockish look but with 33s it will be tight, so 2.5 is where I think I’m headed.
 
lazarus18 said:
What I’m now on the hunt for is more than likely a solid option for a 2.5 lift (advice needed) as I’m not sold that I want a 4inch yet. I love the stockish look but with 33s it will be tight, so 2.5 is where I think I’m headed.
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do some reading?
knuckle47

Thread 'My impression: Terrain Tamer spring/shock combo after install'

WARNING: LONG READ


This decision for me was a tough choice. I had done springs only once in 1975 when I needed to lift my ‘74 FJ40 because of the Armstrong Tru-Track tires I had added to it. At 21, it was no big deal pulling them off, taking them to a spring shop and having them re-arced and humping them back into position

My recent upgrades were significant with a complete drive line rebuild, bearing, seals and new differentials for 3.70 gearing. $ignificant in acqui$ition and eventually in$tallation. First time in my life I had ever asked another person to perform work on my...
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Looks like a good project, I'm winding down on a frame off its a lot of work.

Based on advise from others I went with the 2.5" OME springs and Bilstein shocks, ended up removing some of the leaves to unstiffen the pack. Have yet to drive it but it appears to flex decent. One drawback is the OME rear springs are a little short and it places your tire forward in the wheel well so I moved the spring mounts back an inch to center the tire.

These days everyone's raving about the Terrain Tamer parabolic springs, sounds like they are a fair bit more expensive but good right out the box.
 
Pighead said:
do some reading?
knuckle47

Thread 'My impression: Terrain Tamer spring/shock combo after install'

WARNING: LONG READ


This decision for me was a tough choice. I had done springs only once in 1975 when I needed to lift my ‘74 FJ40 because of the Armstrong Tru-Track tires I had added to it. At 21, it was no big deal pulling them off, taking them to a spring shop and having them re-arced and humping them back into position

My recent upgrades were significant with a complete drive line rebuild, bearing, seals and new differentials for 3.70 gearing. $ignificant in acqui$ition and eventually in$tallation. First time in my life I had ever asked another person to perform work on my...
  • Like
  • Love
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@Pighead, I love reading all of this so thank you!

I will be looking into it.

60 40 said:
Looks like a good project, I'm winding down on a frame off its a lot of work.

Based on advise from others I went with the 2.5" OME springs and Bilstein shocks, ended up removing some of the leaves to unstiffen the pack. Have yet to drive it but it appears to flex decent. One drawback is the OME rear springs are a little short and it places your tire forward in the wheel well so I moved the spring mounts back an inch to center the tire.

These days everyone's raving about the Terrain Tamer parabolic springs, sounds like they are a fair bit more expensive but good right out the box.
Click to expand...

@60 40, thank you for the info. I have heard and seen the same thing and is why I was slightly skeptical of doing it. Looks like you have a solution to the rear that I was afraid of. Any photos of your rig once the rear was centered?
 
Some folks have good results with skyjacker. I run a 4" s/j lift. They are more budget friendly and not as fancy. You might want to do some searching on the subject.
 
60 40 said:
Here's the OME with the mounts in the rear moved back 1", not a strait shot at the wheel well so it's hard to tell. Also running wider 60 series axles....

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@60 40, I’m going to check this option out. Liking the look. Great looking rig!

pb4ugo said:
Some folks have good results with skyjacker. I run a 4" s/j lift. They are more budget friendly and not as fancy. You might want to do some searching on the subject.
Click to expand...


@pb4ugo, checking on this also as I have heard about that option, just needing to read more on that. Thank you for the suggestion!
 
Got the tires and wheels done. Just waiting to get all of frame and such redone and once tore down will mount the lift, wheels, and tires. Also, probably going to go with the mini-truck steering gearbox route since it’s spending time on our ranch roads and occasionally taking kids to school down the street. I love the idea of taking the FJ60 gearbox and such and putting it on the 40 but it’s not in the budget currently I don’t think.

Thinking of repainting to red like it is on the inside and under the hood. What’s your thoughts? Probably going to try and go more of the mat route vs glossy look.

IMG_0383.webp
 
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