71 Patina shop truck build on the cheap

[cruisermatt]

I will go into more detail later but this 40 is now a driver!
I threw it together over the last few days, fired it up at 2am, drove it around the block and onto the trailer for Gsmtr 2022.
It has been a crazy two weeks getting several other Cruisers ready, and mine come last of course.

So far this 40 is a REALLY high fun-to-dollar/effort ratio.

 

[RodrigzCrzr]

Way to go Matt. Looks good

 

[OPMACHINE]

Love it!

 

[cruisermatt]

GSMTR 2022 absolute blast. First time wheeling 29” tires and first time really wheeling and open/open truck in probably 7 years. Total refresh

 

[cruisermatt]

 

[OPMACHINE]

sweeeet

 

[cruisermatt]

So I never went into real details but ended up changing plans a bit and keeping this one a bit more simple in the drivetrain department.
Ended up just going with a single-piece 4-speed case with a 3-speed case vacuum diaphram bolted to it.
Thanks to some parts from @Drake2 i was able to swap the guts from a earlier firewall actuator he sold me into mine and free that up and replace the FD cable. That is all working great along with the H/N/L linkage lengthened approx 3.5”. So original dash controls working great.

I ended up sticking with all original drum brakes since I had completely rebuilt setups from customer take-offs, and I replumbed the entire thing with @Rainman brake lines. New booster (City Racer scratch/dent), Aisin MC’s, OEM hoses etc.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

This truck is so much fun to ride in and drive. 11/10

 

[cruisermatt]

Just drove the 40 almost every day for two weeks straight. Only got rained on twice!
Now that the initial build is basically done I think it would be fun to replace parts with new OEM but only if they are damaged/not functioning.
So I put a new OEM bumper on, new turn signal switch and working thru getting the brake and turn signals working, next up is a new correct year gas tank so my gauge will actually work right (have a borrowed 69-older tank in it now).

Also I never really posted any of the build pics so here is a few. I
will try to dig back and post more as I have time.

I actually managed to break the original front crossmember in half pushing it into the shop with the forklift so
we replaced it with a 80-83 version i had three or four days before leaving for Gsmtr. Had to move both rad mounts.
Actually my 17 year old intern did most of the work on that project. He did a great job.

 

[cruisermatt]

Well, it’s been awhile, but I still have this thing.
This morning my partner and I took it out for a early picnic in the park.

I’ve since learned with a little bit of planning I don’t need to run around town to buy parts and do errands. So this thing mostly just sits around. I’ve driven it maybe four times in the last six months.
I think I’ve made a decision that will mean that this 40’s days are numbered, well as a stock-ish 40 anyways

 

[Green Bean]

Well, it’s been awhile, but I still have this thing.
This morning my partner and I took it out for a early picnic in the park.

I’ve since learned with a little bit of planning I don’t need to run around town to buy parts and do errands. So this thing mostly just sits around. I’ve driven it maybe four times in the last six months.
I think I’ve made a decision that will mean that this 40’s days are numbered, well as a stock-ish 40 anyways

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Note to partner: Drinking a hot beverage in a moving 40 can be quite hazardous.

 

[EWheeler]

Note to partner: Drinking a hot beverage in a moving 40 can be quite hazardous.

As can placing that hot beverage in a crappy paper cup with plastic lid between one's legs while trying to navigate an FJ40

 

[cruisermatt]

It will be a long time before anything really exciting happens with this truck (if it happens at all) but I do have a minor update, it got a full soft top setup, used bows courtesy of @EWheeler and @CondeCruiser , I actually got this setup to put on my yellow 75 but one of my employees (same 17 year old intern who did a lot of the work on this truck initially, now 19 year old full-time employee) wanted to drive it to NC for ONSC Carolina Relic Run in April, so I put the soft top on that so he wouldn't get completely roasted. Truck did the 600 mile drive each way with no issues other then the shifter handle popping out of the transmission once on the trail. Cruised 75mph too. He was grinning the whole time.

 

[EWheeler]

It will be a long time before anything really exciting happens with this truck (if it happens at all) but I do have a minor update, it got a full soft top setup, used bows courtesy of @EWheeler and @CondeCruiser , I actually got this setup to put on my yellow 75 but one of my employees (same 17 year old intern who did a lot of the work on this truck initially, now 19 year old full-time employee) wanted to drive it to NC for ONSC Carolina Relic Run in April, so I put the soft top on that so he wouldn't get completely roasted. Truck did the 600 mile drive each way with no issues other then the shifter handle popping out of the transmission once on the trail. Cruised 75mph too. He was grinning the whole time.

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Looks way better on your 40 than in my storage container! Homie looks stoked, that is a rad experience for him. Few things are more rewarding better than working hard for a leader that you respect and they appreciate it.

 

[miller]

Love it! We have similar tastes in patina 40’s