'73 FJ40 Ride Height

[cvan1971man]

There is no lift on this. No spring over conversion. Nothing.

The tires are 31" tires. Why does this FJ look like it rides high?

When I look at other FJ40's this seems like it is exponentially higher.

 

[JohnnyC]

1... it has new springs
2... it had the rear wheelwell cut

 

[cvan1971man]

1... it has new springs
2... it had the rear wheelwell cut

Old springs. I ended up having to install bags on it to get it level. The drivers side sagged about 3" whether someone was driving or not.

I looked at new springs etc and couldn't justify the $1200 price for a set of 4 new springs.

 

[JohnnyC]

they are not oem springs... possibly a slight lift spring... just old... my 4¨ lift is more like 2.5¨ now that i have 300,000 miles on them

sagging to drivers side is called ¨cruiser lean¨ .... they all lean (mostly)

look up cruiser lean... there is a shim for that

 

[cvan1971man]

they are not oem springs... possibly a slight lift spring... just old... my 4¨ lift is more like 2.5¨ now that i have 300,000 miles on them

sagging to drivers side is called ¨cruiser lean¨ .... they all lean (mostly)

look up cruiser lean... there is a shim for that

are you kidding me, how come i never heard of cruiser lean? that is crazy. I would have much rather dealth with a shim rather than bagging it.

 

[cvan1971man]

are you kidding me, how come i never heard of cruiser lean? that is crazy. I would have much rather dealth with a shim rather than bagging it.

Thank you.

 

[Living in the Past]

It's obvious your cruiser is put together with parts from many other cruisers. It may be a 73 built frame but most likely late 73 and a 74 model. 9/73 tail lights made a major change. Instead of a round all red tail light bolted to the end of the frame the 74 model and later used a rectangular light with three different color lenses that bolted into a hole in the rear frame member. Here is my 2/73 FST with 91/92 FJ80 wheels with stock size tires, 31". Tub is original and tailgate was replaced with a correct OEM. Suspension is stock. Registration tag on the license plate expired in 1988. I owned it 1994.

 

[cvan1971man]

It's obvious your cruiser is put together with parts from many other cruisers. It may be a 73 built frame but most likely late 73 and a 74 model. 9/73 tail lights made a major change. Instead of a round all red tail light bolted to the end of the frame the 74 model and later used a rectangular light with three different color lenses that bolted into a hole in the rear frame member. Here is my 2/73 FST with 91/92 FJ80 wheels with stock size tires, 31". Tub is original and tailgate was replaced with a correct OEM. Suspension is stock. Registration tag on the license plate expired in 1988. I owned it 1994.
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You are correct. it is a frankenstein 40. 73 body and frame, 78 engine, tranny and t-case, don't know what year the hard top is. the ambulance doors were cut in half and the tailgate was welded using the two lower parts of the doors. The drivers and passengers doors are from 2 different years. I am sure that there is more that is not year correct.

 

[pb4ugo]

are you kidding me, how come i never heard of cruiser lean? that is crazy. I would have much rather dealth with a shim rather than bagging it.

They made shims that lower the high side. The 40 looks good. Can you take a couple pics of the fabricated tailgate inside and out. I'm in the process of making a tailgate out of a pair of barn doors and I'm curious how you did the inside.

 

[cvan1971man]

They made shims that lower the high side. The 40 looks good. Can you take a couple pics of the fabricated tailgate inside and out. I'm in the process of making a tailgate out of a pair of barn doors and I'm curious how did on the inside.

 

[cvan1971man]

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[cvan1971man]

The pics are from the build. We had to weld a lug onto the top of the tailgate for the upper part of the door latch to catch onto. Obviosly we shortened the locking mechanism on the bottom as well where it meets the top of the tailgate.

 

[Living in the Past]

You are correct. it is a frankenstein 40. 73 body and frame, 78 engine, tranny and t-case, don't know what year the hard top is. the ambulance doors were cut in half and the tailgate was welded using the two lower parts of the doors. The drivers and passengers doors are from 2 different years. I am sure that there is more that is not year correct.

Frame may be made in late 1973 but would be a 74 model unless that section of the frame has been changed. The top is most likely 8/76-1/79 going by the vent window and square corner on the bottom of the ambulance doors. Running board/step ended 9/69. Originally had rubber pads not diamond plate on the top.

Stock springs have many leads and military wrap on one end.

 

[JohnnyC]

whats your vin number? that will tell us what year the frame is.... located on front pass side frame above the shackle

 

[cvan1971man]

whats your vin number? that will tell us what year the frame is.... located on front pass side frame above the shackle

FJ40161542 - Should be a late 73

 

[JohnnyC]

yes a 10/73 .... 74' model

73´ model had a different rear frame as LITP pointed out

 

[-MaTTi-]

There is no lift on this.

Yes there is. You just don’t know what springs you have there.

 

[cvan1971man]

Yes there is. You just don’t know what springs you have there.

Ok, what would be the best way to figure that out? Take a picture of the springs and upload them here. I don't know squat about how to figure that out!

 

[cvan1971man]

here is a pic of the front and rear springs

 

[JohnnyC]

Imho they look like 2.5” skyjacker by the bolt style spring clip and angle of the rear shackles