So I have put myself in the face of another project. I am no stranger to the Toyota world as I am also working on a '96 Toyota 4Runner.
I have always found the 40 to be a "cool truck". After being jealous of everyone with a solid front axle, wheeling the IFS of the 4Runner, I dreamed of the day I could own a FJ40. Every once in awhile I would search local ads for sales to see what was being offered. One day I found an advertisement for an estate sale 40 from a dealer one state over from me. My dad just so happened to be in a near by neighborhood and checked it out. While we can not expect a solid truck for it's asking price point, the frame was solid, while the body needed some work.
I'll keep the story short and let the pictures begin.
The 4Runner, and other project truck.
The idea behind this project has not really been established yet. Right now the plan is to strip it down and build it back up. With the assistance of my dad and a welder, we are going to get it back to the state we bought it in except much less rust. Once we have a rolling driving truck the ideas will run wild.
So after making a deal on the truck we rented a uhaul and took the drive to PA to pick up my first FJ40.
The truck is a 1974, claimed to be lifted with skyjacker springs BDS shocks, 2F engine swap from what I believe is from a 1975, Toyota pickup power steering conversion....and a lot of bondo. The truck was repainted what seems to be at least twice since the interior is blue. I know it is risky buying a repainted truck especially when they did not bother to paint the truck completely, but the need to have a 40 took over and we brought it home.
I couldn't wait to get it out for its first drive...
Once I did a quick once over of the truck before taking it out on the road and found brand new brake components. It was time for me to take my FJ40 for its first "unrestored drive".
(seats are out of an Acura)
However, the truck seemed very under powered, I know these are not race cars but something wasn't right.
We began looking for the problem and one thing lead to another and another....
I have always found the 40 to be a "cool truck". After being jealous of everyone with a solid front axle, wheeling the IFS of the 4Runner, I dreamed of the day I could own a FJ40. Every once in awhile I would search local ads for sales to see what was being offered. One day I found an advertisement for an estate sale 40 from a dealer one state over from me. My dad just so happened to be in a near by neighborhood and checked it out. While we can not expect a solid truck for it's asking price point, the frame was solid, while the body needed some work.
I'll keep the story short and let the pictures begin.
The 4Runner, and other project truck.
The idea behind this project has not really been established yet. Right now the plan is to strip it down and build it back up. With the assistance of my dad and a welder, we are going to get it back to the state we bought it in except much less rust. Once we have a rolling driving truck the ideas will run wild.
So after making a deal on the truck we rented a uhaul and took the drive to PA to pick up my first FJ40.
The truck is a 1974, claimed to be lifted with skyjacker springs BDS shocks, 2F engine swap from what I believe is from a 1975, Toyota pickup power steering conversion....and a lot of bondo. The truck was repainted what seems to be at least twice since the interior is blue. I know it is risky buying a repainted truck especially when they did not bother to paint the truck completely, but the need to have a 40 took over and we brought it home.
I couldn't wait to get it out for its first drive...
Once I did a quick once over of the truck before taking it out on the road and found brand new brake components. It was time for me to take my FJ40 for its first "unrestored drive".
(seats are out of an Acura)
However, the truck seemed very under powered, I know these are not race cars but something wasn't right.
We began looking for the problem and one thing lead to another and another....