Builds 77 FJ40 Build, It begins...and may take a while (1 Viewer)

[franklin40]

one more wide angle shot for the night.

 

[franklin40]

redid my bulkhead fittings. i didn’t like the rubber o rings. i couldn’t get them to tighten well enough so i put poly washers on. i also extended the return line to the bottom of the tank to prevent diesel foaming. lastly i added an extra fuel line for my webasto. i’m pretty happy with it now. tomorrow body!!

 

[franklin40]

 

[franklin40]

the way a good shop should look!!!

more than one!!

 

[franklin40]

the PO of my truck had some body work done to the rear tub that is not stock. i can’t tell if this cross member is stock or not though. anyone out there able to tell be if it’s stock for a 1977 tub. the one on my 72 is a little different. i ask because it looks like it might get in the way of my @Downey fuel tank

and do these brackets for the exhaust shield need to come off?

they sit right on the tank and are holding the body about 2 inches above the rear cross member

 

[franklin40]

intercooler mocked up. i’ve run out of clamps. ill build a mounting bracket off of where the air cleaned mounted on the engine

 

[franklin40]

tried my hand at aluminum welding tonight. it’s tough. many booger welds that got ground down. oh well. it’s just a bracket to support the intercooler. i have some sanding on it to get rid of some splatter. i think ill paint it black too. that hides a multitude of sins!!

i’m running out of parts stashed in my shop. i need to try and get some air conditioning stuff mocked up and then i’m really ready for the body!!

what do you think of the 80s supra seat look? i’ve got a set i’ve been thinking of getting recovered.

 

[franklin40]

bracket installed and intercooler strapped down. should be pretty good. just need a couple clamps for the hoses yet and it’s done

now i’m trying to lay out my dash. purists beware. i’m modifying it though it terrifies me to cut into it!!

i’m putting and old air hurricane in and dash louvers. i’m also putting in a double din stereo. so i’ll be moving some knobs around that i can and deleting some that aren’t needed. main reason is i need hands free phone ability for my work and i have the same stereo in my 62 and love it. so there. don’t even try to get me to change my mind

 

[franklin40]

fj40 sacrilege tonight. sorry guys but i cut my dash.
it started looking like this

then this

then this

and finally this

it’s funny after all the other mods i’ve done it still hurts for some reason to cut a perfect dash. call me crazy but this one took some convincing myself to follow it through. ill be happy when it’s done

 

[franklin40]

ill have to cut it a few more times yet to put these in. they are the vintage air louvers. spendy but really nice!!

 

[Honger]

ill have to cut it a few more times yet to put these in. they are the vintage air louvers. spendy but really nice!!

View attachment 2543490

Five years on I’m still loving those air registers. As you say, they are spendy. But they are holding up and still look the business.

 

[franklin40]

Five years on I’m still loving those air registers. As you say, they are spendy. But they are holding up and still look the business.

that’s great to hear. i really like the look.

 

[Honger]

that’s great to hear. i really like the look.

Are you keeping the headlight switch right next to the register? I relocated mine down and put in a foglight switch as well... since you're committed to messing with the dash now. =)

 

[franklin40]

ill move the light switch to where it fits best but yes i’ll likely out some fog and rear lights in too so that might be a good place for those switches.

@Honger i just realized your thread is what i’ve been patterning mine after. trying to go somewhere between yours and this....

 

[franklin40]

it’s been a while since i’ve had time to work on this project. i’m fighting with radiator fan space. so i needed to get my fenders in place so i can place my bib so i know how much space i have to move the rad forward. i have just over 3 inches of space which is exactly what i need to get a fan with shroud in there. i need more clearance so i’m trying to get my rad forward about 1/2 inch. i also have ford shock towers on my frame so my fenders needed some trimming. i love the stock look of the lip around the shook tower provision so i did some cutting and pasting to make that happen. first time i’ve done any body work. i hope the guy that does the final body job doesn’t hate me but i though it turned out pretty good

 

[franklin40]

put some primer on it to prevent rust. now for the other side

 

[franklin40]

 

[DPV7070]

Looking good. Hopefully you're still hanging in there with it!

 

[franklin40]

oh i haven’t given up!! i just spent the last year and a half building a new house so have run out of money!! we’re done that now so i’m really hoping to get back at it this year!! thanks for the encouragement though. there are definitely times i need it!!

how has yours been running?

 

[DPV7070]

oh i haven’t given up!! i just spent the last year and a half building a new house so have run out of money!! we’re don’t that now so i’m really hoping to get back at it this year!! thanks for the encouragement though. there are definitely times i need it!!

how has yours been running?

It's still running like a top!