77 fj40 resto advice needed.. stock or upgraded???

[Bsteele]

Looking to do a resto I need ot know if it is better to do a completely stock resto or an upgraded resto ? what i mean is..

new guage cluster
better brakes
better dash knobs and switches
I want to keep the 2f..
better seats


or

should i keep everything 100% stock???

 

[3_puppies]

it's your rig, do what makes YOU happy. don't do it trying to turn the biggest profit when done, because it won't happen.

to me resto=back to stock

 

[destin]

It is a personal decision for sure.

I am kind of a purist.
I would keep or restore it to stock condition.
( I just started to slowly restore my 1964 fj40 FST )

Lets see some photos!!!

 

[Bodean]

It depends on what you want to do with the truck. Light wheeling = Stock. Mild wheeling = modified. I wanted to stay as stock as possible except for lift (4"), tires/wheels (35's) and 1 traction aid in the rear (detroit). I have added a Metal Tech roll cage as well. I am still running the 2F and stock tranny and t-fer case. Some would say this is far from stock but take a look at some of the rigs built today and mine is very mild. Like I said, it's all about what you want to do with the truck. Good Luck!

 

[fieldsken1]

build it go for it and dont stop dont look back the badder the better

 

[Martian]

It depends on what you want to do with the truck. Light wheeling = Stock. Mild wheeling = modified. I wanted to stay as stock as possible except for lift (4"), tires/wheels (35's) and 1 traction aid in the rear (detroit). I have added a Metal Tech roll cage as well. I am still running the 2F and stock tranny and t-fer case. Some would say this is far from stock but take a look at some of the rigs built today and mine is very mild. Like I said, it's all about what you want to do with the truck. Good Luck!

Nice cruiser! That's what I want to do with my stock 78 currently in storage. I want to keep it mostly stock but make enhancements so it performs better in moderate wheeling, and make it safer. Love the color too, and looks like your lady is having fun as well. Gotta find me one of them cruiser-lovin' gals! Are you running stock brakes, or did you do a disc conversion?

 

[Bad Mojo]

Figure out how you want to use the vehicle. I have a 77 FJ40 that will be my DD and it will mostly be stock except for power steering, 2.5 Old Man Emu, and 33" I wanted a vehicle that would be easy to drive around town, but also move me up around the cabin no problem. Besides that it is going back to stock were possible. Good Luck!

 

[thecrazygreek]

lift, tires, power steering.. period...

 

[73fj40lc]

Whatever makes you smile at the end of the day after working on it. I personally build my 40 with the upgrades but try to stay somewhat true to the 40's design. If you look at the FJ Cruiser, Toyota didn't go totally retro. They paid homage to the 40 but used all current tecnology to make it better and more user friendly. I feel the same way about my 40. It was great when it was made but now I am upgrading to keep her running for another 36 years for my son to enjoy. End of the day do what makes you happy. I respect the purist but it is not for me.

 

[cruiserjunkie]

I like it when the mods are hard to see so it looks stock but has more under the skin. Id love to do a complete restore if I could have the time money and a cruiser that the po hadnot totally screwed up

 

[Bsteele]

my green one is my off road truck this has everything done to it that i will almost ever want for off roading.... almost.

this red one is the one i wanna put back to stock.. (stock with the best upgrades for todays standards.. disk brakes.. power steering better guages .. etc.)

 

[Bsteele]

I like it when the mods are hard to see so it looks stock but has more under the skin. Id love to do a complete restore if I could have the time money and a cruiser that the po hadnot totally screwed up

i like your idea .. the upgrade to the things that are not visually noticable yet make a large difference when driving

 

[Bodean]

Nice cruiser! That's what I want to do with my stock 78 currently in storage. I want to keep it mostly stock but make enhancements so it performs better in moderate wheeling, and make it safer. Love the color too, and looks like your lady is having fun as well. Gotta find me one of them cruiser-lovin' gals! Are you running stock brakes, or did you do a disc conversion?

Front are stock disc and the back are still stock but I do have the brackets to do the conversion but I'm not messin with it until they need attention. BTW, The lady in the pic is a buddies wife that needed a ride. She did have fun though!