78 FJ 40 project Frank

[TractorDoc]

Ive found it to be true in life that some things. . . . wife, dogs/cats, 40s. . . find you vs. you finding them. You may not be actively looking for one, but sometimes the opportunity for a good one presents itself and it would be foolish to let it pass by!

Congratulations on the new addition! Also, if you store most of the pieces from the original 40 in the house there is no reason you cannot have two!

 

[kbahus]

Nice score on the new 40, looks fantastic!

 

[alabamatacomaguy]

Work has kept me from doing anything but looking at the cruisers as I walk by. If the planets align correctly I should have a day off tomorrow and Sunday to have my "landcruier days". Though I'm sure at some point the wife will want to go out and I'll be sitting at an overpriced brunch.

I'm hoping an old electric pressure washer I found in my grandfathers garage will work well enough to clean up the underside of the new to me cruiser.

I don't know if I should start a new thread or just keep adding to this one. I like looking back at how much I've learned and how far I still can go learning about these old vehicles on here. I think for now I'll keep adding here.

The build dates are may 1978 for the blue and march 1978 for the tan.

The blue is pretty complete not missing much
It is missing the charcoal canister which makes me wonder if that contributes to a gas smell in the cab. It's got a poly tank from ccot like the tan one does. The tan one has run good with it the last few years I haven't seen a need to change it.
It's got an oil leak that has already marked its spot in the garage. At first I thought it was the pcv valve and gasket but after checking closer tonight I'm pretty sure it's the side cover gasket. Lucky for me and my not yet named cruiser I stashed some oem cruiser parts a few years back so I have a new oem gasket to put on when I want to get into it. I may pick up an oil pan gasket from Toyota as well to make sure that's not also a source to the oil spot under her. For some reason the big yellow igniter bothers me. I think it's because Ive grown to only have eyes for toyota. Im wondering if that could be a source of her not wanting to idle.

If things work out I'll be putting the tan one together to sell if I can come to terms with that, and doing a baseline on the blue one and swap out all fluids. Going through the records it had a couple of oil changes about a decade ago where senthetic oil was used so I'm wanting to get in some oil and zddp zinc additive I'll have more confidence in.


I need to find a cheap way to keep the garage cooler might have to just rig up a bunch of shop fans. I was sweating pretty bad at midnight tonight and the daytime heat is already in the 90s.

 

[alabamatacomaguy]

My inlaws had a cookout for Memorial Day so after a half day of work and a couple hours of yard work I got to drive the cruiser about 45 mins over to their house and get to know it better.
I'm thinking I'll enjoy it all summer and then have a list of things for the winter like weatherstripping, side cover gasket, etc. by then I should have gotten the old one listed and sold. I need to find some fenders for my project one since I'm keeping the oem I have.
Coming home she followed behind me and got a few action shots. Looks like speedo is off because of the bigger tires like they get when that is done. I was showing 42ish while she was getting 50.

I forget the taillights are missing the longer screws. I'll add them to the need to pick up list once I start ordering parts for it.

Leaks drips like most do so I threw an old shower current under.


Took the wife out for some yogurt a few days ago as well. She liked it better than the other one but a 40 year old vehicle isn't as comfortable as a modern one in 90 plus degree heat. She also doesn't like jumping in so I need to put the running boards back on. I think it's about an inch to tall but I won't worry about it, it fits in the garage without airing down the tires.
Lucky for me the previous owners had a good bit of brake work done at Toyota dealers so according to the papers it's got Toyota rotors, cylinders etc under there. I haven't had time to look yet but it stops good which I need.... I've lost count of how many times people pull out in front of me in it.

 

[TheHardWay]

That's because they THINK they'd rather be ahead of you than behind

 

[alabamatacomaguy]

My wife has a silhouette machine she got for her birthday and has been wanting to make things. I found an old image and had her make me a sticker. Gotta find some more for her to make.

If anyone else has used something like this or has cool images I'm looking for ideas. She's learning how to use it.

 

[alabamatacomaguy]

I've been to busy with work and traveling to do much cruiser related that and 90 degrees is just to hot after working all day. Spent a lot of time wih family and my wife which I can't complain but now getting into a busy month of work so I'm lucky to get an hour of time a week.

I work on "frank" when I can here and there getting him ready to sell..... going to be hard to watch it leave . I've got a potential buyer coming by wed afternoon that is looking for one to put in a more updated drivetrain. I have a feeling we are to far apart on price but he chose to come and see after hearing the price and rust free vehicles are not common in my area. I don't have it listed forsale yet as I don't have the pass side fender bolted on so it's not drivable. But it's getting there.


Getting shocks on should at least improve the ride compared to not having any bushings and busted shocks. I'm looking forward to driving it and seeing the improvement.

Bib going together. Has rust covered up by a po with filler on hinge area. I spray bombed to get most of the 40 the same color. The next owner can do what they wish with paint.

 

[DSB345]

There is two of us? congratulations on that 40!

 

[alabamatacomaguy]

There is two of us? congratulations on that 40!

Thanks
I Picked up the blue one a few months back it popped up and is what I was going for. After stuggling to get momentum on the first one for a while, work that keeps me busy and a wife that we want kid or two in the future (when I'm done being a kid) the option of a finished one works better for me. It's not perfect but it's at a place I can really enjoy and spend a few hours messing around with when I can go in the garage and not die from the heat and humidity.


Just went back to your build thread, I need to go through again I enjoy reading the detailed builds. Mine had red on the inside of the doors as well. Trucks original color was 416 tan

 

[DSB345]

Understood! I agree with you on the driving part. It's hard to look at one and not drive it

 

[alabamatacomaguy]

Got the cruiser out to stretch its legs. I've been inventorying all the parts to get ready to sell. I'm thinking I'll just lay everything out on the driveway and take a pic of it and sell as a package deal. As the rusted panels have glass and hardware to swap to the better ones.
I need to find another catch fraise but I sure wish Florida had big basements like back home. These large ovens don't hold as much and don't cool down until after my bedtime around midnight.

 

[alabamatacomaguy]

picked up a nail in a tire tonight in the fjcruiser. Not to upset it has the original bfgs that are 10 years old and have 60 k miles so it's time for a new set. I'm going to hunt for a deal before pulling he trigger so I'm in no rush. I remember in the past bfg or tire rack or eBay or Sams club.... one of them had a deal for getting a big rebate or a free tire or something like 400 off so I'm going to try and find that.


Works been crazy so no 40 fun lately but once it calms down I'll be selling the tan cruiser and getting a big order in with racer and a to do list made so it will be running in good shape and ready for a life of fun.

The knuckle studs on the new one started leaking pretty soon after I got it home along with some other things. I'm bummed they were just rebuilt by the po within the last year or two, i do have an axle rebuild kit that I bought 3 years ago from cruiser outfitters and I never got around to using so I have that when I'm ready to dive in this winter.

 

[alabamatacomaguy]

This is busy time at work so I don't get any cruiser time. 12-16 hour days 6 times a week tend to take all the energy my body has.

As soon as I can get a few days off I'll list my tan cruiser to sell and hopefully sell it quick. I've halted all fun spending until it is sold. I'm looking forward to supporting a couple of great vendors on here...... my wife has earmarked a portion for a disney trip, not my cup of tea...... I'm getting a strong "maybe" for a trip out west next winter/spring to Colorado which should be fun and hopefully get her in the mood to adventure with me more often.


My wife got a silhouette machine to make crafts at home. I've been bugging her for toyota stuff so she made me some phone stickers. I'm pretty happy with it since toyota stuff has always seemed rare.

 

[alabamatacomaguy]

I’ve worked on frank here and there. Have it listed forsale since no time to finish.
I took it out today and picked up air filters for my fjc and spent the day enjoying being out in a topless 40. I tested out the 4wd in a state park with some sandy spots.

I had a birthday recently and my wife treated me nicely. I did leave some detailed hints.

 

[Rainman]

How much?

 

[alabamatacomaguy]

How much?

Forsale post

For Sale - 78 fj40 Pensacola FL

 

[alabamatacomaguy]

My wife has been playing around with a vinyl cutting machine (silhouette) she has

I would say shes figured out what I like

 

[alabamatacomaguy]

Unfortunately new old blue just sits and waits for me to get time to make it mine.

Im not allowing myself to touch it except start up and small drives until I sell the project one. Then its a big order to racer for lots of rubber parts, a carb rebuild, knuckle rebuild, seat extension and under body paint clean up and por 15 to make it last. Ive got some nos oem fenders Im saving for down the road as a previous owner put a bunch of screws through the fenders on there now for mud flaps. Ill get a few areas repaired and the outside resprayed but for the next few years it will be my adventure cruiser and enjoyed . Just have to hid from the wife when she gets baby fever so I can play with my toys longer

Im trying to think up a name for her.

 

[DSB345]

Love that color! Just call er Ole' Blue

 

[SMG]

Ole’ Blue, Looks like she barely fits under the garage door.

Nice looking rig!