Got my 79 FJ40 about 2 months ago and have been putting together my plan and gathering parts ever since. Truck had a good body with 4 year old Aqualu 3/4 tub, but interior, suspension and drivetrain are pretty tired. Part of the fun will be working on it with my 11 year old son - his first real experience turning wrenches.
Suspension plan is HFS 4" lift with 2.5" shackles, Bilstein shocks, 4x4 Labs P/S conversion and Hi steer kit w/ J20 steering box. Tires are 33x10.5x16 BFG Mud Terrain KM2s on 16x8 Mickey Thompson Classic II wheels.
Interior gets new Corbeau seats, MetalTech Family cage, new console and a Flaming River polished stainless tilt column and streeing wheel. We will also add and AC system (probably Vintage Air).
For the drivetrain, I am going with a 6.0 out of a 2008 2500HD and a 4l70e trans (updated 4l60e with higher HP rating). The t-case and diffs will get freshened up with ARB lockers for both front and rear. Rear brakes will be converted to disc and the old metal lines will be rplaced with new stainless steel ones.
Body and frame will get sandblasted with the frame getting powdercoated. The body will get a coat of lizard skin underneath to cut down road noise and heat - living in Florida, we need all of the help cutting heat we can. Tub will get a coat of paint matched speedliner and body will be repainted in Nordic Blue - our company colors are blue and green, so the blue will allow us to do some promo for the company as well.
Also going to add a warn 8274-50 with a HFS bumper and rewire with a Painless kit.
I have about 80% of the parts either on the floor or ordered already and have started teardown. Plan is to be ready to go to sandblast and powdercoat later this month and be finished by next Spring/Summer . I do have the luxury of having a work area in the back of my office that I have converted into a shop with all of the tools and storage space I need for both the new parts and the parts we have taken off.
I have spent the last 4 months lurking here and following every buildup I could find to create what I thought would be my ultimate vision for a classic 4x4 that will be used for street use, company promotion (parades, etc.) and do some trail / off-road running. I have learned a lot from everyone here already and know that I still have a lot to learn. I have done several car restoration projects, but this is my first truck.
Let the fun begin!!!
Suspension plan is HFS 4" lift with 2.5" shackles, Bilstein shocks, 4x4 Labs P/S conversion and Hi steer kit w/ J20 steering box. Tires are 33x10.5x16 BFG Mud Terrain KM2s on 16x8 Mickey Thompson Classic II wheels.
Interior gets new Corbeau seats, MetalTech Family cage, new console and a Flaming River polished stainless tilt column and streeing wheel. We will also add and AC system (probably Vintage Air).
For the drivetrain, I am going with a 6.0 out of a 2008 2500HD and a 4l70e trans (updated 4l60e with higher HP rating). The t-case and diffs will get freshened up with ARB lockers for both front and rear. Rear brakes will be converted to disc and the old metal lines will be rplaced with new stainless steel ones.
Body and frame will get sandblasted with the frame getting powdercoated. The body will get a coat of lizard skin underneath to cut down road noise and heat - living in Florida, we need all of the help cutting heat we can. Tub will get a coat of paint matched speedliner and body will be repainted in Nordic Blue - our company colors are blue and green, so the blue will allow us to do some promo for the company as well.
Also going to add a warn 8274-50 with a HFS bumper and rewire with a Painless kit.
I have about 80% of the parts either on the floor or ordered already and have started teardown. Plan is to be ready to go to sandblast and powdercoat later this month and be finished by next Spring/Summer . I do have the luxury of having a work area in the back of my office that I have converted into a shop with all of the tools and storage space I need for both the new parts and the parts we have taken off.
I have spent the last 4 months lurking here and following every buildup I could find to create what I thought would be my ultimate vision for a classic 4x4 that will be used for street use, company promotion (parades, etc.) and do some trail / off-road running. I have learned a lot from everyone here already and know that I still have a lot to learn. I have done several car restoration projects, but this is my first truck.
Let the fun begin!!!
Can't wait to hear what he purists have to say. Good engine choice too. I will be staying tuned to this build.
