A 60 guy’s first 40, lichen & rust - 1969 (1 Viewer)

[CruiserTrash]

I come from the other side of the tracks - the 60 forum - but just received my first 40 yesterday. This will be a record of the boatload of work it needs to get back on the road. And it needs a lot.

I saw this truck for sale out in California in January so I called @joesfj40 who was a reasonable distance away and arranged some things. He went to get it and soon had it for safekeeping. He already had a trip to Colorado planned for June 2024 and could haul it out here, so it’s been a long time waiting and looking at photos. In person it’s just as rusty as I thought.

I wanted something early, not only for smog reasons but because I like the little styling details. The chrome hood spear, round turn signals, three door rear end, simpler dash, etc. everything seems a bit more farm-implement than “car”. If I had found one in my near-zero budget with a corrugated top, I would have grabbed it. I’ll settle for mid/late 1969 though.

I’ve been daily driving project 60s for almost 5 years now and I feel like that was some kind of training for this day. Because holy cow does this 40 need a lot of work.

Arrived with no wheels. I had some ready to go.

Classic rear sill and swing out door rot.

Respray in the same Capri Blue, you can see it flaking off.

Lichen growth, but at least the bezel was on the right way.

In addition to Joe’s huge help acquiring and delivering this damn thing, @HemiAlex accidentally ended up in town and came over to supervise Joe. Gotta watch that guy.

 

[CruiserTrash]

So what’s the goal? An original, near-stock, patina truck that I can run around town in a couple times per month when the weather is nice. Maybe I’ll head to the mountains (at 50mph top speed) and hit some mild dirt roads once in a while. I want this thing very close to how Toyota brought it into the world.

There’s a fine line between patina and rot though. So like any good cruiser owner I’m going to ignore the rot for now.

Priorities are:
1. Baseline the fluids and filters, maybe rebuild the fuel pump.
2. Make the motor run
3. Completely overhaul the brake system
4. Throw a piece of sheet metal over the hole in the driver’s footwell.
5. Run it around the block and see what it tells me.

After that:
6. Build a new harness from scratch. It’s completely missing from the b-pillar back and a lot of the stuff in the engine bay is crumbly. I’ll splice in the old connectors where I can’t hunt down NOS or good used ones to de-pin. Needs a new starter switch and keys.
7. Drive it.
8. Suspension, hoping to find something close to stock height. New shocks.
9. Steering overhaul.
10. Drive it more.

Long term:
11. Clean up the hardtop and cap. Work with my partner Karen on some kind of crafty headliner. She’s good at sewing and fabric stuff.
12. Work with Karen to refoam and reupholster (or just make covers for) the front split bench seat.
13. Work with Karen to make some fabric “bags” that we can put foam pads into for the rear bench seats.
14. Drive.

…15. Start fixing rust. I’ve been watching @diesellibrarian thread and I’ve been taking notes. I certainly don’t want the truck to look “new” or “restored”, but something needs to be done in a lot of areas.

 

[CruiserTrash]

Over the past 5 months I’ve squirreled away a few parts. As I’ve learned 1969 was a weird year with three different carbs, two different manifold setups, and two air cleaners. I have the later intake manifold for a 2bbl so I picked the better of the two 2bbls offered that year and hunted it down. From @pardion.

I picked up a really nice rear heater locally. On the way out here my buddy and I arranged some stuff I found for him to pick up - a pair of long rear seats again from @pardion.

The Capri Blue 40 came with Dune Beige hard top and no cap, but we were able to find a matching patina Capri Blue top and decent cap, as well. I found a local guy who wanted the beige top and he took it off my hands about an hour after we unloaded.

The 70s rivet wheels I was gifted for free two years ago at a swap meet. I bought new 7.00-15 bias ply tires for it and had them mounted in advance.

Mark A in California sent me some decent side mirrors.

The last big ticket items are an exhaust manifold that matches the 1969-only larger runner intake so I can ditch the rusty header, swap the Dune Beige doors for Capri Blue, and get some bumperettes. I’m hoping to finagle one or a couple items at Classic Cruisers this week since I planned on being up there anyway. There’s a few small odds and ends to get beyond that, but stuff like the wiper motor, interior dome lights, exterior lights & reflectors, belt driven auxiliaries in the engine bay, and dash gauges and knobs are all there.

 

[CruiserTrash]

Here’s some more photos.

Key cylinder/starter switch was missing but there was a NOS one in the glove box … missing the key though. I wonder if I can pull a code off the cylinder and have Toyota cut it. Doubtful.

Rot. I’ve been told there are a few outfits in Australia making patch panels for early 40s, including floor sections. Or I can make them from scratch like diesellibrarian.

 

[diesellibrarian]

Damn, those tires are perfection! Great choice. Looking forward to following your build, it's such a sweet old machine that's wound up in the right hands for sure!

Maybe there's a way to get the ignition cylinder keyed to match your doors? I think the key code should be on the passenger side door cylinder. I'm far from an expert, but @ToyotaMatt would know.

 

[CruiserTrash]

Damn, those tires are perfection! Great choice. Looking forward to following your build, it's such a sweet old machine that's wound up in the right hands for sure!

Maybe there's a way to get the ignition cylinder keyed to match your doors? I think the key code should be on the passenger side door cylinder. I'm far from an expert, but @ToyotaMatt would know.

I know the front passenger door in a 60 has the code stamped on the cylinder. I know almost nothing of the little details like that in a 40 though, so thanks for the tip.

I’m going to be building and installing a 2F in my 60 this month, then putting 4.11 third members in it over the summer. I won’t be able to touch the 40 financially or time-wise for a little bit so this thread will probably be dormant for a while.

 

[Green Bean]

I really like your "new" truck and I especially like your list of priorities with the emphasis on driving it.

 

[CruiserTrash]

I really like your "new" truck and I especially like your list of priorities with the emphasis on driving it.

Thanks. That’s what they’re for after all.

Maybe it was a mid-life crisis at 37 years old when I got my first 60, but I was daily driving it from day one. This will be a little more pampered, but I don’t want to take it off the road for years for a $$$$$ resto and wind up with something that I’d be afraid to drive at the end. It doesn’t need to get out of the garage every day either. I’ll find a balance.

If I waited until it was perfect, I’d die before I ever drove it - because these trucks are never “done”. May as well enjoy it in whatever state it’s in at the moment.

 

[newmexicokid]

All that will buff out real nice.

 

[Pighead]

[QUOTE="CruiserTrash, post: 15508397, ]
Key cylinder/starter switch was missing but there was a NOS one in the glove box … missing the key though. I wonder if I can pull a code off the cylinder and have Toyota cut it.
[/QUOTE]


Toyota locks of that era were not real picky about what would turn them. You might try a similar key, or a pocketknife blade, or a small slot screwdriver or just about anything...

 

[CruiserTrash]

[QUOTE="CruiserTrash, post: 15508397, ]
Key cylinder/starter switch was missing but there was a NOS one in the glove box … missing the key though. I wonder if I can pull a code off the cylinder and have Toyota cut it.

Toyota locks of that era were not real picky about what would turn them. You might try a similar key, or a pocketknife blade, or a small slot screwdriver or just about anything...
[/QUOTE]

Good idea. This one appears to be NOS from 1994, so hopefully they didn’t change the design haha!

 

[CruiserTrash]

I’m still learning the intricacies of 40s and how they changed each year. My question is this: for 1969 we’re there side reflectors on the rear, and we’re they orange or red?

I’ve read quite a few threads about the changes to the bib, front side, and rear side reflectors and how some in the US were Koito, some were installed at the port of entry using American parts, and colors changed from clear to orange to red. Can’t find a definitive silver bullet on the rear side reflectors for 1969 though.

I appreciate any help. I don’t need reflectors right away, but size trying to make a master list of what’s missing.

 

[mtn biker]

I come from the other side of the tracks - the 60 forum - but just received my first 40 yesterday. This will be a record of the boatload of work it needs to get back on the road. And it needs a lot.

I saw this truck for sale out in California in January so I called @joesfj40 who was a reasonable distance away and arranged some things. He went to get it and soon had it for safekeeping. He already had a trip to Colorado planned for June 2024 and could haul it out here, so it’s been a long time waiting and looking at photos. In person it’s just as rusty as I thought.

I wanted something early, not only for smog reasons but because I like the little styling details. The chrome hood spear, round turn signals, three door rear end, simpler dash, etc. everything seems a bit more farm-implement than “car”. If I had found one in my near-zero budget with a corrugated top, I would have grabbed it. I’ll settle for mid/late 1969 though.

I’ve been daily driving project 60s for almost 5 years now and I feel like that was some kind of training for this day. Because holy cow does this 40 need a lot of work.

Arrived with no wheels. I had some ready to go.

Classic rear sill and swing out door rot.

Respray in the same Capri Blue, you can see it flaking off.

Lichen growth, but at least the bezel was on the right way.

In addition to Joe’s huge help acquiring and delivering this damn thing, @HemiAlex accidentally ended up in town and came over to supervise Joe. Gotta watch that guy.
View attachment 3646835

Welcome to the dark side.

 

[RodrigzCrzr]

Welcome Jim and congrats on your new project.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

Cant wait to see where this one goes! what tires are you rocking on it? they look new. Woops I see you posted that! This thing is awesome I am stoked for you.

 

[CruiserTrash]

Cant wait to see where this one goes! what tires are you rocking on it? they look new. Woops I see you posted that! This thing is awesome I am stoked for you.

Power King Extra Traction bias ply in 7.00-15. I wanted a tire that looked original-ish. They were also $110 apiece which leaves some wiggle room to buy other parts. Even a cheap radial was double that- a good radial or M/T was triple that per tire.

The rear quarters were cut for larger tires and at some point flares were added. I may eventually get some patch panels to bring the wheel opening back to the right size. The original size tires look pretty goofy in the big opening.

They’re on backwards here, we were throwing tires on and hustling to get it off the trailer. I’ll correct them eventually.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

Power King Extra Traction bias ply in 7.00-15. I wanted a tire that looked original-ish. They were also $110 apiece which leaves some wiggle room to buy other parts. Even a cheap radial was double that- a good radial or M/T was triple that per tire.

The rear quarters were cut for larger tires and at some point flares were added. I may eventually get some patch panels to bring the wheel opening back to the right size. The original size tires look pretty goofy in the big opening.

They’re on backwards here, we were throw tires on and hustling to get it off the trailer. I’ll correct them eventually.
View attachment 3647205

I have been off and on thinking about getting these in the 750 r16 size and get city racer rims. but more money and I have to pay off this soft top I am still waiting on first. I like the narrow original look but I have slightly taller than stock springs so I think the 700 size would look a little goofy.

 

[red66toy]

Woohoo! Very excited for you and the truck! Good times ahead.

 

[CruiserTrash]

I have been off and on thinking about getting these in the 750 r16 size and get city racer rims. but more money and I have to pay off this soft top I am still waiting on first. I like the narrow original look but I have slightly taller than stock springs so I think the 700 size would look a little goofy.

The 7.50-16 would make a lot of sense in that case, I agree. There’s a bunch of options in that size: Deestone, Power King, STA, Interco.

 

[CruiserTrash]

Woohoo! Very excited for you and the truck! Good times ahead.

“Good times” = cursing & welding

I’ll probably need your fuel pump rebuild kit. I need to rebuild the carb and do some experimenting trying to get it to run first.

Edit: I also need the steering column bushing, which means I need to mold the 3D print you sent me and actually start making them lol.