AA Ron's FJ40 refresh (1 Viewer)

[airon23]

That looks pretty nice. I can hope mine will come out that good. I'll likely use 2 tubes and hope that works. They're kinda expensive but if 3 would be better then I don't know. I don't want it to leak or become corroded and rusted. Gutter is in really good shape as it is. I'd hate to mess that up.

 

[airon23]

So I was forced to take a break when the flu hit me. But before it did, I finished up filling and sanding the fiberglass top along with some small edges that had been chipped away from nature. I don't have all finished pics of what I did, so more to come soon.

 

[airon23]

I did order some parts like the rain gutter weatherstrip which I was missing and a couple other pieces from City Racer @Racer65 I bought a air hammer and domed head for banging in the 1/8" domed rivets I bought. Lastly, a CCOT headliner to install soon after fixing up the fiberglass and gutter. Pics of all that to come soon.

Either way I'll have some fun putting all this together. Wish me luck.

Here's just a couple teasers...

 

[Jdc1]

Glad to see you are feeling better. I’m curious how the aftermarket headliner looks. This is one of the few parts that doesn’t seem to make sense paying the premium for OEM.

 

[airon23]

I've heard good things about the CCOT headliner during my little bit of research so I'm crossing my fingers.

Yeah there was actually a OEM up on ebay not too long ago by a MUD member who was doing a ton of no reserv auctions on FJ40 parts. I was watching it and was the highest bidder for most of it up until the end when someone clearly wanted the OEM liner more than I did. I figured well if I'm going to put something in then why not the OEM liner and if I can get it at a "decent" price. After I lost that auction it wasn't worth it to me to search for the OEM and pay that much. So I'm hoping this CCOT liner is pretty good but I don't think I'll have any issues.

 

[airon23]

Got the headliner in from CCOT a week ago, looks pretty nice and like it will go in good. I've done some more work on the hardtop since then which I'll post as well.

 

[airon23]

Next, I started on the rivets which I was pretty worried about because I wasn't sure it'd turn out as well as I've seen others, but it turned out to be pretty straight forward and I think I actually did a pretty good job I think considering I'm such a noob at this.

 

[airon23]

There was a little mushrooming on some of the rivets but I think overall it turned out ok. As for the SEM sealant stuff, it did turn out ok but not as smooth as I had hoped.

I did take the pro tip from @thebigredrocker and my wife followed me with the heat gun, but I think it had already set when I found I had to go back over some spots that had not filled in all the way.

Anyway it looks a little lumpy in parts where I went back over with a little bit more. I don't know if I should have taken any pictures because I'm a little embarrassed by how lumpy it came out but I guess the most important part is that it works which I think it will do a good job of sealing the gutter.

Then I was able to prime and paint the top and get it ready to receive it's new headliner...

 

[airon23]

Haha please don't make too much fun of my sealing skills.

Now flip the top over and it's headliner time...

The CCOT liner was good and pretty well cut to size. Also the thickness is pretty good too. I think I may have put it in slightly crooked but to the unkeen eye I'm sure it looks great.

 

[airon23]

I didn't want to cut the corners and reshape them so I thought the way I did it wasn't too bad. Again I'm keeping with the "refresh" theme not a restore for the perfectionist by any means.

A few more final pics.

 

[airon23]

Next thing I'll work on are the hardtop sides. Scuffing and priming and painting those with the sky blue color. I'm hoping by the summer I'll be done with this and ready to put the top back on late summer or sooner, but I figure I'd rock the soft top or no top for some summer driving, and then throw on this hardtop I've been working so hard on.

 

[mrboatman]

@airon23 Looks good dont worry about the seam sealer If somebody trys to look at it tell them it is your custom style LOL The liner turned out great Im glad you did this Ive been thinking about doing the headliner in mine also.
JP

 

[airon23]

Made a little more progress today on the hardtop sides. I ran out of paint so not finished but I needed more paint anyway, to finish the front doors to finally remove all traces of the mustard color from my FJ40. I'm happy with it and it is still within of my hopes of a refresh. Not a perfect job but it looks good.

 

[airon23]

So it's been a little while since I posted anything but I have been able to do a little work on the refresh of my FJ40. It's been a long busy summer but I have been meaning to get to the doors.

Also I had a little visit by Mark aka @65swb45 which helped motivate me to continue on with my refresh once again.
While here, Mark helped me with a pretty extensive vehicle inspection, a once over if you will, as well as some help with my carburetor and a much needed valve adjustment. Since I bought this thing a few years back I haven't had the time/money/know-how along with a good plan of attack of what to fix and when. Long story short steering box needs to be done ASAP, then a long list of maintenance on things that are actually the age of the truck without replacement. So I have my work cut out for me.

That being said, and while I wait for Mark to get back from his long trip so I can order a rebuilt steering box, I continued on with my doors and taking them apart and prepped and ready for a quick spray.

So here's a few pictures since I know we all like pictures.

 

[airon23]

As you can see the doors are not in too bad a shape. Mostly surface rust but hey it's just a refresh not a full on restore, right?
A few more pics with some primer and some paint. Turned out ok but at least everything I think now is all one color. I think that was the last of my mustard colors on my Sky Blue FJ40.

 

[airon23]

Lastly a couple pictures of Mark, his awesome FJ40 and some work being done.

 

[airon23]

One last one. I remembered I had purchased this stamped bezel a while ago so I started to throw some paint on it to create my very first garage wall art. Needs some more work but it'll get there. Maybe I need a metal mesh between the open space. I'll think up something later, but for now this will sit there staring at me every time I back my car into the garage.

 

[airon23]

I also like to try to give back whenever I can so I make little videos trying to explain how I did what I did as a I learn how.

 

[airon23]

I know I've seen some sort of quick release type of front door pins. They aren't stock, just something a vendor on here has maybe. I know I've seen a thread about it, but I can't seem to find it with a search.

Does anyone know what I'm talking about?

 

[reddog90]

Quik Hinges available

The hinges are back into production and ready for shipment. updated Pricing below: $199.50 for the Regular Set $315.00 for the Super Set $85.00 for the Door Half set Shipping in the US is included. *International and US territories will require custom shipping at an additional cost Here's...

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