Ambulance Doors

[Pmanhart]

Hey everyone. I have a 1977 FJ40. I had to get a new hardtop and ambulance doors. Looks terrible, but…
The rubber on the doors is hard and cracked but I have new stuff that I haven’t put on yet. I’m 72 years old and it’s difficult for me to get in and out of the vehicle, which I’ve had since 1993 in Arizona. So I’ve decided to sell it. Hurts like hell but the time has come.
The problem I want to discuss is that my original ignition key doesn’t work on the ambulance doors because they are from a different vehicle. Does anyone know if the locks can be rekeyed or not? Should I just rip off the old weather stripping before I sell it? I plan on including all the extra parts with the car upon sale. I have degenerative scoliosis and work of this sort is painful.
Thanks,
Paul

 

[charliemeyer007]

I think the locks can be easily rekeyed if they ae the same style. My 72's single cut ignition key is way smaller than the double cut key used on the doors of the 76 hardtop it wears.

If you are going to sell, then sell it as is - less work for you.

I'm days away from 70. I find it much harder to work on things - close vision gone, grip strength much weaker, but every day above ground is worth two in the dirt - maybe more!

edited Sorry I have never had a key to my ambi door. I was thinking of the main doors. Time change lack of sleep.

 

[Living in the Past]

Ambulance doors use a different style lock. They are a single sided key. The handle/lock assembly is the same as the pre 75 passenger door.

 

[Ditcherman]

Hey everyone. I have a 1977 FJ40. I had to get a new hardtop and ambulance doors. Looks terrible, but…
The rubber on the doors is hard and cracked but I have new stuff that I haven’t put on yet. I’m 72 years old and it’s difficult for me to get in and out of the vehicle, which I’ve had since 1993 in Arizona. So I’ve decided to sell it. Hurts like hell but the time has come.
The problem I want to discuss is that my original ignition key doesn’t work on the ambulance doors because they are from a different vehicle. Does anyone know if the locks can be rekeyed or not? Should I just rip off the old weather stripping before I sell it? I plan on including all the extra parts with the car upon sale. I have degenerative scoliosis and work of this sort is painful.
Thanks,
Paul

The ignition key works the ignition and - I believe - the gas door, (how my '74 is keyed). So it's not because a different top.
New locks are available from City Racer and others, relatively inexpensive. On a rear hatch it's easy to get to the cylinder to replace but the front doors and ambulance doors are tough, kind of tight and tricky to get that spring in there in my experience.

In your case, I would leave the old weatherstripping there so the truck doesn't rattle like crazy, the next person has at least something to go by for replacement, and I would let the next person worry about the locks while they're messing with the weatherstrip. They should appreciate that the parts come with it, but I'm not sure how much value you will add by doing the work before the sale, especially if someone wants to paint it.

Sorry for your pain and having to sell it, I guess you can hope to sell it to someone who will love it as much as you, maybe even keep you updated on it.

 

[coinoperated40]

Just sell “as is”. The next owner needs something to do to be able to call it his/her own.
My age is right behind you.
I often ask “how did I get here” then think that I am glad I did.

 

[pb4ugo]

As others have said, sell it as is. On my 75 the ignition key works the front doors and the fuel door. The ambulance doors used a different style of key.

 

[Living in the Past]

Ambulance doors use a different style lock. They are a single sided key. The handle/lock assembly is the same as the pre 75 passenger door.

Should add the handle would be off a Right Hand Drive 40. The pre 75 door only had a key lock on the driver's door.

 

[Pmanhart]

The ignition key works the ignition and - I believe - the gas door, (how my '74 is keyed). So it's not because a different top.
New locks are available from City Racer and others, relatively inexpensive. On a rear hatch it's easy to get to the cylinder to replace but the front doors and ambulance doors are tough, kind of tight and tricky to get that spring in there in my experience.

In your case, I would leave the old weatherstripping there so the truck doesn't rattle like crazy, the next person has at least something to go by for replacement, and I would let the next person worry about the locks while they're messing with the weatherstrip. They should appreciate that the parts come with it, but I'm not sure how much value you will add by doing the work before the sale, especially if someone wants to paint it.

Sorry for your pain and having to sell it, I guess you can hope to sell it to someone who will love it as much as you, maybe even keep you updated on it.

Thanks for the good advice.

 

[Pmanhart]

The ignition key works the ignition and - I believe - the gas door, (how my '74 is keyed). So it's not because a different top.
New locks are available from City Racer and others, relatively inexpensive. On a rear hatch it's easy to get to the cylinder to replace but the front doors and ambulance doors are tough, kind of tight and tricky to get that spring in there in my experience.

In your case, I would leave the old weatherstripping there so the truck doesn't rattle like crazy, the next person has at least something to go by for replacement, and I would let the next person worry about the locks while they're messing with the weatherstrip. They should appreciate that the parts come with it, but I'm not sure how much value you will add by doing the work before the sale, especially if someone wants to paint it.

Sorry for your pain and having to sell it, I guess you can hope to sell it to someone who will love it as much as you, maybe even keep you updated on it.

Yea, I’ve had this baby a long time and had great plans and dreams of fixing it up. I’ve had 3 FJ55’s and 1 FJ40. The red and white FJ55 in my aviator was a 78 with 55,000 miles on it. Sold it in 1990 for $5,500 .
Here are some photos of my 77 FJ40.

 

[Ditcherman]

Yea, I’ve had this baby a long time and had great plans and dreams of fixing it up. I’ve had 3 FJ55’s and 1 FJ40. The red and white FJ55 in my aviator was a 78 with 55,000 miles on it. Sold it in 1990 for $5,500 .
Here are some photos of my 77 FJ40.

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I hear you on the plans an dreams. It’s tough.

I’d give you $5500 for that I suppose…

Seriously though, from what I can see that’s a very good bones truck.