Builds An FJ40 Named Dusty (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter roadstr6
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- Thread starter
- #62
The last couple of days I have been sorting out some little issues with Dusty. I flushed out the old power steering fluid (which looked like honey mustard and was clearly not ATF) and replaced with ATF, cleaned the fuse box and replaced all the fuses and replaced the headlights (one was burned out) with Sylvania Silver Stars. I also cleaned the connections on the dome light and replaced the bulb. It works, even on DOOR mode! My plan is to slowly chip away at the rough edges. This build will move slowly though, because I have a '71 FJ55 in the shop at the moment that needs floors, rockers, etc. That project seems to be taking most of my spare time.
Dave! I was looking at another thread on ONSC when I happened to notice your signature. Holy smokes, I am very excited about this find; not to mention slightly depressed that it's been so long since we've enjoyed a beer together and compared our junk. Do you have any updates? How is old Dusty coming along? Did you get the smog stuff and carburetor situation resolved? I need to come up and spend a weekend studying your vacuum lines - my truck was hacked up pretty good and I'm considering a move back to vacuum advance distributor. Shamefully, I've been in possession of a JimC rebuilt carb + dizzy for 2 years - but never installed because JimC took a look at my engine bay and scorned me for not doing better (apparently my lack of vacuum lines does not match the setup he designed for me). Plus, the Trollhole and Pertronix have been working fine so I'm hesitant to risk losing the nice drivability... That's another story though, and this story is about Dusty! Do you have any updates?
- Thread starter
- #64
Jeremy,
I have been spending all my time on this:
Dusty is in the queue sitting patiently in the garage. I have done nothing yet. It’s not tagged but I drive it around the neighborhood every month or so just to keep it limbered up. That 55 has been a huge amount of work. The floors were completely gone. It has been a full year of body work to get it to where it is now. I’m hoping to gat it on the road in the next few weeks.
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- Thread starter
- #65
I had to shuffle my junk around the other day and while I had everything out of the garage and shop bays I snapped a couple of pics:
That's quite the stable of Cruisers and they all look very nice. Having a more manageable stable of three cruisers really occupies my time, so I can empathize. I know Nathan is giving you a hand, though, and I'm sure you've passed along your Jedi ways in restoring body finishes to their full glory. Something I've always admired about you, yet, have very little patience for... Well, keep on trucking and I look forward to hearing more! I have some awkward work obligations this year, so I won't be able to attend LR... But I'm hoping to make a trip up for the Christmas Party. I'm following this thread but need to go check on your Pig Thread as well. Cheers to you, sir! Long live the square bezels!
- Thread starter
- #67
Dusty is finally getting some love. The truck has been sitting for a couple of years now just waiting on me. So here goes... Dusty bling.
Pulled the wheels and tires off. Removed the old tires (the spare was a totally original spare from ‘82). I sandblasted all five wheels, epoxy primed, painted the backs of the wheels Gray and painted the wheel fronts T-12 Cygnus. I shot the bezel Cygnus too, while I had the gun loaded.
Pulled the wheels and tires off. Removed the old tires (the spare was a totally original spare from ‘82). I sandblasted all five wheels, epoxy primed, painted the backs of the wheels Gray and painted the wheel fronts T-12 Cygnus. I shot the bezel Cygnus too, while I had the gun loaded.
Hi Bucky!!
- Thread starter
- #69
One little detail that I wanted to preserve when I restored the factory wheels was the little gray paint dot on each outer ring. Not sure why Mr. T painted dots on the wheels, but I assume the dot must mark the heaviest part of the wheel for balancing purposes. In any case, I center punched each dot before sandblasting. After I painted the wheels, I recreated the dots in their proper locations.
- Thread starter
- #70
Fresh wheels wrapped in 33’s. KM3 flavor.
Beautiful truck. You went 33's... so you going lift?
- Thread starter
- #72
Thank you! Yeah. 2.5” lift and 33’s practically passes for stock these days. Initially I thought I would keep it stock height on 30’s, but I couldn’t help myself. A lift will be in the truck’s near future.
- Thread starter
- #73
Dusty left the garage for a little fresh air today.
- Thread starter
- #74
Dusty 2F health check:
1: 150
2: 155
3: 150
4: 140
5: 150
6: 155
I have a perfect donor sitting on the stand but I guess I’ll be leaving this engine right where it is! Woo! Yeah!
But wait! There’s more! I just pulled the original rubber cover off the distributor to check that the vacuum advance is working and to see if the canister holds vacuum. It’s good. I’m a happy boy!
1: 150
2: 155
3: 150
4: 140
5: 150
6: 155
I have a perfect donor sitting on the stand but I guess I’ll be leaving this engine right where it is! Woo! Yeah!
But wait! There’s more! I just pulled the original rubber cover off the distributor to check that the vacuum advance is working and to see if the canister holds vacuum. It’s good. I’m a happy boy!
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- Thread starter
- #75
Tidying up some rust-stained areas.
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My chemical of choice:
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My chemical of choice:
Dave, I can't help but notice the color on the roll cage. Is it not black?
- Thread starter
- #77
No sir. This one is Trim Code LP11, which got gray vinyl, gray seat belts, gray mats and gray roll bar.
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WOW!!! You learn something every day and this was awesome!!! Thanks for sharing, when I get back home I'll have to check my trim code. If it turns out to be LP11 (not sure if that was a thing in 6/81) I will most assuredly have anxiety about the color of my roll cage. Dusty is awesome! I look forward to more updates.
My May of 1980 has the same trim code, LP11. Door cards, floor mats, seat belts, roll cage, DS/PS seat backs, and jump seat frames were all gray.
- Thread starter
- #80
Some (maybe all) '81-'84 US market trucks had a center console with an integrated rear heater. The console was basically just a shallow tray for holding sunglasses, keys, etc. At the rear of the console was an ash tray. The ash tray lids are fragile as glass and I have never seen one that wasn't broken. Here's mine. Note that the lid is missing:
BH3D Printing has a 3D printed replica of the '81-'84 ash tray available, as well as a slick cup holder insert for the late console. The workmanship is top notch.
BH3D Printing has a 3D printed replica of the '81-'84 ash tray available, as well as a slick cup holder insert for the late console. The workmanship is top notch.
