hey all,
i have been in love with cruisers since i pretty much first saw one. my friends grandpa has a 78 freeborn red, and it was just the most amazing hunting rig, so i was in love. i started with a more reasonable 4x4, just a POS nissan hardbody, so i could understand the mechanics, etc... the nissan took a dive last year when i blew the head gasket, and then while replacing that, the timing chain tensioner wiggled loose and screwed up the bottom end pretty bad... long story short, its gonna be fixed and sold very soon. i needed a reliable vehicle for day to day driving, with some fun on the side. i was looking at a couple little import sports cars, and i almost bought a G60 corrado. the guy was really flaky, so i started looking in the paper again, and there she was... my dream, a 78 FJ40... and for an amazing price, $3600. i called the guy right then, and went to look at it that day after work. he mentioned to me that the tub, top, hood, fenders, and rear quarterpanels were coated in line-x professionally, and i was kinda skeptical about how the hood would look, but when i saw it, it quickly changed my mind as to how nice it was. it does have a reconstructed title, but the resale value doesnt matter a whole lot to me, due to the fact that eventually this will be my trail rig only. i called my bank the next day and they couldnt bluebook it, so i had it appraised and the guy pretty much asked how much i needed for it, and agreed to appraise it at that... so i paid him full price, just because he was so willing to move his schedule around to accomodate me. i can not say that i have ever come close to enjoying driving a vehicle as much as this rig. theres a ton of road noise and it doesnt go over 75 mph, and i couldnt love it more, its got so much character. heres what its got done, and also my plans for it... please feel free to add any input, because im still a cruiser noob, but i have looked into a ton of options...
done-
rebuilt 2f about 5 yrs ago by a professional engine rebuilder
38/38 weber carb- i think(is this the right carb for a 2f??)
magnaflow 2" exhaust
line-x'ed tub, top, fenders, steps, rear q-panels
lift of some kind approx 1"-2"(seems like just AAL's)
33" generic M/T's lots of tread on them, full size spare on stock rear carrier
cobra cb
plans-
vortec 350
sm465
centerforce dual friction clutch
F&R ARB or detroit lockers- depends on the financial situation...
dual optima battery setup
HD alternator
3 spd fj trans. case
SOA
snorkel- anyone know where i can get one for an fj40??? i dont know what the intake situation will be after the v8 swap, but i really want a snorkel now, so help...
35" or 37" goodyear mt/r's or boggers
rock sliders
custom front and rear tube bumpers
warn 9.5ti thermometric winch
full 6-pt cage w/ grab bars, gun rack, and other goodies integrated in
CCOT center console w/ stereo compartment
6x9 infinity alpha series in waterproof boxes
hi-lift jack
extremeair 100% duty cycle on-board air
frame-rail mounted air tank
i know its a lot of plans, but i am a very dedicated person, and this stuff will be done over a pretty long period of time. hopefully it will be capable enough for my oregon offroad needs.
Brian
avanti179@msn.com
p.s. anyone have a site to upload pics on here?? i have a couple and would love to show the rig off a little.
i have been in love with cruisers since i pretty much first saw one. my friends grandpa has a 78 freeborn red, and it was just the most amazing hunting rig, so i was in love. i started with a more reasonable 4x4, just a POS nissan hardbody, so i could understand the mechanics, etc... the nissan took a dive last year when i blew the head gasket, and then while replacing that, the timing chain tensioner wiggled loose and screwed up the bottom end pretty bad... long story short, its gonna be fixed and sold very soon. i needed a reliable vehicle for day to day driving, with some fun on the side. i was looking at a couple little import sports cars, and i almost bought a G60 corrado. the guy was really flaky, so i started looking in the paper again, and there she was... my dream, a 78 FJ40... and for an amazing price, $3600. i called the guy right then, and went to look at it that day after work. he mentioned to me that the tub, top, hood, fenders, and rear quarterpanels were coated in line-x professionally, and i was kinda skeptical about how the hood would look, but when i saw it, it quickly changed my mind as to how nice it was. it does have a reconstructed title, but the resale value doesnt matter a whole lot to me, due to the fact that eventually this will be my trail rig only. i called my bank the next day and they couldnt bluebook it, so i had it appraised and the guy pretty much asked how much i needed for it, and agreed to appraise it at that... so i paid him full price, just because he was so willing to move his schedule around to accomodate me. i can not say that i have ever come close to enjoying driving a vehicle as much as this rig. theres a ton of road noise and it doesnt go over 75 mph, and i couldnt love it more, its got so much character. heres what its got done, and also my plans for it... please feel free to add any input, because im still a cruiser noob, but i have looked into a ton of options...
done-
rebuilt 2f about 5 yrs ago by a professional engine rebuilder
38/38 weber carb- i think(is this the right carb for a 2f??)
magnaflow 2" exhaust
line-x'ed tub, top, fenders, steps, rear q-panels
lift of some kind approx 1"-2"(seems like just AAL's)
33" generic M/T's lots of tread on them, full size spare on stock rear carrier
cobra cb
plans-
vortec 350
sm465
centerforce dual friction clutch
F&R ARB or detroit lockers- depends on the financial situation...
dual optima battery setup
HD alternator
3 spd fj trans. case
SOA
snorkel- anyone know where i can get one for an fj40??? i dont know what the intake situation will be after the v8 swap, but i really want a snorkel now, so help...
35" or 37" goodyear mt/r's or boggers
rock sliders
custom front and rear tube bumpers
warn 9.5ti thermometric winch
full 6-pt cage w/ grab bars, gun rack, and other goodies integrated in
CCOT center console w/ stereo compartment
6x9 infinity alpha series in waterproof boxes
hi-lift jack
extremeair 100% duty cycle on-board air
frame-rail mounted air tank
i know its a lot of plans, but i am a very dedicated person, and this stuff will be done over a pretty long period of time. hopefully it will be capable enough for my oregon offroad needs.
Brian
avanti179@msn.com
p.s. anyone have a site to upload pics on here?? i have a couple and would love to show the rig off a little.
Congrats on the 40
