Any update on Topnault?

[Boynepark76]

DrOctagon— my last order was mid-March thru Topnault. I’m thinking of putting in an order for fenders soon too.

Here’s a pic of the Topnault rear bottom panel (45 build) welded to my tub. I’ve circled the 45 tub. It’s the only pic I have right now… but the Topnault rear panel went on fine and the rear floor also fit great. Good quality too.

It’ll go on a frame that I get blasted and powdercoated. Then I rebuild the 4-spd and drop it in with a new clutch and rebuilt engine…

 

[thatcabledude]

DrOctagon— my last order was mid-March thru Topnault. I’m thinking of putting in an order for fenders soon too.

If/when you get the fenders let us know your thoughts.

 

[timmyisinthewell]

OEM FJ40 front fenders are still available from a fella in Germany named Patrick, and goes by dieselbj52. I as well as a number of 40 owners have bought and received these fenders well packaged and in good order. You can follow his thread (complete with pictures and testimonials) in the classifieds for sale section. Not necessarily inexpensive, but it's all relative and they are the real deal.

 

[Living in the Past]

Believe it's dieselbj42 not 52

 

[timmyisinthewell]

LITP, thank you for correcting my error. I'm just old and confused.

 

[Living in the Past]

LITP, thank you for correcting my error. I'm just old and confused.

I do it all the time. Fat fingers on the phone and not proof reading .

 

[thatcabledude]

OEM FJ40 front fenders are still available from a fella in Germany named Patrick, and goes by dieselbj52. I as well as a number of 40 owners have bought and received these fenders well packaged and in good order. You can follow his thread (complete with pictures and testimonials) in the classifieds for sale section. Not necessarily inexpensive, but it's all relative and they are the real deal.

Yup. I’ve been in communication with him very recently and he still ships to the US and I will be buying a set from him when he is available late this year. I’m in the market for a “cheapie” to run until I blow the truck apart for some body work and a paint job.

Curious how these stack up against CCOT.

 

[Greek Cruiserhead]

Curious how these stack up against CCOT.

CCOT fenders= Made in Taiwan, Republic of China
TOPNAULT fenders= Made in People's Republic of China
It seems to be an epic battle.

PS. Used the CCOT fenders in my BJ42 resto (in Germany), back in 2006. No issues since...
Got another pair of them from my brother for free: I'll use them in my future J45 Pickup resto, while he bought for his own BJ40 resto a OEM pair from the local Toyota dealership (see pic, they're still available at a fair price in Europe)!

 

[DrOctagon]

CCOT fenders= Made in Taiwan, Republic of China
TOPNAULT fenders= Made in People's Republic of China
It seems to be an epic battle.

PS. Used the CCOT fenders in my BJ42 resto (in Germany), back in 2006. No issues since...
Got another pair of them from my brother for free: I'll use them in my future J45 Pickup resto, while he bought for his own BJ40 resto a OEM pair from the local Toyota dealership (see pic, they're still available at a fair price in Europe)!

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I'd much rather buy Taiwanese products but I don't know of any making larger panels, specifically hard top side panels.

 

[Greek Cruiserhead]

I'd much rather buy Taiwanese products but I don't know of any making larger panels, specifically hard top side panels.

I'd much rather buy Taiwanese me too (as a vet Cold Warrior)!
I am not sure they do exist though: I only know about their fenders...

 

[JohnnyC]

I had a set of Taiwanese fenders and rotted thru in less than 5 years as my DD in upper north east

 

[Greek Cruiserhead]

I had a set of Taiwanese fenders and rotted thru in less than 5 years as my DD in upper north east

Can imagine Johnny!
In my case the Taiwanese have an easier life: Garage Qeen vehicle and Mediterranean (Californian) climate...

 

[Flunob]

I bought several large parts from them on a 45 build I’m doing. Specifically, the lower back panel, upper back panel and the roof for a 45–plus a few smaller parts. I’ve been very happy with the quality and fitment. Plus, my body guy has been happy too. There was even a delay in shipment and they were very accommodating. It kinda nice to have a supplier of reproduced panels and tubs and not have to go scrounging around for used parts/tubs that the used parts suppliers have overpriced lol
My body guy welded the back panel on and it went on fine with the Topnault rear floor also fitting good too. I’ve bought 3 used tubs from out west (for 40 builds). Even though these are original tubs, they still need work—it nice to have an option to repair with new reproduction parts or even have an option of buying a clean repro tub…

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Thanks for the update - good to hear!

 

[Cuda519]

Has anyone bought a tub from them ?

 

[cruisermatt]

Here’s a pic of the Topnault rear bottom panel (45 build) welded to my tub. I’ve circled the 45 tub. It’s the only pic I have right now… but the Topnault rear panel went on fine and the rear floor also fit great. Good quality too.

It’ll go on a frame that I get blasted and powdercoated. Then I rebuild the 4-spd and drop it in with a new clutch and rebuilt engine…

was this a 45 cab originally or did you use their panel to convert a 40 tub?

 

[Living in the Past]

was this a 45 cab originally or did you use their panel to convert a 40 tub?

With a padded dash and that transmission cover it would a 9/67-9/72 FJ40 in the US market. The 45 transmission covers go all the way to the floor
not cut short. This is a 65 FJ45 cover.

Center is from a 72 FJ40.

Picture is burry on my phone. If the vent for the heater blower on the side of the cowl is stamped not a separate piece it's 9/71-9/72.

 

[cruisermatt]

With a padded dash and that transmission cover it would a 9/67-9/72 FJ40 in the US market. The 45 transmission covers go all the way to the floor
not cut short. This is a 65 FJ45 cover.

Center is from a 72 FJ40.

Picture is burry on my phone. If the vent for the heater blower on the side of the cowl is stamped not a separate piece it's 9/71-9/72.

I had heard the 45 tunnels were different but now I actually understand, thank you for explaining. So the 45 tunnel is kind of a hybrid early/late 40 tunnel.
I need to look at the one in my 78 45 and see what it looks like compared to a similar era 40 tunnel.
I need a cab for said 78 45 and am very interested in the option of converting a 40 with the Topnault panel like the poster above. I do not care about it being 100% correct at all since I am going to be making other modifications anyway. In fact I am very much considering visually back-dating it a bit with earlier bib and turn signals since I like the early look a lot more.

 

[Living in the Past]

I had heard the 45 tunnels were different but now I actually understand, thank you for explaining. So the 45 tunnel is kind of a hybrid early/late 40 tunnel.
I need to look at the one in my 78 45 and see what it looks like compared to a similar era 40 tunnel.
I need a cab for said 78 45 and am very interested in the option of converting a 40 with the Topnault panel like the poster above. I do not care about it being 100% correct at all since I am going to be making other modifications anyway. In fact I am very much considering visually back-dating it a bit with earlier bib and turn signals since I like the early look a lot more.

Didn't research all the dates but a US model 78 FJ40 uses the same tunnel cover as Canadian FJ45.

I'm not sure how I want to handle my 65 FJ45LP-B floor. My transmission cover was cut in half to add a floor shift. Real hack job. I got lucky a friend of my was going to sell FJ45 fuel tank and transmission cover to someone with a 69 FJ40. Told him those weren't the correct parts and traded FJ40.parts for his FJ45 parts. Transmission cover is the one pictured and 45 fuel tank was a newer updated version with the dimples. Besides getting 45 parts for 40 parts I beat my friend to this guy and picked up this top, bows and doors.

Classified ad in the newspaper, remember those?

 

[cruisermatt]

Didn't research all the dates but a US model 78 FJ40 uses the same tunnel cover as Canadian FJ45.

I'm not sure how I want to handle my 65 FJ45LP-B floor. My transmission cover was cut in half to add a floor shift. Real hack job. I got lucky a friend of my was going to sell FJ45 fuel tank and transmission cover to someone with a 69 FJ40. Told him those weren't the correct parts and traded FJ40.parts for his FJ45 parts. Transmission cover is the one pictured and 45 fuel tank was a newer updated version with the dimples. Besides getting 45 parts for 40 parts I beat my friend to this guy and picked up this top, bows and doors.
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Classified ad in the newspaper, remember those?

That picture taken September 95 is from before I was born.

 

[Living in the Past]

That picture taken September 95 is from before I was born.

By 1995 I had already owned that FJ40 for twenty years. Next month it will be fifty years.