Hi everybody,
The post is a bit long but please bear with me, this has been a LOOONG time coming.
I’ve been on mud for about 10 years now, ever since I first bought my 40 up in Anchorage Alaska when I was stationed up there. Began the partial restoration process (nuthin too fancy) drove it a bit while I was up there, but It never ran great.
That was the preface, here’s the meat;
-07/‘75 FJ40, hardtop (50 next month!)
-Holley 500, (Recently installed an Aisin)
-HEI (cheap) conversion, swapped from old vac retard distributor it came with.
-Rebuilt 2F, 4 spd and T-case
-countless other new parts
Im looking for some direction on this thing, I really, really, REALLY just want it to start and run OK. It vehemently refuses, regardless of how much cash, time, effort, blood, sweat and tears I throw at it.
This restoration has fought me every single step of the way. Every single part and process, seemingly intentionally goes out of its way to be as difficult as possible. Which is ironic, considering the Fj40 is really just a tractor with a body on it. It should have been an enjoyable process.
I won’t even get into it any further than that but I’ve also had problems with almost every person I’ve hired to do anything with it, from the engine rebuilder taking months to finish it, the body repair guys that gave it back to me partially done and in pieces (missing rare parts) and after $4000 paid to them over 4 years, rare mid-year parts I’ve had a hell of a time locating, etc, etc, etc
So, FINALLY my questions are:
1. Why does the secondary linkage hit my intake manifold? (See pic) The engine is a ‘75 2F, the carb is a ‘77, should work fine. The carb spacer is in the correct position from diagrams I’ve seen. What gives?
2. I’ve never got the Holley to run well in all these years, so I purchased the OEM Aisin and did a rebuild with Keyster parts. I know my way around carburetors but I’ve read that the 77 to 79 is notoriously difficult to tune. Great.
3. My cheap HEI distributor wobbles. I’m guessing the shaft wasn’t machined perfectly round. The bottom of the shaft seats perfectly in the oil pump but I still don’t trust the set up. I’ve read that I need to put a 60 series distributor on it. People want $400 for a used one on eBay so if I’m going to put the time into tracking one down for a reasonable price I want to know it’s the best one for my setup. Otherwise, what other HEI set up will work with my OEM 77 carb?
I’m looking for ANY help anybody can give me with this thing, I really don’t want to sell it but I’m so unbelievably frustrated with this truck I’m at the point where Id almost rather just watch it burn to the ground than sell it. I’m sure a few people really have been in the same position with some project they’ve had!
If you need more pictures or info, please ask and I will supply. I have scoured the forms for information, hours, and hours of digging, and there’s multiple solutions to every problem.
With what I have, I am mostly asking for advice, what were the other 40 owners do in my situation?
Thanks in advance
Cale in MN
The post is a bit long but please bear with me, this has been a LOOONG time coming.
I’ve been on mud for about 10 years now, ever since I first bought my 40 up in Anchorage Alaska when I was stationed up there. Began the partial restoration process (nuthin too fancy) drove it a bit while I was up there, but It never ran great.
That was the preface, here’s the meat;
-07/‘75 FJ40, hardtop (50 next month!)
-Holley 500, (Recently installed an Aisin)
-HEI (cheap) conversion, swapped from old vac retard distributor it came with.
-Rebuilt 2F, 4 spd and T-case
-countless other new parts
Im looking for some direction on this thing, I really, really, REALLY just want it to start and run OK. It vehemently refuses, regardless of how much cash, time, effort, blood, sweat and tears I throw at it.
This restoration has fought me every single step of the way. Every single part and process, seemingly intentionally goes out of its way to be as difficult as possible. Which is ironic, considering the Fj40 is really just a tractor with a body on it. It should have been an enjoyable process.
I won’t even get into it any further than that but I’ve also had problems with almost every person I’ve hired to do anything with it, from the engine rebuilder taking months to finish it, the body repair guys that gave it back to me partially done and in pieces (missing rare parts) and after $4000 paid to them over 4 years, rare mid-year parts I’ve had a hell of a time locating, etc, etc, etc
So, FINALLY my questions are:
1. Why does the secondary linkage hit my intake manifold? (See pic) The engine is a ‘75 2F, the carb is a ‘77, should work fine. The carb spacer is in the correct position from diagrams I’ve seen. What gives?
2. I’ve never got the Holley to run well in all these years, so I purchased the OEM Aisin and did a rebuild with Keyster parts. I know my way around carburetors but I’ve read that the 77 to 79 is notoriously difficult to tune. Great.
3. My cheap HEI distributor wobbles. I’m guessing the shaft wasn’t machined perfectly round. The bottom of the shaft seats perfectly in the oil pump but I still don’t trust the set up. I’ve read that I need to put a 60 series distributor on it. People want $400 for a used one on eBay so if I’m going to put the time into tracking one down for a reasonable price I want to know it’s the best one for my setup. Otherwise, what other HEI set up will work with my OEM 77 carb?
I’m looking for ANY help anybody can give me with this thing, I really don’t want to sell it but I’m so unbelievably frustrated with this truck I’m at the point where Id almost rather just watch it burn to the ground than sell it. I’m sure a few people really have been in the same position with some project they’ve had!
If you need more pictures or info, please ask and I will supply. I have scoured the forms for information, hours, and hours of digging, and there’s multiple solutions to every problem.
With what I have, I am mostly asking for advice, what were the other 40 owners do in my situation?
Thanks in advance
Cale in MN
‘problem child’ and reach to 
