Best FJ40 Upgrade Ever

[FloridaLife]

Just curious for all you FJ40 experts / owners out there, especially since I'm new to the FJ40 scene and still have never driven one yet, some of you have had yours for many years and/or multiple FJ40's over the years... what would you say is The Best Upgrade you have ever done (or had done) to your FJ40?

 

[Paul_A]

Power steering, IMO.

 

[B y r o n]

The "best upgrade" can be different for different people depending on how they want to use their rig. Once you get yours, you will learn what you want to improve on.

 

[1MOA]

in no order
Power steering
Koito Halogen headlight kit ( yes I know LED's are available but if you drive a 40 in snow they don't throw enough heat to keep them clear)

Koito Headlight Upgrade Kit - OEM Toyota, FJ40/55/60

***Don't forget to check out the problem-solver HBIM to go with your Koito Headlight Upgrade kit!*** Upgrade to modern headlight output with this OEM Toyota kit. It contains everything you need to get rid of the dismal sealed beams that came as original equipment on 40, 55, and 60 Series trucks...

cruisertrashparts.com

Orion transfer case if you wheel it.
4plus rear tire carrier and basket 4PlusProducts | FJ40 | Tire Carriers | Rear Tow Bumper with Tire and Cooler Carrier - http://www.4plusproducts.com/fj40fulltirecarrier.html
4 plus U-bolt reversal kit 4PlusProducts | FJ40 | Suspension Parts | U-Bolt Flip Kit - http://www.4plusproducts.com/fj40uboltflipkits.html

 

[charliemeyer007]

Direct read oil pressure gauge. Auxiliary gas tank. Big rear heater. Better head light bulbs. More interior lightening, an amber fog light to use with the backup light. Mine came with a Rochester carb and a Delco distributor. I put the header on after the cast iron manifold broke. Later made the fluid heat riser for cold foggy days with carburetor icing being the issue.

 

[bhsdriller]

If I could have one i'd do AC

Can live without power steering

 

[FloridaLife]

Power steering, IMO.

I have been thinking a lot about doing that. Which kit did you use? Where / how did you mount the pump? I have a '78 2F that does not have a factory mounting location for a pump.

Cruisermatt has a really nice power steering conversion that they do. Very well done.

 

[1MOA]

Power steering, IMO.

Direct read oil pressure gauge. Auxiliary gas tank. Big rear heater. Better head light bulbs. More interior lightening, an amber fog light to use with the backup light. Mine came with a Rochester carb and a Delco distributor. I put the header on after the cast iron manifold broke. Later made the fluid heat riser for cold foggy days with carburetor icing being the issue.

What big rear heater did you go with? my stock rear heater cooks me out.

 

[matzell]

Power steering, no question, goes on all of mine.

 

[FloridaLife]

I have been thinking a lot about doing that. Which kit did you use? Where / how did you mount the pump? I have a '78 2F that does not have a factory mounting location for a pump.

Cruisermatt has a really nice power steering conversion that they do. Very well done.

The "best upgrade" can be different for different people depending on how they want to use their rig. Once you get yours, you will learn what you want to improve on.

I live in Central Florida, so there is no place around here for rock crawling or anything like that. I'll mostly be running errands in it, taking my boys fishing, maybe take them to the beach in it once in a while, and "IF" we find an off road trail or too we will give them a go but I doubt there is anything here like back home in Texas, or Colorado, or Northern Georgia or anything like that. I wouldn't mind taking it on a trip to somewhere like that, but it would be a long drive.

 

[FloridaLife]

in no order
Power steering
Koito Halogen headlight kit ( yes I know LED's are available but if you drive a 40 in snow they don't throw enough heat to keep them clear)

Koito Headlight Upgrade Kit - OEM Toyota, FJ40/55/60

***Don't forget to check out the problem-solver HBIM to go with your Koito Headlight Upgrade kit!*** Upgrade to modern headlight output with this OEM Toyota kit. It contains everything you need to get rid of the dismal sealed beams that came as original equipment on 40, 55, and 60 Series trucks...

cruisertrashparts.com

Orion transfer case if you wheel it.
4plus rear tire carrier and basket 4PlusProducts | FJ40 | Tire Carriers | Rear Tow Bumper with Tire and Cooler Carrier - http://www.4plusproducts.com/fj40fulltirecarrier.html
4 plus U-bolt reversal kit 4PlusProducts | FJ40 | Suspension Parts | U-Bolt Flip Kit - http://www.4plusproducts.com/fj40uboltflipkits.html

Which power steering conversion kit did you go with? Where / how did you mount the pump? I have a '71 (build date Dec '70) FJ40 and will be using a '78 2F which does not have a factory pump mount location.

Good point on the lights regarding the snow. I had not even thought about that. But now that I'm retired and in Florida, if it snows here then I will know that Hell has frozen over!

 

[pb4ugo]

All of them have Power steering & 4 wheel disc brakes, along with any of my future FJ4X.

FJ40 #2, Make it a driver!!! NV4500, SBC, Koito headlight upgrade. It will likely get ARB lockers at some point.

1st FJ40, Make it trail capable & a decent driver. ARB locker in frt, Detroit in rear, 4.88's, SM420, center rear output Tcase, SBC.

 

[charliemeyer007]

The heater was from a 17 place Chevy van. Was free. Cost $5 for the 3 speed fan switch, $5 for the cut wood to build the box and $5 for the hoses to connect it. I can drive around in 25 below in shorts and tee shirt with the windows down. Somewhere I have pic's of 5 of us cross country skiers standing shoulder to shoulder at the ambi doors with the heater going in a 30 below white out - I could close my eyes and it was just like being on the Mediterranean.

 

[FloridaLife]

Direct read oil pressure gauge. Auxiliary gas tank. Big rear heater. Better head light bulbs. More interior lightening, an amber fog light to use with the backup light. Mine came with a Rochester carb and a Delco distributor. I put the header on after the cast iron manifold broke. Later made the fluid heat riser for cold foggy days with carburetor icing being the issue.

Good idea on the oil pressure gauge. If I remember correctly (mine has been gone in the shop since the day after it arrived) it had an added gauge, don't remember if it was temp or oil pressure. Someone added an overhead mount for a CB Radio & mount with a dome light, but I'm removing that because it leaks when it rains and repairing the holes. Speaking of your carb and distributor, my 2F came with a Weber on it. I'm trying to decide if I should leave it (under the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" philosophy) or if I should rebuild the OEM carb that was in the back with drivetrain parts when I bought it. Suggestion?

 

[Shark56]

Which power steering conversion kit did you go with? Where / how did you mount the pump? I have a '71 (build date Dec '70) FJ40 and will be using a '78 2F which does not have a factory pump mount location.

Good point on the lights regarding the snow. I had not even thought about that. But now that I'm retired and in Florida, if it snows here then I will know that Hell has frozen over!

Your use of the 40 sounds like a perfect canidate for Electric Power Steering.
Relatively easy bolt on the can be completed in a few hours.

 

[1MOA]

Which power steering conversion kit did you go with? Where / how did you mount the pump? I have a '71 (build date Dec '70) FJ40 and will be using a '78 2F which does not have a factory pump mount location.

Good point on the lights regarding the snow. I had not even thought about that. But now that I'm retired and in Florida, if it snows here then I will know that Hell has frozen over!

Mini truck. all I had to do was replace the PS mount on the frame with a mini truck box mount I would suggest having it rebuilt by west texas off road before you install as the ones out there probably are work and have shafts that will need some attention to clean them up and seal right.if you have a 78 block the PS mount should bolt right up on the left side.

 

[FloridaLife]

If I could have one i'd do AC

Can live without power steering

I hear ya! East Texas (where I'm originally from) gets so hot and humid that the tar seeps up through the graven on the roads and when you walk on it or a back woods blacktop road you could feel it squish under your shoes. Here in Central Florida it gets pretty hot and humid too. There are only 2 seasons here... Hot & Humid, and REALLY freaking hot & humid. We swim on Christmas day here!

What A/C system did you go with? Being from TX I'm very familiar with Vintage Air, but I know there are other systems out there and someone here on iH8MUD even told me they used the rear A/C from a salvage minivan and it worked great at a fraction of the cost of something like Vintage Air.

 

[1MOA]

Your use of the 40 sounds like a perfect canidate for Electric Power Steering.
Relatively easy bolt on the can be completed in a few hours.

If you are not going off road the electric steering is a quick swap

Electric Power Steering for '73 and later Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40

Your opportunity to enjoy a leapfrog in technology and enter the Tesla age! A complete kit to convert your Land Cruiser FJ40 to electric power steering. Developed by EZ Electric Power Steering using components produced by Koyo and NSK, both made in Japan and affiliated with Toyota.Compatible...

www.cityracerllc.com

 

[FloridaLife]

Power steering, no question, goes on all of mine.

I have been thinking a lot about doing that. Which kit did you use? Where / how did you mount the pump? I have a '71 JF40 (build date Dec '70) and a '78 2F that does not have a factory mounting location for a pump.

Cruisermatt has a really nice power steering conversion that they do. Very well done.

 

[FloridaLife]

All of them have Power steering & 4 wheel disc brakes, along with any future FJ4X.

FJ40 #2, Make it a driver!!! NV4500, SBC, Koito headlight upgrade. It will likely get ARB lockers at some point.

1st FJ40, Make it trail capable & a decent driver. ARB locker in frt, Detroit in rear, 4.88's, SM420, center rear output Tcase, SBC.

I have been thinking a lot about doing that. Which kit did you use? Where / how did you mount the pump? I have a '71 JF40 (build date Dec '70) and a '78 2F that does not have a factory mounting location for a pump.

Cruisermatt has a really nice power steering conversion that they do. Very well done.