“Once a Driller, always a Driller”. Class of 1970.
Best FJ40 Upgrade Ever
- Thread starter FloridaLife
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FloridaLife
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- #262
I bet you are right. Running to get a gallon of milk shouldn't be too stressful on the transfer case. LOL! Or driving it on the beach.
FloridaLife
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- #263
That's one thing my wife is totally on board with spending the money on. She says if I want her to ride in it with me, I better install A/C.
AC is nice for a daily driver. Here in NC it gets pretty humid. I had this unit in my truck. It fits in place of the air duct and has a helper blower. The nice thing about this is it blows through the heater box and defrost ducts. I used a FJ40 headlight switch with a fan knob to control the off/low/hi speed of the blower so it was a stock looking knob/switch. This entire system (compressor, evap, cond, hoses) will be up for sale soon.
Engineer8000, definitely interested in it
A/C in the southern humid summer is such a relief. Installed it back in 1976 in my ‘74 FJ40. Doing a bunch of upgrades right now on my ‘75 and A/C should have been one of them…. Well, the week ain’t over yet…Hey @Jdc1 …are you hearing this? 
As I’ve gotten older I’ve become increasingly less tolerant of heat and humidity. It’s only bad around here from June through October. @Engineer8000 your a/c piqued my interests also..
As I’ve gotten older I’ve become increasingly less tolerant of heat and humidity. It’s only bad around here from June through October. @Engineer8000 your a/c piqued my interests also..
Skreddy
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I’ve never looked into the AC units that Chewy sells, down the rabbit hole I go…
Jk. I plan to add AC to my 40 and want to do it like this; keep the ducting and stock heater. I’m a bit of a purist, with a lift, efi and column shift 4 speed….
pb4ugo
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It's OK, I find most purist have exceptions. 
Haha…I know I’m a purist..and as you said @pb4ugo …”EXCEPT, I have this, that and the other thing.” I probably spent $4000.00 getting my 40 back to stock when I bought it. It stuck in my head when I drove it. It did have a beautiful Grant high gloss thick cherry wood steering wheel. But it just was so visual, I had to change it…$400. A box of other small little stuff that adds up quickly. One of several personality glitches.
I cannot seem to locate the A/C unit from my 1974 FJ40. It was a dealer installed option in 1977 from Morristown Toyota here in NJ but all that was under the dash was a strip of vents that followed the lower dash pads. No interference in the passenger space. Yet, I Have not found any “kits” that look like this. While it’s 48 years later, I would think something might be available like this
Combined with the Downey Toyota 1/2 cab, the cabin was a freezer if you wanted…@Downey, thank you for that one 49 years later!
I’ve posted this picture before but I just love it
I cannot seem to locate the A/C unit from my 1974 FJ40. It was a dealer installed option in 1977 from Morristown Toyota here in NJ but all that was under the dash was a strip of vents that followed the lower dash pads. No interference in the passenger space. Yet, I Have not found any “kits” that look like this. While it’s 48 years later, I would think something might be available like this
Combined with the Downey Toyota 1/2 cab, the cabin was a freezer if you wanted…@Downey, thank you for that one 49 years later!
I’ve posted this picture before but I just love it
pb4ugo
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Yep, I enjoyed my 1/2 cab too. I've been wanting to make one for yrs.
Blue77FJ40
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My '77 came with front discs, so on the rear, like others, I used Poser's "kit". I installed them in early aughts. and have have no issues. As has been mentioned, maintenance is practically non existent.
Welding? Never heard of that for RDB installs.
Welding? Never heard of that for RDB installs.
FloridaLife
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- #272
It gets HOT and humid here in Central Florida too! Very hot and humid. And my wife and I have also noticed that the older we get the less we tolerate it. I remember as a kid, many houses did not have A/C. Thank goodness for A/C!
Blue77FJ40
SILVER Star
The same goes for the cold. The older I get, the more it bothers me. At this moment, I have a heater under my desk keeping me warm. So that just means my window of acceptable temps keeps shrinking. In my 30's I would ride my bike to work if it was no colder than 26 deg F. Now, even with my heated gear, It must be in the 50's in the morning. 60's are even better.
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FloridaLife
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- #274
Yep, same for us. I used to love snow skiing, but those days are long gone, especially with all the surgery I've had. Here in Central Florida I don't have to worry about slipping or falling on the snow or ice.
Man does this all illustrate the old fart process… we’re all in the same boat it seems. I’ll just toss in this little tidbit for me. Vermont in the ‘70s was usually -20 to -40 below zero.. now in my 70’s I have not gone 1 night in 4 years without pre-heating the bed with the electric heated mattress pad we have … both winter and summer !
I went so far as to ask the doc which medication I’m on causes me to freeze… he said none
I went so far as to ask the doc which medication I’m on causes me to freeze… he said none
Blue77FJ40
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A warm water bed suites me just dandy! I'll kick it up a good bit during the winter. Yes, I'm in my 70's. I still get all my chores done, it just takes longer...Man does this all illustrate the old fart process… we’re all in the same boat it seems. I’ll just toss in this little tidbit for me. Vermont in the ‘70s was usually -20 to -40 below zero.. now in my 70’s I have not gone 1 night in 4 years without pre-heating the bed with the electric heated mattress pad we have … both winter and summer !
I went so far as to ask the doc which medication I’m on causes me to freeze… he said none
It is pretty simple idea and swap. Many vehicles including CJ and earlier Jeeps, Land Rovers and of course Toyota FJs all had leaf springs in the front with the shackle in front. This arrangement causes the spring to flex forward into the bump/holes/whatever we drive into. The reversal places the shackle in the rear so the vehicle rides much better and is less jarring. Kits are available and can either add a small lift or others don't. I have been happy with Man a Fre/BTB products for this project.
My '75 has a shackle reversal installed by the P.O, ... of unknown manufacture.
Must have been a helluva' good installation, as I have caught myself several times at nearly 80 mph on the interstate, ... with perfect control and stability!
Must have been a helluva' good installation, as I have caught myself several times at nearly 80 mph on the interstate, ... with perfect control and stability!
FloridaLife
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- #279
Thank you, I learned something new today. I'll probably add that to my "To Do" list.
FloridaLife
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- #280
I didn't know an FJ40 could reach 80 mph. Shhh....
we won't tell my wife that. One of the things she's looking forward to is the FJ not going fast like my motorcycle did.
