my best is
4 wheel power disk brakes
power steering
sm420
soa
front and rear lockers
4 wheel power disk brakes
power steering
sm420
soa
front and rear lockers
Best Mod You Have Done
- Thread starter PUPTLAM
- Start date
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I'm still rebuilding my 1979 BJ-FJ40 so difficult to evaluate which is/was best
But what I have done so far is
1. Removed B diesel engine in favour of a completely rebuilt and dynamically balanced 2F
2. 4" Lift - Heystee Parabolic springs
3. ARB air lockers front and rear
4. 60 Series power steering
5. Changed color from Mustard Yellow to Rustic Green
6. Bucket seats.
7. Long range tank
8. pertronix electronic ign
Still to be done
1. BFG 33 x 12.5 MT's
2. Roll cage
3. Headers and exhaust
4. Safari snorkel
But what I have done so far is
1. Removed B diesel engine in favour of a completely rebuilt and dynamically balanced 2F
2. 4" Lift - Heystee Parabolic springs
3. ARB air lockers front and rear
4. 60 Series power steering
5. Changed color from Mustard Yellow to Rustic Green
6. Bucket seats.
7. Long range tank
8. pertronix electronic ign
Still to be done
1. BFG 33 x 12.5 MT's
2. Roll cage
3. Headers and exhaust
4. Safari snorkel
Last edited:
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2007
- Threads
- 59
- Messages
- 346
- Location
- Grand Rapids, MI
- Website
- www.unemployedfilms.com
Best-front disc brakes
Sounds simple but smaller steering wheel(coupled with power steering) I'm 6'5 and it was almost impossible to operate the clutch with the stock steering wheel, now my knee fits between the wheel and the door and its no problem.
Cupholders. Hands down the best thing I've done for comfort, safety, and the safety of those around me. 
turbo 
dash shelf
best 2 things i have done to my truck are
disc brakes-stopping is really nice
saginaw powersteering
disc brakes-stopping is really nice
saginaw powersteering
The best two things I have done to my truck is to have acquired it, and then wheeled it.
Now that it is has a well-running 2F, SM420, SOA, FDB, Sagnaw, Butch-Built front winch bumper, Paul Decker rock-bar, side-step, air tank for on-board air, 6pt cage. The wiring is next on my list. I went with LED tailights in the Decker rear tire carrier and now my turn signals don't work. One thing has led to another and this is my list of things to do over the next few driveway "wrenching" sessions:
Dash Gauge Cluster
1. Permanently join ammeter wires together and use this line for the new voltmeter
2. Update the cluster with the kit from Kickass Stuff For Your 40-Series
3. Test the old water temp sending unit against the new gauge
Alternator
1. Connect B+ directly to battery positive
2. Connect terminal 2 to B+
3. Connect terminal 1 to ground on an dash mounted idiot light
Turn Signals
1. Install new flasher relay and test. If that works
2. Replace front turn signal bulbs with new LED bulbs
Driving Lights
1. Debug each one to figure out why they are not lit
2. Replace bulbs with LED
3. Wire each parking light to flash with turn signals (Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply)
Head Lights
1. Wire headlights to get power directly from battery (Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply)
Now that it is has a well-running 2F, SM420, SOA, FDB, Sagnaw, Butch-Built front winch bumper, Paul Decker rock-bar, side-step, air tank for on-board air, 6pt cage. The wiring is next on my list. I went with LED tailights in the Decker rear tire carrier and now my turn signals don't work. One thing has led to another and this is my list of things to do over the next few driveway "wrenching" sessions:
Dash Gauge Cluster
1. Permanently join ammeter wires together and use this line for the new voltmeter
2. Update the cluster with the kit from Kickass Stuff For Your 40-Series
3. Test the old water temp sending unit against the new gauge
Alternator
1. Connect B+ directly to battery positive
2. Connect terminal 2 to B+
3. Connect terminal 1 to ground on an dash mounted idiot light
Turn Signals
1. Install new flasher relay and test. If that works
2. Replace front turn signal bulbs with new LED bulbs
Driving Lights
1. Debug each one to figure out why they are not lit
2. Replace bulbs with LED
3. Wire each parking light to flash with turn signals (Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply)
Head Lights
1. Wire headlights to get power directly from battery (Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply)
PabloCruise
SILVER Star
Cool projects!
Please tell us how your test of water temp gauges goes...
On the alternator, why are you connecting terminal 2 to B+? I am not sure what terminal 2 is...
Will you do a write-up on your headlight mods?
Thanks!
PabloCruise
SILVER Star
Best mod I have done is 3FE my Piggy!
I love it.
I love it.
my favorite comfort mod is front and rear bench seats, front from my 93 yota p/u bolted in with 2 3"x1.5" brackets to front stock bolt holes turned around stock rear brackets(i ended up with a ton of legroom in front ! ! ! ), rear is 3rd row from my suburban 4x4 quite a task to mount but everyone rides in comfort...WOOOHOOOO !
1. Saginaw Power steering
2. New Bestop soft top
3. Painless wiring kit
2. New Bestop soft top
3. Painless wiring kit
1. Front Disc brakes.
2. Rear Lockrite
3. PTO Winch
4. 60 series Power Steering
5. 60 series rear axle housing - more stable on side slopes
6. 60 series springs - huge improvement in articulation and more stable on steep hills with the extra wheelbase
7. 35x11.5x15 Silverstone extreme MT's
2. Rear Lockrite
3. PTO Winch
4. 60 series Power Steering
5. 60 series rear axle housing - more stable on side slopes
6. 60 series springs - huge improvement in articulation and more stable on steep hills with the extra wheelbase
7. 35x11.5x15 Silverstone extreme MT's
Wasn't really a mod, but when I built up the 2F to drop into the old 40, I had it balanced. It does more for the >3000 rpm performance than anything else you can do.
On my 72 FJ40
1. H55f - 1900 RPM in 5th at 75mph makes getting to the trail a lot easier, plus a 5sp makes my rig drivable on an everyday basis
2. Saginow. I used to have a Toyo with no PS and wide 33"s. I now have strong arms
3. 396 BBC. Nothing inspires confidence like a built big block.
4. Painless Conversion
5. Willow discs on the front (for 35's a must)
6. Rattle Can Black Paint. Ironically I wheel a hell of a lot better knowing I can just spend 3 minutes with a fine grit sander and a can of Krylon to fix that trail rash. Yes people look down on me when my DD is painted flat black, but I love my rig and unlike my past rides I can call those people who bump into me in a parking lot and say don't worry about it, I fixed it in 5 minutes, plus I can touch up every once in awhile to stave off any rust issues.
7. Conferr rear front facing seat. (when the top is off there is almost always four people in my FJ
8. Tow hooks and adequate straps. I've never been towed, but have dragged 9 rigs home or back to the trail head in the two years I've owned my rig. To this day I still run into people who remember my 40 towing back a F350 on uphill sections to a trailhead 3 miles away. Makes me want to never want to sell my 40 (although sadly it's up for sale).
9. Auburn LSD front. I have a Detroit rear, but I like to drive my rig everywhere, and am glad the PO put in a LSD up front.
10. Onboard CO2 tank. No compressor and ARB seals to deal with, can air up tires in 2 minutes, and it's cheap. Mounted to the rollbar.
11. Anti Inversion Shackles. So glad I don't have a Spring over, and with a 4" on top of these I have 6" that still ride nice enough to drive from SB to Moab
12. 22 Gallon Aux tank. see #3
1. H55f - 1900 RPM in 5th at 75mph makes getting to the trail a lot easier, plus a 5sp makes my rig drivable on an everyday basis
2. Saginow. I used to have a Toyo with no PS and wide 33"s. I now have strong arms
3. 396 BBC. Nothing inspires confidence like a built big block.
4. Painless Conversion
5. Willow discs on the front (for 35's a must)
6. Rattle Can Black Paint. Ironically I wheel a hell of a lot better knowing I can just spend 3 minutes with a fine grit sander and a can of Krylon to fix that trail rash. Yes people look down on me when my DD is painted flat black, but I love my rig and unlike my past rides I can call those people who bump into me in a parking lot and say don't worry about it, I fixed it in 5 minutes, plus I can touch up every once in awhile to stave off any rust issues.
7. Conferr rear front facing seat. (when the top is off there is almost always four people in my FJ
8. Tow hooks and adequate straps. I've never been towed, but have dragged 9 rigs home or back to the trail head in the two years I've owned my rig. To this day I still run into people who remember my 40 towing back a F350 on uphill sections to a trailhead 3 miles away. Makes me want to never want to sell my 40 (although sadly it's up for sale).
9. Auburn LSD front. I have a Detroit rear, but I like to drive my rig everywhere, and am glad the PO put in a LSD up front.
10. Onboard CO2 tank. No compressor and ARB seals to deal with, can air up tires in 2 minutes, and it's cheap. Mounted to the rollbar.
11. Anti Inversion Shackles. So glad I don't have a Spring over, and with a 4" on top of these I have 6" that still ride nice enough to drive from SB to Moab
12. 22 Gallon Aux tank. see #3
Last edited:
sum of the parts
1. Finding a solid truck to start with at a decent price (no two-bolt sags here.)
2. Locating a good shop/parts supplier...thanks Mark.
3. Tightening up the basics (brakes, steering, cooling etc...)
4. THEN 4spd H41 conversion. Can't be compared to the 3spd.
5. Hot-rodded Aisan
6. custom lift and rubber overdrive (my old tires used to sound like LtCol Kilgore's squadron of hueys spinning up to conduct a heliborne assault. CHARLIE DONT SURF!)
Its good to have a plan.
1. Finding a solid truck to start with at a decent price (no two-bolt sags here.)
2. Locating a good shop/parts supplier...thanks Mark.
3. Tightening up the basics (brakes, steering, cooling etc...)
4. THEN 4spd H41 conversion. Can't be compared to the 3spd.
5. Hot-rodded Aisan
6. custom lift and rubber overdrive (my old tires used to sound like LtCol Kilgore's squadron of hueys spinning up to conduct a heliborne assault. CHARLIE DONT SURF!)
Its good to have a plan.
