I totally agree. Besides, the pre-1976 look very true and correct in their timeless designs, while the newer ones look more eightyish to me.
Best year for a 40?
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I totally agree. Besides, the pre-1976 look very true and correct in their timeless designs, while the newer ones look more eightyish to me.
67 is the best year 
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Or just buy an old truck and enjoy it being an old truck.
My 69 has drum brakes, no power steering, no synchro on 1st gear, doesnt like going faster than 45mph, rides like a bucking bronco, and I LOVE IT!!!!!
I live in California and I am so glad that my fj40 is a '75 because:
- I don't have to go through he hassle and headache of smogging an old truck every 2 years. Imagine your cruiser on treadmill trying to pass smog, fawk!
- Swapping the front axle for disk brake axle is so easy. I've upgraded to FJ60 vented rotors/larger V6 4Runner calibers, FJ60 knucles, 4x4Labs steering arms, Longfield 30 spline chromoly birfields and axles, Aisin locking hubs...Just because of this I don't see any advange of getting a'76-'77, if you wheel your '76-'77 you may want to swap out your smaller pattern knucles and the birfields anyway.
- The truck came with 2F already.
- The truck came with H42 4spd which is nice but I swapped it out for H41
- The truck came with 4spd xfercase which is nice but I swapped it out for 4:1 Orion
- Truck came with 4.11 diffs
- Body of '75 is less prone to rust than '80-'83, and stock parts are easier to find than the later years
- Carb can be swapped out non-usa carb.
If I have to do it again, I would get another '75.
And yet, it still looks pretty much stock
- I don't have to go through he hassle and headache of smogging an old truck every 2 years. Imagine your cruiser on treadmill trying to pass smog, fawk!
- Swapping the front axle for disk brake axle is so easy. I've upgraded to FJ60 vented rotors/larger V6 4Runner calibers, FJ60 knucles, 4x4Labs steering arms, Longfield 30 spline chromoly birfields and axles, Aisin locking hubs...Just because of this I don't see any advange of getting a'76-'77, if you wheel your '76-'77 you may want to swap out your smaller pattern knucles and the birfields anyway.
- The truck came with 2F already.
- The truck came with H42 4spd which is nice but I swapped it out for H41
- The truck came with 4spd xfercase which is nice but I swapped it out for 4:1 Orion
- Truck came with 4.11 diffs
- Body of '75 is less prone to rust than '80-'83, and stock parts are easier to find than the later years
- Carb can be swapped out non-usa carb.
If I have to do it again, I would get another '75.
And yet, it still looks pretty much stock
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Pffft. Both my trucks pass easily. Do you drive a '75 or earlier car? Why not? Let me answer. It's because you just drive it down there, pay, they run it and the DMV sends the stickers.
'78 is the best year out of the box because it has three-point belts attached to the roll bar, disc brakes, 4.11 gears and fine-spline pinions. Later ones have large-pattern knuckles as well. Not sure where the cut-off is.
The best year is the year you drive. Mine is a 75 has 3 point belts, disc brakes power steering, fuel injection, arb lockers, high steer over sized tie rods and a long list of other stuff that adds up to 25K lol. What I love about it the best is that I never have to smog it and living in California, I'm sure there are many members that will agree with me. The point is that I see many beautiful cruisers that the members own and drive here. To say one year is better then another is always debatable. One has better options out of the box, the other has less options but just a better box in general. This is an old tread lol
kiwidog
Kiwidog
best 40
If you beleive the Cruisers are built not bought, then any year Cruiser is best and certainly better than any j**p.
My favourite is '78 beacuse it's the last year with the tank inside. One less thing to worry about in rough terain.
Thanks jb
If you beleive the Cruisers are built not bought, then any year Cruiser is best and certainly better than any j**p.
My favourite is '78 beacuse it's the last year with the tank inside. One less thing to worry about in rough terain.
Thanks jb
I had a 71 back in the day; I prefer the 4 speed on the floor, although the 3 on the tree was nice with 3 in front. The 4 speed transmission is great for a daily driver. Had a 76 FJ40 which I loved, got married, left with a buddy that got rid of her. (cruiser not the wife, sadly). Now I have a 78 which is a project, but it feels so right to drive. I do like the 4-speed although I have never driven one post 78.
Good luck on the search, I looked every day for 7 months for one. I almost looked at a getting a J**P, but look hard and make sure it is what you want, and what you hope to make your own.
Good luck on the search, I looked every day for 7 months for one. I almost looked at a getting a J**P, but look hard and make sure it is what you want, and what you hope to make your own.
Big Picture
Don't flame me too bad .... but I have to say the best '40 cannot be determined by year alone.
In general, newer is better with Toyota engineering and the best 40's are not USA spec.
We have heaps of late model 40's here and I currently have an '83 and an '84.
I have had a 1975 and 1979 in the past when I lived in Borneo.
All the cruisers I've had were international spec.
Feature this for a standard build.
Zero pollution / smog equipment.
Front vent windows.
3.73 diffs with H41 tranny.
Full floater rear axle.
Hand crank engine start equipped.
Digital clock and choke light.
Split lock rim steel 16" wheels
A/C and power steering from factory.
Fog lamps.
Pintle hook.
No relays except in the A/C.
Still not the best many would argue.
- no disk brakes.
- no diesel engine.
- winch not available
- roll bar not available
Others have said it - love the one you're with!
Don't flame me too bad .... but I have to say the best '40 cannot be determined by year alone.
In general, newer is better with Toyota engineering and the best 40's are not USA spec.
We have heaps of late model 40's here and I currently have an '83 and an '84.
I have had a 1975 and 1979 in the past when I lived in Borneo.
All the cruisers I've had were international spec.
Feature this for a standard build.
Zero pollution / smog equipment.
Front vent windows.
3.73 diffs with H41 tranny.
Full floater rear axle.
Hand crank engine start equipped.
Digital clock and choke light.
Split lock rim steel 16" wheels
A/C and power steering from factory.
Fog lamps.
Pintle hook.
No relays except in the A/C.
Still not the best many would argue.
- no disk brakes.
- no diesel engine.
- winch not available
- roll bar not available
Others have said it - love the one you're with!
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coleman2347
Ole Jarhead
Maybe somebody can tell me what this is....paperwork is still tied up with LTO so don't know the exact year on paperwork yet...I am in the Philippines...I found and bought a fairly pristine BJ 40, suppose to be early 80's. Body has very little rust, factory air, Pwr Steering, 4 speed, LH drive, tank under seat, Drum brakes. Looks like factory paint, medium metallic blue but there some indications that it might have been red at one time. Inside of one door and a wear mark on the floor by the gas pedal. Might have been converted to LH drive here. Got it relatively cheap compared to states. A little over 3K usd. When I drove it, other than no adjustment on drivers seat, steering wheel in my chest, I'm 6ft, bad shock's and a rattling back door it drove great. By the way the diesel is normally aspirated not turbo, any guesses? Thanks Lee
Assuming comparison as they rolled off of the assembly line- I'd go with a 1978 (biased) or the last year 1983 with AC and power steering and rare.
For bone Stock without mods, 1984... last year in Canada. P/S, 5-Speed, 3B Diesel.
Same I love my 69Or just buy an old truck and enjoy it being an old truck.
My 69 has drum brakes, no power steering, no synchro on 1st gear, doesnt like going faster than 45mph, rides like a bucking bronco, and I LOVE IT!!!!!
Look up "missedmyride.com) it has every spec on the fj40s
If we are considering an all original rig for Off Road use;'78 hands down. For collectibility '83, however for true Off Road prowess I still say '78, ideally a late in the run '78.
MScruiser
obsessive-compulsive oppositional-defiant wise-ass
I too would vote for late '78.
Good sheetmetal, internal gas tank, front disks, 4sp, provisions in the block to mount a Toyota factory power steering pump, 2F, widely available parts.
Good sheetmetal, internal gas tank, front disks, 4sp, provisions in the block to mount a Toyota factory power steering pump, 2F, widely available parts.
I love my '78 but may be picking up a '77 soon as a resto project for myself and other half, she loves these things! What does the '77 not have that the '78 does? I know about the 3 point belts attaching to the roll bar and carb cooling fan but what else?
