Builds Bluebonnet - 5.3/H55 FJ40 (1 Viewer)

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

View attachment 2011265

We stopped for the night at a hotel in Amarillo and plan to finish the rest of the journey home tomorrow. We met with @POTATO LAUNCHER for dinner and he brought his sweet 40 along. He also had a look at Bluebonnet and pointed out some cool features I didn’t know about. Apparently 73’ was the only year for the factory rear reverse light and the last year without the interior roll cage.

View attachment 2011269
View attachment 2011267View attachment 2011268View attachment 2011276
That is the original plate 1972👀
 
She is home! Although the neighbors aren’t too happy :grinpimp:

A078FB0A-5010-4CE0-BC2E-6CB088F0F31B.jpeg
B066F1D0-DF25-45B5-8B30-A4F64F5AEB1D.jpeg


Found this 2016 publication from Toyota Trails. Quite the spitting image if I say so myself! :)

AA87926E-2C7C-40D1-9F61-DAC290B8119D.jpeg
A303B5CF-3246-471C-A10F-7C47CE49CFAB.jpeg
 
@SipLife, great message from the previous owner that I hope rests in you as mantra “if you take care of it, it will take care of you”. So many great lessons in life ahead. Enjoy the moments.
 
Last edited:
The First order of business was getting the interior cleaned up a bit. The Red New Mexico dirt had found its way into every crack and crevice in the truck.

3E4D070F-A09A-4F33-B2D2-EEB033C0B57D.jpeg
58CD822E-D631-4F56-A58C-E72B21D903C2.jpeg


I pulled the front seats, rear bench seats, spare gas tank, center console, and 3 boxes of parts out onto the driveway. (Sandy and Kermit kept me company :) )

5DAF3684-C0CC-4681-8B05-C4B4BE21EC36.jpeg


This is what the empty cab looked like:

2A8B998C-131C-435A-AF8A-DD7152A852EE.jpeg
56284C1A-513F-4C05-A2C3-DB6BF02AF817.jpeg
 
Then I grabbed the shop vac to suck up the loose dirt.

DBDE2470-B92F-4916-B2F8-5A089FFE342D.jpeg
A51A4B27-7FB6-4478-9DE6-CB95D44A6D0F.jpeg


While vacuuming I found this deposit statement that we think belongs to the original owner:

C678DF13-EE50-4F40-B4D3-DCBD459E1BA8.jpeg


Ten minutes into the ps floorpan the vac quit working, so I decided to go old school with a brush and spade. I worked my way around the truck until all the loose dirt was collected. Zeus Approved :)

EFBBEFF8-0130-45DE-B17D-C4D26619F4B6.jpeg
C84D5978-2B9E-4A01-B6A8-884AE273AA1D.jpeg
 
Last edited:
Then I pulled the gas tank and cleaned out the dirt underneath. Here are some miscellaneous items I found from under the gas tank and inside the glovebox:

E524430D-3B3A-42DB-827B-505482F1C9FD.jpeg
C633907B-BC47-4509-9A04-90BA89B05D2C.jpeg
F86C77D7-7C59-4571-AC8D-44364BBA39AF.jpeg


On the Rear Wheel wells there was some old insulation and sticky glue remnants bonded to the paint.

89AFF7D0-B377-412F-A307-096086900111.jpeg
091912B4-4B2F-482E-B50D-4A05643BE45F.jpeg
 
I began by heating the glue with hairdryer and worked a quarter of the wheel well at a time with a paint scraper. I taped the edge of the scraper to avoid scratching the paint. I repeated this process several times and used my fingernail in the hard to reach areas. Then I sprayed the remaining residue with Goo Gone and let it sit for a few minutes. Then I wiped off the excess and I’m quite happy with the results:

2013499
77690159-3CFC-4D9B-8A4C-64CBE9B03C5D.jpeg
A19D35C1-A9B9-4847-A753-DA726ACA3715.jpeg
454B5A5C-24D7-4342-9BE1-CC713B54891E.jpeg
38F4B778-EC7E-45D7-80E9-E9780E045B54.jpeg
 
The next order of business was unloading the 3 boxes of spare parts. This is my favorite part with any restoration/refurb, its like Christmas came early :grinpimp:

2013506



Here are a few big ticket items from each box

Box 1:

2013507

Hood Prop. Carburetor Gaskets. Distributor Cap.

Found this McDonalds tattoo from 1989:
2013508


Box 2:

2013509

Toyota Grease Gun. Rearview Mirror. Alternator Brackets.



Old School GM packaging:
4023658D-EA00-4385-A86C-86F67A8FC427.jpeg
 
It’s pretty awesome that the tool roll is still with the truck. That’s a cool old pin. If you don’t keep it for your self I know someone who would gladly take care of it.;)
 
@SipLife is 16. Do share what you can to diversify his knowledge and experience. He only get so much from his Pap.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top Bottom