I am curious if that is an aftermarket brake switch but you said your brake light had been working. Mine has 3 wired and does have a connector tied back into the harness.
Build Build: Rusty Pumpkin Project 74' FJ40
- Thread starter bdawg23
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- Thread starter
- #282
I just found the connector to the harness today actually.
I had the harness out to wrap it and found the plug. Brake lights are working again!!
Talk about a cliffhanger episode! Glad this is resolved
- Thread starter
- #284
- Thread starter
- #285
Well got the truck fired up with the harness re-installed and of course now the alternator isn't charging... 
I checked the exciter wire to the fuse block and it has continuity. I'm sure it's something simple but geeezz.
Here is a video of it running
I checked the exciter wire to the fuse block and it has continuity. I'm sure it's something simple but geeezz.
Here is a video of it running
- Thread starter
- #286
@knuckle47 got the u joints aligned today. Thanks for the callout 
Also got the inspection light wired up. Somewhat irrelevant I suppose but honestly a very satisfying little project. Small little detail that adds a lot of value, mostly to my heart knowing that this was an idea that some engineer had and some 50 years later it’s still working.
Day before the snow storm went out and took some pics
Can’t believe it will be two years of ownership in March. Not looking too bad.
Feels like this build thread is coming to an end…what am I going to work on next
Also got the inspection light wired up. Somewhat irrelevant I suppose but honestly a very satisfying little project. Small little detail that adds a lot of value, mostly to my heart knowing that this was an idea that some engineer had and some 50 years later it’s still working.
Day before the snow storm went out and took some pics
Can’t believe it will be two years of ownership in March. Not looking too bad.
Feels like this build thread is coming to an end…what am I going to work on next
@bdawg23 Hey B…I have watched your build since you started it here and always looking forward to the positive outcomes when anyone is pursuing the joy of a passion. Then, when this started to turn to s#!t, I felt a sense of my own emotional support take a hit. I can only imagine how you would be taking this…it didn’t stop there.
You ran into to issue after issue after issue and just kept pushing on…that was a good feeling compared to tossing your hands in the air and giving up. I applaud your tenacity. Some FJ40’s are not for the faint of heart. I also celebrate your plus column every time you’re posting a new success. Your YouTube videos are light hearted and enjoyable to watch.
As we are not TOO far apart, some day we can meetup and say hello. As we used to say in the old days “ keep on truckin”
You ran into to issue after issue after issue and just kept pushing on…that was a good feeling compared to tossing your hands in the air and giving up. I applaud your tenacity. Some FJ40’s are not for the faint of heart. I also celebrate your plus column every time you’re posting a new success. Your YouTube videos are light hearted and enjoyable to watch.
As we are not TOO far apart, some day we can meetup and say hello. As we used to say in the old days “ keep on truckin”
- Thread starter
- #288
Thanks! Definitely helps to have folks like yourself chiming in with words of encouragement and guidance
Hope you’re not too snowed it. Our dogs have been having a blast
- Thread starter
- #289
I was on the fence about posting this but I think it's a good overview for folks looking to buy a project truck. I haven't really been able to contribute much in terms of new problem solving or fixing things as previous mud members have already covered thousands of issues here. What I do feel could be helpful though is what it cost me, what I learned along the way, and would I do it again?
What it cost me - I do have a summary by vendor but overall I spent $13,400 on parts and repair work. This was over 24 months and the biggest invoice was surely the motor rebuild at around $3,600. I ended paying $12k for the truck.
lesson #1 - pre-purchase inspection. I didn't do one and just because it runs doesn't mean it's a healthy engine or vehicle. I learned the hard way and had broken piston rings on 2 pistons, connecting rod journals that were shot and ended up building a whole new motor. I also had wheel bearings that were toast and a few other items that I didn't catch until it was on a lift. So my biggest takeaway: don't let excitement and lust take over so that you end up overpaying for your starting point.
What I learned along the way - Organization will lead the way for success. Patience is key, especially if the most you've ever done is change your oil. You can actually get away with a pretty basic tool kit (at least for my 40). I used floor jack and jack stands for all my work except the engine pull which I used an engine hoist for. Download a FSM and print it out, put it in a three ring binder and read it while you're watching TV. Or throw the PDF on your iPad and read it when you have time. The things you will learn, the relationships between systems you'll gain is priceless. Also, if you're into it I use AI tools like ChatGPT to help troubleshoot by summarizing information and showing related posts. I also use Notes app on my iPhone to keep track of "To Do's." Don't buy parts "just in case" unless you have a budget for it. I did this all the time and I ended up with things I didn't need or were not actually important to keeping the project moving forward. Reward yourself with small victories along the way. I'm very hard on myself when it comes to getting s*** done. If I start something I want to finish it. It's very easy to become mentally exhausted and have a constant list of things you "didn't get done" that day. I got some good advice early on from a mud member which was stay focused on projects that "make it safe" and "make it reliable." Everything else is just for show. I'm always torn on this topic but sometimes I'd order parts ahead of time and not need them and other times I'd wait, get only the parts I need but then have downtime between when I start and finish a project. If you plan ahead, having downtime is easy because your parts are organized and ready to go back together in the order you took them apart. Plus if you plan well enough you can putting something together while waiting for parts to arrive for what you just took apart.
lesson #2 - start your repair work by reading about the topic, looking at parts diagrams, reviewing the FSM. Be ready for some mental workload. If you're like me you're learning a lot of new stuff every time you go into the garage. Take breaks and stay organized with parts and repair lists.
Would I do it again - Probably. As long as time and money allow. As someone who works with email and phone for a living picking up wrenches and working with my hands had become the only time my brain wasn't scattered across three tasks at once. It brought me back to focusing on one task at time until its finished. Plus now that I've made a lot of mistakes I know what I'd do differently (and better) the next time.
lesson #3 - Honestly I don't know what the larger lesson is here. I suppose its don't let fear and lack of knowledge determine the outcome. Fear of the unknown can be overcome through education (mud, FSM, friends, YouTube). My second over arching theme here is probably not to overpay for a vehicle that might need work. If you don't know if something will need work you should be afraid and follow the path to overcome fear through education. Find help/resources to help you evaluate your purchase. Sure wish I did
And because this is build update I found out my gas tank was leaking through one of the vent lines so I've got my seat pulled out and the cover off. This kinda works out because my backup lights stopped working and it turns out the wire pulled off the sensor in the transmission so I need to remove the transmission hump to swap in a new reverse switch.
What it cost me - I do have a summary by vendor but overall I spent $13,400 on parts and repair work. This was over 24 months and the biggest invoice was surely the motor rebuild at around $3,600. I ended paying $12k for the truck.
lesson #1 - pre-purchase inspection. I didn't do one and just because it runs doesn't mean it's a healthy engine or vehicle. I learned the hard way and had broken piston rings on 2 pistons, connecting rod journals that were shot and ended up building a whole new motor. I also had wheel bearings that were toast and a few other items that I didn't catch until it was on a lift. So my biggest takeaway: don't let excitement and lust take over so that you end up overpaying for your starting point.
What I learned along the way - Organization will lead the way for success. Patience is key, especially if the most you've ever done is change your oil. You can actually get away with a pretty basic tool kit (at least for my 40). I used floor jack and jack stands for all my work except the engine pull which I used an engine hoist for. Download a FSM and print it out, put it in a three ring binder and read it while you're watching TV. Or throw the PDF on your iPad and read it when you have time. The things you will learn, the relationships between systems you'll gain is priceless. Also, if you're into it I use AI tools like ChatGPT to help troubleshoot by summarizing information and showing related posts. I also use Notes app on my iPhone to keep track of "To Do's." Don't buy parts "just in case" unless you have a budget for it. I did this all the time and I ended up with things I didn't need or were not actually important to keeping the project moving forward. Reward yourself with small victories along the way. I'm very hard on myself when it comes to getting s*** done. If I start something I want to finish it. It's very easy to become mentally exhausted and have a constant list of things you "didn't get done" that day. I got some good advice early on from a mud member which was stay focused on projects that "make it safe" and "make it reliable." Everything else is just for show. I'm always torn on this topic but sometimes I'd order parts ahead of time and not need them and other times I'd wait, get only the parts I need but then have downtime between when I start and finish a project. If you plan ahead, having downtime is easy because your parts are organized and ready to go back together in the order you took them apart. Plus if you plan well enough you can putting something together while waiting for parts to arrive for what you just took apart.
lesson #2 - start your repair work by reading about the topic, looking at parts diagrams, reviewing the FSM. Be ready for some mental workload. If you're like me you're learning a lot of new stuff every time you go into the garage. Take breaks and stay organized with parts and repair lists.
Would I do it again - Probably. As long as time and money allow. As someone who works with email and phone for a living picking up wrenches and working with my hands had become the only time my brain wasn't scattered across three tasks at once. It brought me back to focusing on one task at time until its finished. Plus now that I've made a lot of mistakes I know what I'd do differently (and better) the next time.
lesson #3 - Honestly I don't know what the larger lesson is here. I suppose its don't let fear and lack of knowledge determine the outcome. Fear of the unknown can be overcome through education (mud, FSM, friends, YouTube). My second over arching theme here is probably not to overpay for a vehicle that might need work. If you don't know if something will need work you should be afraid and follow the path to overcome fear through education. Find help/resources to help you evaluate your purchase. Sure wish I did
And because this is build update I found out my gas tank was leaking through one of the vent lines so I've got my seat pulled out and the cover off. This kinda works out because my backup lights stopped working and it turns out the wire pulled off the sensor in the transmission so I need to remove the transmission hump to swap in a new reverse switch.
You’re spot on about jumping in for “excitement and lust”. Unless you can literally throw money and time at problems, some vehicles of any kind can be financial disasters. I can only recall immediately …the trials of my new friend @Chamba. I have seen him without ever knowing who he is on BAT reviewing his beloved FJ43’s and knowing a s#!t load of exacting details and after at least a year of looking and unknowingly see his handle pop up with questions and comments with all of his very cool wisdom, had acquired a very nice looking but miserable FJ43 failure by a seller and the sight unseen series of events. I only say this publicly as he has fully detailed his new build here in the pages of IH8MUD
On a brighter note, you are on the downhill slope and getting some real headway…
On a brighter note, you are on the downhill slope and getting some real headway…
- Thread starter
- #291
we're pulling bolts again!
Back under the transmission cover to replace the reverse switch. oddly enough though I don't have a hot wire to plug into these. I have a set of two green plugged connectors and some hacked off red wire and black/yellow wire. All four of them are dead with the key on. The green wires plug in to the switch.
new switch went in no problem, minus the trouble of removing the trans hump. I had to pull the seat and gas tank cover because of a leak (didn't use a clamp on one line) so figured now was a good time to do this BU light fix as well.
Also, in cleaning up the workbench I found this had fallen behind my shop table. I swore I had both of these. What a nice little gem to find! Now I have to pull the door apart again
This is the metal plate that holds the exterior window seal in place. I have the one for the pass side but had lost the driver's side.
Back under the transmission cover to replace the reverse switch. oddly enough though I don't have a hot wire to plug into these. I have a set of two green plugged connectors and some hacked off red wire and black/yellow wire. All four of them are dead with the key on. The green wires plug in to the switch.
new switch went in no problem, minus the trouble of removing the trans hump. I had to pull the seat and gas tank cover because of a leak (didn't use a clamp on one line) so figured now was a good time to do this BU light fix as well.
Also, in cleaning up the workbench I found this had fallen behind my shop table. I swore I had both of these. What a nice little gem to find! Now I have to pull the door apart again
This is the metal plate that holds the exterior window seal in place. I have the one for the pass side but had lost the driver's side. 
So I put in a very nice 40W Led back up light on a seperate switch a long time ago. The light can be amber or white and can also be flashing. Backing up 100's of yards using the LED is way easier than the tiny OEM back up 5W light.
- Thread starter
- #293
I like this idea. Figured since I bought the switch I'd try and use it. The reverse lights worked before so I may need to dig around. I could always incorporate the switch to work with a separate rear white LED light.
I saw on another thread that you did this as well and it got my wheels turning. Is the light you installed a separate light all together (I think some years 40s were separate?) or is your backup light part of the rear combination light?
The OEM light on my 72 is a little like 2x4" unit mounted low in the cab on drivers side. I made the bracket for the LED for fit up higher above the OEM unit. The LED is rated IP68 and tons brighter than the OEM with a way wider illuminance pattern. Amber is way easier on my eyes especially on snow floor. The flashing option is useful for signaling - like when waiting for someone.
- Thread starter
- #296
Thank you!
What are these for? I have a few in my parts bin but don’t know where they go.
It was a factory soft top, secures the soft top with straps threw the hoops. PO put on the 76 hard top
- Thread starter
- #298
10-4, thanks!
Look up “footman loop’’. I had them on my ‘74 and did use them to secure the soft top and an occasional tie-down for who knows what
- Thread starter
- #300
alright, one thing I noticed was that I had mounted my coolant reservoir tank where the windshield washer fluid usually goes (at least what I've seen from pics) so as a starting point I found this kit at AutoZone (I know slight cringe...) but for $9 I figured let's give it a whirl.
I did end up removing the horn that was mounted on this side. There is a horn on the drivers side that works great so I didn't see any value in having two.
I also got the spare tired mounted up. Every time I walk around the back it just looks odd and I think it's because the spare was missing.
I did end up removing the horn that was mounted on this side. There is a horn on the drivers side that works great so I didn't see any value in having two.
I also got the spare tired mounted up. Every time I walk around the back it just looks odd and I think it's because the spare was missing.