Build Build: Rusty Pumpkin Project 74' FJ40

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knuckle47 said:
From my own experiences over the decades, bending the lines is fairly straightforward as is the flare fittings. Double check the threaded fittings to be sure they are threaded long enough to seal prior to closing off the other end. Don’t skimp too much on the bending tool. I have 2 crappy ones and 1 “ok” bender. Leverage is a friend. While I am a bit older, I find the loss of grip and arthritis is easier to overcome with a long handled tubing bender. The old lines make good templates. The brake lines are thin and easier to shape than the 3/8 or larger.

Glad you’re back on the motivated side. I was beginning to believe that hole was covering you up….it was so deep
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Thanks good thoughts here! The winter in PA has been so cold as well. No heat in the garage makes it tuff to motivate. Plus having a shop that is progressing on the motor a lot faster than the last one is forcing me to get my butt in gear 😁
 
Here in NJ, same issues…we have had a few gorgeous days individually but nothing long term. Weeks of 20’s and colder at night. It was 64* a few days ago but the insulated polebarn was like a freezer and the thermal mass of the 8” concrete floor radiated cold straight up. Had 36’ of garage doors opened fully to mitigate some of the cold but it did nothing, then it was very cold again. Just cannot get in the mood to work on the vehicles in those conditions… I have heat..but I am not turning it on for a slight warm-up only to be defeated by that gripping cold AND wind
 
knuckle47 said:
Here in NJ, same issues…we have had a few gorgeous days individually but nothing long term. Weeks of 20’s and colder at night. It was 64* a few days ago but the insulated polebarn was like a freezer and the thermal mass of the 8” concrete floor radiated cold straight up. Had 36’ of garage doors opened fully to mitigate some of the cold but it did nothing, then it was very cold again. Just cannot get in the mood to work on the vehicles in those conditions… I have heat..but I am not turning it on for a slight warm-up only to be defeated by that gripping cold AND wind
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Yea that hard to want to get out and get work done when it's that cold. I always thought a heated tool box would also make this experience a lot nicer too :)
 
Anyone know if this wiring connection is factory? Trying to understand if this harness has been modified or if this is factory doing.


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Found a few possible causes for random shorts in the truck

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Here are pics of the 2F at the machine shop. Look dome pistons yay…not 😞 kinda new this could be a thing.

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I have never seen that connection in any Toyota I worked on. Looks like someone filed the head off a spent 22 short RF case and then crimped it with a pair of pliers to make the connection. Lot of extra stripped wire showing - seems like sloppy workmanship to me.
 
Looks like you found some frustrating problems to iron out. I don’t mind having issues that I can deal with but when the harness spins you around in a different direction whenever you’re trying to solve something …that’s some annoying s#!t there. Looks like you're getting the entire engine done?
 
bdawg23 said:
Anyone know if this wiring connection is factory? Trying to understand if this harness has been modified or if this is factory doing.


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Found a few possible causes for random shorts in the truck

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Here are pics of the 2F at the machine shop. Look dome pistons yay…not 😞 kinda new this could be a thing.

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When I was going thru my 76 harness, I found a couple of connections similar to your 1st pic. I don't recall what the color of the wires were. I was so deep in to the harness I felt confident it was stk.
 
charliemeyer007 said:
I have never seen that connection in any Toyota I worked on. Looks like someone filed the head off a spent 22 short RF case and then crimped it with a pair of pliers to make the connection. Lot of extra stripped wire showing - seems like sloppy workmanship to me.
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All of the extra wire stripping is what had me second guessing if this was OEM or not.
pb4ugo said:
When I was going thru my 76 harness, I found a couple of connections similar to your 1st pic. I don't recall what the color of the wires were. I was so deep in to the harness I felt confident it was stk.
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these connections were underneath quite a bit of harness wrap so I wasn't sure what to make of them either.

Thank you both for the feedback here. I think regardless if they are factory or not before I wrap the harness again they can get shortened and shrink wrapped.
 
knuckle47 said:
Looks like you found some frustrating problems to iron out. I don’t mind having issues that I can deal with but when the harness spins you around in a different direction whenever you’re trying to solve something …that’s some annoying s#!t there. Looks like you're getting the entire engine done?
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They keep showing themselves the closer I look. How was so I blind when I bought this thing? lol

Yes, here is the current motor situation:

F Engine that came in the truck is SN# F-406213 which puts this engine from July 1972 to December 1972. Frame SN puts the car around 1974 so I don't think this engine would have been the original. Given the model year of the chassis for historic reasons sticking with the F is more time period correct but parts for the F seem like they are getting harder to find so I was keeping my eye out for a 2F. The F engine is sitting on an engine stand lightly assembled until I figure out what to do with it. My goal would be to rebuild this at some point and then find something to put it in, like another 40 maybe...

Here are the issues with the F:
- connecting rod journals are scored so they would need cleaned up and undersized connecting rod bearings would be needed
- I know the motor was rebuilt in 1990 but I haven't checked the bore size to see what size pistons would be needed
- otherwise it seems like it could be a working engine

Why did I not stay the path with the F engine? I figured the 2F would be better long term given parts and a slightly updated design. Would it really have mattered in this patina project? Probably not...and now that I'm realizing the early 2F engines had their own unique parts regrets on the 2F are going up even more. You don't know what you don't know until you learn what you didn't know, or something like that...

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I found a 2F Engine made between November 1975 and January of 1976 with SN# is 062879 which I was super excited about. Paid $500 for the core and dropped it off at the machine shop. I then learned the early 2F had dome pistons and an open chamber head so I'm basically in the same boat as the F. Parts are harder to find specifically pistons. Looks like SOR has a set that I can special order and I saw there are possibly Wiesco pistons available via FJ40Jim based on this thread but I've reached out to him before on the engine rebuild and didn't hear back so I'll have to check back in.

Currently the 2F is fully disassembled:
- crank and con rod bearings and surfaces all look good, just a polish here
- shop says we will need to bore the cylinders to remove scoring, TBD on how far but that may be driven by what I can find for pistons
- cam shaft based on initial inspection is not useable, one cam lob is really worn down (not the one for the fuel pump)
- valves need cleaned but no obvious signs of excessive wear

Machine shop is looking for parts for me at the moment so I'll see what they come back with.

Fun times ;)
 
One thing I don’t see for the F and 2F engines are camshafts..besides stock…are there options other than custom?
 
Quick update:

I found a camshaft through cruiserparts.net along with lifters so those parts are on the way!

The machine shop is going to go .02 over on the bore and they found icon pistons (confirming with the shop they are domed). Bunch of other parts are on order and the machine shop is starting the work as soon as they arrive.

I picked up a label maker for the wiring harness and I'll dive into that next week after I'm done at AZ Bike Week (work stuff).

Hope everyone is having a great week!
 
I WANT that job….AZ Bike Week?
 
So….what’s the hot phone mount for FJ40’s? Mine is magnetic and in the Silverado it hangs on very nicely and slap on in 1 second when I go anywhere. The 40 bounces a bit and in the right sequencing… It can fall off on occasion
 
New engine parts are here! Machine shop starts on the 2F this week, beyond excited to have this motor back together.

Pistons are from ITM
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Mahle crank and cam bearings
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New camshaft, new oil pump, valves are good to reuse. Now to decide what color to paint the engine 😬

I’ve been working on installing new brake lines. Need a new brake master cylinder which I’ll order.

Also need new engine mounts and need to finish going through the wiring harness.

Not much to do lol 😝
 
So you really want to get those pistons dirty?
Glad to read this…. Hopefully you get it back by end of month
 
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