Building A Four Door FJ40

[FouadHafeez]

Another major purchase which was done at this point in time, were the Sparco seats to be fitted into the front of the Phantom. Again, there was much hemming and hawwing over whether we should keep the stock seats or not...to retain the quintessential FJ look. My point in view was somewhat different. Function over form. And in that respect, the case was quite clear. Quite frankly...the stock seats of the 40 simply don't provide the type of support, comfort, and ease of use that the aftermarket ones, do.

However, I AM planning to get the stock seats also upholstered in a similar fashion to the Sparcos, as well. For those get-togethers, you can always swap back to the stock seats for the "retro" look.

Interiors are a great specialty here in Pakistan. And like all of our other master craftsmen, the interior refurbishers and fitters provide exceptional quality of work to such projects. So...a set of Sparcos and a set of stock seats, it is.

The Sparcos...in their "original" yellow and black livery...which will be colour coordinated with whatever colour we choose for the vehicle itself.

 

[FouadHafeez]

A Bit Of A Respite - Time to Plan Some More

By this time, we'd pretty much hammered the Phantom into its eventual basic shape. Everything that needed to be "on" the vehicle was pretty much there. The extended mudguards, the doors, the roof, the side-steps, the rear trim, the bumper. For the bumper, I'd kept a very minimalist approach...a simple channel, tapered at both ends, with a necessary gap for the winch. The electric winch itself (a 3 ton one), was taken off a scrapped 100 Series TLC. ALL Toyota!

We'd also installed an interior roll cage. One that was very strong, but also highly unobtrusive...unlikely to interfere at all with the inner design aesthetics. The engine had gotten its fair share of love and affection, and was performing like a champ. As were the transmission, the brakes, the clutch, the electricals...in short everything that was needed to make the car "go".

The one thing left, was the exhaust and the spare wheel mount that I intended to fabricate. More about that, later, though.

These pictures were taken when I first drove the Phantom back to my house from the workshop, after all the time it'd spent there. Enjoy!

 

[FouadHafeez]

 

[FouadHafeez]

 

[FouadHafeez]

 

[FouadHafeez]

More updates, later...including my self-critique on how the beast was looking!

 

[cult45]

Looks great mate - really great. Have you tested out rear articulation to ensure if the rear tyres won't scrub?

 

[lostmarbles]

No paint or filler! Just bare steel! Yet the panels look so straight and stylish that they appear to be ex-factory!

And the panel-fit, 40-series conformity, styling balance, attention to detail, etc are all outstanding in every respect!

Who am I to judge? Well I'll have you know that I'm been collecting well-made metal stuff for decades. Here's a small sample to prove it :



(I felt I had to rummage around for some qualifying evidence because most people know that my metal-working skills are on a very basic level.)

Your "phantom build" here eclipses all other builds in my view Fouad.

When most people extensively modify a 40-series it loses its appeal in my eyes. But certainly NOT HERE!!!!

There's just one thing where I have a smidgen of doubt about whether you've chosen the best-possible route. - Did you ever consider fitting original 40-series mudguard-mounted blinkers instead of those later-model ones?

(This is a very minor issue and I agree that the later-model ones certainly mount in a much more sturdy manner.)

 

[Texican]

My favorite is the 71-74 era, and still available new from Toyota
Pic is of a 71 I just finished....

 

[FouadHafeez]

Looks great mate - really great. Have you tested out rear articulation to ensure if the rear tyres won't scrub?

Well spotted! In these photos, the rear tyres (especially just aft of the trim) look uncomfortably close to the body. After this, we added some extra-long shackles, a couple of leaf-springs to each stack, readjusted the mounts of the shocks, and finally flipped the springs back to front (since they're off-centred) so as to perfectly position and adjust the wheels in the dead-centre of the arches and ensure that the question of rubbing wouldn't arise

These photos show the 40, before all of these tweaks to the suspension were carried out...not that there was any rubbing to begin with. I'm happy to report that in its current incarnation, the Phantom is free from any sort of problems like the ones you've mentioned.

 

[FouadHafeez]

No paint or filler! Just bare steel! Yet the panels look so straight and stylish that they appear to be ex-factory!

And the panel-fit, 40-series conformity, styling balance, attention to detail, etc are all outstanding in every respect!

Who am I to judge? Well I'll have you know that I'm been collecting well-made metal stuff for decades. Here's a small sample to prove it :

View attachment 664809

(I felt I had to rummage around for some qualifying evidence because most people know that my metal-working skills are on a very basic level.)

Your "phantom build" here eclipses all other builds in my view Fouad.

When most people extensively modify a 40-series it loses its appeal in my eyes. But certainly NOT HERE!!!!

There's just one thing where I have a smidgen of doubt about whether you've chosen the best-possible route. - Did you ever consider fitting original 40-series mudguard-mounted blinkers instead of those later-model ones?

(This is a very minor issue and I agree that the later-model ones certainly mount in a much more sturdy manner.)

Tom...your praise, interest, and appreciation make my day, every time. Thanks, mate

To be honest, that "optical illusion" about it being factory built is exactly what we were aiming for. If we've gotten that, then we've successfully translated the initial design philosophy into reality...since the intent wasn't to "mask" the 40-ness of this vehicle at all...it was to enhance it!

Your comment about this build eclipsing others warms the cockles of my heart - since recognition amongst peers IS a heady sensation, indeed - but all of this is ground that's been well-documented, and well-planned by many others before me. Where I've been lucky, has been finding a team that's wacky enough, dedicated enough, and skilled enough to turn the thoughts in my head, into reality. Without the Dream Team, and the encouragement and acknowledgement from friends and associates and well-wishers (across the globe) this wouldn't have been possible, at all. And fook me sideways, if that doesn't sound like an Oscar acceptance speech!

Lastly, the blinkers / indicators. Like all things of this build, there was much hemming and hawwing on this aspect, too. The Team was squarely in favour of doing exactly like you'd suggested...but I had to veto this. At some point, in its topless/naked/unadorned avatar...the Phantom is going to go without front mudguards, too. The 70 series indicators mounted to the nose rather than the fenders, allow that to be done better, faster, and easier...and retain the lights, even when the mudguards have been removed. A trade-off between form and function, I suppose. Although, I do agree with you wholeheartedly...the retro lights look infinitely more sexy.

Thanks for the input and kind words!

 

[FouadHafeez]

My favorite is the 71-74 era, and still available new from Toyota
Pic is of a 71 I just finished....

Wow...what an absolutely beautiful machine! It's simply mouth-watering...and reflects your incredible workmanship, and eye for quality. Kudos!

Build quality over here, is one of the issues that I have the greatest trouble with...because of the low-tech solutions that we employ. In the absence of precision tools, high-grade machining facilities, and an overall tendency to avoid leaving the well-beaten path...the craftsmen here were s**t-scared of even attempting this build since it had the capacity for so much to go so wrong! There's STILL a great deal of stuff to do on my rig...that pertains to fit and finish and aesthetics and ergonomics (paint, interior, etcetera). If it ends up showing a fraction of the build quality I see in that Land Cruiser of yours...I'll be a hampy camper, indeed.

Cheers.

 

[FouadHafeez]

A Study In Contrasts

These are some of my favourite pictures of the Phantom; parked next to one of its "Toyota" relatives. They showed us just how much we'd achieved...and this was one of those inspirational photo sets that fire you up for more of the same hard work, toil, sweat and tears! (At heart...we're all such a bunch of pedantic, self-suffering gluttons for punishment...right? )

Enjoy!

 

[Texican]

Wow...what an absolutely beautiful machine! It's simply mouth-watering...and reflects your incredible workmanship, and eye for quality. Kudos!
Cheers.

Here is the build thread on it, I built this truck to sell and it went on E Bay where it was the highest priced FJ40 there for several days, ended up at $18.5K

https://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series-tech/482237-71-fj40-semi-stocker-build.html

 

[effjay76]

You should do a rig of the week when you're finished (I use that term lightly, I think we all know there is no such thing as a "finished" FJ). Have you decided on a color? Are you going to go with a factory color? white top? clear over the rust? Call me crazy but I think it looks sweet as is.

 

[FouadHafeez]

You should do a rig of the week when you're finished (I use that term lightly, I think we all know there is no such thing as a "finished" FJ). Have you decided on a color? Are you going to go with a factory color? white top? clear over the rust? Call me crazy but I think it looks sweet as is.

You're absolutely right...there IS no such thing as a finished FJ. Already, there're a number of thoughts percolating around inside my mind on the "what's next?" score.

The Phantom has currently been stripped of rust, and has gotten a coat of red oxide, a coat of rust repellent primer, and another coat of matte black primer. For the finished product, I MAY stick to black with a white roof, and other such embellishments. Another colour which I love is Dune Beige amongst the OEM shades. Yet another part of me wants it to be all white...a very WHITE white...with some random embellishments in matte black (engine bay, spare wheel cover, trim, bumpers et al). So for now, I'm still procrastinating. At any rate, the rig should be up for paint no sooner than the end of September / early October...so there's still plenty of time to make a well-thought-out decision. Rider clause being: it HAS to be heat resistant "smart" paint...to combat the terrifying temperatures here...which is something I'm already working on.

 

[cruiserjunktion]

You're absolutely right...there IS no such thing as a finished FJ. Already, there're a number of thoughts percolating around inside my mind on the "what's next?" score.

For the finished product, I MAY stick to black with a white roof, and other such embellishments. Another colour which I love is Dune Beige amongst the OEM shades. Yet another part of me wants it to be all white...a very WHITE white...with some random embellishments in matte black (engine bay, spare wheel cover, trim, bumpers et al)..

Your cruiser is fabulous, BRAVO! I have never been a fan of a black painted 40. IMO, it would look awesome in an oem color, especially white. Dune is okay too, but it is a very common color choice, for a 40. Since there is nothing common about your rig, it will be the "tits" no matter what color you decide. Job well done.

 

[singletrackjunkie]

In my humble opinion the Dune Beige is the most iconic color for a cruiser and brings to mind thoughts of an African safari. The only thing more iconic to the "40-ness", is the patina it has in the form demonstrated in the pictures above,... but, as everyone else has already stated, it doesn't matter what you paint it, the Phantom is BAD ASS and will look awesome in any color. Great build and write up.

 

[UZJ40]

Nice build! I would never attempt something like that... I just don't have the skill!

On a side note, I think that is the first import motor I've ever seen in a domestic car!

 

[lcwizard]

can we please fire every news channel and every politician in America and replace them with you as an emissary between our countries. I'm feeling severely lied to and ashamed at this moment. You have a beautiful country