- Year
- 1971
- Vehicle Model
- 40 Series
So, these are my pouting words from a defeated man. I just now decided after breaking my new windshield during the install, that working on this FJ40 isn’t bringing me the pleasure it once did. Despite all the work and money, it still looks like a beater and I am just to tired to see beyond that to envision a shiny rig. I just happen to be totally bummed that I broke the windshield and taking stock if I really want to see this through to a day she and I are cruising the trails in Moab or other exotic far far away world.
I just happen to be having a bad day in some crappy times where we are all feeling the pinch. Truth be told this is actually a good rig that has come so far since I bought it and started the work. It just doesn’t look like it. The times I have had it out on the road it was a blast to drive.
Here is why you may be interested. A lot of restoration work has been done upgrades as well. I am afraid to add up all the receipts, but my guess is this thing owes me about $11K. Don’t worry I am only delusional when it comes to thinking I am skinny and good looking and not so delusional to think I can get my money back. Also, the market is kind of soft right now so that sucks for me.
General info about the 40.
1971 FJ40 stock running gear with minor exceptions
3 speed column shift
Air actuated front axel engagement.
What appears to be the original F motor based on the serial number with a 1974 F.5 head (don’t Know why).
Pretty cool front seat it’s the 5 piece style.
The good.
The bad,
Price listed is OBO.
Rules of the negosh game
I just happen to be having a bad day in some crappy times where we are all feeling the pinch. Truth be told this is actually a good rig that has come so far since I bought it and started the work. It just doesn’t look like it. The times I have had it out on the road it was a blast to drive.
Here is why you may be interested. A lot of restoration work has been done upgrades as well. I am afraid to add up all the receipts, but my guess is this thing owes me about $11K. Don’t worry I am only delusional when it comes to thinking I am skinny and good looking and not so delusional to think I can get my money back. Also, the market is kind of soft right now so that sucks for me.
General info about the 40.
1971 FJ40 stock running gear with minor exceptions
3 speed column shift
Air actuated front axel engagement.
What appears to be the original F motor based on the serial number with a 1974 F.5 head (don’t Know why).
Pretty cool front seat it’s the 5 piece style.
The good.
- All new breaks which almost broke the bank right from the get-go. Linings, hoses, master and booster.
- Steering knuckles rebuilt including the knuckle bearings, seals and repack with proper grease.
- New wire harness with proper Japanese terminals and connector thingies. No butt connectors like the kit wanted me to use. I mean really, butt connectors and splicing doing a rewire job, does anyone want the end product to look like some teenager hacked away at it?
- Engine rebuilt because some jug head (me) did not seat the dizzy causing it to run without oil pressure. Too bad because it was a good runner before that dumb azz foo pah. On inspection of the internals I found minimal damage though, whew! The engine was rebuilt before according to the PO but these things must be bullet proof because pistons and bearings are STD size still. I installed, new cam, cam bearings, main and rod bearings, honed the cylinders, new rings and the valves were good and just needed to be lapped. Supper tight engine now with 155 PSI on all 6.
- Installed the sought after 81-87 large cap FJ60 electronic ignition dizzy. These are supposed to be the best built and most reliable of all years. Also, they seal out the water for river crossings and jumping into lakes and such.
- Body is fairly good with some rust but in all the easy spots to repair. By far a rusted-out POS. Left rear corner dented and rusted, 2 small spots on the rockers and the outer edge of the left front fender and that’s it. Floors are a pain to fix rust and big score on this rig, these floors are good N solid.
- Brand new tires but kind of an off brand.
- Transmission and transfer case gone through, inspected and resealed.
- Air actuated 4 wheel drive engage parts all gone through and operates smooth.
- Seats re-cushioned and upholstered.
- Driver seat mount repositioned back 2 inches and now I can work the peddles and reach to the steering wheel instead of the other way around.
- Windshield frame stripped down and repainted Dune Beige in preparation for the new windshield and rubber.
- Extra bonus, old windshield removed and discarded for you and double double bonus I even did the same for the new old broken windshield. So, dump fees and dump run pre done for ya. Super duper bonus, keeps you from going to the dumps and coming back with more stuff.
- Fuel system completely gone through. Tank treated and sealed, new fuel lines, new fuel pump and rebuilt carb.
- Newer style smaller FJ steering wheel adapted so the horn and turn signal cancel work.
The bad,
- I think this 40 is possessed. Every time I try to do her a favor with a my blood sweat and tears plus parts, it seems to reject it or me not sure which and I seem to have to repeat the repair before it will take hold on the old girl. Had the engine apart 2 times. Felpro head gasket seems to be universal fit even though listed for this year model, but it caused coolant to leak out of one of the head bolts. I got the correct head gasket form Spencer Off Road and it fit perfect and matched hole to hole from the one that came off. That felt like I ttook a rong turn and took me 500 miles in the wrong direction then had to back track. Another thing this lil brat did to me, it completely freaked out over the new clutch kit from Rock Auto I put in it. Chatters like a Motha fornicator so of course something else that needs disassembly trouble shooting and install. Grrrrr! And then the windshield today that brought me to this lowly state.
- Frame has a tweak in the right rear rail. Droops down a bit because the cross-member tube that mounts the shocks has been pushed up from a bottomed out shock that was to tall for the rig. Frame is 100% rust free so well worth the repair and the frame vin matches the tub. I have been waiting until I started on the body work where I planned to separate the tub from frame then then do the frame repair. I have done a similar repair before which involved carving out the cross member to relive the frame rail and install new cross member tube.
- Some PO at one point decided that rattle can primer on everything is a good idea. I don’t think so and is one of the reasons I can no longer envision her beauty beyond the sins of the primer.
Price listed is OBO.
Rules of the negosh game
- Those of you that have a tendency to say let’s just throw out half of the asking price and see where it lands. That is completely acceptable by me if I can in reaction to your silliness raise my asking price so your ½ price is reasonable.
- If you’re not local, you will have to arrange vehicle transport. I can help facilitate in a limited fashion.
I can also look at it for anyone if needed. Glws
