Chevy Small Block in FJ40?

[theo]

LandC,
I've never liked the exo-skeleton design; I like a cage that doesn't attract much attention, blends in, fits inside the top, and still protects everyone riding inside. And the majority of cages on FJ40s on this forum are like that. That's what people are reacting to. I guess you could say we're roll cage snobs. But I think at least some of us are also praying we never have to find out if our cage works. If I was prone to praying that's one thing I'd be asking for!

So you're in the minority here. Not only do you want to be able to flop or roll or tumble and live to tell, but you're looking to drive away afterwards. More power to ya!

So are you doing things like protecting your engine oil from leaking out while you're upside down? Got a leak proof battery in there?

 

[scott67fj40]

LandC,
I've never liked the exo-skeleton design; I like a cage that doesn't attract much attention, blends in, fits inside the top, and still protects everyone riding inside. And the majority of cages on FJ40s on this forum are like that. That's what people are reacting to. I guess you could say we're roll cage snobs. But I think at least some of us are also praying we never have to find out if our cage works. If I was prone to praying that's one thing I'd be asking for!

So you're in the minority here. Not only do you want to be able to flop or roll or tumble and live to tell, but you're looking to drive away afterwards. More power to ya!

So are you doing things like protecting your engine oil from leaking out while you're upside down? Got a leak proof battery in there?

Well said. I am not bashing the design, its just not something I would do. If it keeps you safe then Im all for it, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. What looks good to you may not look so good to everyone, just as what I like and what I think looks good may not be so to other people. Keep up the work and post more pics of the progress.

 

[LandC1973]

Theo/Scott thanks for the info. I did have a ‘72 FJ40 I sold some years back that I restored to almost factory condition (except for front bumper and wheels) with a cherry red paint job. The only pics I have are from a friends cell phone with a rubber chicken (it was a running joke with friends).







I loved it, but needed the money and my current ’73 was a total rust bucket and worth nothing. So after looking at restore costs like…

https://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series-tech/197352-restoration-budget.html

My ’73 wasn’t worth it for probably +$20k-$25, so got rid of the seats, broken fiber glass roof, rear half of the body and rear seats, front bumper, and most of the side doors. Then my artist friend and I went to work for the next 2 years making it however we liked it and spend ~10k.

I checked out the classified ads section yesterday and there wasn’t much there for used parts…. Is there another site that most ppl go to for used parts?

Just love to tear it up on the trails and not care. Even if you have an Unlimited Check-Book (like the Pro Baja racers), if you push your truck/car hard, it will break, +fixing it is half the fun to me.

 

[scott67fj40]

all of the used parts that I bought came from ebay

 

[McClaskey]

Sweet rig man, the cage makes it look like a badass golf cart.

 

[AKFJ80]

Is this a joke? I know I know....to each their own.

Ok That was not very nice of me to say. It is YOUR rig and nobody should bash your project. Most guys spend time web wheeling rather than building anything, good luck finishing it up!

 

[LandC1973]

Your right my mistake, I reposted in the “HardCore Corner”…. It was a joke for me to post here. I didn’t understand the ‘rules’. Your right it is defiantly over the top and hopefully I can beat the heck out of it with only minor repairs required. Just like most of us would never drive a J**P many people wouldn’t be caught dead in my contraption either. In hindsight I should have built a vehicle from scratch and just slapped the LC vin plate to the dash so it could pass state inspection.

 

[my64fj40]

Nobody should be bashing your rig, it's yours and you can do whatever you want with it.

You can run the TH350, I got one mated to a 400 SBC in my 64 fj40. I got an adapter to mate the GM trans to the Toyota t-case from Advance Adapters. This is probably your best route. Driveshafts lengths will have to change and a good cross member will have to be installed for the relocated t-case. Keep your eye on the classified sections on this site and you may even find a used adapter for a good price.

You could run a GM t-case and find one pretty cheap, but your Toyota axles are off set, your Toyo t-case is designed for this, the GM isn't. So you would have to go GM axles also.

 

[fyresq]

I like the exo cage and rear (especially with what you started with). The thing I really don't like is the 45 degree down tubes to the front. I think body contoured tubes would look much better. Other than that, props for making a useful rig out of something that could have been destined for the crusher.

 

[antFJ]

i say finish what you started and build a tank... fill in the cage with some armor... you'll be all set.... o and get the tracks from 4x4 labs...
http://www.4x4labs.com/images/mat5.jpg