Builds Clifford is home again- a 1965 FJ40 FST
- Thread starter red66toy
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Yup! But if there is another OEM work around then I can get it from my local dealer and not pay $OR shipping charges.. If SOR is the only game in town though, then so be it.
You are correct. I keep forgetting about those "shipping charges" . I have not bought from them in a while, but , if I am correct my last purchase had a shipping charge AND a box charge as well.
red66toy
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- Thread starter
- #85
Ok found the seals from @cruiseroutfit ! Cheaper than SOR and supports a fantastic cruiser vendor. Win win in my book.
red66toy
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- Thread starter
- #86
So the battery hold down on the rig right now is some weird custom job that is too large for a group 24 battery and is too tall to even bolt it down and the battery has to be bungee corded down. hahaha
I was thinking of replacing it with a generic top holder. Anyone ever do that? This is a stock early 40 holder so its a different configuration than the later battery holders.
Thinking something like this (just using the top):
www.westmarine.com
Or maybe this one would look better: BATTERY HOLD DOWN FRAME CHEVROLET TRUCK GMC TRUCK BLACK 1955 - GROUP SIZE 24 | eBay - https://www.ebay.com/itm/332731515418
Anyone have better options they found?
Have a new set of cables on the way from @Fourrunner
I was thinking of replacing it with a generic top holder. Anyone ever do that? This is a stock early 40 holder so its a different configuration than the later battery holders.
Thinking something like this (just using the top):
Battery Hold-Down Trays | West Marine
Check out our Battery Hold-Down Trays and more from West Marine!
www.westmarine.com
Or maybe this one would look better: BATTERY HOLD DOWN FRAME CHEVROLET TRUCK GMC TRUCK BLACK 1955 - GROUP SIZE 24 | eBay - https://www.ebay.com/itm/332731515418
Anyone have better options they found?
Have a new set of cables on the way from @Fourrunner
Fourrunner
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@kunzma just mentioned getting the Chebby hold down in his Tink thread.
I personally like the updated stock holder and holddown. Just put a fresh pair in the Karma cruiser a couple of weeks ago. It has the advantage that the holddown is nowhere near the terminals.
Even though I was lucky enough to buy an early NOS holddown for my 45 that I restored in ‘93, the proximity to the terminals made me nervous, and I ended up trimming part of the holddown.
I personally like the updated stock holder and holddown. Just put a fresh pair in the Karma cruiser a couple of weeks ago. It has the advantage that the holddown is nowhere near the terminals.
Even though I was lucky enough to buy an early NOS holddown for my 45 that I restored in ‘93, the proximity to the terminals made me nervous, and I ended up trimming part of the holddown.
red66toy
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- Thread starter
- #90
Funny you mention the proximity to the terminals. In the picture you can make out a little electrical tape I put around the current holder for that exact reason. It was sketchy. I was thinking a different holder would solve that issue but that is probably wishful thinking.
I think you and @Fourrunner are right… just get a all new holder.
red66toy
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- #94
Well as with most things, I had grandiose plans to get projects done... and I barely got anything done. hahaha.
First on the list was refreshing the thermostat housing because last time I was there I noticed it looked like this:
The cruiser gods must have been feeling extra nice because I didn't break a single bolt. Inside the housing was as you would expect, NASTY!
I had a fresh thermostat and gaskets I had purchased from Onur way too long ago as well as some parts from cruiser outfitters. The OEM gasket that goes between the housing halves is not my favorite thing. Definitely not confidence inspiring with how little material they give you to cover the edges of the thermostat. Cruiser Outfitters was super nice and sent me a different paper gasket that has better coverage. I may use it to cut a new rubber one. Not sure what Toyota was thinking with their current rubber one.
Of course while I was in there my gaze turned to the radiator hoses and radiator.. mistake. hahaha I decided to rip them out and have the radiator cleaned by a local shop. Parts of the radiator looked suspect and I didn't want it to give out while on the road. Boy was that a pain to get out! All the side bolts came off no problems (glorious 13mm bolts to boot!
). The issue I had was the OG long drain valve! It was a beast to unscrew but I got it out. Going to get the drain valve cleaned and replated.
Radiator back from the shop. They had to seal up a couple circuits in the fins due to leaks but it was 99% good so no re-core. They loved how heavy duty it was. Fresh Toyota cap installed as well.
The radiator and new hoses and clamps are waiting for me to install when I head back down. I ALMOST messed with the water pump but I held off. haha
First on the list was refreshing the thermostat housing because last time I was there I noticed it looked like this:
The cruiser gods must have been feeling extra nice because I didn't break a single bolt. Inside the housing was as you would expect, NASTY!
I had a fresh thermostat and gaskets I had purchased from Onur way too long ago as well as some parts from cruiser outfitters. The OEM gasket that goes between the housing halves is not my favorite thing. Definitely not confidence inspiring with how little material they give you to cover the edges of the thermostat. Cruiser Outfitters was super nice and sent me a different paper gasket that has better coverage. I may use it to cut a new rubber one. Not sure what Toyota was thinking with their current rubber one.
Of course while I was in there my gaze turned to the radiator hoses and radiator.. mistake. hahaha I decided to rip them out and have the radiator cleaned by a local shop. Parts of the radiator looked suspect and I didn't want it to give out while on the road. Boy was that a pain to get out! All the side bolts came off no problems (glorious 13mm bolts to boot!
). The issue I had was the OG long drain valve! It was a beast to unscrew but I got it out. Going to get the drain valve cleaned and replated. Radiator back from the shop. They had to seal up a couple circuits in the fins due to leaks but it was 99% good so no re-core. They loved how heavy duty it was. Fresh Toyota cap installed as well.
The radiator and new hoses and clamps are waiting for me to install when I head back down. I ALMOST messed with the water pump but I held off. haha
red66toy
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- Thread starter
- #95
Next main project I wanted to hit was fixing some leaks. Big one being the rear output shaft seal on the transfer case. Valley Hybrids to the rescue! I made a video of the install:
One issue I ran into when replacing the rear drum shoes is the shoes in the kit didnt fit the little shoe adjuster. The metal was too thick! I had to file down the metal to get them to slide in. I noticed the old pads had the same grinding on them... so not a new issue. Any other early 40 owners run into this?
One issue I ran into when replacing the rear drum shoes is the shoes in the kit didnt fit the little shoe adjuster. The metal was too thick! I had to file down the metal to get them to slide in. I noticed the old pads had the same grinding on them... so not a new issue. Any other early 40 owners run into this?
red66toy
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- #96
After that I ran low on time so I was trying to hit little projects here and there. I finally got the rear bumperettes installed. I had to drill and tap the mounting holes. Someone had filled the old 8mm captive nuts with some insert that I couldnt get out. Next was the fuel sending unit, I wasn't getting a good reading on the gauge. I thought I could swap in a new 1966+ unit but no go, different electrical terminal so I kept the old one, it was shockingly clean anyways! While I was in there I replaced the gasket and screws with parts I got from City Racer. Boy was it good I replaced the gasket, look at it! 
Next I finally swapped on the period correct clear bib lights, thanks to @thecrazygreek for them!
I discovered that the new OEM bib lights have a smaller ground terminal that the originals! lame. I drilled them out to the correct 6mm size and I was on my way.... after also replacing the wire blocks.
One thing I discovered while replacing the bib lights was that the rig was originally a beige color! I had never known.
When I bought it the rig was a green color, then it had been painted red. Cool to know the OG color.
Lastly I ALMOST got time to install the nice new @Fourrunner cables. But I ran out of time. argh. Next time. They look awesome.
And last but not least the old F135 finally got a correct oil filler cap! Sometimes its the little things.
Well that was most of what I was able to get done. Need to get back down there again soon and most likely just have someone just trailer it up here to Seattle.
I still dream of driving it up, but the more I mess with it, the more it becomes clean I never would have made it.
Next I finally swapped on the period correct clear bib lights, thanks to @thecrazygreek for them!
I discovered that the new OEM bib lights have a smaller ground terminal that the originals! lame. I drilled them out to the correct 6mm size and I was on my way.... after also replacing the wire blocks.
One thing I discovered while replacing the bib lights was that the rig was originally a beige color! I had never known.
When I bought it the rig was a green color, then it had been painted red. Cool to know the OG color. Lastly I ALMOST got time to install the nice new @Fourrunner cables. But I ran out of time. argh. Next time. They look awesome.
And last but not least the old F135 finally got a correct oil filler cap! Sometimes its the little things.
Well that was most of what I was able to get done. Need to get back down there again soon and most likely just have someone just trailer it up here to Seattle.
I still dream of driving it up, but the more I mess with it, the more it becomes clean I never would have made it. 
middlecalf
SILVER Star
Dang that radiator looks great, wish we had a shop around here that’d do that. I’d like to get my original ‘63 rad restored.
I’ve never replaced my parking brake shoes, not sure how that’d really ever wear out.
Are you going to paint that oil fill cap orange?
I’ve never replaced my parking brake shoes, not sure how that’d really ever wear out.Are you going to paint that oil fill cap orange?
red66toy
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- #98
The parking brake shoes were soaked in grease, but yeah they don't wear out, just get ruined by leaks. The pads I pulled out were perfect but soaked.Dang that radiator looks great, wish we had a shop around here that’d do that. I’d like to get my original ‘63 rad restored.
Are you going to paint that oil fill cap orange?
Yeah good radiator shops are getting harder and harder to find! This one did a ok job. They could have been a little cleaner on their circuit plugging (you can see in each of the 4 corners), but its all good in the end.
Orange oil filler cap?! No way hahaha. I do need to cut a new piece of rubber for it though. Its loose and barely seals... but that is just like the rest of the rig. hahahaha
That's a lot of good work getting done. Good for you. Might be about that time to start getting into more projects again here soon. Plus it's always good for some peace of mind knowing things were done right and you don't have to worry about that failing on you. Keep it up. I'll check out your youtube videos too. Always like seeing good landcruiser content.
