Here is my 77 Build
First a little about me
I’m 44 now and when I was 14, I started caddying at the local golf course to save up money for a FJ40 or a CJ5
I was born and raised in Colorado and have always loved the outdoors and just loved the idea of exploring
After about two years of carrying golf bags around for mostly adult babies I saved up about $2200 – This was in 1988
My dad realized I had worked hard and was going to chip in a bit
I looked at every CJ and FJ that popped up in the Denver Post and after about 6 months of dragging my dad everywhere
We came to the conclusion it wasn’t going to happen
The trucks I was looking at under about $3500 had no brakes, no tops, Rust, popped out of gear, barely ran, and just didn’t seem to fit the reliability and safety check – I ended up with a dune beige……………….Honda Accord
I went to college in Grand Junction Colorado where two of my room mates had FJ40’s
One was cherry (See below) one was very rough but equally reliable and fun especially in Grand Junction Colorado
We had a blast all around GJ, Moab, and everything in-between- It filled my FJ fix for the time being
My first FJ40 was in 2004 or so when I found a beat up one for $1400 – It barely ran but was all stock and original – Mostly dents as it was a farm truck from the plains in Colorado
The obsession began
I have had several since then but this isn’t about those
This is about the 77 and maybe giving back to the community as I have learned a lot from Mud
My best friend from collage (who used to have a cherry 79 until he wrapped it around a tree) found this in the POs front yard and told me about it
I bought it and here we go
I’m planning on doing a rolling restore
Trying to get it ready by March for a couple shake down runs then off to Cruise Moab
Also on a bit of a budget as I have a 99 100 series, 84 Westfalia and a BMW X5 – All expensive to keep up and going
My wife and kids love to explore the mountains close to the front range as we live in Golden Colorado (yes about 5 minutes from Slee)
Apparently it was driven as a daily driver for several years and then started making noise so the PO parked it and was about to install a 350 – The PO sourced a 350 put it in the back of the 40 and it sat for several years
The rear springs were shot and had about as much flex as PeeWee Herman does so those need to be replaced
I found a near new set in Denver and will swap those in soon
The engine was shot so I found a great one out of a 86 60 series in Wisconsin Thanks mud member Shes Mad !!!!!
It has rust on the front fenders and quarter panels and the sill is gone so I’m working on replacement panels and a sill
The PO also cut the fenders – I hate that
Everything else is in good shape compared to other 40’s I have had (Except for one HJ47 I sold to CBMontago ugg!!!)
It was sold in Gunnison in 1989 and I believe it was an original Colorado Truck
I plan on getting it as close to stock as possible and running good
I have pulled the original 2F and will be cleaning the undercarriage as much as possible and will be coating it with Master Series Rust paint and primer (great reviews) I wanted something with UV protectant as I have seen some within several years start to fade
I will be replacing plugs, wires, filters, hoses, belts, some gaskets, on the new donor engine and just basically cleaning it up and tuning it up before I pop it in
I found some steelies and will be refinishing them to a stock grey color and will be putting 31x10.5 x15s or possibly 33x10.5x15 (I want this to fit in my garage and I had a previous 74 FJ40 with 33s and it would not fit – This is important)
I’m going to keep it original Mustard Yellow – Once I get the rust cut out and replaced – I will prep and paint the exterior possibly myself
The interior is pretty clean and original- As much as I would love to paint and refinish the interior the floor and bed are really the main parts that need work – I will grind down the surface rust and treat those areas prime and then use a matching tintable mustard bed liner on the bed and floor boards (I’m not 100% on this but this is where I’m leaning as I would like something durable )
Most parts on the interior will be removed sand blasted and painted with a black epoxy paint
I sold the tube bumpers that were on the rear and the front to replace them with the stock bumberettes on the rear and a JToutfitter close to stock winch bumper for the front
So far I have the engine out ready for cleaning
Pictures to come as I go
Thanks and open to feedback!!!!
First a little about me
I’m 44 now and when I was 14, I started caddying at the local golf course to save up money for a FJ40 or a CJ5
I was born and raised in Colorado and have always loved the outdoors and just loved the idea of exploring
After about two years of carrying golf bags around for mostly adult babies I saved up about $2200 – This was in 1988
My dad realized I had worked hard and was going to chip in a bit
I looked at every CJ and FJ that popped up in the Denver Post and after about 6 months of dragging my dad everywhere
We came to the conclusion it wasn’t going to happen
The trucks I was looking at under about $3500 had no brakes, no tops, Rust, popped out of gear, barely ran, and just didn’t seem to fit the reliability and safety check – I ended up with a dune beige……………….Honda Accord
I went to college in Grand Junction Colorado where two of my room mates had FJ40’s
One was cherry (See below) one was very rough but equally reliable and fun especially in Grand Junction Colorado
We had a blast all around GJ, Moab, and everything in-between- It filled my FJ fix for the time being
My first FJ40 was in 2004 or so when I found a beat up one for $1400 – It barely ran but was all stock and original – Mostly dents as it was a farm truck from the plains in Colorado
The obsession began
I have had several since then but this isn’t about those
This is about the 77 and maybe giving back to the community as I have learned a lot from Mud
My best friend from collage (who used to have a cherry 79 until he wrapped it around a tree) found this in the POs front yard and told me about it
I bought it and here we go
I’m planning on doing a rolling restore
Trying to get it ready by March for a couple shake down runs then off to Cruise Moab
Also on a bit of a budget as I have a 99 100 series, 84 Westfalia and a BMW X5 – All expensive to keep up and going
My wife and kids love to explore the mountains close to the front range as we live in Golden Colorado (yes about 5 minutes from Slee)
Apparently it was driven as a daily driver for several years and then started making noise so the PO parked it and was about to install a 350 – The PO sourced a 350 put it in the back of the 40 and it sat for several years
The rear springs were shot and had about as much flex as PeeWee Herman does so those need to be replaced
I found a near new set in Denver and will swap those in soon
The engine was shot so I found a great one out of a 86 60 series in Wisconsin Thanks mud member Shes Mad !!!!!
It has rust on the front fenders and quarter panels and the sill is gone so I’m working on replacement panels and a sill
The PO also cut the fenders – I hate that
Everything else is in good shape compared to other 40’s I have had (Except for one HJ47 I sold to CBMontago ugg!!!)
It was sold in Gunnison in 1989 and I believe it was an original Colorado Truck
I plan on getting it as close to stock as possible and running good
I have pulled the original 2F and will be cleaning the undercarriage as much as possible and will be coating it with Master Series Rust paint and primer (great reviews) I wanted something with UV protectant as I have seen some within several years start to fade
I will be replacing plugs, wires, filters, hoses, belts, some gaskets, on the new donor engine and just basically cleaning it up and tuning it up before I pop it in
I found some steelies and will be refinishing them to a stock grey color and will be putting 31x10.5 x15s or possibly 33x10.5x15 (I want this to fit in my garage and I had a previous 74 FJ40 with 33s and it would not fit – This is important)
I’m going to keep it original Mustard Yellow – Once I get the rust cut out and replaced – I will prep and paint the exterior possibly myself
The interior is pretty clean and original- As much as I would love to paint and refinish the interior the floor and bed are really the main parts that need work – I will grind down the surface rust and treat those areas prime and then use a matching tintable mustard bed liner on the bed and floor boards (I’m not 100% on this but this is where I’m leaning as I would like something durable )
Most parts on the interior will be removed sand blasted and painted with a black epoxy paint
I sold the tube bumpers that were on the rear and the front to replace them with the stock bumberettes on the rear and a JToutfitter close to stock winch bumper for the front
So far I have the engine out ready for cleaning
Pictures to come as I go
Thanks and open to feedback!!!!
