contemplating buying a 69 OEM body 40 body for an 82 40 project????

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I know there are alot of differences, but other than the cowls being different what will I have to change? I have a complete 79 FJ40 (rusted to sh$t) and an 82 FJ40 (also rusted to sh$t). Both have good cowls which I could graft onto the 69's firewall to accomadate the power brake booster. Are the dashes completely different i.e. switches, light locations etc.? The 69 factory softtop model body is 95% rust free which would make getting the thing back on the road much easier in terms of bodywork, but I want to make sure the rest of the body is interchangeable. I'd be running 75-83 style doors along with ambulance doors and a 79 hardtop. Will a hardtop even fit a OEM softtop model 40? I will also be using a later style frame. Will the body fit on that without major modifications. I know the gas tanks are located in different spots. Any idea what to do to remedy that?

Just a side note...I have access to a bodyshop with tons of tools (welders, torches, plasma cutter, grinders, sand blasters etc. etc.), but I bon't want to take on the project if it will require too many mods. Changing the firewall and fabbing up some bodymounts along with the other differences I mentioned earlier are fine, but anything bigger than that may change my tune. I'm asking for the experts help.:cheers:
 
Are the dashes completely different i.e. switches, light locations etc.?

Different enough..



I will also be using a later style frame. Will the body fit on that without major modifications?


No.


I know the gas tanks are located in different spots. Any idea what to do to remedy that?


Find a gas tank for the 1969?


Install one of the aftermarket fuel tanks either behind the rear axle, or under the driver and passenger seat?


Install a fuel cell?



Will a hardtop even fit a OEM softtop model 40?

Yes.


The 69 factory softtop model body is 95% rust free which would make getting the thing back on the road much easier in terms of bodywork, but I want to make sure the rest of the body is interchangeable. I will also be using a later style frame.

Just a side note...I have access to a bodyshop with tons of tools (welders, torches, plasma cutter, grinders, sand blasters etc. etc.), but I bon't want to take on the project if it will require too many mods. Changing the firewall and fabbing up some bodymounts along with the other differences I mentioned earlier are fine, but anything bigger than that may change my tune. I'm asking for the experts help.:cheers:





Interchangeable? A 1969 to a 1979 are far from interchangeable concerning how the body meets the frame...


All of the body mounts are completely different. A different style mount is used on the later (1979 and on) bodies, and the frames are not the same/close at all either.

Can it be done? Sure it can. But in the end is it worth it? How much time did you really save? How much money did you save? How safe is the structure of the vehicle now?





What happened to the frame for the 1969?







I am not an expert, I have only been working on these Land Cruisers for twenty years, but the path you are looking to follow is not a direction I would take.


Find an earlier frame (pre-1979) and set the 1969 tub on it, or repair the later tub/s since you have a body shop and all the tools to work in.


If you have the talent to contemplate fabricating body mounts, then hanging a couple rear quarters and fixing the floor/fender/rear support sections of a later tub should not be that big of a deal, especially considering so many of those pieces are available in new metal now.



Just my two cents.


Good luck!
 
The bodies on both the trucks are beyond repair. I could repair them, but it would need more than 1/4's and rockers. Just about every panel/support is completely rotted. I would be better off fabbing a time machine to go back to 1982 and buy a brand new cruiser. Just my 2 cents! :D
 
The bodies on both the trucks are beyond repair. I could repair them, but it would need more than 1/4's and rockers. Just about every panel/support is completely rotted. I would be better off fabbing a time machine to go back to 1982 and buy a brand new cruiser. Just my 2 cents! :D






Then find a clean 1978 and earlier frame......
 

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