Before:
After:
Enhance :
"If at first you don't succeed, destroy all evidence you tried"
Lurking and searching a lot since last summer, I saw a bunch of build threads peter out into nothing either because the builder loses interest, or finds out it's too much project, or gets it done and it's so disappointing they want to forget about it. And I know how that feels because all three of those happened to me on FJ40 Project #1 (2003-2010).
So I wanted to wait until I had something worth sharing before committing to a build thread, and three weeks ago I reached that point.
I drove this truck on the road for the first time in a year, and it was everything I hoped it would be.
1975 FJ40
Done by previous owner: Carb SBC with original 4 speed & TC, shackle reverse, power steering (Scout II, resembles FJ60 but isn't), extra gauges, mystery wires
New:
Cummins R2.8
NV4500 with Quickdraw bellhousing and 1969 TC with Advance Adapter Adapter
Dakota Digital Gauges
Rewired the whole thing
Brake lines needed some help
Needed a new heater setup as a butterfly effect consequence of the steering box
New fuel tank because of the giganto transmission
There's a Dakota cruise control box bolted in there that I haven't gotten around to wiring yet.
Last fall before the actual engine swap, driving it for the first time in 4 years, I got serious about investigating the "Brakes suck and handling sucks but that's just how FJ40s are" story.
Because if that was just how FJ40s are, I was going to bail on this project before it began and put the whole fleet on CraigsList.
Determined that the brake booster was ruined by leaking brake fluid, and rather than try to rebuild the original got one from a 1993 4Runner, which is almost a direct bolt in.
Now the brakes are awesome. Ok they still pulse and pull to one side, but that's a lot better than "Smash full strength and they barely work."
Also learned about caster and axle shims, and 4 degrees later it was like a whole new truck. Instead of sailing into the weeds every 40 feet I could take my hands off the wheel at 60 mph and it tracked perfectly.
So here it is:
If there's anything specific that you want to know about this project, ask away!
Otherwise, I guess I will get to it in the order that I get to it.
After:
Enhance :
"If at first you don't succeed, destroy all evidence you tried"
Lurking and searching a lot since last summer, I saw a bunch of build threads peter out into nothing either because the builder loses interest, or finds out it's too much project, or gets it done and it's so disappointing they want to forget about it. And I know how that feels because all three of those happened to me on FJ40 Project #1 (2003-2010).
So I wanted to wait until I had something worth sharing before committing to a build thread, and three weeks ago I reached that point.
I drove this truck on the road for the first time in a year, and it was everything I hoped it would be.
1975 FJ40
Done by previous owner: Carb SBC with original 4 speed & TC, shackle reverse, power steering (Scout II, resembles FJ60 but isn't), extra gauges, mystery wires
New:
Cummins R2.8
NV4500 with Quickdraw bellhousing and 1969 TC with Advance Adapter Adapter
Dakota Digital Gauges
Rewired the whole thing
Brake lines needed some help
Needed a new heater setup as a butterfly effect consequence of the steering box
New fuel tank because of the giganto transmission
There's a Dakota cruise control box bolted in there that I haven't gotten around to wiring yet.
Last fall before the actual engine swap, driving it for the first time in 4 years, I got serious about investigating the "Brakes suck and handling sucks but that's just how FJ40s are" story.
Because if that was just how FJ40s are, I was going to bail on this project before it began and put the whole fleet on CraigsList.
Determined that the brake booster was ruined by leaking brake fluid, and rather than try to rebuild the original got one from a 1993 4Runner, which is almost a direct bolt in.
Now the brakes are awesome. Ok they still pulse and pull to one side, but that's a lot better than "Smash full strength and they barely work."
Also learned about caster and axle shims, and 4 degrees later it was like a whole new truck. Instead of sailing into the weeds every 40 feet I could take my hands off the wheel at 60 mph and it tracked perfectly.
So here it is:
If there's anything specific that you want to know about this project, ask away!
Otherwise, I guess I will get to it in the order that I get to it.