D'animal 1974 FJ40 - stock

[D'Animal]

Poor Seating of the Distributor is a big possibility.

 

[D'Animal]

Crankshaft cleaned up nicely using extra fine emery cloth and a final polish with a few strips from a brown paper bag.

 

[D'Animal]

Number 3 and # 4 Rod journals turned down .020". So glad I decided to check them all before reassembling everything. New set on order.
Grrrr!

 

[D'Animal]

Got tired waiting for the parts to arrive so I built another engine.

 

[D'Animal]

Pretty good progress for a chainsaw mechanic to get done in one day

 

[D'Animal]

All new seals, gaskets and bearings.

 

[D'Animal]

New Lux clutch assy installed and it is ready to go in.

I went ahead and installed it.

 

[ToyotaDon]

LOL, I was just up the road yesterday and a couple times thought about coming by. We were heading home about the time you posted, figured it might be too late.

 

[shaneus]

D'animal, is the heater in photo original?
I have a 70 fj40 and have a heater from a 78 (has upper vents like one in your photo). Was hoping to fit newer heater into my older 40 but it is not direct bolt on, (the cowl vent knob and linkage hit).

I thought 1974 fj40 still had cowl vent so im curious if your rig had retrofit heater like im thinking of fitting. My cowl vent works good so im not eager to removeand block off like many do.
If yours is retrofit i would appreciate any photos .
Thanks, Shaneus

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

I did not drive it home. The previous owner drove it to the local shop to have it serviced. They called him a few weeks later and told him the engine was blown.
He had it towed home. But he could not bring himself to sell it.

He has many family photo albums that have this rig in them. He taught his kids how to drive in this rig. The camping trips to the desert, etc.

He decided to keep it in the family and give it to his grandson. His grandson wanted an off road rig so this would be perfect.

Grandson put it on Craigslist. It sat on there for a month before I called them. I went and looked at it and met the owner. It seems the grandson bought a two door jeep Cherokee and needed money to fix it up. I tried everything to convince the grandson to keep it and fix it.
I took a picture of three generation standing next to the rig. I clearly told the grandson he was making a huge "lifetime" mistake and he would regret selling it. Maybe he would realize it 10 minutes after I drive away with the rig on my trailer. He may realize it when he has kids of his own. I sent the picture to them and asked them to think long and hard about selling it. I asked them to spend the next two weeks and review the family photo albums. I told them if they wanted to sell it, I would come back in two weeks and buy it.
Two weeks passed and I received the call that they (grandson) wanted to sell it.
I went and loaded it up. The grandmother was an emotional wreck. She had one of the photo albums in her arms as I pulled up with the trailer. She could not watch the loading of the rig. Grandpa was an emotional wreck but not nearly as bad as grandmother.
I told them I would leave it on my trailer for a month and if the grandson came to his senses, I would bring it back. In reality, I didn't have the time to go and pick it up, let alone unload it. I called the grandson after 6 weeks. He was happy. He installed a lift kit on his jeep and is now running 33's on some new rims. I spoke with the grandfather an he wants "Visitation Permission" to come and see his old rig. He offered to come and help fix and rebuild it.
So
I figured I may as well start wrenching in my newest addition to the fleet. I will give the grandparents a ride in it after all the shoddy mechanical stuff is fixed and the engine is rebuilt/repaired, etc.

you know, if nothing else, that made grandpa figure the '40 was going to a good home. His grandkid would have trashed it, rolled it, then cut it up - by you showing such concern, grandpa knew the '40 would be around long enough for his grandkid to get sentimental than seek you out in 20 years to pay a premium

I'm concerned about that exhaust valve the 2nd from the back in the picture - sorry I've been busy on other things this last week ... should have checked in sooner. sorry

that terrorist is my wife's dog... mine is the big one

the photobombing one in the front, we got cool news yesterday, her uncle won best dog at the national show, he came in the top 5 at Westminster earlier this year.... too bad we don't show them, eh? with that said, my wife's concerned that (she uses them both for search and rescue) the bloodhound will pull her down and hurt her as she turns ... uhh... 19... yeah, 19... so she's looking at Beagles to do trailing with them... told her they're just as persnickety, just in a smaller package

 

[D'Animal]

Made more progress.

Removed the EGR assy from the header and welded the hole shut. Welded the heat riser pipe into #1 header down pipe. Didn't like the hose clamps. Lol

 

[D'Animal]

Replaced the all of the broken mounts. The only one left to replace is a hanger on the exhaust.

Dealt with broken bolts most of the day.

 

[D'Animal]

Intake and exhaust manifolds installed
Carburetor cleaned and installed, along with the linkage.
New waterpump installed.
Alternator on.
Starter installed.
New thermostat installed.

Cleaning 40 year old gasket material off of everything is just a PITA

 

[Romer]

Nice find. You don't waste any time getting into it. Nice work. I was expecting a step#6 picture with a beer and cigar though

 

[D'Animal]

Wait until the next club event to stop by. I/we don't really appreciate drop ins.

LOL, I was just up the road yesterday and a couple times thought about coming by. We were heading home about the time you posted, figured it might be too late.

 

[D'Animal]

D'animal, is the heater in photo original?
I have a 70 fj40 and have a heater from a 78 (has upper vents like one in your photo). Was hoping to fit newer heater into my older 40 but it is not direct bolt on, (the cowl vent knob and linkage hit).

I thought 1974 fj40 still had cowl vent so im curious if your rig had retrofit heater like im thinking of fitting. My cowl vent works good so im not eager to removeand block off like many do.
If yours is retrofit i would appreciate any photos .
Thanks, Shaneus

I have several of the old black box heaters from the late 1960's. I'll snap some pictures of the different styles in my 1970.

 

[ToyotaDon]

Wait until the next club event to stop by. I/we don't really appreciate drop ins.

Will do. I know any drop ins better be ready to be put to work.

 

[LAMBCRUSHER]

not sure whats more impressive, that you have all the parts about to just slap engines together all day, or the fact that overhauled and engine and a half in a couple of days...CHEERS!

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

I think it's the "go away" door mat that helps the most... at least it does for me - of course, I couple that door mat with a bad attitude and a low tolerance level for those I deem fools... so that helps too

 

[D'Animal]

A few of you can appreciate what it takes to get to this point on a 40 year old rig.