Dave's 1978 FJ40 long restoration project

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Corrosive wiring issues like that are common , and yup , they suck . That harness and the hours to replace it should pay their light bill , as well as water/sewer/trash/heating - ouch . Surprised it didn't hurt the ecm , or am I jinxing the whole thing now...??

I still want to know what was causing a nearly brand-new hoe to spew blue, then brown , then green exhaust smoke and lose all it's power - then straighten up and run perfect . Rental place had 7 factory guys out there in 1 day - it was finally hauled off and sounded like they never did figure it out . I suspect whatever it was had to be electrical-related , some of the indicators would very lightly flash while it was doing it the day I was trying to help the operator diagnose the dumb thing with the tech guy on the phone . Really , really odd ...

I get to work with outfits that run shops like once in awhile - their equipment in the field is taken care of just as well - it's a nice change compared to the crap that usually shows up and shuts a job down at 30 minutes into the day .

Sarge
 
You got that right. I think I paid for a small portion of that shop. Lost both Ecm's after they power washed it before they started the work. The water shorted them out. :eek:
Sounds like turbo lost a fin. The good news is it's all back together and being moved back to job site tomorrow. :clap:




Weber Sarge said:
Corrosive wiring issues like that are common , and yup , they suck . That harness and the hours to replace it should pay their light bill , as well as water/sewer/trash/heating - ouch . Surprised it didn't hurt the ecm , or am I jinxing the whole thing now...??

I still want to know what was causing a nearly brand-new hoe to spew blue, then brown , then green exhaust smoke and lose all it's power - then straighten up and run perfect . Rental place had 7 factory guys out there in 1 day - it was finally hauled off and sounded like they never did figure it out . I suspect whatever it was had to be electrical-related , some of the indicators would very lightly flash while it was doing it the day I was trying to help the operator diagnose the dumb thing with the tech guy on the phone . Really , really odd ...

I get to work with outfits that run shops like once in awhile - their equipment in the field is taken care of just as well - it's a nice change compared to the crap that usually shows up and shuts a job down at 30 minutes into the day .

Sarge
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Thank you Sarge.
Agreed, I think that's been the plan of today's manufactures to make it so that you have to take it to them for repairs. We can't even purchase the software to fix our own equipment/ vehicles anymore.

That's why I love these fj40's and the like. It allows all of us to still have a hobby, a sense of accomplishment, and adventure all in one. It has renewed my spirit in so many ways.
Thanks to all of you and your support. It's much appreciated!!
:rolleyes:


Weber Sarge said:
I do appreciate your near anal approach to a rebuild - just the way I like it ...
They should eat those ecm's , no shop shouldn't know any better than blast them directly ...
Sarge
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Too bad you can't send that harness to @Coolerman !

FWIW, one of my single most satisfying things about the shortbed resto was putting an NOS wiring harness in it. I bragged (and still do) that having personally ensured there would be no poor connections/ grounds, I kid you not, I got 10 YEARS out of the lead acid battery I put in that truck. With no maintainance.

That kind of satisfaction is priceless.
 
Yes it is Mark . Frankly , due to a limited and waning resource of parts I wish someone could start producing high-quality rebuild kits like Toyota used to offer for the sub-systems - like water pumps/brake boosters and such . Eventually, everything that is good dries up and makes it harder and harder to keep stuff like this on the road . Very little is made like the Land Cruiser - simple , reliable , rebuildable and tough .
Well , ok - toss Wheel Horse into that lot , especially pre-'85 models . I still mow , plow , push snow/dirt , grade, rip and treat my old 1967 model 1277 like a bulldozer . Original engine , shortblocked in early '71 from what we can tell - never fails to start and do the job , easily repaired . Just can't beat that....

1277 right side.webp


Started to restore another one I scored , it's for sale now since I just don't have the time/space to finish it ....

WP_20150903_19_16_16_Pro.webp


Ok , enough chat off-subject - I wanna see more progress on those purdy parts...lol .

Sarge

WP_20150903_19_16_16_Pro.webp
 
I love that!!

Weber Sarge said:
Yes it is Mark . Frankly , due to a limited and waning resource of parts I wish someone could start producing high-quality rebuild kits like Toyota used to offer for the sub-systems - like water pumps/brake boosters and such . Eventually, everything that is good dries up and makes it harder and harder to keep stuff like this on the road . Very little is made like the Land Cruiser - simple , reliable , rebuildable and tough .
Well , ok - toss Wheel Horse into that lot , especially pre-'85 models . I still mow , plow , push snow/dirt , grade, rip and treat my old 1967 model 1277 like a bulldozer . Original engine , shortblocked in early '71 from what we can tell - never fails to start and do the job , easily repaired . Just can't beat that....

View attachment 1241998

Started to restore another one I scored , it's for sale now since I just don't have the time/space to finish it ....

View attachment 1242000

Ok , enough chat off-subject - I wanna see more progress on those purdy parts...lol .

Sarge

View attachment 1241999
Click to expand...
 
Weber Sarge said:
Yes it is Mark . Frankly , due to a limited and waning resource of parts I wish someone could start producing high-quality rebuild kits like Toyota used to offer for the sub-systems - like water pumps/brake boosters and such . Eventually, everything that is good dries up and makes it harder and harder to keep stuff like this on the road . Very little is made like the Land Cruiser - simple , reliable , rebuildable and tough .


Ok , enough chat off-subject - I wanna see more progress on those purdy parts...lol .

Sarge]
Click to expand...

In between carb rebuilds, we're moving forwards slowly on the manifolds, harmonic balancer, oil cooler, etc. just finished cleaning up some stock u-bolt plates to send to the powderpainter, along with Dave's core support, air cleaner and coolant/washer bottle bracket. Nothing pic worthy at the moment.

First batch of spacers left for you yesterday.
 
65swb45 said:
In between carb rebuilds, we're moving forwards slowly on the manifolds, harmonic balancer, oil cooler, etc. just finished cleaning up some stock u-bolt plates to send to the powderpainter, along with Dave's core support, air cleaner and coolant/washer bottle bracket. Nothing pic worthy at the moment.

First batch of spacers left for you yesterday.
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Question, with you powder coating so many parts, even ones that will rub up and or are attached to other metal parts, are you not worried about the powder coat being worn through? because once you have even one hole in powder coat, rust can get in and spread. just a thought and would like to know what your take on it is?
 
Weber Sarge said:
Yes it is Mark . Frankly , due to a limited and waning resource of parts I wish someone could start producing high-quality rebuild kits like Toyota used to offer for the sub-systems - like water pumps/brake boosters and such . Eventually, everything that is good dries up and makes it harder and harder to keep stuff like this on the road . Very little is made like the Land Cruiser - simple , reliable , rebuildable and tough .
Well , ok - toss Wheel Horse into that lot , especially pre-'85 models . I still mow , plow , push snow/dirt , grade, rip and treat my old 1967 model 1277 like a bulldozer . Original engine , shortblocked in early '71 from what we can tell - never fails to start and do the job , easily repaired . Just can't beat that....

View attachment 1241998

Started to restore another one I scored , it's for sale now since I just don't have the time/space to finish it ....

View attachment 1242000

Ok , enough chat off-subject - I wanna see more progress on those purdy parts...lol .

Sarge

View attachment 1241999
Click to expand...

Hey Sarge, that's a nice looking wheel horse! How much are you asking for it?

wp_20150903_19_16_16_pro-jpg.1241999
 
$750 for that one - 1277's are rare and it was a 1yr model for the most part . Only thing they made heavier that year was the GT14 and they are flat ugly , lol . Finishing it won't be fun if anyone wants it really restored to stock - the seat pan and 2-spoke steering wheel are long gone - the 2 hardest parts to find . My worker 1277 has a rare hydraulic lift option I installed back when the valve parts were still around , I do have contacts that may have the missing parts for the sale 1277 - stuff disappears fast when it comes available .
Stock weight on that thing is around 600lbs . My worker weighs 950lbs - no wheel spin , ever .

Good to hear Mark - I'll keep an eye out .

Sarge
 
Vossie said:
Question, with you powder coating so many parts, even ones that will rub up and or are attached to other metal parts, are you not worried about the powder coat being worn through? because once you have even one hole in powder coat, rust can get in and spread. just a thought and would like to know what your take on it is?
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Your question proceeds on the assumption that the whole of the parts were powderpainted to begin with. They were not. The company we are using is heavily into automotive, and well aware of the masking requirements. We go over mating/masking requirements at each delivery.

I should have taken a closeup pic of Dave's oil pan. I told them I wanted the 1/4" lip painted right up to the gasket rib. The paint edge was perfect. Did the same with the side cover.

When I went to install my motor mount brackets on my swb, it looked like they had accidentally painted the mating surface one one of them. I pulled out a flap disc to clean it off. The disc immediately revealed green under the black. I thought WTF, did they accidentally paint my bracket green, then respray it. Then I looked closer and realized it was some kind of special mil-spec tape. I found the corner, pealed it off, and there was my mating surface,ready to install.
 
65swb45 said:
Your question proceeds on the assumption that the whole of the parts were powderpainted to begin with. They were not. The company we are using is heavily into automotive, and well aware of the masking requirements. We go over mating/masking requirements at each delivery.

I should have taken a closeup pic of Dave's oil pan. I told them I wanted the 1/4" lip painted right up to the gasket rib. The paint edge was perfect. Did the same with the side cover.

When I went to install my motor mount brackets on my swb, it looked like they had accidentally painted the mating surface one one of them. I pulled out a flap disc to clean it off. The disc immediately revealed green under the black. I thought WTF, did they accidentally paint my bracket green, then respray it. Then I looked closer and realized it was some kind of special mil-spec tape. I found the corner, pealed it off, and there was my mating surface,ready to install.
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Ok cool. Was just wondering is all. Have never really had the opportunity to use powder coat on anything automotive. Where I have had lots of its use is in manufacturing of power distribution boards and such. When our company first started with powder coating we did it to everything. And of course we quickly learnt about what happens when you powder coat something that has regular contact with a metallic surface.

From the looks of your workmanship, it was never in doubt that you would do the best thing for the 40, it was more a thought that occurred to me and I wanted to ask :D
 
Vossie said:
Ok cool. Was just wondering is all. Have never really had the opportunity to use powder coat on anything automotive. Where I have had lots of its use is in manufacturing of power distribution boards and such. When our company first started with powder coating we did it to everything. And of course we quickly learnt about what happens when you powder coat something that has regular contact with a metallic surface.

From the looks of your workmanship, it was never in doubt that you would do the best thing for the 40, it was more a thought that occurred to me and I wanted to ask :D
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Totally cool. We're all about sharing knowledge here, and I still learn new things here too. What I'm still trying to get my head around on this powdercoating thing is priming 'high exposure' exterior parts. I am planning to get my racks powderpainted at some point, and the company has explained to me that for high exposure things you should have a primer coat as well.

My anecdotal experience here is that I have a powderpainted front bumper from BTB Products that has been on the front of my '68 FJ40 since about 1993. I paid $40 for it, new, direct from BTB. I seriously doubt that for $40 it was primed as well as painted. The finish is no longer high gloss, but still cleans up nicely, and only chipped where I insisted on trying to grade the Rubicon trail with it. So I'm not seeing the merit.

Of course, MY assumption here is that the quality of materials has not changed in 23 years. That's gotta be my next question to them...cause I'm still learning.
 
65swb45 said:
T
Of course, MY assumption here is that the quality of materials has not changed in 23 years. That's gotta be my next question to them...cause I'm still learning.
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and there in lies the crux of the matter i think.

now im not an old person or have vast stores of experience, but i have seen my fair share of things, especially when it comes to harsh operating conditions for vehicles. here in Zimbabwe, people, not all, but the vast majority, dont know how to care for a vehicle. no servicing or maintenance and just poor standard of driving means so many cars on the road look like they've been used in a war zone, and im talking even new mercs and BMW's and expensive cars.

now my point of all this to do with what we were saying about build quality then and now, is this... my cousin just bought the new toyota Revo, the replacement for the Hilux. looks good, great interior and impressive engine, but you just get the impression its not going to last as well as say, my fathers hilux. that is a 2001 Gilbralta spec double cab with a 3L engine. its done 518 000kms and its still going strong, never had anything major done other than replacement of 3 valves when 16 year old me snapped its timing belt.

and the trend is much the same across all modern vs old cars: new is great, efficient and powerful, but not made to the same standard as cars from 15 years ago, and definitely not 23 years ago. all of our 40's and 45's attest to that.

just my 2 cents. sorry for hijack :grinpimp:
 
DSB345 said:
My wife used the term "our house is starting to look like Sanford and Sons" I'm trying to keep things organized and put away. :meh:
It's starting to wear on her I think. :eek:
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Dave, buy :princess:her a diamond something and she'll forget the mess for a while!
 
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