On the rear sag... Do you plan to lift it down the road? New rear springs then later new springs all around will be money down the drain! Plan before you build, and it will cost you a lot less.
Decision Time - Am I Ready For A Frame Off Restoration
- Thread starter TCSTARK
- Start date
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nice
actually it is looking pretty good as everyone has said I would look to work on the rust at least slow it down with a rust converter and a little touch up. things like the rear seal can be replaced pretty cheaply.
for the frame you might want to look at a wax treatment like waxoyl, dinitrol etc ....there are other brands
this is the sort of stuff the military uses as a preservative and it works plus it is not a huge PITA to remove later if you want
I spent nearly a summer removing the old style tar stuff!
there can be a lot of fun in preservation and cleanup without diving in at the deep end, in the meantime have fun with it
hey, but who am I to talk with my 40/60/70/80 project?
actually it is looking pretty good as everyone has said I would look to work on the rust at least slow it down with a rust converter and a little touch up. things like the rear seal can be replaced pretty cheaply.
for the frame you might want to look at a wax treatment like waxoyl, dinitrol etc ....there are other brands
this is the sort of stuff the military uses as a preservative and it works plus it is not a huge PITA to remove later if you want
I spent nearly a summer removing the old style tar stuff!
there can be a lot of fun in preservation and cleanup without diving in at the deep end, in the meantime have fun with it
hey, but who am I to talk with my 40/60/70/80 project?
OK,
Now that I can see the rest of the pics...
Short term:
I would recommend Jim C. carb and Jim C. FJ60 ignition. OME or Hell Creek 2.5" springs and 33 x 10.5 on factory rims. Mini truck or FJ60 power steering (in that order). Hit the rust with a wire brush and rust converter, and enjoy.
Long term:
Plan on a frame-off several years from now, but start gathering parts, knowledge and opinions now.
Now that I can see the rest of the pics...
Short term:
I would recommend Jim C. carb and Jim C. FJ60 ignition. OME or Hell Creek 2.5" springs and 33 x 10.5 on factory rims. Mini truck or FJ60 power steering (in that order). Hit the rust with a wire brush and rust converter, and enjoy.
Long term:
Plan on a frame-off several years from now, but start gathering parts, knowledge and opinions now.
TCSTARK
Master Debater & Cunning Linguist
- Thread starter
- #25
I've already reached out to Jim C for a carb rebuild so I will do the ignition at the same time. He's got a three week build time so that will give me enough time to research what type of lift to put on my rig.
I like the way the new plan is shaping up.
in the short run, longer shackles in the rear would work
why not use a 4" lift and be done with it ? They are true 3.5" height only anyway
why not use a 4" lift and be done with it ? They are true 3.5" height only anyway
TCSTARK
Master Debater & Cunning Linguist
- Thread starter
- #27
Suspension Ordered Today
I pulled the trigger on a suspension kit for my rig today. There were a ton of threads that helped me make my decision including the following link:
https://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series-tech/422975-lift-kit-price-comparison.html
This gave me a good idea of the total cost of installing a lift with all of the add on parts required. I chose a 2.5" lift since this will mostly be my daily driver along with some light trailing. I went with the SAFARI SUSPENSION SYSTEM 3-INCH KIT DELUXE FJ40 E-07/80 from MAF.
I was able to google a free shipping option and the total cost of $1015 seemed like a fair price for all that it included.
I pulled the trigger on a suspension kit for my rig today. There were a ton of threads that helped me make my decision including the following link:
https://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series-tech/422975-lift-kit-price-comparison.html
This gave me a good idea of the total cost of installing a lift with all of the add on parts required. I chose a 2.5" lift since this will mostly be my daily driver along with some light trailing. I went with the SAFARI SUSPENSION SYSTEM 3-INCH KIT DELUXE FJ40 E-07/80 from MAF.
I was able to google a free shipping option and the total cost of $1015 seemed like a fair price for all that it included.
sand /prime /paint the bad spots.even use a little bondo if necessary,.clean ,wirebrush underside as necessary and paint and/ or fluid film the frame and underside.Drive her and enjoy the cruiser.
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thats a great looking truck- cut the rust spots out and weld in new metal and drive it! Heck, if you cannot weld just take it to a shop and have it done... unless the underside is a rust bucket i say that truck does not need a frame off by any means
In answer to your original post, I´m not sure that anyone is ever ready for a frame off restoration. I have been restoring and driving mine for three years now. I look back and the early posts in my build thread and I shake my head. I like your present plan. The process is different for each of us but in your case your cruiser is in better shape than mine was. I suggest first write down what exactly you want to do with the cruiser. Then write down those mods/improvements that are necessary for you to use the cruiser as you intend. Get those mods done first and enjoy it for a while. Yes get after the rust spots now as they are already annoying you and that will just get worse over time. Six months or a year after those mods are done, after a few road trips, camping trips off road runs, you will have another list running in your head of things that you´ll want to do. This will go on for the rest of the time that you own the cruiser. Enjoy the journey and welcome to the addiction.
Do the minor upgrades, and maybe fix the rust, but I would enjoy it first for a long time. Here's a picture of my project truck. It was supposed to take the place on my 87 mini truck as a family wheeler. Here it is 13 years later, my childern are 13 and 16. I just ran out of time and drive with sports and work. So as someone else said find a project truck if you want to wrench on something, but again enjoy this one with the family. MTCW. In the end do what makes you happy. We ended up buying a 71 for tooling around in a few years ago. Driving my 71 with my family makes me happy.
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I agree with most of the opinions here, everyone has their own idea of which path to follow. I love these old trucks when they're original and have a few battle scars and some honest patina. To me a tub-off rebuild is something you do when you can poke a screwdriver through the frame in various places. I like to pull something off and see original factory primer, not something PO #6 sprayed on 8 years earlier. I just like the idea of leaving as much original as possible and replacing what's worn out. Not really a "stock" thing so much as retaining some original "barn find" vibes in the truck. An analogy (maybe) - the best way to diminish the value on an antique whatever is to refinish it. 
Your truck looks really nice to me - always hard to tell from photos but seems original with maybe a not so great cover-up paint job. I don't know your budget but I too would put money in the "small" things. I would do less and try to buy the best step by step. Buy a bunch of good tools - and one can still spend a lot on just OEM parts. I bet your sill needs to be replaced if you want a real hands-on project.
Your truck looks really nice to me - always hard to tell from photos but seems original with maybe a not so great cover-up paint job. I don't know your budget but I too would put money in the "small" things. I would do less and try to buy the best step by step. Buy a bunch of good tools - and one can still spend a lot on just OEM parts. I bet your sill needs to be replaced if you want a real hands-on project.
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If I had started my restoration (77FJ40) and it was in the condition you are showing here, I would've been out in the hills a long, long time ago. As is, I have 20K + into it after 1 1/2 years of work. Until a couple months ago I was able to work on it almost every day including the first 90 days when that was all I did, morning to night. So, by many accounts, since I had the luxury of time on my hands, I'm a couple years or more ahead of the game. I also had the benefit of 1,000 square feet of space in my shop to spread it out in, and a spray booth.
My advice is to go out and play! Fix what needs it, as you can. If you really want to restore one, go buy another and plan to be done about the time your daughter is old enough (tall enough) to drive it.
My advice is to go out and play! Fix what needs it, as you can. If you really want to restore one, go buy another and plan to be done about the time your daughter is old enough (tall enough) to drive it.
TCSTARK
Master Debater & Cunning Linguist
- Thread starter
- #35
We have lift off
I ordered the lift on Monday and have been soaking the existing leaf springs with PB for the last three nights. I have prepped my workspace and got my air compressor up and running and I am mentally ready to begin the install.
The first order of business was figuring out the safest way to jack up my cruiser. I used a 3 ton SUV floor jack to raise up the frame, placed two 3 ton SUV floor stands on the frame and two standard 3 ton back-up floor stands on the axle. I gave the cruiser a good shake and felt it was secure enough.
Now I just need to wait for the kit to arrive.
I ordered the lift on Monday and have been soaking the existing leaf springs with PB for the last three nights. I have prepped my workspace and got my air compressor up and running and I am mentally ready to begin the install.
The first order of business was figuring out the safest way to jack up my cruiser. I used a 3 ton SUV floor jack to raise up the frame, placed two 3 ton SUV floor stands on the frame and two standard 3 ton back-up floor stands on the axle. I gave the cruiser a good shake and felt it was secure enough.
Now I just need to wait for the kit to arrive.
crushers
post ho
first, take what ever budget you have in your head and triple it ... you will be in the ball park.
next, the advice to buy another one to restore is legit, this one, unless full of bondo looks REALLY nice DD.
finally, the advice to do mods one at a time taking the truck off the road for a day or a week is excellent.
over the last 30 years i have watched as individuals with good intentions start tearing into good running trucks to "restore" them and after a couple years end up selling them for a huge loss since they are still in a pile of parts and the thrill is gone, the budget is screwed and life has got in the way.
enjoy your truck, you got a kid that can use your free time more than the refurbishing of a Cruiser will provide.
(unless of course you are married to ... well ... someone you would rather not be around and are looking for a reason to be in the garage)
next, the advice to buy another one to restore is legit, this one, unless full of bondo looks REALLY nice DD.
finally, the advice to do mods one at a time taking the truck off the road for a day or a week is excellent.
over the last 30 years i have watched as individuals with good intentions start tearing into good running trucks to "restore" them and after a couple years end up selling them for a huge loss since they are still in a pile of parts and the thrill is gone, the budget is screwed and life has got in the way.
enjoy your truck, you got a kid that can use your free time more than the refurbishing of a Cruiser will provide.
(unless of course you are married to ... well ... someone you would rather not be around and are looking for a reason to be in the garage)
TCSTARK
Master Debater & Cunning Linguist
- Thread starter
- #37
Front Leaf Springs Removed
Armed with a BFH in one hand and a propane torch in the other I was ready for battle,.. I was in disbelief when every single U bolt, plate, pin and shackle came off without much of a fight. I was able to keep all of the stock pieces in tact.
I guess the nightly ritual of putting PB on every last part was a great help. I spent an hour on the driver's side and less than 20 minutes on the passenger's side.
Now it is time to sit back and wait for the kit.
Armed with a BFH in one hand and a propane torch in the other I was ready for battle,.. I was in disbelief when every single U bolt, plate, pin and shackle came off without much of a fight. I was able to keep all of the stock pieces in tact.
I guess the nightly ritual of putting PB on every last part was a great help. I spent an hour on the driver's side and less than 20 minutes on the passenger's side.
Now it is time to sit back and wait for the kit.
Congratulations and welcome to the sickness!
I've followed your thread for the past week and it looks like you have a great 40 on your hands!
The advice given here, as always, is spot on... I bought mine a year go last September and the advice I found most useful is to get it running, drive it for a year then decide where you want to go with it.
I've learned a lot but enjoy driving it more especially after solving some phantom problem.
I look forward to following the rest of your story... subscribed.
Enjoy the journey.
I've followed your thread for the past week and it looks like you have a great 40 on your hands!
The advice given here, as always, is spot on... I bought mine a year go last September and the advice I found most useful is to get it running, drive it for a year then decide where you want to go with it.
I've learned a lot but enjoy driving it more especially after solving some phantom problem.
I look forward to following the rest of your story... subscribed.
Enjoy the journey.
Glad it went so well, but don't just wait for the kit. Clean off the areas that are now easy to reach (frame, bottom of tub, spring perches, etc.) with a wire brush and brake cleaner, and hit it with some rattle can etching primer and decent semi-gloss black.
It won't be show-truck perfect, but it'll protect things, and look much better.
