Decision Time - Am I Ready For A Frame Off Restoration (1 Viewer)

[jmdaniel]

Here are pictures of the seats installed

The seats look nice in there! And if your "cargo" is that cutie that is acting as a hood ornament, she's much more safe in them than she ever would be standard jump seats. Nice job.*

Man those seats look great. Ran across the CL ad for them a few days after you bought them and inquired but they were already sold.

Those seats were for sale here on MUD for a little while; gotta strike when the iron is hot!

 

[Mongoose317]

The seats look great! Nice install!

 

[TCSTARK]

Thanks for the compliment. I am very pleased with how the install went. I moved the front passenger seat to it's most forward position and reclined it forward and had my daughter climb in and out of the 40. She had no problem getting in the back seats so I am glad I upgraded the rear seats. they look awesome and give me piece of mind.

Next up: painting the bumper and then pulling the hard top off. I am contemplating removing it in pieces for easy storage. Then it will be time to paint & install the rear barn doors, paint my soft top bows, make a set of half doors and install my OCD top.

 

[jmdaniel]

I imagine it may be even easier for her to get back there if you moved those speakers off the roll bar. Just a suggestion, she's probably just fine with squirming around to get in the back of Dad's 40!

 

[ccasteel]

Mirrors

Something doesn't look quite right about those side mirrors. Could they not be installed on the lower hinge? If you have the top off and wheel with the windshield down you will lose the use of the mirrors. Most I have seen are mounted on the bottom of the hinge. Here's the best pic I have acces to at the moment showing the way mine are installed. It keeps the angle of the arm from being so extreme.

 

[TCSTARK]

Thanks for the pic. It does make more sense to have them installed on the lower hinge. The only issue I will have switching them is I had to drill two screws out and re-tap the holes. I am not sure how stable the bolts will be once I remove and reinstall them.

I am sure someone has a solution to this dilemma.

 

[KY Longhunter]

TCSTARK what are those rear seats out of? They look great!

I searched through your thread but didn't see what kind of seats they were.

 

[jmdaniel]

TCSTARK what are those rear seats out of? They look great!

I searched through your thread but didn't see what kind of seats they were.

They are custom. They started life as van seats, and were cut down to size by the guy that restored my 40, and recovered to match the Procar front seats. I had 'em for sale here on MUD for awhile, and Chris had the wisdom to pick them up from me for a song. (A song that both if us liked...) Nice seats; I was just looking for more usable space in my 40. I have dogs, not cute kids like Chris!

 

[TCSTARK]

I got the hard top removed with the help of my brother. I originally planned to remove it in pieces for easy storage but three snapped bolts later I changed directions. It is clearly obvious that the PO had previously removed the top since the bolt/screw removal was a breeze. I removed the ambulance doors and spare tire first then removed the bolts holding the top to the tub and windshield. Next order of business was lifting the top from the tub and inserting a 1x6 board in between the tub and top. We used the board to lift the top high enough to clear the tubes from the tub and then walked it back off of the cruiser. The top was more awkward than heavy and could easily scratch the paint off the cruiser if one is not careful. We almost lost our footing a few times but we got it off with minimal damage.

I am glad I pre-planned where I was going to place the top because it will be there a while before it's permanent home is figured out. I am leaning towards hanging it in the garage. I have time to figure that one out. I will be removing the doors today and getting them prepped for surgery. They will become a set of half doors for the summer and the set from a 78 will be my full doors.

I will get some photos of my progress online today.

 

[samatulich]

I too agree with the others, drive it as long as it runs good. I am in the same position you are. My '76 has a bit more rust and the engine runs good (170,000+) and I am just going through it and cleaning it up. I can not afford a frame off, but I enjoy driving it way too much right now anyways. I have thought about an engine rebuild, but after reading what everyone else has said with respect to yours, I will not rebuild mine until necessary.
BTW, I was that kid in the picture. Growing up with the cruiser in the family, the most fun we had as kids was being driven around by our parents. All my friends thought is was BA vehicle and learning to drive a stick while out camping could not be more fun.
Just enjoy it and do whatever you feel like, remember it is yours.

 

[TCSTARK]

Going Topless

Here are a few photos of my 40 without the top. I have removed the weather strippng on the tub lip and began prepping the surface for a fresh coat of paint.

 

[jmdaniel]

Here are a few photos of my 40 without the top. I have removed the weather strippng on the tub lip and began prepping the surface for a fresh coat of paint.

Looks great, Chris, but is your front passenger fender okay? Looks bent down on the outside front corner. Maybe it's the way the picture was taken.

 

[TCSTARK]

Yeah, the fender is bent downwards. It looks like the PO had damaged the fender and attempted to bang it back in place. I have got a set of fenders from Cruiser Corp that I am going to be putting on this winter.

 

[DSRTRDR]

I imagine it may be even easier for her to get back there if you moved those speakers off the roll bar. Just a suggestion, she's probably just fine with squirming around to get in the back of Dad's 40!

good call

 

[TCSTARK]

Ok, so I found a slice of time to work on the cruiser over the weekend. I disassembled the doors and removed them in prep for my half door project. I removed two of the four inner door hinges in prep for installing a set of quick hinges. This has been the least fun project yet.

I seems that the list of things to do is growing longer and the time to do it shorter. I will tackle the other two hinges tomorrow.

 

[TCSTARK]

Update: I got the last two factory hinges removed and started prepping the new hinges for installation. They were given fresh coat of sky blue rattle can paint. The paint color from the PO's el cheapo paint job is slightly off from color code 854 so I am a little frustrated to say the least.

I re-read lostmarbles' thread about tackling the doors to get an idea of what parts I needed to order to refresh my full doors. I wound up going with all OEM parts for the weather stripping and felts including the later model window channel. I also ordered some por15 cleaner and paint to do some rust prevention before I paint the doors. The supplies will be trickling in very soon.

I made a punch down list today to keep me on track:

FJ40 punch down list

1. [STRIKE]Paint remaining two sets of hinges[/STRIKE]
2. Seal up interior hinges with seam sealer.
3. [STRIKE]Drop of doors, tire carrier and aprons for sand blasting.[/STRIKE]
4. Primer and paint tailgate
5. Primer and paint fenders
6. Test fit soft top bows
7. Sand (roughen up) and paint bows.
8. Install new seat belts
9. install grant steering wheel - Qdup wants to purchase OEM wheel.
10. Make decision on fender flare install

Full Doors

1. Repair any rust on 1979 set.
2. Clean, primer and paint doors
3. Install window regulators and locking mechanism
4. Install glass, channels and felts
5. Install vinyl panel and handles

Half doors

1. Mock up lines and measure
2. Cut top portion of doors (cut and roll?)
3. Weld tops
4. Re-use 2nd set of vinyl panels for half doors.

Soft top

1. Install bows
2. Test fit
3. Install footman loops on tailgate and rear quarters


I stopped at this point because I was getting depressed.

 

[TCSTARK]

Quick Hinge Install

I got the quick hinges installed so of course I had to take a pic. The OEM hinge removal was a bitch but the rewards will come during Summer when I want to easily swap out my doors.

 

[McToy]

Love those quick hinges and driving doorless. Unfortunately for me it's illegal to drive without doors in PA no matter what

 

[No jeeep]

Going to give you an opinion and please remember its worth exactly what you paid for it...

If the picture you posted is current and that is your daughter I would under no circumstances take a decently running FJ40 down for a multi-year restoration. Make a few upgrades (one at a time). Focus on drive-ability, safety and fun. Power steering and a family cage, some decent seats, and maybe a stereo or even A/C. Keep the vehicle functioning for the bulk of the time by doing one mod at a time. But most importantly use it with your daughter and the rest of the family. The nicest 100% restored cruiser laying spread out in a garage in pieces is less fun than the one you just took your tent out of at the camp site. Wait till the kids are of at college for the teardown. It will mean so much more to restore the FJ40 your daughter learned to drive a stick shift in...

Cheers

Chris

WOW...well put and I couldn't agree more. I have been working on my FJ40 for years and while I enjoy it, it is not fun for the family. I have a 69 Roadrunner that looks pretty good and runs well but could certainly use restoration. I won't do it because me and the wife and kids have to much fun it the way it is.

 

[TCSTARK]

Love those quick hinges and driving doorless. Unfortunately for me it's illegal to drive without doors in PA no matter what

What's PA law on half doors? If it is legal you could be done building by summertime. I am shooting for completion by this summer to be running my OCD top and half doors. Fingers crossed.