Starting a Thread/Topic on my '78 FJ40 Rebuild. Im new to the board but have been reading thru the archives for months trying to learn what I can to avoid asking silly questions. I am switching things up a bit -- I usually drag a tractor into the shop to restore (some of my work can be seen at www.tractorrestorationbydave.webs.com ) but this year the FJ40 project has its turn. I bought this truck after the previous owner lost interest (hopefully pictures attach). It has a few good features (like the aqualu tub) but other parts need help. There is still more rust than I like to see on the front cowl and hardtop sides. . . worse yet the frame has been welded/repaired in the past and just feels thin in areas from rust. The PO put a good coat of paint on the frame before installing the new body but I am still not happy with it; I have a nice, solid frame under a 1972 FJ I also bought (to make one good truck out of the two, used to have to do it with the tractors all the time) so I will be tearing down both trucks to install the '78 engine, trans, transfer case, and axles on the '72 frame. I have not decided which cowl/year the truck will be in the end; it will have the aluminum body with the best of parts from each truck. The '72 cowl looks to be in better shape to I may officially have a 1972 truck when its all said and done.
The PO said it had been awhile since the truck ran. Seeing as how there was no gas tank installed I tied up a temporary little tank and managed to get the engine going -- drove it around the farm enough (like my bucket seat?) that I was content the engine/trans were good foundations and that I could start the teardown process. I managed to get the fiberglass top off and only broke two of the 10mm bolts holding it to the sides/upper door channels. Figured that was not too bad considering it had been on there since 1978. The rest of the sides/rear doors came off easy enough but the windshield frame took a little time. Was called back into work later in the afternoon but figured this was a good days progress and worth starting a post on the discussion board. More updates/pictures to come in the weeks ahead as I take more apart -- I'm sure the questions will come once things start going back together. One quick one I can throw in now is about engine desmogging -- half the pieces have already been removed from under my hood and came in boxes when I bought the truck. The pulley on my air pump is fixed and not turning; I am not sure of the overall condition of the rest of the parts. Is there a good thread in the archives about the desmog of a '78 F2 Engine? I have read some topics about it but none of them seem specific to my situation. Emissions are currently not a big issue in my area and I would prefer not to have to deal with the extra plumbing if possible. My end goal for the truck is something to have fun with -- I will probably not take it off road or drive it super long distances but want to be able take if for a drive around town on a nice day or the weekends. It will look mostly stock but hopefully combine the best from a '78 and '72 into one. Thanks for reading. . . I know its long!
The PO said it had been awhile since the truck ran. Seeing as how there was no gas tank installed I tied up a temporary little tank and managed to get the engine going -- drove it around the farm enough (like my bucket seat?) that I was content the engine/trans were good foundations and that I could start the teardown process. I managed to get the fiberglass top off and only broke two of the 10mm bolts holding it to the sides/upper door channels. Figured that was not too bad considering it had been on there since 1978. The rest of the sides/rear doors came off easy enough but the windshield frame took a little time. Was called back into work later in the afternoon but figured this was a good days progress and worth starting a post on the discussion board. More updates/pictures to come in the weeks ahead as I take more apart -- I'm sure the questions will come once things start going back together. One quick one I can throw in now is about engine desmogging -- half the pieces have already been removed from under my hood and came in boxes when I bought the truck. The pulley on my air pump is fixed and not turning; I am not sure of the overall condition of the rest of the parts. Is there a good thread in the archives about the desmog of a '78 F2 Engine? I have read some topics about it but none of them seem specific to my situation. Emissions are currently not a big issue in my area and I would prefer not to have to deal with the extra plumbing if possible. My end goal for the truck is something to have fun with -- I will probably not take it off road or drive it super long distances but want to be able take if for a drive around town on a nice day or the weekends. It will look mostly stock but hopefully combine the best from a '78 and '72 into one. Thanks for reading. . . I know its long!