Downey FJ40 Skid Plate Install (with challenges)

[LucyProject]

I just wrapped up installing a skid plate I bought from ToJo Products 3 years ago. I believe I found it on iH8Mud, and I believe it's a "Downey" skid plate (Time + Age = poor memory). Anyways, I filmed the experience, and posted it to YouTube. Check it out and let me know your thoughts. Also, if these skid plates are still available somewhere, let me know in a reply, and I'll put the link in the video description.

My thoughts:
Quality: Its definitely beefy. I have no doubts the full weight of my FJ40 + associated impact forces could be supported by this thing.
Figment: It lined up with the frame great but didn't fit with the exhaust or line up with the transfer case. I blame this on my SBC engine swap. I think ultimately my transfer case rests offset from the OEM location, and obviously the exhaust is different. So, I had to trim it a bit.
Recommendation: Yes. This thing is great. the way I have it installed only subtracts about 1/2" of clearance, so it doesn't hurt much, but the benefits on the trail are substantial.

 

[MOTOV8R]

Jim has s few posts for his skid plates on Mud. This is a recently active one if you want to link it.

FJ40/45 H.D. Skid Plates

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[LucyProject]

Jim has s few posts for his skid plates on Mud. This is a recently active one if you want to link it.

FJ40/45 H.D. Skid Plates

forum.ih8mud.com

Awesome - thanks! I saw this thread, but I wasn't sure it was the best way to link it or not. I'll do it anyways.

 

[Downey]

I have two (2) skid plates left, then no more, takes too long to sell a batch.

 

[pbgbottle]

Saw one on eBay just now.

 

[lcwizard]

I have two (2) skid plates left, then no more, takes too long to sell a batch.

remember the old days when 40 accessories were the bulk of parts sales? Garmin, Con Ferr, Hickey Specter, Downey, Manafre, Fairey, Clifford,
Mark's and others. 40s were the king on the trails and anything you built for them sold

 

[bikersmurf]

remember the old days when 40 accessories were the bulk of parts sales? Garmin, Con Ferr, Hickey Specter, Downey, Manafre, Fairey, Clifford,
Mark's and others. 40s were the king on the trails and anything you built for them sold

Yup… I remember. I bought a 45 parts truck for $100 and it cost me $50 to have it towed across town to my place.

My SBC conversion kit was $850 CDN shipped to my door.

Now the skid plates on eBay would cost my $700… and half of that is shipping. As nice as they are, shipping is a deal breaker. I miss those days. Unfortunately my household income hasn’t changed much and even trip to the grocery store is $100 minimum… often $500+ a week.

 

[JohnnyC]

the good ol days... the old businesses that many new cruiser guys do not know about:

Downey:

Downey Off Road

forum.ih8mud.com

Hickey:

Vic Hickey

I had been looking into finding and talking to Vic Hickey and maybe getting some old literature and or photos of cruisers from him...but...i have found that Vic had passed away of natural causes on June 13, 2003. I thought I would share what I had found: This is from the "Off Road Hall of...

forum.ih8mud.com

Con-Ferr:

Pete Condos & Frank Ferro (Con-Ferr)

Pete Condos was an inovator in accessories for Land Cruisers. If you have any literature or information about Pete Condos, Frank Ferro or Con-Ferr please post them up. There is alot of good information about Mr.Condos but not so much for Mr.Ferro. I have been collecting some literature files...

forum.ih8mud.com

The thing I miss the most is the longevity of the parts... many parts on my truck have well over 300,000 miles on them ... even have the JCWhitney headlights

 

[lcwizard]

the good ol days... the old businesses that many new cruiser guys do not know about:

Downey:

Downey Off Road

forum.ih8mud.com

Hickey:

Vic Hickey

I had been looking into finding and talking to Vic Hickey and maybe getting some old literature and or photos of cruisers from him...but...i have found that Vic had passed away of natural causes on June 13, 2003. I thought I would share what I had found: This is from the "Off Road Hall of...

forum.ih8mud.com

Con-Ferr:

Pete Condos & Frank Ferro (Con-Ferr)

Pete Condos was an inovator in accessories for Land Cruisers. If you have any literature or information about Pete Condos, Frank Ferro or Con-Ferr please post them up. There is alot of good information about Mr.Condos but not so much for Mr.Ferro. I have been collecting some literature files...

forum.ih8mud.com

The thing I miss the most is the longevity of the parts... many parts on my truck have well over 300,000 miles on them ... even have the JCWhitney headlights

I started building parts in 1990 when all the old companies started disappearing. It was easier to build for Man-a-fre than start without an established
name back when there was no internet sales. It still took 8 years before I could quit my 2nd job.

 

[bikersmurf]

the good ol days... the old businesses that many new cruiser guys do not know about:

Downey:

Downey Off Road

forum.ih8mud.com

Hickey:

Vic Hickey

I had been looking into finding and talking to Vic Hickey and maybe getting some old literature and or photos of cruisers from him...but...i have found that Vic had passed away of natural causes on June 13, 2003. I thought I would share what I had found: This is from the "Off Road Hall of...

forum.ih8mud.com

Con-Ferr:

Pete Condos & Frank Ferro (Con-Ferr)

Pete Condos was an inovator in accessories for Land Cruisers. If you have any literature or information about Pete Condos, Frank Ferro or Con-Ferr please post them up. There is alot of good information about Mr.Condos but not so much for Mr.Ferro. I have been collecting some literature files...

forum.ih8mud.com

The thing I miss the most is the longevity of the parts... many parts on my truck have well over 300,000 miles on them ... even have the JCWhitney headlights

Years back I replaced my rear axle (reason I bought the $100 45) with a FF axle because the axle bearing surface was pooched. At that time almost any part I could possibly need was in stock locally. Now simple things like P/S hoses can’t be bought from any company in Canada. The hydraulic shop can rebuild lines if you have the end fittings, but if you don’t have them, forget it.

I prefer to support local businesses, but they can’t get the parts because their suppliers stopped making them 10 years ago. Where as Rock Auto has new parts available for a 50 year old truck. Sometimes there’s no choice… unless you’re willing to give up.

 

[65swb45]

I started building parts in 1990 when all the old companies started disappearing. It was easier to build for Man-a-fre than start without an established
name back when there was no internet sales. It still took 8 years before I could quit my 2nd job.

…that guy in Arizona, Renegade Fabrication? I might even have a business card somewhere.

 

[lcwizard]

…that guy in Arizona, Renegade Fabrication? I might even have a business card somewhere.

I can't remember what those cards looked like. Needed them back then to hand out and leave with 4x4 shops.
Nowadays you can get more info out in 30 seconds on the net than you could in a week of footwork in the 80s and90s

 

[charliemeyer007]

I love being able to shop the world for NLA parts. Being able to see a pic goes a long way in fabing up your parts/solutions or figuring out what part is in your hand.

 

[Paul_A]

I first got into the LC scene in 1984 and I ate up those pre-internet printed catalogs from all those suppliers. I still thumb thru the old ones I still have. The old graphics bring back fond memories and the prices aren't that bad either

 

[jim land]

the good ol days... the old businesses that many new cruiser guys do not know about:

Downey:

Downey Off Road

forum.ih8mud.com

Hickey:

Vic Hickey

I had been looking into finding and talking to Vic Hickey and maybe getting some old literature and or photos of cruisers from him...but...i have found that Vic had passed away of natural causes on June 13, 2003. I thought I would share what I had found: This is from the "Off Road Hall of...

forum.ih8mud.com

Con-Ferr:

Pete Condos & Frank Ferro (Con-Ferr)

Pete Condos was an inovator in accessories for Land Cruisers. If you have any literature or information about Pete Condos, Frank Ferro or Con-Ferr please post them up. There is alot of good information about Mr.Condos but not so much for Mr.Ferro. I have been collecting some literature files...

forum.ih8mud.com

The thing I miss the most is the longevity of the parts... many parts on my truck have well over 300,000 miles on them ... even have the JCWhitney headlights

Remember Ozone offroad near Albany , Larry was a good guy , i spent about 5k in the mid 90's for my resto , my little ford festiva was full of parts ( downey V8 kit , skyjacker , PS kit and more )

 

[bikersmurf]

I can't remember what those cards looked like. Needed them back then to hand out and leave with 4x4 shops.
Nowadays you can get more info out in 30 seconds on the net than you could in a week of footwork in the 80s and90s

I never had cards, but I remember putting countless notes on every Landcruiser I found in town. Asking if they had parts or needed anything. Networking was much harder then and finding out anything was even harder. I miss being able to walk into a wrecker and buy parts. Now there are a few guys in town who have some odd parts stashed in their basement… but that’s about it.

 

[JohnnyC]

Remember Ozone offroad near Albany , Larry was a good guy , i spent about 5k in the mid 90's for my resto , my little ford festiva was full of parts ( downey V8 kit , skyjacker , PS kit and more )

View attachment 3790561

Yeah that was a good place … he had the cheapest radiators

Buddy of mine worked there on and off @BigRedFJ40

He moved to Nevada (think I heard that from you lol) and was never heard from again … he was a good guy

I would not be surprised if he was on a forum like pirate… never remember to check
Edit: looks like he is in Montana … found him lol

https://www.linkedin.com/in/larry-kushner-3015429

 

[Living in the Past]

Yeah that was a good place … he had the cheapest radiators

Buddy of mine worked there on and off @BigRedFJ40

He moved to Nevada (think I heard that from you lol) and was never heard from again … he was a good guy

I would not be surprised if he was on a forum like pirate… never remember to check
Edit: looks like he is in Montana … found him lol

https://www.linkedin.com/in/larry-kushner-3015429

Funny I remember in the nineties or possibly the early 2000s driving up to Reno with an elderly friend of mine to pick up an FJ45 cap off of a Canadian truck. Met the guy at a self storage. He had closed his shop back east and just moved to Reno.
The owner past away some years. Dave AKA @lcwizard will remember the truck. Another old timer told me the truck was sold after the owners death. He said the was V8 pulled in favor of a diesel. Sold again and back to LC six.

 

[lcwizard]

Funny I remember in the nineties or possibly the early 2000s driving up to Reno with an elderly friend of mine to pick up an FJ45 cap off of a Canadian truck. Met the guy at a self storage. He had closed his shop back east and just moved to Reno. Here is the truck.
View attachment 3791170
The owner past away some years. Dave AKA @lcwizard will remember the truck. Another old timer told me the truck was sold after the owners death. He said the was V8 pulled in favor of a diesel. Sold again and back to LC six.

last time I worked on it, it looked like this. I built bumpers and a headache rack for it

 

[Living in the Past]

Last time I passed thru the area a few times was 2010 and 2011 headed Stafford. I am beginning to think picture I posted is not the correct truck for many reasons. I know Miles send me a picture with you it. Need to search thru all down loaded pictures and update that photo.

Search my phone does not come up with any picture. I'm being to think it was on email or actual photo in the mail. Remember the truck was a heater models which would have had the 45° intake. Didn't remember the cowl being updated. But remember it had the Canadian only vents which weren't on the that picture I removed. Real thing I remember is Miles was not happy with the long range tank under the seats he installed because of the noise from the lack of baffles.