Duffontap's 9/76 FJ40: From Here to Daily Driver in Two Weeks?

[roma042987]

Here is the ole girl. Top was just a flat rattle can rest of the rig was raptor.

 

[duffontap]

Here is the ole girl. Top was just a flat rattle can rest of the rig was raptor.

Now that's how you beat the system!

 

[mydogpea]

Thanks! You've got to try this stuff Stephen!

One of these days. But first, I'm going to enjoy driving my '72 until it falls apart. Then I'll put it back together. I don't want to make the same mistake twice...you know what I mean.
Your truck is coming along great! I can't wait to see it all finished and shiny.

 

[duffontap]

One of these days. But first, I'm going to enjoy driving my '72 until it falls apart. Then I'll put it back together. I don't want to make the same mistake twice...you know what I mean.
Your truck is coming along great! I can't wait to see it all finished and shiny.

Good plan. We all know what you mean. I drove mine rusty for so long because I've done it the other way before. Honestly, it's been hard to have it down this long.

Have you seen the smurf blue '40 running around here the last few days? It's NICE. JD

 

[mydogpea]

I haven't seen it lately, but if it's the same one we're talking about, it lives in Warrenton.

 

[duffontap]

I haven't seen it lately, but if it's the same one we're talking about, it lives in Warrenton.

I know the one you're talking about. This one is much nicer. JD

 

[mydogpea]

Well, Soon enough, the owner will be on here saying, "Who owns that olive brown 40 on the Oregon coast?" "It's NICE!"

 

[duffontap]

Started my morning off by running to the DMV for 2014 tags for the Corolla and picked up the same for the '40 as a good faith statement of my intention to be driving it before those tags expire.

Also sat down and took a careful assessment of where I am at with the major projects (e.g., cleaning/painting/installing the engine) and tried to roughly predict how many hours I've got to go on the various aspects of the refresh before we're back on the road. Not including top or doors, it adds up to about 100 hours. Is that possible?!

My dear wife is headed to a women's retreat this weekend with friends from church, so I'm in charge of the three anti-productivity pods through the weekend (hold on, my three-year-old is ramming a length of copper pipe into the kitchen floor--oh, now it's a telescope). At any rate, weekend progress will scarce.

I've started the front fenders.



They have the typical rust bubbling through where the support for the turn signal is spot-welded on:



And some stress cracks and a couple rust-throughs where the fender supports terminate at the rolled edge of the fender itself.



I'm doing some rough wire wheeling with the grinder and then plan to get them really clean with the media. It looks like about 7-8 areas will need welding between the two but I don't think anything will need fabrication.

When I need a break from that, I'll be working on repainting seat frames, etc., and starting to look at what the replacement engine needs.

 

[duffontap]

Productive Day

Actually managed to get a bunch of grunt work done today--even with changing diapers, making PBJs without crust, etc., etc., while my wife enjoys her well-deserved break.

If there is an easy way to remove the factory paint on the cheap, I still haven't found it. Sanding is slow and doesn't reach recesses. The wire brush on the angle grinder is so loud I have to limit it to go easy on the neighbors. Stripper is fast but messy and always leaves stubborn stuff behind. Wet blasting is SOOOOO messy, takes a lot of sand, and it's miserable. I used every method today, and if nothing else, switching methods breaks the monotony. If I am missing the miracle process--please advise me.

So, I've been hoping to really get my fenders squared away soon and decided to work on the whole front clip while I was at it. Removed the fender supports (drill out 9 spot welds--piece of cake) and the rustwich in the turn signal supports:

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q35/duffontap/SignalSupport.jpg

My tired factory paint responds well to stripper. This pic was taken after about 2 minutes:

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q35/duffontap/4-1.jpg

Where is doesn't work, is anywhere there is a little rust 'ant mine' under the paint. This front bib looked a little speckled but not really rusty, but look what was spreading under the paint (the rusty starbursts really spread out and this would have been a mess in a few years if I had just primed over this):

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q35/duffontap/why.jpg

Ended the day with the hood, both fenders, hood aprons and bib nearly bare and under diluted acid. I'm going to do the fine finish prep with the panels dry. I can get the little stuff with my $15 siphon blaster, and I've got a bunch of welding and hammering to do on those fenders before primer.

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q35/duffontap/Finished.jpg

Psyched to have gotten a bunch done under the circumstances.

 

[KY Longhunter]

You should get some of these. They make removing paint, primer and surface rust easy. They won't get is hard to reach places but otherwise excellent. I bought some from Eastwood.

Scotch-Brite™ Roloc™ Bristle Disc, 2 inch, 50 grit, 07524

http://3mcollision.com/products/abr...e-roloc-bristle-disc-07524-2-inch-coarse.html

 

[duffontap]

You should get some of these. They make removing paint, primer and surface rust easy. They won't get is hard to reach places but otherwise excellent. I bought some from Eastwood.

Scotch-Brite™ Roloc™ Bristle Disc, 2 inch, 50 grit, 07524

Scotch-Brite? Roloc? Bristle Disc, 2 inch, 50 grit, 07524

Hey thanks for the info Longhunter. That's a new one to me. Cheers, JD

 

[duffontap]

Long time no post . . .

Well, making steady progress but not really rushing anything. At this point I'm really starting to get the gratification of seeing some parts come together and that's pulling me back into the shop every other night or so for some more tinkering. Actually, my current approach to the project is exactly the way I imagined a car project would be--few hours a week while the kids are in bed and my wife is watching Antiques Roadshow or The Voice.

Small parts are accumulating in every corner of the house:



Surprising what a lick of paint will do (especially if you tear everything apart and bead blast it):



Interior is coming together piece by piece. Went with Raptor Liner on the tub floor, which is the most non-stock thing I've done to it but I'm SO glad I did. It just makes sense for a coastal DD/work/play truck (especially one that isn't for sale, so I'm not concerned about resale value).



First time I've ever had a set of these: It's the little things in life.



Thanks to FJsnoozer for the tip on the pewter rattle can paint. I like it--clear coated it all for a little extra life.



Other than that:

Engine/clutch/trans/tc replaced.
Tub locked on.
Front clip on.
Fuel system mostly hooked up.
Misc.

I'm currently writing my M.A. thesis so that's why I'm not putting in more hours. Hoping to have it done in time for a family Christmas tree run.

Thanks for looking.

 

[JohnnyC]

I used every method today, and if nothing else, switching methods breaks the monotony. If I am missing the miracle process--please advise me.

The missing process is to buy new ... Or have somebody else do it... The miracle part to being able to afford it

Looks really great... It will all payoff in the end when your driving it all fixed up

 

[duffontap]

The missing process is to buy new ... Or have somebody else do it... The miracle part to being able to afford it

Looks really great... It will all payoff in the end when your driving it all fixed up

Man it would be nice to just drop some stuff off and have it blasted clean! Oh well.

Thanks Johnny--good to see you active on the forum again. Best, JD

 

[DSRTRDR]

I'm currently writing my M.A. thesis so that's why I'm not putting in more hours.

best of luck - education is an excellent thing to have

 

[JohnnyC]

Man it would be nice to just drop some stuff off and have it blasted clean! Oh well.

Thanks Johnny--good to see you active on the forum again. Best, JD

Thank you... Summers are tough... I work in a wearhouse and put some long hours in ... Free's up time to go camping when you got money to do it LOL

Keep up the good work!!! Looooking gooood!! ( insert freddy prince accent here )

 

[mydogpea]

Well, making steady progress but not really rushing anything. At this point I'm really starting to get the gratification of seeing some parts come together and that's pulling me back into the shop every other night or so for some more tinkering. Actually, my current approach to the project is exactly the way I imagined a car project would be--few hours a week while the kids are in bed and my wife is watching Antiques Roadshow or The Voice.

Small parts are accumulating in every corner of the house:

[URL="http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q35/duffontap/Parts.jpg"][/URL]

Surprising what a lick of paint will do (especially if you tear everything apart and bead blast it):

[URL="http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q35/duffontap/Heater-1.jpg"][/URL]

Interior is coming together piece by piece. Went with Raptor Liner on the tub floor, which is the most non-stock thing I've done to it but I'm SO glad I did. It just makes sense for a coastal DD/work/play truck (especially one that isn't for sale, so I'm not concerned about resale value).

[URL="http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q35/duffontap/Evap.jpg"][/URL]

First time I've ever had a set of these: It's the little things in life.

[URL="http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q35/duffontap/Reflect.jpg"][/URL]

Thanks to FJsnoozer for the tip on the pewter rattle can paint. I like it--clear coated it all for a little extra life.

[URL="http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q35/duffontap/Clip.jpg"][/URL]

Other than that:

Engine/clutch/trans/tc replaced.
Tub locked on.
Front clip on.
Fuel system mostly hooked up.
Misc.

I'm currently writing my M.A. thesis so that's why I'm not putting in more hours. Hoping to have it done in time for a family Christmas tree run.

Thanks for looking.

Looking good Josh! I noticed you have the old style windshield hold down hooks, were those always on there?

 

[duffontap]

best of luck - education is an excellent thing to have

Thanks Claudia!

Looking good Josh! I noticed you have the old style windshield hold down hooks, were those always on there?

Thanks. Yeah, they came with the truck. Not sure why they were replaced but they were really rusty so they had been on there some time.

 

[ntsaint]

Well, making steady progress but not really rushing anything. At this point I'm really starting to get the gratification of seeing some parts come together and that's pulling me back into the shop every other night or so for some more tinkering. Actually, my current approach to the project is exactly the way I imagined a car project would be--few hours a week while the kids are in bed and my wife is watching Antiques Roadshow or The Voice.

Small parts are accumulating in every corner of the house:

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q35/duffontap/Parts.jpg

Surprising what a lick of paint will do (especially if you tear everything apart and bead blast it):

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q35/duffontap/Heater-1.jpg

Interior is coming together piece by piece. Went with Raptor Liner on the tub floor, which is the most non-stock thing I've done to it but I'm SO glad I did. It just makes sense for a coastal DD/work/play truck (especially one that isn't for sale, so I'm not concerned about resale value).

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q35/duffontap/Evap.jpg

First time I've ever had a set of these: It's the little things in life.

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q35/duffontap/Reflect.jpg

Thanks to FJsnoozer for the tip on the pewter rattle can paint. I like it--clear coated it all for a little extra life.

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q35/duffontap/Clip.jpg

Other than that:

Engine/clutch/trans/tc replaced.
Tub locked on.
Front clip on.
Fuel system mostly hooked up.
Misc.

I'm currently writing my M.A. thesis so that's why I'm not putting in more hours. Hoping to have it done in time for a family Christmas tree run.

Thanks for looking.

Looking great! Can you elaborate on the process, tools, chemicals you are using to clean all the interior parts?

Sent from my iPad using IH8MUD

 

[duffontap]

Looking great! Can you elaborate on the process, tools, chemicals you are using to clean all the interior parts?

Sent from my iPad using IH8MUD

Thanks ntsaint! Most of the interior parts pictured were 100% disassembled, then sand blasted with a $15 siphon feed unit and phosphoric acid etched before primer, paint, and clear.