First FJ40 and many questions

[BBQ BOY]

Hello,
I have enjoyed the reading and the community feel of this forum so far. Thanks to the moderators and owner of this site so we all can come to a place with tons of valuable info.
Anyway. I bought a 77' Tan Cruiser that when I bought it looked to be almost perfect. When I get it home I start to notice things that makes me wonder if the seller was a master of disguise. Such as some rust when the seller said there was barely any but now I crawl under and around the truck I see rust. The paint job looks to be done by him, which looks very amaturish(sp). I don't know what is hidden under the paint because I do see some bondo work now. Should I just replace some of the body parts from CCOT or just have a body shop work it all out? The doors do not close good at all and rattle like you wouldn't believe. makes me wonder if the cruiser was pieced together from other cruisers or has been wrecked. Or some simple adjustments may be all that is needed. I want a taller stance. It's between the HFS and OME. I like the price of the HFS but don't know of the quality of the OME that I keep hearing about. I do know OME only comes in 2.5" lift. Where can I find the OEM steel wheels with center caps? I found some on Ebay but they were $700. OUCH!!! The top had a sun roof put in that looks like complete garbage. I want it out but need to do some fiberglass work. At this point I don't know whether to just take all of the doors and roof off and leave it at that or just spend some$$ to have it look original. I always have loved the look of the top and doors.
The use for this cruiser will be for riding at my hunting club and everyday driving.
Also, I do not have power steering and noticed I have too much play in what appears to be some type of gear box or stabilizer in front of the grill mounted to the side of the inside frame. What i this so I can have it replaced.

 

[Isaacjohnstar]

I have some OEM wheels w/ hub caps i would get rid of for half that or deal? They are silver and would need to repainted to be perfect. hub caps are pretty good i think.
Also, here is a site with a lot of cruiser related links for parts etc...

High Desert Cruisers: Toyota 4x4 Links

Kurt from cruiser outfitters is the man. cruiseroutfitters.com

 

[MOfj40]

OEM wheels and hubcaps are still available through toyota. the fiberglass top is easy to come across. A lot of folks who part out cruisers will give them away if you'll come get it because they aren't worth shipping.

Congratulations on the new obsession.

 

[DanS HJ-45]

Welcome

Pictures are required. It's the law.

The OME 2.5" is fantastic. Not so high that it doesn't still look and feel stock, but the ride is MUCH better. Hands down, I think it's one of the best things for a 40/45.

Pictures will help with the bodywork questions. Replacement panels will not fit perfectly, and will still require working to make fit.

And OEM steel wheels should be available for $87 a piece from CDan, hubcaps a bit more than that.

Dan

 

[Josie'sLandCruiser]

Hi All:

Welcome to the addiction!

I bought my FJ40 in December of 1997. I never realized how much "Bondo" could be on a rig!

Eleven years later, after a 2/3rds rear body tub swap (among other repairs and upgrades) it is a solid rig if not that attractive!

Good luck with your rig!

Alan

 

[BBQ BOY]

I have some OEM wheels w/ hub caps i would get rid of for half that or deal? They are silver and would need to repainted to be perfect. hub caps are pretty good i think.
Also, here is a site with a lot of cruiser related links for parts etc...

High Desert Cruisers: Toyota 4x4 Links

Kurt from cruiser outfitters is the man. cruiseroutfitters.com

Do you have a set of 5 or 4? Do you have pics of them?

 

[KOOTENAY KRUZER]

I thought the OME suspension also came in a 4" lift. The "gearbox" in front of the grill is called a center arm, it is adjustable if it is not too badly worn and replacement parts apparently are available, check with the vendors (Downey, CCOT, MAN-A-FRE, etc.)

 

[D'Animal]

Do you front doors rattle or your back doors?

Do you front doors have wing vents?

 

[SHREG]

Post up pics Skippy... Of your 40.....and, with a user name like that you got some good "Q" porn as well.

Good luck with the new project...

 

[nspctr1]

First off, Welcome to the madness. Now post up a few pics. 77 is a good year to start with because you should have front disc brakes and a 4 spd tranny. Depending on where the rig is from you will find most of them have rust issues large or small. As far as the rattling doors you can replace the seals, check to see if the bushings are in the hinges where the door pins are but overall , these rigs have a tendency to be a bit noisy.... If it has diamond plating on it you will more than likely find that it was put there to hide alot of rust so be ready. On the body work, do it your self if you can, You will learn a whole lot about the rig and enjoy it that much more. Depending on the severity of the rust issues a body shop can cost upwards to 5K or more.......

GL and keep us posted...

 

[lc69hunter]

As for the fiberglass top, where are you located? I have two sitting up against the north side of the house.

 

[drp96a]

I have no intentins of hijacking this thread, but I am in the exact same boat as BBQ boy. I too just bought a 77 cruiser and has a few rust problems. I too am interested in the debate of OME vs HFS suspension. Which one is the best?


Dustin

 

[drp96a]

i can not spell either...

sorry for above spelling..



Dustin

 

[Rodeo]

From reading lot's of previous threads where this has been covered many times they are both the best depending on who you want to believe. You probably can't go wrong with either of those. Do a search and you can read for hours.

 

[BBQ BOY]

As for the fiberglass top, where are you located? I have two sitting up against the north side of the house.

I live in South Carolina.

 

[flash02]

welcome....keep in mind you just bought a 31 year old Toyota unless it was restored and or stored in an air tight container since then it is going to have rust, this is something that all of us deal with. Make a list and start small, finish one project then move onto the next task. Unless the tub is falling apart go over the mechanical bits and make sure they are in top shape, just remember a solid tub isn't worth anything if you can't stop the truck. Eastwoods is a company specifically for the home restorer, they have many rust preventive products, also look on e-bay there have been brass bushings for the door hinges they will make all the difference in the world. More than likely no one has properly taken care of the truck since new so all the rubber bits and bushing that keep a vehicle rattle free are probably worn out.

Buy a star and post some pictures.


Good Luck!


Corey

 

[74fjsemistock]

What are you wheeling plans for it?I suggest driving it for a while and figure out what your real needs are.Saginaw is an option on the Power steering.Rattles and rust are par for the course.Welcome to the disease for which there is no cure.

 

[BBQ BOY]

Well today I took it to a guy who does body work out of his garage. He specializes in restorations. He says the body is OK and there isn't any bad rust anywhere except one spot that can be taken care of easily. All the rattles were found and are going to fixed with no problem. the roll cage is held down with just 4 bolts all together, all of the doore need new pins with bushings. I need all new hardware for the ambulance doors except handles. And there is no weather stripping at all. the 2 front doors are sagging badly and have large gape at the top. All this will be fixed for $200 as long I supply the hardwear that I have already bought. Right now it sounds like a coke can with about 15 pennies in it. I do expect rattles but this is over the top. I still have the original springs and hope that by replacing them with HFS or OME will soften the ride up instead of it being jolting. Also new shocks.

 

[flash02]

Right now it sounds like a coke can with about 15 pennies in it.

don't they all sound like that.......Please make sure this guy is a professional, good deals sometimes cost more in the end and quick patch jobs will always show back up with more work.

Later,

 

[D'Animal]

Worn busingings and overtightened spring shackles bolts can cause a rough ride as well.