First FJ40 build in a long time

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Rainey,

Where in TN are you? I live in Gatlinburg. I am currently trying to soften a current owner of his rig, a '65 FJ40. Best of luck with the build. IMO, dune beige is a great color.

Subscribed.

Phillip
 
Just south of Nashville. Thanks. I was trying to get them to let me paint it Mustard. It was the original color of the donor vehicle and it's definitely a Toyota-only color but they wanted DB. It's going to look great. I'm not sorry they picked that color at all. (and no, I didn't offer to stripe it.)
 
I own a 64 FJ40 and live in Chattanooga. We should try a fall roundup of Tennessee FJ40 owners?
 
rmckay1021 said:
I own a 64 FJ40 and live in Chattanooga. We should try a fall roundup of Tennessee FJ40 owners?
Click to expand...

I'll be lazy and say that should happen right in the middle of the state for easy access for everyone. Hmmm, that's in my back yard!
 
Why not East TN? Well I guess it doesn't matter until I get the 40. I need to call him again. I keep getting the same story, "I'll think about it." If it was his wife's choice, I would already have it.
Best of luck with the build! :beer:
 
Well, I ran across a ton of old GSMTR photos and all kinds of history of shots of Zebranator I and Zebranator II. From when I first got them through the stages of both. Then I found the shot of when I owned both the Z II AND the very nice '82 Mini from California for about a week. I think this must have been on Sunday at the GSMTR after most had left and the raffle was over. What great memories...
ZII me and 82Mini.jpg
 
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Getting closer to paint on the project. Here're some shots of the freshly media blasted metal ready for a little work and priming. The dark streaking stuff is Gem Rust Killer and Metal Prep. Note how nice the bottom of the ambulance door is. Amazing since it came off a cancer ridden truck.
IMG_1728.jpg
IMG_1730.jpg
IMG_1734.jpg
 
I also just noticed something. The last two owners never did much with this truck. The odometer reading right now is 65,504. The odometer reading on 12/4/2004 when a William R. from Ohio bought it was 65,492. That's a whopping 12 miles in the last 9 years.

...I guess it's about time someone who loves Cruisers got there hands on it, huh?
 
Well after a down 10 days from getting any work done on this project, (work got in the way big time) Finally some good news. The ambulance doors are repaired now and the driver door is most likely completed by now today. After fighting over whether or not to by a used hood, I broke down and bought a new one. WOW, it looks good. Decided on such a good budget re-build that after buying a used one, blasting it, repairing any pits or holes, and oh yeah, the shipping, buying a new one wasn't that much more and will last much longer.

Priming all the parts are scheduled to begin this week. YES!!!

Question: What in the world are the four brackets under the hood? I've never seen those before. Are they from an '82 FJ40 update or something? An under-hood shield or something?
hood inside.jpg
hood outside.jpg
 
Aaaaand the new instrument cluster. Well, not new but sure looks good. First shot of a completed assembly. I'll post others later. The license plate bracket assembly is all together minus the plate. I even powder coated the the little chrome bug eye light covers. (I have a brand new chrome pair available for sale. I'll include that in the for sale list of parts in a few weeks.)
instrument cluster.jpg
 
Okay folks,

I'm not posting pictures of todays work only because front knuckle disassembly isn't pretty. With a little background info, I do have a question though. This truck has 12 miles on it in the last 9 years. Some of the work done by one of the two previous owners is very suspect so I'm going through anything I fear they went through. Right now I'm questioning the brake calipers. The pads look like they are with no miles which is a good thing but they may be 9 years old and the pins are "welded" in place. I got one out without too much damage but the other one is not moving at all. The rubber boots look good but I can't get the pads out to do a good inspection.

SHould I just get a rebuild kit or remanned calipers? They're poorly painted red, grass and spider nests inside, and although they can be renewed, where is the best deal for swapping out these as cores? The dealer? I feel that would be the most expensive route.

Thanks.
 
Rainman said:
Just south of Nashville. Thanks. I was trying to get them to let me paint it Mustard. It was the original color of the donor vehicle and it's definitely a Toyota-only color but they wanted DB. It's going to look great. I'm not sorry they picked that color at all. (and no, I didn't offer to stripe it.)
Click to expand...

Rainman,
I'm in Nashville, working on my first project. You in Franklin, or further south like Spring Hill? Love to talk truck.

Getting some help from Craig (VtgBeemer) in Gallatin, and everyone else on the forum. Actually chased down a Blue '77 last week - followed him to his house. First one I'd seen on the road in 6 months. Slower progress than yours - very spare time.

Build progress thread is here: https://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series-tech/721137-1st-fj40-76-where-start.html
 
Yep. Franklin. Contact me when you want to get together. I'm hoping my build will be over in the next 6 to 8 weeks.
rainey@raineykirk.com
 
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Not very good news today. Now that my body man has cleaned up everything and done all repairs and coated the doors and top sides, it has become obvious that the soda blasting warped all the large flat panels. For instance, the front doors were bowed inward close to 3/8ths+ and the top sides now show all inside supports. Has anyone had that problem with soda blasting?

(what a pain in the a..)
 
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