No. 75 is the best.
FJ 40 model years pros & cons
- Thread starter calokie
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
- Joined
- Apr 21, 2005
- Threads
- 115
- Messages
- 25,798
9/72 the tub and frame changed to run a four speed in some.markets. So 73 and early 74s models are fairly easy to add a four speed. Earlier years can be done but not as easy.
7/70 dual circuit brakes started. A big plus for adding disc brakes to the front axle. The pedal bucket changed at the same time to fit the brake booster. Pedal prior to 7/70 were spot welded in place. Later years it bolted in.
1/75 plus have a one piece front door which is much less likely to rattle. Unfortunately they did not have vent windows in the US market. Detroit was making cars with flow thru ventilation. They did away with wing windows for a cleaner look. Unfortunately they didn't have a relief in the back to complete the flow thru ventilation. Mid 78 the Canadian market had the relief in the back of the roofs side. 8/76 Toyota added a vent window in the back side windows. 75/76 models had no vent window in the front doors or anyway to move air in the back. All hard top models 1/75 on had ambulance doors so opening the hatch in back to move air was not an option. No A/C and lack of vent windows in the side doors along with no way to move air out the back make those two years worse for air movement in and out of the vehicle.
7/70 dual circuit brakes started. A big plus for adding disc brakes to the front axle. The pedal bucket changed at the same time to fit the brake booster. Pedal prior to 7/70 were spot welded in place. Later years it bolted in.
1/75 plus have a one piece front door which is much less likely to rattle. Unfortunately they did not have vent windows in the US market. Detroit was making cars with flow thru ventilation. They did away with wing windows for a cleaner look. Unfortunately they didn't have a relief in the back to complete the flow thru ventilation. Mid 78 the Canadian market had the relief in the back of the roofs side. 8/76 Toyota added a vent window in the back side windows. 75/76 models had no vent window in the front doors or anyway to move air in the back. All hard top models 1/75 on had ambulance doors so opening the hatch in back to move air was not an option. No A/C and lack of vent windows in the side doors along with no way to move air out the back make those two years worse for air movement in and out of the vehicle.
My 49 year old plastic is holding up just fine
If we're talking about dashs, there is only one correct answer.
Since I am in almost the same boat as the OP, can you explain why?
My problem with 74's and earlier is the the wipers up on top of the windshield. I'd like a 74 but I feel those wipers will bug the hell out of me while driving.
I don't suppose a later windshield frame will fit a '74 cowl?
I was thinking about that. Swapping the window if possible. Not sure if anyone has done it.
Probably because he owns one. They all have their good and better.
Red is the best 40! Or is it white?
You'll get used to the wipers. Or
put a later model windshield frame on it. And store the original away.
You say that as if they came in other colors?
They came in any color you like, as long as it's black.
- Joined
- Apr 21, 2005
- Threads
- 115
- Messages
- 25,798
Curious how the metal fair? My 55 year old 70 model plastic is fair condition. Metal is in excellent condition. Original owner painted the running boards black and the underside of the front fender a different beige. Paint on the cap is getting thin, the Coronado Beige is in excellent shape.
You absolutely will not notice or be bothered by the wipers. Once you become a 40 owner there are so many other things that will bother you no matter the year model. Like the people that whip in front of you then turn, tailgaters, long inclines and rattles. By the time you figure out how to live with those bothersome things you will have figured out that simple isn’t so bad, slowing down is a little more relaxing and having wipers up top is kind of retro cool. Buy whatever year you want but don’t sweat the wipers.
- Joined
- Apr 21, 2005
- Threads
- 115
- Messages
- 25,798
December 1983 I drove from Phoenix to Flagstaff on I-17. Last part of the drive it was snowing hard. I had to pull over and few miles to clear the snow out from above the wipers because it was packed tight up against the lip of the hard top. Probably that last time I drove on a freeway in the snow. But I remember wishing I had a later model with wipers on the bottom.
If you can find a 75+ USA model with an intact emissions system, it can pass a smog test in CA. And it doesn't need to be the California spec'd model that Toyota was selling here in that era. My '78 passes without monkey business.
Correct! I cut out my 69 dash to put in a E-67 dash.. clean iconic design!
Good point. I live in Arkansas so snow isn’t something I think much about but I agree in the snow later wiper configuration would be better.
I do not have wipers in my 40. Most of the time I’m driving with the glass folded down anyways. Buy the best one you can find at the best price! Streetside Classics here in Phoenix has a 74 for sale that they just dropped the price on, but it’s still pretty spendy.
I run Fog-X on the inside glass and Rain-x on the outside glass. Above about 30mph you will not really need wipers, the water will bead up and roll away. Only once or twice have I had snow pile up at the top enough to require me to pull over and clear it away in more than 40 years of daily driving. I have a really big rear heater, many times at 25 below zero I can drive around my neighborhood at 25 mph with the windows down wearing only a tee shirt and shorts. I can go out and kick the bumper and all the frost just falls off the glass no scraper required.
- Thread starter
- #39
That’s me already
I think the OP just like myself is thinking about not having to deal with smog check. I might change my mind about what will power the 40 down the road and not having to deal with that headache. Plus it feels good to stick it the them with a smile on your face knowing there is nothing they can do about your gross polluter.