Builds FJ40 Crash Rebuild (1 Viewer)

[LCNuts]

I thought I'd start this thread to help document the rebuild of my FJ40 which I've decided to name "Marco". For those of you who don't, This past Sunday a Dodge Ram decided to take a left turn without yielding to on coming traffic. We hit fender to fender at about 35mph but luckily no one was hurt.

Before

After

 

[LCNuts]

Here is a list of the damage I can see so far. I'm waiting on insurance to do their thing before I start taking it apart. I'm sure more damage will be revealed.

Fender (smashed)
Fender apron (smashed)
Kick vent panel (fixable?)
Runing board (smashed)
Leaf Spring (bent)
Bilstien Shock (snapped)
Turn signal (smashed)
Snorkel (smashed?)
Relay Rod (bent)
Rim (bent beyond repair)
Front bumper (bent but fixable)
Windshield (smashed)
Seat belts (both snapped)
Tub (small crease)
Bezel (inverted)

 

[yamaguchigumi]

Glad you are okay, but hate to see Marco smashed up.
you will get to know him much better over the coming months!
Good luck with the rebuild

 

[Bryanseye]

There is no re-build tag, but I modded the thread to a build.

Also, I didn't see the bezel on that repair list.

 

[LCNuts]

There is no re-build tag, but I modded the thread to a build.

Also, I didn't see the bezel on that repair list.

Ha, I never took time to make sure mine was on the right way until now . I just knew I wasn't that person. I feel kinda stupid but it was the PO that did it. I'll update the list. The land cruiser gods must have punished me for it

 

[roadstr6]

Sorry to hear this, Charles. Glad nobody was hurt though. Let me know if I can lend a hand getting Marco back on the trail.

 

[LCNuts]

Small update. Insurance adjuster came and gave me estimate of $3300. I feel like that's pretty low. I'm currently battling that to try to get as much money as I can. I did start tearing everything apart this afternoon. The silver lining I have found is the PS conversion kit I bought 2 months ago will be pretty easy to put on now.

Carrniage

 

[LCNuts]

This is what's going to be hard. It's the only part that doesn't bolt on but it is available from CCOT.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Was good to meet you this past weekend. Now I can put a face to the build.

Watching intently.

 

[LCNuts]

Slow progress on drilling out these spot welds with the help of @TallPineCruiser .

 

[LCNuts]

Borrowed my old man's plasma cutter to get the rest of the spot welds unreachable with the drill.

More carnage

 

[LCNuts]

I've been very slack on keeping this updated but lots of progress has been made recently. I took a one year hiatus and got back on it in the past few months.

I replaced the bent spring and got her back on all four wheels. Also weld on the kick vent section of the cowling and bolted on the fender and apron. I went with a aftermarket fender from CCOT. I am not impressed with it's fitment and wish I'd searched for a good used one. Some bolt holes were not drilled and others didn't line up all that well. I did force it together but the body lines are not perfect which admittedly could be because it's been wrecked. It will have to be close enough. I also found a hell of a deal on a new in the box ARB front bumper so I decided to save my homemade winch bumper for the LV.

 

[LCNuts]

While I had the fender off, there couldn't have been a better time to install a saginaw power steering kit from Cruiser Outfitters. It was trial and error. I had to redrill the mounting holes for the steering box because I welded the bracket in the wrong place. The next one I install will be a lot easier

 

[IcutYourCruiser]

Nice progress. I know from much experience how much the CCOT fenders suck. Saginaw power steering upgrade is awesome for anything that gets wheeled. I personally like the 4x4 labs box mounting kit. Either way, it’s PLENTY strong for what that truck will see. What Saginaw box did you get, and I assume you’ll be keeping the stock steering wheel?

 

[LCNuts]

Nice progress. I know from much experience how much the CCOT fenders suck. Saginaw power steering upgrade is awesome for anything that gets wheeled. I personally like the 4x4 labs box mounting kit. Either way, it’s PLENTY strong for what that truck will see. What Saginaw box did you get, and I assume you’ll be keeping the stock steering wheel?

I like the looks of the labs kit but unfortunately I didn't see that one until after the fact. What messed me up was when I welded the tube that goes through the cross member it warped on me. That just tightened everything up and made my mounting hole a half a hole off.

I went with the Saginaw 4.25 turn box and keeping the stock steering wheel. I drove it around the yard last night and I'm pretty satisfied. I'm not sure how I went without power steering for so long.