FJ40 full resto/ engine choice option help

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clanlino

clanlino

10 Year
Joined
May 10, 2013
Threads
31
Messages
455
Location
Riverside, CA
Hey gentlemen,

I'm looking into purchasing a 1974 FJ40 with 31k original miles on the speedometer. Was seating inside a barn in Texas for the last 28 years... was purchased by a Marine and brought to Camp Pendleton, California.

The OEM engine and transmission were sold and the FJ was prepared to receive a 350. This was the extent of the project, and the owner is moving to the East Coast and can't take the FJ with... here is were I came in place...

Now I have a blank canvas and I'm open to suggestions for re powering this classic. Would prefer to go Toyota diesel...

Any sourcing for engine and 5 speed transmission would be highly appreciated...

Here are some shots of the FJ.. more to come soon...

The good point is the lack of rust/cancer in the body, frame, and tub...

Will also need some of the glass and many other miscellaneous parts that I will source after conducting an inventory of what I got...

Should be home Monday morning...

Wish me luck! I haven't finish my FJ80 vortec swap yet... my wife is not happy right now, but I'm thrilled

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You sure about the year? Wipers on bottom began in '75. Ventless front door began in '75. Roll bar is post '74. You have the pop out vent windows, began in '77. What's the month/year on the ID plate, located on the front driver door pillar. Tubular spare tire carrier began in '77. Great color. Dude, I think you've got a '77. Sweet. Welcome to MUD!:flipoff2:
 
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Voltage regulator on PS firewall is at least '78. Looks like a Brake/Seatbelt Warning light on the dash also, which is from a later truck (don't know about '77, but at least in '76 it was still on a bracket under the dash).

Am I correct that '74 would be smog exempt and '78 not?

TheHardWay said:
You sure about the year? Wipers on bottom began in '75. You have the pop out vent windows, began in '77. What's the month/year on the ID plate, located on the front driver door pillar. Great color. Welcome to MUD!:flipoff2:
Click to expand...
 
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Congrats!
Go for any 4cl diesel like 13B-T ,14B or if you can workout the electronics 1KD-FTV otherwise 1KZ ,I don't know if Cal. emissions allow the the good old 3B.
cheers!
MAK
 
For 5 speed transmission H150F and H151F for older models or 6 cl engines and R151F and R150F for newer gas or diesel model engines like 1KZ and 1KZ-TE etc. that's what I've heard off.
 
My guess is the PO had not already purchased V8 installation kit. If he did, and you are not going to use it, I'd like first dibbs on buying it from you. If you are not a purist like much of the Mud crowd is, and know what I know, you'd slap a Chevy V8 in there so fast Mud wouldn't know what hit them.
 
I am a purist and do like a completely stock rig all the way down to the correct decals and yellow zinced bolts, but I also really appreciate the other side of the spectrum with a Vortec motor and aftermarket seats. Really depends on what you want to do with this.
 
I appreciate all the imput thus far... Tomorrow I will be talking to the owner since he used a third party (Fabrication shop) to offer it to us.

All of you seem much more knowledgeable than myself about the features on the different year FJ40s.

I will be looking at the paperwork and all the other parts gathered by the PO. It hasn't been registered in 27+ years..

Now, for the price... $3,000

What do you guys think?

I'm told axles were gone through and the rear brakes were upgraded to drilled disc brakes... the fronts are stock but supposedly they will provide an upgraded Baer brake kit... 3 windows are broken, and will more than likely need a new interior...

The excitement of seeing this truck and looking forward to restore it made me blind to some of the clues that it could be a later year FJ..
This would make a big change in my decision to purchase it as the engine swap spectrum reduces to a gas 2f engine to evade hustling with the smog nazis...

It has the barn doors on the back also... so at this point it might be a at least a 75 if not 76-77 from what you guys suggest...

Will find out tomorrow... so far it is a deal based on friendship with the third party and the info they provided is what they got from the PO...

Carlos
 
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Easier/cheaper to get a late model GM V8 smogged than to try to round up all of the OEM smog pieces (most of which are worn out, have rusty water pouring out of them, and won't pass a smog test).
 
Downey said:
Easier/cheaper to get a late model GM V8 smogged than to try to round up all of the OEM smog pieces (most of which are worn out, have rusty water pouring out of them, and won't pass a smog test).
Click to expand...

This is one of the options certainly... but I'm going through a 6.0 swap on my FJ80 and is not a walk on the park...
 
... and it is a 1977...
The cruiser gods are not smiling at me today... think I might pass on it... will decide today

Thank you for your valuable input gang
 
Looks to be a reasonable body, but 3K for a pile of parts sounds like too much. You'll blow at least that again just tracking down a motor and cali spec smog parts that work..
 
plan on spending some serious dough. I was in this exact same place a few years back by the time is was all done it was 18months, 3 different shops and $40,000 for a totally refurbished 1978 fj40 with a 1hz, PS, disc breaks, A/C, I LOOOOVE It! looks and drives better than new. and id do it again if I had to.. Do it.. 3000 is not too much if its all there and you have time and $ to do it right..My .02
 
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