FJ40 repaint - how much to disassemble and more ???

[greenstreet]

Eventually going to paint an FJ40. How many pieces is the body going to be in ?

My main concern is the rear tub and where it bolts to the body just behind the door cut out. From the factory they are bolted together and they also look to be welded, although not the entire lenght of the seam.

What do you call the material that is between the body panels ?

It seems flexible and will come out of the seam with a knife or something similar. Is it a flexible, paintable, seam sealer of sorts ? Or, is it similar to a gasket ?

Do you have to grind the factory weld to get panels apart, or is that even necessary ?

Same questions apply to the area on the front edge of the door cut outs.


My experience is normally with motorcycles. I have painted a few cars in the past, but those did not have seams like the ones on the FJ40.

 

[PAToyota]

Eventually going to paint an FJ40. How many pieces is the body going to be in ?

Typically you assemble a car for painting. You remove things like the doors, hood, and such to paint the jambs. But then you assemble everything to do the finish coat. This is particularly true if you're doing any sort of metallic because you want everything to match up.

My main concern is the rear tub and where it bolts to the body just behind the door cut out. From the factory they are bolted together and they also look to be welded, although not the entire lenght of the seam.

Something like that I'd definitely want assembled to paint.

What do you call the material that is between the body panels ?

Seam sealer.

It seems flexible and will come out of the seam with a knife or something similar. Is it a flexible, paintable, seam sealer of sorts ? Or, is it similar to a gasket ?

See above.

Do you have to grind the factory weld to get panels apart, or is that even necessary ?

Again, anything welded together I'd leave assembled for paint. If it is factory welded, do you really think they painted the parts separately and then welded them together?

Same questions apply to the area on the front edge of the door cut outs.

Same thing.

My experience is normally with motorcycles. I have painted a few cars in the past, but those did not have seams like the ones on the FJ40.

Motorcycles are an entirely different animal. Yes, you'd disassemble as much as you could to paint one.

 

[greenstreet]

Thanks for the input. I was planning on assembling for the top coat for sure. Just wanted to get some etching primer and ALL of the rust off this beast first.

I'm going to have it media blasted first (lucked into a deal there)

I'll use a knife or something to get the old sealer out - I guess.

Perhaps give it a good soak in the seams with some phosphoric acid or Evapo-rust or something similar ?

I'd guess I'd want to treat those seams first, then get some etching primer, then the seam sealer ? Sound good ?

 

[PAToyota]

Yeah, definitely get the rust out of the seams. As you say, remove the existing seam sealer first before media blasting. Then you may have to pay some more attention to the seams after you get them back. Clean it all up good. Prime, seal, and paint. You've got it...