FJ40 Resto... Again

[Land Cruiser Junky]

@Land Cruiser Junky

Nice work. Where did you purchase the wheels and what was the part number?

The wheels are "Vintiques Wheel - Smoothie" and I did buy them from Summit Racing, although they can be bought direct.They sell for around $55-$65 each and are high quality wheels made in California. Go to the site and they have a large variety of sizes, hole patterns and back spacing. www.wheelvintiques.com

I'd go find the paperwork in my garage to give you the part number but I just had surgery and can't get off the couch.

 

[Land Cruiser Junky]

Found it in a photo. Part #: 12-5606358

 

[jm599]

Which wheel size did you find that fit?
The backspacing doesn't seem very deep

 

[rrv333]

Impressive collection of cruisers

 

[Land Cruiser Junky]

Vintiques Wheel - Smoothie
Part number: 12-5606358
15"X6", 6x5.50 bolt circle, 3.625 back space.

$59.97 each at Summit Racing.

I believe the backspacing is slightly less than 1/8" deeper than stock Toyota wheels.

 

[Land Cruiser Junky]

Wow, nice, very nice. I love how you have added your own touch here and there.

This '75 40 is a frankencruiser. I bought it at age 19 and I'm 57 now. I believe I started modifying it the first year I bought it. The hood and hinges, aprons, side steps, rear view and side mirrors, and windshield frame are all of a 1960 FJ25. The bib is a faux 25 bib I made myself (the original is on my LV) and I still have the 25 fenders in my garage. The spare tire carrier is from an early 40 and the tailgate I bought from Mark's Off Road back when he could order them from the dealer. I can't take credit for the half doors, I also bought those already cut down and capped from Mark in the 90s. The original '75 dash made no sense to me, so I fabbed a kind of retro-stylish dash that looked like it might have come from the factory that way. Cruiserheads will walk right up and and know it's not stock, but I tried to be creative, have a little fun, and not make this 40 look like it's all hacked up in the process. Here's some old pics of the dash right after I finished it.

 

[Archie 1962 FJ25]

This is an awesome build, when I bought my 25 this is the type of resto mod I had in mind but then I found some hard to find parts and my build took u turn towards more stock. Besides I don't even have skills of an amateur builder to dare dreaming of doing anything like what you do with your cruisers. Why didn't you use 25 fenders? Are they early 3 bolt mounting ones?

 

[Archie 1962 FJ25]

Hi Johnny and thanks for the welcome back.

Yes I do love the green and the top is going to be custom made. A bikini that comes down a little on the sides and about 10" in the back.

The LV hasn't changed since 2010. That year and the one to follow were without a doubt the worst years of my life. But now it's sitting safe in my garage where I've got the space and the funds to finish it. I will start work on it again in about a month when I finish the 40. View attachment 1487792 View attachment 1487793

Good to see LV after many years. What green is that? 6H9? Looks beautiful.

 

[Land Cruiser Junky]

No, I'm saving the FJ25 fenders for the LV if I should even need them.

 

[Land Cruiser Junky]

What green is that?

It's a custom color I had made when I first started to restore the LV.

 

[Land Cruiser Junky]

This is an awesome build, when I bought my 25 this is the type of resto mod I had in mind but then I found some hard to find parts and my build took u turn towards more stock. Besides I don't even have skills of an amateur builder to dare dreaming of doing anything like what you do with your cruisers. Why didn't you use 25 fenders? Are they early 3 bolt mounting ones?

Thanks for the kind words. I'm really glad you went in the stock direction with your 25. I wish you still lived in Thousand Oaks or Simi 'cause I'd like to help you expose a little more factory chrome. After your emblem arrives you're gonna have to see what's under that paint on your bib bars. Hopefully it's preserved some beautiful chrome.

 

[Archie 1962 FJ25]

I am speechless now, Gene can't believe you still remember that I lived in Thousand Oaks. I am so missing my little apartment there. Yes I can see traces of chrome underneath the paint on bib bars.

 

[Land Cruiser Junky]

You're gonna have the find a way to get that paint off without damaging the chrome or that emblem is gonna feel awfully lonely being the only bling.

 

[Archie 1962 FJ25]

You're gonna have the find a way to get that paint off without damaging the chrome or that emblem is gonna feel awfully lonely being the only bling.

I promise I will rechrome bars if I can't get that paint off without damaging it. There use to be a soda blasting place near me but they don't do it anymore.

 

[Land Cruiser Junky]

It might be as easy as removing them and spraying them with paint stripper. You'll just have to see what that stuff does to chrome. Mine were a rusted mess. I had them re-chromed and they turned out beautiful

 

[thebigredrocker]

Do you recall what tires are on your LV? I hit the like button a few days ago, but I gotta say. Of all the tweeks I've seen on mud, nothing comes close to what you've done. Very cool Cruiser you've built.

 

[Archie 1962 FJ25]

I had 2 FJ25 dash pulls in my parts stash so I used them as door pulls.View attachment 1487587

Gene, are there any differences in FJ25 dash pull and FJ40 dash pull? Please don't laugh, even after 12 years I still can't figure out these tiny details. I have got both (one on FJ25 and couple of from FJ40 and noticed some thickness and how they are bent differs (very marginally) but they mount and looks the same otherwise.

Also noticed pins on tailgate hinges are different too, pin head on FJ25 are little pointed and on FJ40 more rounded.

 

[Land Cruiser Junky]

Do you recall what tires are on your LV? I hit the like button a few days ago, but I gotta say. Of all the tweeks I've seen on mud, nothing comes close to what you've done. Very cool Cruiser you've built.

Wow, that's a real compliment. Thank you.

The tires on the LV are BFG A/Ts 33 x 9.50 15. The old "Pizza Cutters" that have been discontinued.

 

[Living in the Past]

Wow, that's a real compliment. Thank you.

The tires on the LV are BFG A/Ts 33 x 9.50 15. The old "Pizza Cutters" that have been discontinued.

I currently have a set of these same tires on my FJ45LP-B. Really only good for rollers because of the dry rot from the Az sun. Been a long time since these were available new. Watch mud and funny they discontinued these for all those that want them and settle for the 33X10.50X15. if your not running power steering the thin tires are easier to steer. Even with factory power steering skinner tires put less stress on the steering components. For the type of wheeling we have in AZ skinny tires are fine. But being so old Gene you already knew that.

 

[apeterson]

Very cool. Wondered what ever happend to you and your wagon.. love the 40. Dash is awesome.

Do you have a build thread on 60?