FJ40 Tailgate vs Swing Doors

[Newk]

Hi, I am new to the forum and new to the FJ world. I just bought a 1975 FJ40. It has no hardtop and the previous owner installed a plastic tailgate. I want to replace it with an original tailgate or swing doors. I can buy a set of swing doors locally from a 1970 FJ40 - does anyone know if they will fit on a 1975? They have some surface rust and one hole but can be repaired. I am willing to take it to a shop to have modifications made to the doors if necessary but don't want to do major reconstruction.
Second question - did the 1975's come with an optional tailgate? If so, I might prefer to find and install a tailgate instead of swing doors.

I have attached a photo of my FJ with the plastic tailgate and a photo of the swing doors that are available.

Any help will be appreciated. Thanks, John

 

[pb4ugo]

Your version of a 1975 FJ40 came with ambulance doors and a hard top. When the top and doors are removed the back is open.
The plastic tailgate you have is a aftermarket filler made for when the top and ambulance doors are removed for your yr 40.
To add swing out doors you will have to drill holes for the hinges in the tub, and a hole for the 1 door stop, if you go to a drop down tailgate you will have to add holes in the tub for the hinges and catches for the latches on the tailgate. You also need to add provisions for the chains or cables to keep the tailgate level when its open.

 

[ryanwk628]

Im not sure what year they switched from the swing doors to the barn doors, but I think tailgates came with factory soft top trucks and are rare. If you decide not to pick up those half doors I would be interested in them for my 1970

 

[tjhaga]

I would suggest that before you spend money on a tail gate or barn doors remove the diamond plate and see what is underneath. Typically diamond plate is used to cover up badly rusted body parts.
What you have is an FJ40, not an FJ!

 

[kerplunk]

I can tell from the photos, the hinges on those swing doors are all worn out and there gonna rattle.
I got sick of listening to mine rattle and just took them off, leaving the back open. Sooner or later I might fab a filler plate, there are bigger issues.

 

[brian]

you have sheetmetal issues to address before a tailgate.

 

[Newk]

Thanks for the comments (SILVER Star - I note about the reference to an FJ40, not an 'FJ' - thx). Yes, I plan to remove the diamond plate to see how bad the rust is. The threshold at the base of the door area is rusted right through so I am going to get that replaced. At this point, I think I am going to buy the doors and work to repair and install them. The whole cockpit and rear section has been covered with carpet on the floor and on the sides. I plan to tear it up to see if it is just covering up problems. Any ideas on how to remove carpet glue (the former owner used a lot of it)......thx.

 

[jim land]

Why not use this plastic one as a tailgate
Just need some hinges , latch and cable

 

[reddingcruiser]

What you have is an FJ40, not an FJ!

FWIW, after you determine what's under the diamond plate and whether or not will it support OEM barn doors or an OEM one-piece tailgate, I would suggest you try to buy them COMPLETE. Trying to come up with some items, like the hinges, latch assemblies or chain the assemblies for a drop down tail gate will be a challenge. I know folks that have been looking for these items for ages. Barn doors, not so much.

Before you post any pictures of the front of your 40 make sure your bezel isn't upside down. The force is strong with the FJ and Bezel watchers on this site .

 

[Newk]

Dick, thanks for the good advice. I just found another set of 1/2 swing doors which are in much better shape and have all of the hinges and latches.
Also, I think I have my bezel on the right way - but I am pretty sure it is not the original Toyota white color. It looks bright white to me. Here is a photo of the front.

 

[Dizzy]

One thing to consider is the placement of the license plate holder on the passenger side, to work with your later tire carrier. I found the ambulance door license plate holder, for my '75, on a popular auction / buy it now site, but used are not too rare.

 

[reddingcruiser]

@Newk is marked safe from the Bezel Police.

 

[brian]

Tailgate lift gate all day.
I love the larger glass of the lift gate vs two smaller ones on amby doors and a drop down tail is just awesome.

 

[MOTOV8R]

Tailgate lift gate all day.
I love the larger glass of the lift gate vs two smaller ones on amby doors and a drop down tail is just awesome.

View attachment 2366069

View attachment 2366070

Sorry to hijack, adding a tailgate to my 79, what are you using for weatherstrip?

 

[brian]

iirc city racers tailgate weatherstrip.
it sorta works...more to do with putting a tailgate on one that wasn't really supposed to have one.

 

[reddingcruiser]

I fixed this for a friend's '76, but unfortunately didn't take any pics. One of the issues with putting an early tailgate on later model 40's with Ambi doors is the door recess. I bent some thin aluminum strips to form an angle with one long leg to fit along the inside of the tailgate opening and one leg the width of the recess, and I used nutserts to hold it in place. This provided a surface for the tailgate to seal against that could be removed when he wanted to put the Ambi doors back on. I also used the upper hinge holes on the tub to mount the latch. I used nutserts for the tailgate hinges to make it easier to take on and off.

 

[cruiserkev]

Drop down tailgate is much more useful in my opinion than the barn doors and won't rattle as much. I fabricated a non OEM tailgate and hinges several years ago to use when the top is off of my 76. Great for cooking meals on or a place to sit after running trails. If I had to do it over again I would do what spotcruiser did (picture below) and weld barn doors together to make the tailgate. I like the OEM look and it seems strong enough to stand on.

 

[Living in the Past]

I fixed this for a friend's '76, but unfortunately didn't take any pics. One of the issues with putting an early tailgate on later model 40's with Ambi doors is the door recess. I bent some thin aluminum strips to form an angle with one long leg to fit along the inside of the tailgate opening and one leg the width of the recess, and I used nutserts to hold it in place. This provided a surface for the tailgate to seal against that could be removed when he wanted to put the Ambi doors back on. I also used the upper hinge holes on the tub to mount the latch. I used nutserts for the tailgate hinges to make it easier to take on and off.

Some years ago someone bought a 76? in AZ and was having it restored before shipping it home. One think he was looking at was filling the opening in the back with the top off. Like you was pretty sure tailgate was to narrower for the tubs made for ambulance doors. I verified this by setting a tailgate up against the opening in a 76 FJ40. What could be a fairly easy solution is add spacers between hinges and latches. That would recess the tailgate like the ambulance doors. Whole not a wide surface would have the sides and bottom to add weatherstripping.

 

[brian]

no spacers needed.

 

[Dizzy]

I bumped my head on my '73 hatch, back in the day. 3-inch lift, 33s, swing-outs. Otherwise, I like the hatch.

The tailgate makes the best spot to eat a snack, drink coffee, or put on a pair of hip boots or waders, but compromises getting to the cargo area, and makes the rear step a bit obsolete.
@cruiserkev Where did you source the left latch, which also is a '75 spare tire carrier latch?