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FJGuy

FJGuy

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Jun 23, 2010
Threads
11
Messages
88
Location
Denver
Hey everyone

I am going to join High Desert Cruisers. I just picked up a new to me 1973 FJ40 with some mods. I am not so great at words, so I will let the pics do the talking. Mileage unknown as the PO had decided to try to convert it to an offroad beast. It has an SM420 swap and I am on my way to fabricating a t-case mount for the shifter -f I only I can find a welder :) I just moved back to the area after being in the midwest for the last 5 years (never again). I am going to return the cruiser partly back to stock so it retains some highway/daily driver manners but still is effective off road. I previously had a 1986 4 Runner I wheeled while in college and wanted to get back into with my 40. First plans are to ditch the stock cage and go back to the stock seats (I know, uncomfortable, dangerous, etc.) as well as the stock gas tank. The PO lopped a pretty neat hole in the bed of the cruiser and installed a massive 5 gallon tank. Great for running the quarter mile, not so great for going more than 40 miles.

Here are some pics - thoughts? (Besides the bezel being on upside down - that was the first thing I fixed :)

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The PO seemed to have a diamond plate fetish. I will be pulling all that out in due time.

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It did come with about every manual ever written about the 40 so if anyone needs multiple sources, let me know!

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The wiring is a rats nest. It doesn't look like the factory harness was butchered, rather new lines were just run and never connected to anything. The only working gauge is the speedo.

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Any idea what that sticker says? 1.5f?

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Bailing wire exhaust hangers - can't wait to get that fixed!

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Thanks for the warm welcome everyone!
 
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The sticker on your engine says F155.

That wiring is scary. Seriously. I'd personally look for a used harness to clean up and repair, then install it into your truck, or if you can, just pull your harness and fix it outside the truck. Repairs are much easier if you can lay the whole harness out on the floor.

Doesn't look too bad, otherwise. I agree with ditching the diamond plate, BTW.

Dan
 
Good luck with the project. There is also a guy on mud that repairs wiring harnesses and he also sells the proper connectors if you choose to repair it yourself.
 
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Welcome!:flipoff2:

that thing looks fine as is! well the wiring thing cleaned up is all, but I think you can drive it daily if need be. it's still spring under, so it's stable. you can use it for on and off road no problem! I look forward to seeing it (and you) in person.
 
Was there a displacement difference between the f and 1.5f?

On my agenda for my three day weekend is to figure out the wiring. I have a feeling it is going to take longer than 3 days.

I just picked up a stock seat from the westside. I am looking for the tool box to mount it on now. Should give me some more storage options as I am going to lose my console when I get the cage out of there.

FJGuy
 
One more thing - I am looking for someone to cut some quarter inch aluminum for me. I have all the templetes done. I don't have a garage to work in and even if I did, my level of precision for something like that would be limited. I am looking to cover up the dash, which the previous owner hacked to bit install toggles switches (awesome, right?)
 
FJGuy said:
Was there a displacement difference between the f and 1.5f? ...FJGuy
Click to expand...

there's an F and a 2F(depending on year of the vehicle). you have the F engine. my 63 F has the same sticker. not sure if that was the displacement or had another meaning. I'm sure someone here knows the F and 2F displacements.
 
FJGuy said:
...I am not so great at words, so I will let the pics do the talking.
Click to expand...
:clap: :beer:

Nice rig: best color. ;)
My first item would be to secure the drivers door: looks like a pin is missing? Next item would be another external mirror on passenger side, for DD use.
I'd fix the wiring, both forward and below, and pull the diamond plate on rear quarters just to make sure nothing bad was hiding behind 'em.

Otherwise, seems a PO spent some time and effort to line (durabak/ herculiner/ linex etc) the interior and install a beefy looking cage. Center console, ammo box w/shovel mount: both good.

I'd keep the cage for a while, until it began to really bother me (ie: intrude on my driving space). Would suck to pull it now and install another later on.

And could we get topless pix? :grinpimp:







Of the 40, natch.
 
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sirenmoses said:
:clap: :beer:

Nice rig: best color. ;)
My first item would be to secure the drivers door: looks like a pin is missing? Next item would be another external mirror on passenger side, for DD use.
I'd fix the wiring, both forward and below, and pull the diamond plate on rear quarters just to make sure nothing bad was hiding behind 'em.

Otherwise, seems a PO spent some time and effort to line (durabak/ herculiner/ linex etc) the interior and install a beefy looking cage. Center console, ammo box w/shovel mount: both good.

I'd keep the cage for a while, until it began to really bother me (ie: intrude on my driving space). Would suck to pull it now and install another later on.

And could we get topless pix? :grinpimp:







Of the 40, natch.
Click to expand...


I kinda like the pin being gone for now - ingress and egress with that cage is aweful (and I am a tiny man). Without a top and halfdoors I would be like a kid on a playground and it would be fun, but it is a little too much with the top on and I don't have a great place to store top/doors/etc.

As soon as I sell the cage, seats and speaker mounts, the top is coming off (that is the only way the cage is coming out.)

https://forum.ih8mud.com/sale-parts/396178-fj40-custom-cage-seats-250-obo.html
 
Love the exhaust hanger. Where in the midwest did you say your 40 is from? That looks like my cousin's work.
 
The basics are all there, but you've got some cleaning up to do for sure. +1 on the wiring being the first thing I would address if I were you.

Welcome to HDC!
 
Welcome:flipoff2:

I know this rig! The other Steve should recognize it as well. Its changed hands a few times since I knew who owned it (Pablo) but looks about the same as I remember. It's the first FJ40 I ever drove and those are the old speakers I had in my Honda.
If you need touch up paint its in the paint isle of walmart or Home Depot :D

Nice rig!
 
I'm surprised nobody has said it ... unless I missed it.

DSC_0085.


Your bezel is upside down!​

Also, those fender lights are a mis-match for 1973.
 
lurch said:
Welcome:flipoff2:

I know this rig! The other Steve should recognize it as well. Its changed hands a few times since I knew who owned it (Pablo) but looks about the same as I remember. It's the first FJ40 I ever drove and those are the old speakers I had in my Honda.
If you need touch up paint its in the paint isle of walmart or Home Depot :D

Nice rig!
Click to expand...

I figured someone around here had to know this rig. Any history you can give me on it would be appreciated. The guy I got it from said that it was from Socorro where a rancher had it. He gave it to his grandson who did all the modifications. Grandson was subsequently arrested and went off to jail/prision. The cruiser was left in a trailer park where the guy I got it from filed for title as an abandoned vehicle. The seller told me he had it for about a year and a half.

Anyone know if this is true?
 
pappy said:
I'm surprised nobody has said it ... unless I missed it.

DSC_0085.

Your bezel is upside down!​

Also, those fender lights are a mis-match for 1973.
Click to expand...

Mentioned in my first post :) I took pics of it before I even got it home. That bezel was corrected within 5 minutes of my ownership :) I kinda like the little lights. Not sure what I am going to do with them yet as I would rather change the rear tail lights first. Nothing worse than diamond plate and those tail lights. Looks like a jeep gone wrong...yuck.
 
gr8wrk said:
Love the exhaust hanger. Where in the midwest did you say your 40 is from? That looks like my cousin's work.
Click to expand...

The 40 is from here. I grew up in NM and bought this from a guy out on the west side. The bailing wire exhaust hanger is a midwest staple though.
 
I have the correct taillights for that truck that I'm not going to use. Toyota new.
 
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