For strictly on road, how would you build a 40?

[Nik]

I know that this isn't going to be a popular thread with all of the off road guys, but I know that my newly acquired 74 FJ40 will not be seeing any off hiway use anytime soon and am trying to make out a game plan. It's a stock 1975 Fj40 with a rebuilt 2F engine and stock lift. What direction should I go to build a reliable everyday driver to use for work? I sell liquor and can sometimes travel 300 miles or so in a week, and don't want to get beat to death in the process. Should I raise it 2 1/2 inches and put a little taller tires on it for freeway use, or bite the bullet and get the 5 speed put in? What about power steering? Is it a must have for around own driving? Forgive the newbie, but i fly out to pick it up on the 30th, and would like to hit the ground running with it.
Thanks.

Nik

 

[Cruiserdrew]

Get the power steering and drive it for 3 months. Then decide what you want/need. I would probably do the ps, then disc brakes, then the 5 speed and call it good. You sure you want to daily drive an FJ40?

 

[snowdude]

give your cruiser to me
and buy a VW TDI

 

[Tboss]

So !!! what is a stock lift??????? For give me but I have never heard of one. The best tranny for H-way is a NV4500 w/27% O/D. If you want a daily driver for that amount of miles buy a hybrid, and help save the planet of it's fossel fules for our 350,s. Raise it???????? why ???? the lower the better (less center of gravity) and mileage. Use it for what it was built for and then decide.

 

[Jukelemon]

No disrespect intended but making a 40 an on road vehicle is like making a mercedes s class an off road vehicle. Why do it or at least why put the money into it? Just buy an 80. Certainly you can change the tranny, the suspension, the tires, the gearing but eventually you end up with a vehicle that is stripped of its ability to do what is supposed to do AND not to mention make it difficult to resell.

Just my .02

 

[Landpimp]

you can prolly stuff 33x9.5 on it with the stock suspension, that will give you better highways speeds.

 

[Romer]

I run 33x9.5x15 BFG tires without P/S and have no problems. Don't think you would notice the difference on the hiway. You would have to cut the rear wheel wells if you don't want to put a lift on it to fit 33's. Then you can add bushwakers! Note that Pimp has 33's on a stock suspension. It works, but is probably tight.


The 40 is a truck and a very rough ride. It was not built for city driving.
best investment you can make as a dailey driver is to take it to an experianced mechanic (unless you are one yourself) and pay him to go through and tell you what needs fixing and what is starting to wear out. Take this list a prioritize the items and starting working them off. Once you get this done, then consider the mods you might make.

Welcome to cruiser land!

ken

 

[kling-on]

[quote author=Jukelemon link=board=1;threadid=15116;start=msg142760#msg142760 date=1082552830]
Certainly you can change the tranny, the suspension, the tires, the gearing but eventually you end up with a vehicle that is stripped of its ability to do what is supposed to do AND not to mention make it difficult to resell.

Just my .02
[/quote]

I think all these things will HELP it resale value ... P/S and Power disk brakes would be right there on top for me ... as wall as A/C if you live in a hot area ( I live in south Texas last week we hit 90*) the 5spd trans with CCOT's stock springs and 31's would really work out well. But your talking CASH. SO if this is a labor of LOVE do it ... if you think it will be cheap dont

 

[Jukelemon]

[quote author=kling-on link=board=1;threadid=15116;start=msg142786#msg142786 date=1082557362]
I think all these things will HELP it resale value ... P/S and Power disk brakes would be right there on top for me ... as wall as A/C if you live in a hot area ( I live in south Texas last week we hit 90*) the 5spd trans with CCOT's stock springs and 31's would really work out well. But your talking CASH. SO if this is a labor of LOVE do it ... if you think it will be cheap dont
[/quote]
Appealing and useful, yes. But it seems that time and time again, a stock cruiser in excellent shape will always bring more than a cruiser with mods (unless it is a custom vehicle for a custom purpose like crawling). I guess my point was just buy an 80. After you figure in all of the expenses and time of swapping trannies, adding a suspension, changing tires and wheels, etc...you are up to the cost of a mid 90's 80 series.

 

[woody]

33x9.5 tires on stock rims and stock height springs
SOFT shocks, like DT3000's
relocate shackle mounts to increase angle, and soften ride a tad
open spring wraps, consider removing springs and installing teflon liners and/or painting
Greasable spring pins and shackles
PS is nice, but optional with skinny tires

It will never be a Caddy, but these things will all help a bit.

 

[Jman]

I would keep it pretty much stock but do the things Woody says. You can fit 9.5 x 33s in there right now with no new lift. As for the five speed, well, if I had to replace my tranny, that's what I'd do, but it's a lot of cash money--don't think that anything you do much will pay you back in gas savings, it just won't.

Now, if by "beat to death" you mean bouncing around in the driver's seat, well, learn to love that, too, it ain't gonna change much, no matter what you do.

First, though, just get the thing and drive it a bit and see what you think--no need to mod everything without knowing what you're starting from. After a few months, you might have a better idea yourself of what you really need.

And if I were you, I'd buy a highway car and use the 40 for what it's meant to do.

Good luck.

 

[CruiserMax]

Nik. I would read some of this stuff carefully. It's your truck and you can turn it into an ice cream van if you want to. BUT, if you drove that 40 like you say, you will rack up like 45,000 miles in three years. Most guys love their 40's. I bet you may end up hating your 40 after nothing but 45,000 miles of rattling down the highway in it. These trucks are just not meant for that kind of use. They are slow, they rattle, they are a brick with zero aerodynamics. And all that cash you will spend to make it bareble for your intended use will take a lot of paychecks and patience. I would suggest getting a reliable commuter for your highway needs and then use and enjoy your 40 for what it is designed to do. Both you and your truck will be so much happier. Even if you don't think you will take it down the toughest section of the Rubicon, try taking it out camping and exploring etc. A clean stock 40 is an amazing safe & fun rig for these situations. They are OK on the highway for getting you to interesting places but would be my last choice as a pure highway commuter. Get a late 90's Camry for that...

Cheers,
Max

 

[me78he78]

this topic comes up often here... 99% of 40 owners agree that it is not a pleasing daily driver (esp for long distances). the other 1% haven't realized it yet.

for 300 miles per week, get something more quiet, with better feul effeciancy.

keep the cruiser, it's great fun, but there really isn't anything you can do to a truck that from the ground up, was designed to be tough as nails. unless, that is, you replace every nut and bolt.

*poor guy is getting shot down... i feel bad!*

 

[dogboy]

??? a '40 as highway daily driver ???....... no offense, but you've picked the wrong vehicle for your stated purpose, especially for the amount of miles you plan on driving each week. It's not built for, nor was it ever intended to driven extensively in that capacity. It will get you through some of the roughest terrain imaginable, but highway grace is not it's thing.

If you insist, plan on driving about 50 mph max. with the factory 4-speed, jarring your bones, teeth, and kidneys to high heaven, and spending a FORTUNE on gas. Your mileage isn't going to be much better than 12 mpg at best and to say these trucks are emissions friendly is a long stretch of the truth. And if you think I'm kidding about the 50 mph, just ask the kid who bought my '75 FJ40, disregarded the advice, and blew the motor on his first highway trip after pushing it at 70 mph for a few hours.

It may sound harsh, but you would be doing yourself a HUGE favor by driving something else and saving the '40 for weekend adventures. Or just sell it now and save yourself big $$$, discomfort, and hassle. There are plenty on this board alone who would be more than willing to take it off your hands for you....

I've been there and done that, having sold the '40 and moved into a 4-Runner when the highway drive time overtook the off-road time. On all accounts and at that time in my life, a much better choice. I'd still have it to use as a trail rig today if I could have afforded two cars back then, but you have to call the ball and no matter the effort, a sow's ear will never become a silk purse by the end of the day....

-dogboy- '87 FJ60

 

[TJDIV]

I'm agreeing with the "just don't do it" people here. It's going to be fruitless in the end. These rigs AREN'T good daily drivers. Anyone that says they are is lying to you. Reliable, yes, head turning, sure; but those are traits that belong on the road 3 days a week, not 6 or 7.

I would find a cheap beater for whatever money you planned on building the Cruiser up with, then I would slowly but surely fine-tune the Cruiser into whichever realm of practicality you prefer.

*funny thing is, 4 years ago I was trying to do the same thing you are. I'm still trying, and actually, I've all but given up, unless I feel like dropping $15 to $20K on a Cruiser like Pimps.

 

[Landpimp]

true unless the said 40 is a 81+ fj40........beleive it or not they make a nice DD, same drivetrain as a fj60 I added OEM PS, OME suspension, 33x9.5s, nice tunes...............dang 40 is a joy to drive.

[quote author=me78he78 link=board=1;threadid=15116;start=msg142856#msg142856 date=1082566396]
this topic comes up often here... 99% of 40 owners agree that it is not a pleasing daily driver (esp for long distances). the other 1% haven't realized it yet.

for 300 miles per week, get something more quiet, with better feul effeciancy.

keep the cruiser, it's great fun, but there really isn't anything you can do to a truck that from the ground up, was designed to be tough as nails. unless, that is, you replace every nut and bolt.

*poor guy is getting shot down... i feel bad!*
[/quote]

 

[Jman]

Oh, and Nik, please don't tell us you bought it from Vintage Offroad? If that's the case, you might want to let us talk you out of the whole thing. (And is it a 75 FJ40, or a 74 FJ40? Not that it makes a real difference, just curious since you typed both.)

For what it's worth, I have an FJ60, it's okay on the highway--longer wheelbase, power steering, better highway gearing. I drive it every day--a couple of miles a day to take my daughter to school during the week, and then hauling/camping/light offroading during the weekend. I like driving it, no doubt. But if I had to do 300 miles a week to sell liquor, I'd get Mini Cooper or a VW TDI or a Prius. Or a used BMW 325 convertible. Or a used Miata (lots going cheap near me. . . .).

I walk to work. On my way, I pass through a mall parking lot--every day, in the same parking space, is a brand new Nissan Titan extended cab. I haven't seen the owner, but he/she works in the mall. The bed is unmarred, and the mileage is low, low, low. Now why is someone plunking down all that money on a Titan just to drive it to a job at the mall? Before this turns into a rant, I'll just say that so many people buy vehicles for the image, and then wind up getting rid of them in a couple of years when that "stage" in their life, whatever it is, is over.

If you're buying the truck because you think the image will help you sell liquor, then go ahead, by all means proceed. But at least take the thing off road and find out what these things were made for. Take some clients fishing or camping or something. Uh, maybe with a buddy who knows how to wheel, though.

Good luck, whatever you decide!

 

[dogboy]

true unless the said 40 is a 81+ fj40........beleive it or not they make a nice DD

yes Pimp, but you're "special" and have a very unique Cruiser stable to prove it..... who me?!, what?, jealous?? NEVER! HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!......uhhhh, nice rigs.....

-dogboy- '87 FJ60

 

[theo]

[squelch][/squelch]

"Breaker one nine. Cruiserdudes to Kip.

Hey good buddy, we scare you off yet?

C'mon back"

 

[Romer]

Kinda like asking a girl to marry you and having her tell you your the wrong model!

Let us know if we can help you make any other decisions Nik