Greetings from Chicago

[Tortuga78]

Hey Fellas
I'd like to introduce myself. My name is Carlos and I am a proud owner of a 1978 FJ40. It's no show car but nonetheless I love it. I've had it for a few weeks now and its actually starting to grow on my wife. This will help as I begin to spen our kids college funds on fixing it up.
The truck came from Bloomington Illinois. Saw an ad one night, wished the timing was perfect, as always, it never is and went to bed. The next day as I headed for work I passed one up on the street. I thought "what the ****", picked up my cell and called the owner. He said that it ran but was mostly parked because he didn't have time for it. That same evening I told my wife I was working late and drove over 100 miles out of Chicago. The rest is history.
I look forward to learning as much as possible about this truck through the wealth of information on this forum. At the same time, while making long lasting friendships

Cheers

 

[wickedfj]

Saw that for sale on craigslist... Almost jumped on it myself, maybe I will come help you work on it if you take me mudding...

 

[Tortuga78]

Saw that for sale on craigslist... Almost jumped on it myself, maybe I will come help you work on it if you take me mudding...

No problem man. I can use all the help I can get. You can school me on mudding...never been offroading

 

[cruiser enthuiser]

Welcome . That's a great looking rig! Love those bumpers. I agree, it helps a lot when the wife likes it. Have fun with it and keep us posted.

-Ed



pssst....it looks like your bezel is upside down. Watch out for the bezel police!

 

[justbecause]

the paint may not be pretty but thats a bad ass bumper
the opening side windows are great to have! wish i had them! bard doors are nice 2! my tailgate is stationary and i just have the back hatch... big pain trying to get into the back
what size tires/lift do you have?
i cant tell from the picture but im sure someone will comment on the bezel

welcome to mud

 

[Tortuga78]

Welcome . That's a great looking rig! Love those bumpers. I agree, it helps a lot when the wife likes it. Have fun with it and keep us posted.

-Ed



pssst....it looks like your bezel is upside down. Watch out for the bezel police!

I knew I wouldn't be able to get away with the bezel. Took the pictures on the day I bought it. Its fixed now.

 

[Tortuga78]

the paint may not be pretty but thats a bad ass bumper
the opening side windows are great to have! wish i had them! bard doors are nice 2! my tailgate is stationary and i just have the back hatch... big pain trying to get into the back
what size tires/lift do you have?
i cant tell from the picture but im sure someone will comment on the bezel


welcome to mud

Thanks for the compliments. I will definatley be cleaning up the truck as best as I can. I'm hoping to have the body work done by next summer. The tires are 33". Im not sure how much its lifted though.

 

[justbecause]

lets get some more pics!! interior!! and under the hood!!

 

[Poser]

Welcome.



Nice Land Cruiser.

 

[Tortuga78]

lets get some more pics!! interior!! and under the hood!!

I'll get some better quality ones soon.

 

[Tortuga78]

Welcome.



Nice Land Cruiser.

Thank you!

 

[justbecause]

dang the interior looks great!!

wish i had a radio haha

any plans for her yet?

 

[Tortuga78]

dang the interior looks great!!

wish i had a radio haha

any plans for her yet?

My plans are to bring it back to a nice looking ride. Don't know where to begin though. I jus recieved the manuals so all I've been doing latley is reading. I need to do some work on the steering because it has a lot of play. Also the truck was desmogged and Im not sure if it was done right. I can smell some strong fuel vapors. I will most likely try to find someone locally that knows the car to take a look at it and evaluate what should be done.

 

[OLDNSLO]

Welcome....Nice 40. I also saw that one on CL...

 

[cruiser enthuiser]

I was just looking at your rig again. Lucky guy...that interior looks great. If you took a buffer and some good compound to that paint I bet it would shine up like almost new.

 

[SouthBostonFJ40]

That same evening I told my wife I was working late and drove over 100 miles out of Chicago. The rest is history.

I'm glad I'm not the only who's had to do this for the cruiser obsession.

 

[Tortuga78]

I was just looking at your rig again. Lucky guy...that interior looks great. If you took a buffer and some good compound to that paint I bet it would shine up like almost new.

I was surprised with the interior when I first saw it. As far as the paint and body, I think I'll have a body shop look at it. Looks like one of the previous owners did some quick and dirty patching. Doesn't look right.

 

[mimkerman]

I have one of the only other FJ40's in the city, also a 78. Feel free to contact me directly if you want to get together.

 

[Weedhopper]

[QUOTE=Tortuga78;That same evening I told my wife I was working late and drove over 100 miles out of Chicago. The rest is history.


LOL !! I did that twice. The second time I was walking out of the house and I heard, in a voice I know well... "Greg, did you buy another Land Cruiser ?"...

Love the truck. 78 is arguably the best year.

 

[Tortuga78]

I have one of the only other FJ40's in the city, also a 78. Feel free to contact me directly if you want to get together.

I really appreciate the offer. I will most likely take you up on that. Im sure I will have many questions as I begin to rebuild it.