Highlandcruzer's FJ40 Un-restore......and Re-restore/slow build up

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I got the driver seat in last Thursday, and took it out for a little drive.[ These pic aren't current] It felt good to drive it, it's been a while! I can't wait to get her back on the trail!



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On the mechanical end of things, I picked up a new re-man Saginaw power steering pump to go with my mini truck steering gear. I need to get a pulley for it, and I'm not sure what the optimal pulley is for this setup? So I need that, and the hoses. I think I'm going to order the pump bracket from Marks offroad that mounts in the smog pump location.....and I need to get a mini steering gear pedestal to proceed with installation.

I also picked up a 3 speed transfer case/trans last week [freebee :cool:].......he he....another project I'm tempted to jump on before the June meeting. :D [sigh..time?] My first thought was to pick up a rebuild kit for it....I pulled the drain plug to drain the oil, and to my surprise the oil was really clean. Zero trash/metal flakes on the plug too. It turns by hand smooth and quiet, and shifts from 2 to 4 to low, smooth as silk......I don't have any real history on it. I got it from a guy that pulled it out of a rig that he bought for a frame up resto. He drove it before dismantleling, and said it drove and sounded smooth. Based on the mods, the rig it came from obviously belonged to a cruiser guy. It makes me wonder if it had been rebuilt already, or at least been really well taken care of. I'm tempted to install it as-is, and see how she does. :meh: I'm just a little anxious to have it in this month....maybe I'd be a fool not to rebuild it while it's out though? :hhmm:

I also finally got around to ordering my new tie-rod from Bud-built today. One more thing out of the way. :clap: Aaand I moved the cruiser into the garage. Yeah! No more working on it in the grass out in the weather!

On a bad note: I noticed today that I'm missing a blade from my cooling fan. I guess that happened on my last wheeling trip. I hadn't even noticed! :doh: Anybody got a 7 blade clutch type fan that they can sell?
 
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NICE!!! Its the little things that make all the difference.
 
It's crunch time!

Just about got her all back together for the trail ride. I got the Budbuit tierod installed last week. I feel like I might have wasted the money. I think I still had a lot of life left in the old tierod. :hhmm: Waddaya think? :lol:


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I replaced all the TRE's while I was at it. Thanks again for the deal Ramon!
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4 outta 7 ain't bad, right? :eek:


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The new fan blade should be here any day. I don't know exactly what happened with this old one. I didn't ever hear the blades fly off the last time I went wheeling! :o I don't know if a branch or sapling hit it from underneath, or the motor mounts are that shot and the blades caught something while the motor was getting torqued up, or what. No sign on the radiator. :confused: The mounts don't look too hot, so that might have been the deal.... I ordered replacements from Kurt, as well as some new tail lights. Should be ready to roll this week.
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That fan blade is some quality carnage Scott. ;) Look forward to seeing this thing on the trail this month...................
 
I've made good progress over the last couple weeks. Something's screwed up on my camera right now, and most of the pictures I've taken lately suck. [I'll get off my ass and read the manual soon! ;p]

The interior is all back in now. I hate that I can't use my jumpseats with the new cage. Oh well....looks like a good place to install some jerry cans.


I cut the seat belt brackets off of the old factory roll bar to use on the new cage. Turned out great.

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Hi I'm Scott.....["hi Scott"]

It's been 93 days since I've taken a drive in a Land Cruiser.[or so] I've been really tempted a couple of times.......the only thing that stopped me was that I didn't have a fan blade. :eek: ["Stay strong Scott"]





I don't know how much longer I can stand it! The weather is gorgeous, I wanna go for a drive!

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As many of you know, the key to working on a Cruiser is to dump out as many nuts, bolts, and screws as you can onto a piece of plywood as you're able. Try to mix at least six standard sized bolts in with the metric stuff as well. Make sure not to get any type of penetrating oil on them though, as it will cause standard sized bolts to reproduce, much the same way that water affects Gremlins.

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Hot damn! As I was typing that last paragraph, my fan blade showed up.:bounce: I'm going for a drive. :cool:


Can you tell I've got cabin fever from being in the hospital, and staying at home/up all night with the baby? :D
 
you better put a bench seat back there....the expanding family will also want to go for a ride...well maybe not the newborn....yet :)
 
Flinny said:
so....Did you go for a ride????? Post some pics!
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:D Yeah.....Just a little country drive for some fresh air and to get the oil flowing. It's nice to have her put back together.




poser shot for ya:

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I still need to get the front hoop bolted down
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Hey everybody! Long time no see.

I've had a heck of a lot going on, some good, some not too good at all. I went through a pretty tough spell financially for several months. New business + new baby + $4.00 gas + failing economy + a POS microsoft product that kept crashing + other family concerns made my Cruiser sad, and made it pretty well impossible to even think about hobbies or recreational activities.

I'm happy to say that we can see daylight again, and are actually doing pretty well. :)

Anyway, needless to say, the 40 has pretty much been collecting dust in the garage all this time. :frown: I still have a charging issue. Voltage regulator? Alternator? I haven't even taken the time to figure it out yet. I've just thrown a fresh battery in it a few times to get the il flowing.

Now, Finally making a little progress again. Key word being little. ;p



highlandcruzer said:
I'm really torn between doing a restoration, and building a dedicated trail rig. :hhmm:

The only real solution is to buy another 40, and have one of each! :D Over the next year or so, I'm going to keep my eyes peeled for a really good deal. I'm looking at one now, but I'm not sure if I'll be able to swing it.
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Problem solved. Picked up a rust bucket that I can slowly restore. :hillbilly: The plan is to keep this one close to, if not bone stock. [as if my blue one isn't ;p]



highlandcruzer said:
I have a Bestop soft top that came with my truck, but it's not my cup of tea. I'd like an OEM style soft top.........That one's in the works. :)
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Getting closer by the day! :clap: I finally picked up a set of bows and soft top doors last week.


And most recently: One of my pet peeves is that it bothers me to see threaded holes in my truck, knowing that there is a part that is missing that should be there. I had a really crappy aftermarket radio antenna [like auto zone stubby rubber thing] in the factory location, that came with the truck. I just took it off with the plan to buy the OEM one when I could. Finally got one off of e-bay for a real reasonable price. [it's the little things that make me happy]

Have fun in the OBX! Wish we were there. Drink one for me. :cheers:
 
Good to hear from you Scott, busy this morning but I would like to hear more and hope you will be able to make it out this year,

Can you make the OBX trip this month? Took the time to read above post and realized the answer to this.
 
Scott, damn good to hear from you, and that things are turning to the better for you and your family!
 
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