Hood with fenders and grill attached

[70FJ mud duck]

While searching through the 1,000s of threads here I came across a picture that I have been unable to find again. It is of an orange FJ with the hood open. The thing that is unique is the fenders and the grill are attached to the hood making it one piece. When opened the entire engine comparment is completely exposed making it very easy to access for maintenance.

I have tried numerous searches using hood, fenders, grill, modified with no luck, if there is a thread on how to do this mod please let me know. If not, maybe someone can post some pics.

Why am I looking for this you ask? The frame off restro (1970 FJ40) is in work and I really like the access to the engine, I am kinda big so lifting the whole front assy should be easy for me.

If you have done this mod please let me know the pros and cons, I would like to hear an opinion from the team.

Thanks for the help, this site rocks. Jim

 

[DanS HJ-45]

I'm 99% sure you saw a fiberglass hood/fender combo.

I don't see what's so hard about lowering the front bib (just unbolt it from the fenders) and removing the fenders (4 bolts each) to get at everything. As long as the bolts aren't rusted in place, then it should take a half hour--max.

You get to keep the original sheet metal, and get access to the engine easily.

I think the one pice hood/fender combo is more of a novelty than a useful thing. That said, I've never owned one. Maybe they are awesome, and I just don't know it.

Dan

 

[JohnnyC]

this thread has some pics of front clips like that

https://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series-tech/205161-fiberglass-front-clip.html

 

[70FJ mud duck]

Thanks for the link but no luck, the hood and fenders should tilt back over the windshield. Tilting forward looks rather bad.

Maybe it is a fiberglass hood and fender gig all clughded together. I am still searching for the picture.

 

[rusty_tlc]

I'm 99% sure you saw a fiberglass hood/fender combo.

I don't see what's so hard about lowering the front bib (just unbolt it from the fenders) and removing the fenders (4 bolts each) to get at everything. As long as the bolts aren't rusted in place, then it should take a half hour--max.

You get to keep the original sheet metal, and get access to the engine easily.

I think the one pice hood/fender combo is more of a novelty than a useful thing. That said, I've never owned one. Maybe they are awesome, and I just don't know it.

Dan

A half hour is generous.
I got mine this far in about 15min

This took another 20min, mostly getting the hoses loose from the radiator.

 

[alkarich]

Probably still the 1 piece fiberglass front.

Maybe the hood hinge area was reinforced so it could be used in that fashion?

 

[70FJ mud duck]

That looks like it provides easy access to the radiator and the front of the motor. I was thinking more along the lines of sitting on the tire or shop stool and working on the starter or the clutch/shifter linkage but I am open to all opinions/advice.

 

[70FJ mud duck]

alkarich, the more I search the more I think it is a fiberglass get-up.

Cool Troopy shirts BTW.

 

[rusty_tlc]

That looks like it provides easy access to the radiator and the front of the motor. I was thinking more along the lines of sitting on the tire or shop stool and working on the starter or the clutch/shifter linkage but I am open to all opinions/advice.

The starter and clutch are easier to access from underneath the truck.

One thing I just thought of, what about all the stuff that is attached to the fenders? To remove the actual fenders is only a couple of more screws, but there is a heck of a lot of electrical and other stuff mounted to them. If you had the front end one piece ala Peterbuilt you would have to relocate all that stuff.

 

[cjgoode]

It has to be a fiberglass front end. The wight of the hood and fenders would be to much for the lower part of the bib, not the hinge that thing is beyond solid, but the bib would not support that weight. How often do you really need to access the engine with the fenders off, I would hope that is a rare need.

 

[JohnnyC]

i recall the john deere fj40 as having the hood tilt back using the stock hinges and it was full steel.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series-tech/202718-john-deere-fj40.html

cant find the pic however...just side shots with the hood down

 

[alkarich]

70FJ mud duck,

Thanks for the compliment!

 

[Zang469]

I have 1 of those FG hood/fender combo's from Mallot. Its ok and does make it easy for access to the engine. Plus you can unhook the headlights and the whole thing comes off.

 

[Splangy]

This guy on eBay has been trying to sell his for a while now with no bites. I bet you can make a deal with him.

FJ40 1 piece fiberglass front end...Perfect condition:eBay Motors (item 290379818536 end time Dec-14-09 14:47:30 PST)

 

[Trollhole]

Seriously you can go from this

to this in less than 30 min. Maybe 5 min to flip the hood open and take a fender off. Other than the coil and the 8 or so bolts everything else unplugs.

 

[70FJ mud duck]

Cool, I found the pic, I had saved it on my laptop in one of my many imagery files. So no idea where it came from other than this website.

So folks, is it metal or fiberglass?

All of the comments are good so far, I'm not really sure what is mounted on 1970 fenders since mine were not installed when I bought the truck.

Trollhole has a good point, 30 minutes for a lot of access, and I have air tools to help out.

The EBay fiberglass hood is really clean and super cheap but shipping (to Texas) would be killer and I have a good hood, grill etc., I can't believe he has not sold it yet.

 

[rusty_tlc]

If that's metal I wouldn't want to try to lower it in a controlled manner single handed.

But I'm old and feeble.

 

[cjgoode]

I say that is metal, but would not be as solid. Either way the fender supports are not there, the ones that go to the frame. Without bolting those fenders to the body as well as no frame supports they would be extremely vulnerable to damage. Without those seems crazy to me, if you leave them on you would have to unbolt them each time saving little time. Cool idea, but I think either way it takes a solid front end and opens it up to a lot of potential damage for lack of support. Maybe good for showing off your engine at a car show, but other then that I see only negative possible effects.

 

[70FJ mud duck]

Hmm, good point cjgoode, I can hear the whole front clip shaking as I drive it to the car show, not. Can fenders flap at 65 mph? I bet the whole clip is a little heavy to lift and to support too. Well it looked kinda cool....

Probably best to keep it original. Mr. Toyota 1, Mud Duck 0.

 

[SAY I WON'T]

i have done this mod and i love it i have a small block 327 great access to motor and tranny bolts will upload pics if still interested.