How to remove '84 BJ40 top

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Jun 2, 2009
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Hi guys, I have a 1984 BJ40 and I'm attempting to remove the roof/rear sides and possible install a soft top or just cruise "topless". I know a number of you have removed your roofs/rear sides, so I"m just wondering if its straight forward (remove all the bolts holding it down) or if there is a guide/tips you can give me. thanks, any help is appreciated!!
 
Remove all the bolts between the tub and top sides, I wouldn't seperate the sides from the cap. Loosen the bolt on each side that clamps the b pillar into the tub. Remove the windshield area attachment, both interior and exterior. Remove the ambulance rear doors. Lift straight up, then walk it to the rear. It really helps to have a couple friends around or a hoist of some sort for the lift.
 
What you have is likely a BJ42, not a BJ40. Is it an LX? If so, then you must first (very carefully) remove all the plastic trim inside the rig just to get to the bolts which hold the top on. There are little round mushroom-shaped pins which hold the plastic trim to metal brackets. There is a small plastic pin in the middle of this pin which you must push in with an awl, and then you should be able to pull the whole larger pin out.

Pictures would help us to tell you exactly what else needs to be done.

Cheers,

Josh
 
Wow, never heard of a 40 (42) trimmed with anything. Although I've never seen an '84, let alone an LX! I'd like to see pics of how it's setup myself.
 
Wow, never heard of a 40 (42) trimmed with anything. Although I've never seen an '84, let alone an LX! I'd like to see pics of how it's setup myself.

I can take some better photos if you want, but these are ones I had on my hard drive.

Cheers,

Josh
IMG_6217.webp
FJ40 LX r seat up.webp
 
Wow, how civilized! Even shoulder belts for the jump seats, which appear to be forward facing.
If you get around to it, I'd love to see more. I guess top removal does get a little more involved with one of these.
 
Wow, how civilized! Even shoulder belts for the jump seats, which appear to be forward facing.
If you get around to it, I'd love to see more. I guess top removal does get a little more involved with one of these.

It does, but it is still worth it. The worst part is getting all those little plastic pins out without breaking them. There is also trim around the front which has to be removed to get to the bolts which hold the windshield to the roof.

Here is a photo of the rear forward-facing seats. I actually prefer the old-style side saddle ones, as they fold up better. The long one is bolted to the floor, and you have to unbolt it and remove it in order to load anything in the back. I often run with just the smaller seat installed, as it folds up and out of the way.

Cheers,

Josh
LexieInteriorBackSeat.webp
 
it's 84 Bj40...

Wow, that's news to me. I did not realise that Toyota still made the B engine in 1984. It must be a Central American market rig or something, yes? Odd, as it has a Candian roof, so I would guess that it was Canadian and thus had a 3B engine; making it a BJ42.

At any rate, your rig is not an LX, so it will be very easy for you to remove the roof. Simply take all of the 10mm bolts off around the back where the top bolts on to the tub below the side windows, remove the rear doors (by removing the phillips head screws which hold them to the top and tub), take the two bolts which are on the outside above the windscreen out, remove the 14mm nuts and two phillips screws which hold the 'L' bracket to the windscreen on the interior and remove the phillips head screws on the outside of the top just below the raingutter.

Finally, make certain that you have disconnected the wire which goes to the dome light and to the right rear door licence plate lights. Now lift the top a bit at a time from inside to be certain that you have loosened the rubber gasket. If it sticks too much, look around for a bolt which you might have missed.

Once you have freed the whole top, open the spare tire carrier, get at least two people (one on each side) and lift the top high enough to get the posts from the top out of the tub (about 9"). Walk the top backwards, and set it gently on the ground. Done.

For the front doors, I prefer taking the hinge pins out to unbolting them. (If you were in Australia, you would not have to worry about this part, as it is illegal to remove your doors in the land of Big Brother.)

Nice looking truck!

Cheers,

Josh
 
Wow, that's news to me. I did not realise that Toyota still made the B engine in 1984. It must be a Central American market rig or something, yes? Odd, as it has a Candian roof, so I would guess that it was Canadian and thus had a 3B engine; making it a BJ42.

At any rate, your rig is not an LX, so it will be very easy for you to remove the roof. Simply take all of the 10mm bolts off around the back where the top bolts on to the tub below the side windows, remove the rear doors (by removing the phillips head screws which hold them to the top and tub), take the two bolts which are on the outside above the windscreen out, remove the 14mm nuts and two phillips screws which hold the 'L' bracket to the windscreen on the interior and remove the phillips head screws on the outside of the top just below the raingutter.

Finally, make certain that you have disconnected the wire which goes to the dome light and to the right rear door licence plate lights. Now lift the top a bit at a time from inside to be certain that you have loosened the rubber gasket. If it sticks too much, look around for a bolt which you might have missed.

Once you have freed the whole top, open the spare tire carrier, get at least two people (one on each side) and lift the top high enough to get the posts from the top out of the tub (about 9"). Walk the top backwards, and set it gently on the ground. Done.

For the front doors, I prefer taking the hinge pins out to unbolting them. (If you were in Australia, you would not have to worry about this part, as it is illegal to remove your doors in the land of Big Brother.)

Nice looking truck!

Cheers,

Josh
Cheers
 

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