how to verify if rig is a factory soft top model?

[Cruiseralive]

I have a 74, no FJ40L, just FJ40 on the plaque. Always believed it to be a FST. Has all the brackets mentioned, tail gate, half hinges and threaded holes in dash. Had a hard top and mismatched doors when I got it. I would be interested to learn if the VIN provides some confirmation. Anyone know of a way to check?

Eric

 

[wantatlc]

Well if you have the threaded holes on the cowl and the hinge halves, I would bet that at least the cowl was.

soooo are you implying that the anwser is likely 'yes it is a FST' as who the hell would pull the entire cowl and put a different year cowl back in?

 

[Dusty 66]

Reading the TOYOTA LANDCRUISER REPAIR MANUAL CHASSIS & BODY (circula 1967) FJ40L (The model number with letter L indicates left hand drive vehicles) accordingly
FJ40 & FJ40L canvas top drop gate Roll Up curtian
FJ40-B & FJ40L-B canvas top swing out gate Roll Up curtian
FJ40-C & FJ40L-C canvas top swing out gate canvas door
Fj40V Hard Top Folding Type steel door

I dont know If this helps .........................JC

 

[Toyo FJ40]

soooo are you implying that the anwser is likely 'yes it is a FST' as who the hell would pull the entire cowl and put a different year cowl back in?

I replaced the cowl on my 74.;p
My 74 was a factory hard top but still has the footman loops.

My 72 has the one peice fold down tailgate and the dash light on the right of the glove box and the rib loops in the tub for the factory soft top.
It has the dash rings too but it hasn't had any door hinges since I bought it in 76. It had a best top with soft doors so I guess the heep dealer I bought it from yanked the hinges to fit the doors before I got it.


Kevin

 

[3jvj]

Rust?

 

[Toyo FJ40]

It was totaled... tree through the front fender and cowl into the dash.

 

[wantatlc]

It was totaled... tree through the front fender and cowl into the dash.

okay.... so that is a pretty extreme reason to replace a cowl I would say. other than soemthing like that... I wonder how a FST cowl could/would get on my rig if it was not a FST. That is kind of what I think Poser was implying

 

[Dusty 66]

MORE FACTORY SOFT TOP INFO source TOYOTA LANDCRUISER 1978 OWNER'S MANUAL page 1 section 1

Model...FJ40LV,BJ40LV
Body style...HARDTOP



Model.....FJ40L
Body style.....SOFT-TOP






I had all this resource INFO and dident used it untill now ! JC

 

[nuclearlemon]

who the hell would pull the entire cowl and put a different year cowl back in?

i've got a 65 with a 76 firewall welded in by po...wanted to have correct bracing for brake master....

 

[wantatlc]

MORE FACTORY SOFT TOP INFO source TOYOTA LANDCRUISER 1978 OWNER'S MANUAL page 1 section 1

model.....FJ40L
Body style.....SOFT-TOP

but the thing is.. I guess they did not start putting in this L (or LV for that matter) denotation until after 74 as mine just does not have a L in it's vin/serial number etched into the frame or on the plate in door jamb. BUT, did they not make FST's before they added the L, if so, how could you tell if yours did not have the L denotation before 78?

 

[wantatlc]

i've got a 65 with a 76 firewall welded in by po...wanted to have correct bracing for brake master....

ah... so I guess it is not something that would be pretty major to do. I guess, looking at cowls, that is a hell of a lot of effort to swap one out so I asumed if my rig had the correct FST cowl, it likely is an original FST original as I would think there would be tell-tale-signs (mis matching paint, welds, missing or not lining up bolts or holes, etc.) it was swaped.

this is a PITA to just get the answer to.

 

[Dusty 66]

Reading the TOYOTA LANDCRUISER REPAIR MANUAL CHASSIS & BODY (circula 1967) FJ40L (The model number with letter L indicates left hand drive vehicles) accordingly
FJ40 & FJ40L canvas top drop gate Roll Up curtian
FJ40-B & FJ40L-B canvas top swing out gate Roll Up curtian
FJ40-C & FJ40L-C canvas top swing out gate canvas door
Fj40V Hard Top Folding Type steel door

I dont know If this helps .........................JC

Look at the line......FJ40 & FJ40L I do not have a service manual for your year of 40 but betwene 1967 & 1978 as long as it dose not have a V after FJ40 I would think it be a FST 40 hardware is hardware If you have it great if not git it , And If you should have hard top model you can still put a Soft Top like the one Ehsan's offers or find O.E.M. one for sale ! the only major differance the captured nuts in the cowls and the top fender rail nut for the door strap and dont forget about the windshild post mounted Mirrors and Hard Top doors will work with FST like my 40 will have if you are lucky enough to find FST doors you probley have to rebuild them and parts are scarce Good Luck JC

 

[PaLCruiser]

If you don't have the vin plate, wouldn't the passenger side frame behind the front bumper have it?

 

[Dusty 66]

The vin plate or data plate on my early FJ40 said FJ40L on top , at the bottom it has FRAME NO. FJ 40 ~ 42537 that matches the frame and no L on the frame I hope that makes sence........ JC

 

[Colorado Boy-74-FJ40]

me too

but the thing is.. I guess they did not start putting in this L (or LV for that matter) denotation until after 74 as mine just does not have a L in it's vin/serial number etched into the frame or on the plate in door jamb. BUT, did they not make FST's before they added the L, if so, how could you tell if yours did not have the L denotation before 78?

My 74 had a had a soft top on it the day Dad drove it home from the dealer I can 150% gurantee it! The data plate says nothing about an "L" also there is no light on the dash by the glove box. There is one on the top of the window frame between the motor and the drivers side window shade.

 

[wantatlc]

If you don't have the vin plate, wouldn't the passenger side frame behind the front bumper have it?

yes, but as I have said, neither the vin plate nor the frame etching have the L designation.

Dusty 66 - it is of no difference or interest to me to get a soft top, hard top, FST, or any top for that matter, etc.. I just want to know if this is in fact an original, from the factory ST.

 

[greenfox]

I dont have a light on the right side of the dash or have an "L" on the vin#.
I whould like to see a pic of the light on the right of the dash.

 

[Dusty 66]

Dusty 66 - it is of no difference or interest to me to get a soft top, hard top, FST, or any top for that matter, etc.. I just want to know if this is in fact an original, from the factory ST.[/QUOTE]


Read my post C A R E F U L L E Y

Reading the TOYOTA LANDCRUISER REPAIR MANUAL CHASSIS & BODY (circula 1967) FJ40L (The model number with letter L indicates left hand drive vehicles) accordingly
FJ40 & FJ40L canvas top drop gate Roll Up curtian
FJ40-B & FJ40L-B canvas top swing out gate Roll Up curtian
FJ40-C & FJ40L-C canvas top swing out gate canvas door
Fj40V Hard Top Folding Type steel door

 

[wantatlc]

Dusty 66 - it is of no difference or interest to me to get a soft top, hard top, FST, or any top for that matter, etc.. I just want to know if this is in fact an original, from the factory ST.


Read my post C A R E F U L L E Y

Reading the TOYOTA LANDCRUISER REPAIR MANUAL CHASSIS & BODY (circula 1967) FJ40L (The model number with letter L indicates left hand drive vehicles) accordingly
FJ40 & FJ40L canvas top drop gate Roll Up curtian
FJ40-B & FJ40L-B canvas top swing out gate Roll Up curtian
FJ40-C & FJ40L-C canvas top swing out gate canvas door
Fj40V Hard Top Folding Type steel door

first, I was responding to your newer lower portion of post #32 in my above quote, not the post #23 you relisted again, which I can and did clearly read, in #32.

second, if you read all these posts CAREFULLEY from the beginning you will see it was discussed long ago (see post #3 for example) about the 'drop gate' (so I knew that already) and that I just wanted to know if it was a FST (and not about what top I can/could put on it). that being said, the rest of that sentence ('canvas top' and 'roll up curtain') do not help me determine anything as I do not have the original top (or any top for that matter) and if I did, I suspect I would not be asking the quesion as said top would tell me what I had.

I appreciate the help in trying to identify this, but it seems we are going in circles and no new definitive signs are coming up that can point to a for sure way to nail it down. a sign here and a sign there, but nothing concrete.

 

[Dusty 66]

wantatlc Sorrey about the confusion :

POST 23 Quoting from Toyota Repair manual thats the way it reads not to confuse anybody but the manual only refers to FST as Quote: Canvas TOP never dose it refer to as SOFT TOP ...maybe it was concitered slang then ? I do not know I was just tring to be accarate is all...


Tail Gate :Same with Drop gate thats is the way its discribed in the manual.

Same with roll up curtain .......discription of rear door.

I do not have a photo scaner that works or I would post it up.

I posted this way so you could look it up as discribed

POST 28 1978 Owners Manual Refers to SOFT TOP

#3 my first post was off the top of my head
#8 my experance or lack of
#19 sharing what I had
#23 Quoting FSM
#28 Quoting 1978 Owners Manual
#32 Noting that FJ40 & FJ40L were canvas tops per FSM 1967 or FST
#34 Noting diferance vin vs frame #

Just thought I was helping at least ........I learned some thing I did not know before sorry it got confusing but I learn as I go just like what this fo




I HOPE THIS HELPS SOMEBODY BECIDES ME................. JC