Hoz 78 FJ40 Restoration

[Hoz FJ40 CO]

I took the 40 on a camping shakedown run this weekend and it was a blast to drive and chat about cruisers to all the fellow campers. Only need to replace a small radiator hose and we are good to go. I am confident I can drive this truck anywhere now. All mechanical issues are handled. Just a few more cosmetic things and this truck is done.

 

[Hoz FJ40 CO]

Last night I replaced the thermostat housing with the correct upper housing I bought from Lash. Everything bolted together nicely. Replaced the old thermostat with a new one I had laying around. I have been driving her around today and the engine is running great. Here are some pics. Also replaced the small radiator hose that had a leak in it. Everything is good to go.

 

[Hoz FJ40 CO]

Its been a while so I'm going to update this thread. Last night I removed the bikini top and took the 40 for an evening drive. This week we (Mike, my fabricator/mechanic friend) are going to remove and replace the rear quarters with new sheet metal. Grind the welds down and make sure everything looks perfect and then start the process of repainting the truck.

Here are a couple pics from last nights ride. Will update build as the pics come.

 

[broth9640]

This week we (Mike, my fabricator/mechanic friend) are going to remove and replace the rear quarters with new sheet metal. Grind the welds down and make sure everything looks perfect and then start the process of repainting the truck.

What? Why? Didn't you handle all the rust already?

 

[Hoz FJ40 CO]

This week we (Mike, my fabricator/mechanic friend) are going to remove and replace the rear quarters with new sheet metal. Grind the welds down and make sure everything looks perfect and then start the process of repainting the truck.

What? Why? Didn't you handle all the rust already?

Ever heard the term OCD?! Perfectionist?! The paint isn't up to par and neither are the rear quarters. Its not a big deal to replace rear quarters and repaint. The pics are off my camera phone so it 'looks' okay. I want it to look great and it will.

And yes there is absolutely no rust!!! Just my preference to fix a couple issues with the paint. The bodyshop fella I originally had paint it did a poor job.
Example :
1) When I bolted the body to the frame there was a hairline crack (in my new paint) down by the rockers. (that will be addressed and fixed).
2) The body man did a poor job of painting the rear door hinges (that issue will be addressed).
3) Rear doors need to be resanded and painted (that will be addressed)
4) The front door hinges were painted on the doors. Any adjustment shows original paint color (sloppy and no attention to detail drives me crazy) repainting the front doors.
5) Front fenders have a small amount of orange peel (again attention to detail and end result are not acceptable. If I'm going to paint the front fenders might as well just repaint the whole darn thing. I want everything to match.

Mechanically all issues have been addressed and it shows while driving it. Now to make it pretty and pass my inspection.

 

[My wife said no FJ!]

For what it's worth, you do not have a 100% stock rig that should make you so finicky on such details. I am not saying that they wouldn't bother me also, but, enjoy your rig, touch up/fix the paint blemishes that need attention now, or over the winter, and get a better guy do better work on your next restoration project

 

[Hoz FJ40 CO]

For what it's worth, you do not have a 100% stock rig that should make you so finicky on such details. I am not saying that they wouldn't bother me also, but, enjoy your rig, touch up/fix the paint blemishes that need attention now, or over the winter, and get a better guy do better work on your next restoration project

This vehicle is pending sale and I want the new owner to be happy for many years with the time and effort I have put into this project. 100% stock and fit and finish are two different things. I need the fit and finish to pass my inspection and for this rig to get the ooo's and ahhh's for many years to come that it deserves. I love working on 40's and the time and money spent will be worth all the effort I have put into this rig thus far.

I do appreciate the comments though.

 

[Hoz FJ40 CO]

Trying to shed a little light on why I am tearing this truck down and repainting it. Mike just picked the truck up for me from work (he lives about 20 miles from me, no way to get home) and we were talking about how the previous body guy had painted the truck.

In the paint it looks like it has tiger strips. So either the body man didn't have enough paint, didn't know what he was doing, or was drunk (who the heck knows) anyway he wasn't giving complete coverage of the vehicle when he painted it. So it has a bright red strip with a dark red strip. He was probably holding the gun to close to the truck or the nozzle didn't have the correct spray pattern on it.

Anyway here are some pics of the rear quarters. First two are of the drivers side. Second two are of the passenger side.

 

[Hoz FJ40 CO]

Tonight we are going to commence tear down of the truck. Completely disassembling the front end, taking measurements of the rear quarters and carefully cutting those off. Will update with pics in the morning.

Land Cruiser on its way to get the proper love it needs. I will be helping with the entire stage of this build.

 

[Hoz FJ40 CO]

Pulled the 40 in the shop at 8:20 pm and commenced with operation replace rear quarters and repaint Hoz's FJ40.

1) Pic 1 pulled FJ40 in at 8:20 pm
2) Pic 2 tear down almost complete at 9:20 pm
3) Pic 3 tear down complete at 10 pm.

Its so much easier unbolting new bolts. The JIS bolts came out effortlessly.

Tomorrow we sand.

 

[Hoz FJ40 CO]

A few more pics of the rear and the body parts.

 

[hawkeyealum]

Looks like fun.

Mike does fantastic work. Very pleased with how mine turned out.

 

[Hoz FJ40 CO]

It has been fun Chris. Post a pic of your ride so we can all drool over it.

Last night we separated the doors and cut out the passenger side rear quarter panel. The rockers we decided to cut out and replace as well.

While Mike was measuring and cutting the rear quarters and rockers out I was sanding the pass side fender. To get down to a workable finish (bare metal) took 2 1/2 hours with 50 grit sandpaper. We are going to Mike brothers tonight to borrow the sand blaster and strip the rest of the parts. It'll take 5 hours to get all the big pieces stripped but in the long run will save us alot of time.

This thread will be updated daily on our progress. Here are some pics.

 

[Hoz FJ40 CO]

Last night we started blasting the metal. I want to get down to bare metal on all body pieces to have a great base for sanding and finishing. We managed to get the two rear doors blasted and a small portion of the hood. Ordering ceramic tips for the gun so will commence on blasting in the next couple days.

Tonight I will be sanding down small parts (aprons) and start on the front cowell.

 

[Michael Hanson]

Sand or different medium? MIke

 

[Hoz FJ40 CO]

Sand or different medium? MIke

Sand.

 

[Michael Hanson]

If sand, the gun should be held at about a 45 % angle to cut down on heat build up and dist. to the metal . MIke.

 

[TROOPERIIandFJ]

Tonight we are going to commence tear down of the truck. Completely disassembling the front end, taking measurements of the rear quarters and carefully cutting those off. Will update with pics in the morning.

Land Cruiser on its way to get the proper love it needs. I will be helping with the entire stage of this build.

I don't blame you for doing this at all. Looks like there is a fair bit of orange peel as well.

 

[mikeymouse]

3 galons of aircraft stripper would be less of a hassle than the blasting, and it wouldn't warp the metal. I agree, the paint job was in need of some love. IT's a nice solid cruiser though! Great work!

 

[Hoz FJ40 CO]

Hey fellas : First off I am not doing the sand blasting. I was counting to ten while I was writing that and waiting for these types of comments. There is absolutely not going to be any warping with sand blasting these parts. The same builder that did an amazing job on a MUD members 73 stripped paint off his hood and body parts the same way. There was absolutely no warping and we are not in a hurry when doing these parts. I'm waiting for Chris to post a pic of his rig on here to show you how great the paint turned out and what not.

All this work, slowly but surely, persistently, always moving forward is building up to a great finished product. I wouldn't take the time to tear this truck back down (after I just built it) if I wasn't confident that the builder could do his job correctly. This guy is amazing. I'm actually helping him build a website for future 40 builds. Build threads, pricing and what not. Mike is the bomb!!!

With that said everything we are doing to this truck to make it great is intentional, well thought out and planned. I do appreciate the comments.