Hoz 78 FJ40 Restoration

[thecrazygreek]

Nice build. Looks good. I like your approach.

Only thing I would suggest is to swap the taillights from left to right etc... "flipping them" in the process.

That way they flow with the natural body lines...

 

[FishNinJay]

Weekend of 5-31-11 Continued

Installing custom rear lisc plate light
https://forum.ih8mud.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=530236&stc=1&d=1308177457

Installing rear tire swing out carrier
If I have time will sand down the air cleaner and paint it.

Are those OEM tail lights? For some reason, they don't look exactly right to me. Maybe it's the smooth custom bumper, or missing bumperettes? Also, where is your back-up lamp?

Super nice work.. enjoying it..

Thanks.. keep the pics coming!

 

[Hoz FJ40 CO]

Hey Greek and Arc I mock up everything before I actually run a bolt through it or add a weld to it. I looked at the OEM Toyota rear lamps both ways and I prefer the look this way.

I appreciate the compliments!!!

 

[Pulso]

Are those OEM tail lights? For some reason, they don't look exactly right to me. Maybe it's the smooth custom bumper, or missing bumperettes? Also, where is your back-up lamp?

Super nice work.. enjoying it..

Thanks.. keep the pics coming!

I think the tail light brackets are upside down, or on the wrong side. They should hang below the bumper, not above.

 

[TROOPERIIandFJ]

I think the tail light brackets are upside down, or on the wrong side. They should hang below the bumper, not above.

I believe he's right but wouldn't it make more sense in terms of angle of departure for them to be above? Every little bit helps right?

 

[Hoz FJ40 CO]

I think the tail light brackets are upside down, or on the wrong side. They should hang below the bumper, not above.

They should? Everything I have done to the build on this truck is intentional. Many hours mocking things up to see if it looks right to me. I like the look of the bottom of the lamps up. My preference only. If this were a factory $30-40k correct frame off restoration build then I would stand corrected. However I am building it my way. Like many members on here we research for many hours before we touch a wrench. I do the same thing. When its time to actually drill a hole or weld something up there is great care with everything done to this truck. So if something seems out of place or non-factory it was intentionally set that way.

When I eventually get around to selling this rig the things that I prefer can be easily changed back to factory. I made a couple comments earlier in this build thread that state I will build it the way I want. Many guys comment on the bezel and black tires out. I like the bezel correct but I like to show off my tires too. So with the tail lights. I like them that way.

Anyway cheers and no worries. If I didn't have hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars in hard earned cash in this truck then you wouldn't get the little rant.

 

[broth9640]

Love it! How about a PIC with the hardtop and doors on? I am thinking about that tire size too. I currently have 235/85R16, but I want the steelies back. I wish I could get that tire size with a 15 or a 33x 9.5.

 

[Hoz FJ40 CO]

Love it! How about a PIC with the hardtop and doors on? I am thinking about that tire size too. I currently have 235/85R16, but I want the steelies back. I wish I could get that tire size with a 15 or a 33x 9.5.

Hey Broth I haven't had it all back together yet. Believe me, I wanna see what it looks like too. I am putting her under the knife in a week so haven't put her together. Maybe I will do it for the heck of it this weekend and get some pics up. Nothing like having before and after pics anyway. Good call. I've been so busy on this build I hadn't thought about that.

Pics to come this weekend.

 

[My wife said no FJ!]

Looks great, and doing it the way you want it is what makes each cruiser unique, (which is saying a lot from a purist ) that said, the biggest issue I see is your rear plate...that thing will eventually get hooked up, and bent badly where you have it now, so this is the only thing I would encourage you to change...the rest is up to you.

Nice looking rig

 

[FishNinJay]

Everything I have done to the build on this truck is intentional.

Anyway cheers and no worries. If I didn't have hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars in hard earned cash in this truck then you wouldn't get the little rant.

It all looks awesome. I hadnt read thru entire thread yet, but was just wondering why it looked a bit "different" to me. When I saw Greek's post, I was like, "yup, that's it.." Still looks great, but I thought it was just the smooth custom bumper that was throwing my eye off..

Believe me, mine is no purist rig and highly customized!!

I've been looking at those early year tail lights at SOR and CCOT. I'm going to revert back to a more 1971 stock look for the rear, and get rid of the Jeep truck lights and the custom bumper. I like what you did with yours!! Thx

 

[Hoz FJ40 CO]

You can get those stock rear tail lights from Toyota still for $35/piece. Just saying. Uh hem, nice but heep tail lights...your build...lol. Cruiser looks good.

 

[FishNinJay]

You can get those stock rear tail lights from Toyota still for $35/piece. Just saying. Uh hem, nice but heep tail lights...your build...lol. Cruiser looks good.

Yeah, i inherited the Heep lights along with the "does-this-bumper-make-my-ass-look-fat" custom bumper (which is hella heavy-duty BTW..)

I've seen people say.. "you can get XYZ still from Toyota..".. but exactly how? Just go to any dealership Parts counter? I know.. dumb question, right?

Actually, I have a friend who is a service dept exec with Toyota HQ in Torrance... maybe he could hook me up. I also am considering going back to OEM bumperettes, but add a custom narrow bumper-spare tire carrier (2"x2" square tubing). Ok.. thanks for the tip.. I'm going to look into it. -J

 

[Hoz FJ40 CO]

Yeah, i inherited the Heep lights along with the "does-this-bumper-make-my-ass-look-fat" custom bumper (which is hella heavy-duty BTW..)

I've seen people say.. "you can get XYZ still from Toyota..".. but exactly how? Just go to any dealership Parts counter? I know.. dumb question, right?

Actually, I have a friend who is a service dept exec with Toyota HQ in Torrance... maybe he could hook me up. I also am considering going back to OEM bumperettes, but add a custom narrow bumper-spare tire carrier (2"x2" square tubing). Ok.. thanks for the tip.. I'm going to look into it. -J

Yes absolutely you can go right in. I'll save the parts counter guy some time for ya!!! Oh and you don't need a hook up they are fairly priced and usually I can get them in 3-4 business days. n 's.

Lamp Assy, Rear Combination RH Red 81550-60130

I ordered the same lamp in a qty of two. I can't remember if they are 'handed' or not. I don't think they are.

 

[FishNinJay]

Yes absolutely you can go right in. I'll save the parts counter guy some time for ya!!! Oh and you don't need a hook up they are fairly priced and usually I can get them in 3-4 business days. n 's.

Lamp Assy, Rear Combination RH Red 81550-60130

I ordered the same lamp in a qty of two. I can't remember if they are 'handed' or not. I don't think they are.

oh man.. you guys are SO awesome. Thanks for the part number!

I'm going to check that out. But riddle me this...

My rig is a 1971, but the frame, I believe.. is a 1966. As you probably know, the 1966 uses a smaller tail light.. so should I presume that the BRACKET and tail light would have to be 1966? Not a huge deal, but I'd like to go with the slightly larger 1971-correct tail light. I could also probably fab up a bracket.. perhaps.

Ok.. sorry this is turning into a hijack.. BACK TO HOZ's awesome build thread..

 

[ColoradoFJ40]

Calipers

Did you buy aftermarket calipers or Toyota? If aftermarket, where did you find them and are they of good quality? I need to either rebuild my calipers or get new ones and would like your opinion.

 

[Copenhagen1]

Dang nice job!! ......... And I like your taillights!

 

[Hoz FJ40 CO]

Trying to keep the updates on this build going. Last weekend a buddy of mine and I sand blasted small parts and I am restoring all those parts.

1) Sandblast and restoring : Air cleaner, rear bumperettes, rear jump seats, air cleaner mount for hose, and air induction piece.

After sand blasting those parts I have been working on sanding them down with 50 grit sand paper and then 220 grit. Then will primer and wet sand with 400 grit and paint all those pieces black. Once those have dried I will get the appropriate sticker for the air cleaner and reassemble. I am midway through this process but thought I would post some pics.

I've been helping another MUD member finish his build so this has been taking me a little longer than expected.

 

[Hoz FJ40 CO]

Last night I primed the air cleaner parts. Tonight I will sand them down with 400 grit paper and spray them jet black. They will look brand new!

 

[hawkeyealum]

looking good!

 

[FishNinJay]

another 1- question..

exactly what primer did you use? Rattlecan? or HVLP?

What's the difference between "self-etch" and "epoxy" primer?

I have some stuff I need to de-rust, but I don't have sandblasting capabilities, so I'll just wire brush and wire wheel it, but I don't want it to re-rust. Also have some bare steel parts, waiting for a project to (slowly) come together. Should I paint these with primer?

What are you using for black? What's the most durable? I've read here that ceramic caliper rattlecan is pretty tough stuff.

As always.. thanks.