Inherited 71 FJ40 - what’s your next move?

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anthonyc

anthonyc

Joined
Sep 2, 2023
Threads
1
Messages
17
Location
San Jose, CA
My grandfather passed down his FJ40 to me. He was the only owner and took decent care of it to keep it running/driving, but it sat in the CA desert sun and is a bit tired. It only has 25,000 miles.

Given everyone’s expertise here I’m curious what you would do next.

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1 fix bezel

imho get oem floor mats… do a headliner … enjoy it for a year and see what it needs

If you’re driving it a lot … 4 wheel disc

Drive it and enjoy it
 
I would check/adjust the valves and then do a dry then wet compression test to see how the engine is doing. Check the plugs and wires. Check/adjust the timing. Then check and adjust the brakes.

I would plumb in a Vacuum gauge - helps with gas milage and might save your engine from vac leaks in the system such a brake booster or 4WD

I would also do a direct read oil pressure gauge add on.

free download manuals

Land Cruiser Factory Service Manuals (FSMs)

Factory service manuals (FSMs) for your Toyota Land Cruiser ! From the 1950s to the present!
www.cruisercult.com www.cruisercult.com

Coolerman's wiringing diagrams and parts
 
Wow! Looks like a really clean original example. If that is original paint it is really rare to find them in that good a shape.

71 is a good year with the power brake booster and 2 barrel carb, they drive pretty well bone stock if you keep small tires on it.

How about some engine bay pictures?

I’d get a new dash from Toyota and send the steering wheel to @Birdhead for a restore. And drive it!
 
Get the correct wheels for it, Toyota still sells them new, hubcaps, tune up with valves and replace all fluids, adjust carb and drive it. Then start fixing things as they pop up. You’ve got a great rig, I wouldn’t mess with it too much. Certainly wouldn’t touch the paint other than preserve the patina.

wngrog

Thread 'Preserving Patina - How To Tips and Tricks'

I keep retyping my “formula” for old Patina preservation so I decided to make a thread so I can just link my response to how I preserve my old Land Cruisers the way I do.

For the last 3 years I have been learning how to preserve Land Cruisers in their original state. Protecting their original finish where able to let the worn paint and dents tell the story of the vehicle.

It all started when I found this 1968 FJ40. I immediately fell in love with it and wanted to keep it as close to the same as I could yet build a “sleeper” interior and drivetrain that made it a true driver as well...
  • Like
 
Enjoy it.

First and foremost.
 
charliemeyer007 said:
I would check/adjust the valves and then do a dry then wet compression test to see how the engine is doing. Check the plugs and wires. Check/adjust the timing. Then check and adjust the brakes.

I would plumb in a Vacuum gauge - helps with gas milage and might save your engine from vac leaks in the system such a brake booster or 4WD

I would also do a direct read oil pressure gauge add on.

free download manuals

Land Cruiser Factory Service Manuals (FSMs)

Factory service manuals (FSMs) for your Toyota Land Cruiser ! From the 1950s to the present!
www.cruisercult.com www.cruisercult.com

Coolerman's wiringing diagrams and parts
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Solid ideas! I’ve heard the “just drive it” stuff before with other vehicles etc. I’m not like that, I love working on projects. I also built a 1/10th scale RC crawler of the LC.

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cstav86 said:
Get the correct wheels for it, Toyota still sells them new, hubcaps, tune up with valves and replace all fluids, adjust carb and drive it. Then start fixing things as they pop up. You’ve got a great rig, I wouldn’t mess with it too much. Certainly wouldn’t touch the paint other than preserve the patina.

wngrog

Thread 'Preserving Patina - How To Tips and Tricks'

I keep retyping my “formula” for old Patina preservation so I decided to make a thread so I can just link my response to how I preserve my old Land Cruisers the way I do.

For the last 3 years I have been learning how to preserve Land Cruisers in their original state. Protecting their original finish where able to let the worn paint and dents tell the story of the vehicle.

It all started when I found this 1968 FJ40. I immediately fell in love with it and wanted to keep it as close to the same as I could yet build a “sleeper” interior and drivetrain that made it a true driver as well...
  • Like
Click to expand...
I have the original wheels, just missing the hub caps.
 
cruisermatt said:
Wow! Looks like a really clean original example. If that is original paint it is really rare to find them in that good a shape.

71 is a good year with the power brake booster and 2 barrel carb, they drive pretty well bone stock if you keep small tires on it.

How about some engine bay pictures?

I’d get a new dash from Toyota and send the steering wheel to @Birdhead for a restore. And drive it!
Click to expand...
Yep original paint! It had this dusty coat of oxidation on it that I think helped preserve it. We used a paint restoring wax and it shined right up. This thing sat in the middle of the Mojave desert never stored inside, only on a concrete driveway, its entire life. It’s a miracle it’s not in worse condition. The fiberglass roof is prob the worst thing on it. And all the window seals need replacing.
 
anthonyc said:
The running boards are not factory. The originals were stolen off of it around 2005, and my grandpa and I put those cheap ones on back then.
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The running boards for 71-78 are actually available new, OEM, very inexpensively. I have a few pairs in stock. Would be nice to paint to match.
 
Needs nothing but a solid tune-up and changing out fluids as detailed here. If it's me, leave the paint and interior and basically everything, including your running boards. That story is priceless. 40s wear patina very, very well, and this one has just the right amount. They are only original once. Drive and enjoy and pass down to your kids.
 
majdomo said:
Needs nothing but a solid tune-up and changing out fluids as detailed here. If it's me, leave the paint and interior and basically everything, including your running boards. That story is priceless. 40s wear patina very, very well, and this one has just the right amount. They are only original once. Drive and enjoy and pass down to your kids.
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Love this. It probably needs a little longevity TLC, but my plan is to leave it as stock as possible.
 
anthonyc said:
Love this. It probably needs a little longevity TLC, but my plan is to leave it as stock as possible.
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Nothing major to be honest. Just do some baselining on the engine, fluids / oil / gear oil / brakes and you should be good to go. Check vacuum and do a valve adjustment if needed. Lots and lots of resources here to help. This probably needs very little. Lucky duck.
 
anthonyc said:
I honestly feel terrible moving it to a big city in a garage. It deserves to be off-road a few times a year :) - I’ll find a way ha
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You've got a fun summer ahead. Baseline, check all the wear parts (hoses, brake lines, brakes, fluids), start planning a trip and get it out there.
 
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