Into - 1977 FJ40

[Flipadelphia303]

Hi all,
I joined this forum to learn more and get advice in restoring / preserving the 1977 FJ40 my grandfather left me. I’ll include some pictures of its current condition. My goals for the vehicle are just to preserve it so that it is drivable, fun to run around in with my boys.
At the moment I’m looking for advice on the following:
- weather striping around the doors and small windows
- replacement rain guard for the passenger and driver windows
- replacement turn signal (I bought one but the wire connections are the reverse of the original in terms of Male / Female)

 

[dirtywilks]

Congrats! I have an '82 and am working on a '77, and literally just purchased a lot of that!

Weatherstripping:
OEM is always best, but with that comes at a higher price tag. I scoured all the dealers and got a lot of mine when it was 25% off and free shipping for ove $75 bucks.
City Racer (Cityracerllc.com sells some great aftermarket stuff. Great Vendor.
Cruiseroutfitters aka cruiserteq.com Great OEM/aftermarket high quality aftermarket as well.
For things that go wrong mechanically, I went to Cruiseroutfitters and Georg with Valley Hybrids.

Best of luck

- weather striping around the doors and small windows
- replacement rain guard for the passenger and driver windows
- replacement turn signal (I bought one but the wire connections are the reverse of the original in terms of Male / Female)

 

[pb4ugo]

Welcome aboard. You have a very nice and solid starting point. It's great that it stays in the family. Love the stripes, but hate the plow attachment. I'd retire that. The 40 should clean up nicely. It looks very complete. Get it running, stopping and driving 1st. Don't be a stranger.

 

[Flipadelphia303]

Welcome aboard. You have a very nice and solid starting point. It's great that it stays in the family. Love the stripes, but hate the plow attachment. I'd retire that. The 40 should clean up nicely. It looks very complete. Get it running, stopping and driving 1st. Don't be a stranger.

Welcome aboard. You have a very nice and solid starting point. It's great that it stays in the family. Love the stripes, but hate the plow attachment. I'd retire that. The 40 should clean up nicely. It looks very complete. Get it running, stopping and driving 1st. Don't be a stranger.

the plow attachment I go back and forth on. My grandpa mainly used it to plow his driveway and did some off roading in Colorado. So to me I have a nostalgic attachment to it having always seen it used as a plow.

 

[sggoat]

Weatherstripping:
OEM is always best, but with that comes at a higher price tag. I scoured all the dealers and got a lot of mine when it was 25% off and free shipping for ove $75 bucks.
City Racer (Cityracerllc.com sells some great aftermarket stuff. Great Vendor.
Cruiseroutfitters aka cruiserteq.com Great OEM/aftermarket high quality aftermarket as well.
For things that go wrong mechanically, I went to Cruiseroutfitters and Georg with Valley Hybrids.

Best of luck

For weatherstrip--chk out Metro Moulded parts(haven't looked at city racer or Cruiser outfit) so I don't know, but this co. has some effective bulbiforme strip that sealed my doors

 

[Mark Jennings]

Cool Beans Rig, keep the plow attachment….it’s part of the history, to add value, collect information from whoever knew why it was bought, who it was bought from, why the plow…was it a business or just the driveway. In these times of sinking value….the story is worth more than the rig.

Also pull up the floor mats and clean/preserve. Floor mats are ‘kryptonite’ to these rigs.

Preserve the strips….its a 70’s thing….adds to the story!

 

[Flipadelphia303]

Cool Beans Rig, keep the plow attachment….it’s part of the history, to add value, collect information from whoever knew why it was bought, who it was bought from, why the plow…was it a business or just the driveway. In these times of sinking value….the story is worth more than the rig.

Also pull up the floor mats and clean/preserve. Floor mats are ‘kryptonite’ to these rigs.

Preserve the strips….its a 70’s thing….adds to the story!

The story on this rig is as follow:
My grandfather bought it in Utah. He would take it off roading in Noth Western Colorado to place like Little Flat Tops and other mountains around Steamboat Springs. He mostly used it to plow snow in front of his house in Oak Creek Colorado. We used to ride in it with him to the local ice rink when we visited. We liked it as kids because of the bench seats that faced each other in the back. Now my kids enjoy the same type of rides when I drop them off at daycare in it, a little way up the road.

 

[pb4ugo]

It really depends on how you want to use the 40. The lower snow plow attachment is going to severely effect any kind of trail riding, and takes away ground clearance. Its bracketry probably hangs low and is mounted to the frame or springs. It is also very heavy.

 

[franklin40]

beauty. i love my 77. i have to agree with @pb4ugo about the plow. unless you’re actually going to use it as a plow i’d lose it. there a lot going on in the front end there. personally i prefer the look of a clean front. the fj40 grill/bib is so iconic i just want to show it off.

for seals id try to go OEM for door seals but everything else city racer is awesome. i just found his door seals a little thick and make for tight door closures if you want a clean body profile.

 

[Paul_A]

I'll second or triple the motion to ditch the plow set up. Keep it for posterity and give your boys snow shovels for Christmas.

 

[igotta40]

You are in Houston? Me too. Nice truck. What’s that red thing on the floor? Plow controls?

I briefly had a 76 the same color.

 

[SteveH]

Great truck and story. Take lots of plow photos, and then remove it. All that weight makes it harder to steer and harder on front end parts.

 

[Land Shark]

Beautiful rig and love that it was handed down to you. Awesome story good luck. It appears to be in really good condition.

 

[Flipadelphia303]

You are in Houston? Me too. Nice truck. What’s that red thing on the floor? Plow controls?

I briefly had a 76 the same color.

Yes that lever controls raising, and angling the blade. I am here in Houston. Thanks. Do you have one now?

 

[igotta40]

Yes that lever controls raising, and angling the blade. I am here in Houston. Thanks. Do you have one now?

Yes I have a FJ40 1974

 

[onemanarmy]

Just don't ever cut the rear fenders. Ever.