Intro - new 1966 FJ40 owner

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Vision

Vision

Joined
Mar 17, 2019
Threads
2
Messages
17
Location
Tyler, TX
Long time member with a 1998 LX470 100 series i bought in 2012 with 175k on it. Its now sitting at 392k with a 3" lift and 33s, but I am needing a better vehicle to tow behind the RV. I have always wanted an FJ40, and luckily i was able to find a pretty cool one in Colorado and had it delivered to me in Texas yesterday.
fj3.webp
1966 model, runs and drives - I am the 4th owner, with the first two being the original owner and his son and apparently it sat for a very long time. 3rd owner was a mechanic with his own shop that got it running, painted the root beer brown accents, the white underbody, and then clear-coated the patina. Inside and underneath is all rhino-lined. Engine is a Chevy 350, original 3 speed with a PTO winch (not installed).

Thanks to this extremely informative forum, I have already been subjected to a wealth of knowledge. Got a parts list going to start making things happen (rearview mirror replacement, drivers door regulator, blinkers are not working, etc). Also got a bypass hose otw (hopefully) for the transfer case/transmission seal leaking. I will probably go back to black bumpers, but hope to keep it just the way it is for as long as I can.
 
Need more pics. Interesting bumper. That'd stop a moose! The OEM front was a pewter color, still available from Mr. T. Is the entire undercarriage white? Powder coated or spray? I am fascinated. I had a 64 Impala in the late 90s that I powder coated the frame white on. Never seen anyone try that s*** again since haha.
 
Vision said:
Long time member with a 1998 LX470 100 series i bought in 2012 with 175k on it. Its now sitting at 392k with a 3" lift and 33s, but I am needing a better vehicle to tow behind the RV. I have always wanted an FJ40, and luckily i was able to find a pretty cool one in Colorado and had it delivered to me in Texas yesterday.View attachment 40168781966 model, runs and drives - I am the 4th owner, with the first two being the original owner and his son and apparently it sat for a very long time. 3rd owner was a mechanic with his own shop that got it running, painted the root beer brown accents, the white underbody, and then clear-coated the patina. Inside and underneath is all rhino-lined. Engine is a Chevy 350, original 3 speed with a PTO winch (not installed).

Thanks to this extremely informative forum, I have already been subjected to a wealth of knowledge. Got a parts list going to start making things happen (rearview mirror replacement, drivers door regulator, blinkers are not working, etc). Also got a bypass hose otw (hopefully) for the transfer case/transmission seal leaking. I will probably go back to black bumpers, but hope to keep it just the way it is for as long as I can.
Click to expand...
Interesting things going on here.

I have a beefy bumper that is set up for flat towing, I’d let it go for a very reasonable price. I’m in the Austin area of TEXAS.

And like Brian said: the bezel
 
RevISK said:
Interesting things going on here.

I have a beefy bumper that is set up for flat towing, I’d let it go for a very reasonable price. I’m in the Austin area of TEXAS.

And like Brian said: the bezel
Click to expand...
Oh yeah, no wipers?
 
Got the bison killer bumper up front. I bet the steel in that kept 300 people employed at US Steel back in the day.
 
Vision said:
Long time member with a 1998 LX470 100 series i bought in 2012 with 175k on it. Its now sitting at 392k with a 3" lift and 33s, but I am needing a better vehicle to tow behind the RV. I have always wanted an FJ40, and luckily i was able to find a pretty cool one in Colorado and had it delivered to me in Texas yesterday.View attachment 40168781966 model, runs and drives - I am the 4th owner, with the first two being the original owner and his son and apparently it sat for a very long time. 3rd owner was a mechanic with his own shop that got it running, painted the root beer brown accents, the white underbody, and then clear-coated the patina. Inside and underneath is all rhino-lined. Engine is a Chevy 350, original 3 speed with a PTO winch (not installed).

Thanks to this extremely informative forum, I have already been subjected to a wealth of knowledge. Got a parts list going to start making things happen (rearview mirror replacement, drivers door regulator, blinkers are not working, etc). Also got a bypass hose otw (hopefully) for the transfer case/transmission seal leaking. I will probably go back to black bumpers, but hope to keep it just the way it is for as long as I can.
Click to expand...
The hood has no windshield bumpers, nor any holes to mount them. Interesting.
 
Vin plate should say it’s a 65 might be titled as 66 but the hardtop and windshield frame say 65 or older. Personally I’d much rather own an early cruiser that late model but that’s personal preference. I like the old tops and doors and simplicity.
I’d take those center caps off the front wheels so you can turn the selectro hubs but that’s me.
 
Man, you guys are awesome. I really dont know what im looking for yet, but I will answer all the questions I can.

1) Bezel? Not sure what im looking at.... PO did a mod where he painted the TOYOTA in yellow and then put a yellow LED above it to illuminate at night. He said thats why the entire underside is white - so that the LEDs will glow better, he just didnt have time to put the underlights on.
2) All the white is tractor paint. Even the grease, dirt, zerk fittings, etc.... all painted white. Fun! It does make it easier to see if there are any leaks/etc.
3) I flippin love the bumper, but I am not sure about the white... I was thinking of just painting the front and rear bumpers black and leaving the rest of the underbody white.
4) Windshield wipers were in the glovebox. They replaced the front windshield and put new rubber on it, but every other piece of rubber needs replacing all the way around. (Edit - the wipers mount from the top, which is why they were removed). I tried turning them on and they did not work... i think it needs LOTS of electrical cleanup, so that will be a fun project. (Anyone know where I can get those orange junction boxes under the hood? They definitely need replacement)
5) Towing - I dont want to have to pull/reinstall driveshafts, so I am getting a covered car hauler built that will basically be short/tall and allow enough room for the two mountain bikes I plan on carrying on it.

And here are some more pictures:
fj2.webp
fj1.webp
fj7.webp

Lots of fun buttons there... not sure what they all go to. The orange switch was for the old KC lights, and they put a hole in the dash for it. There is a switch above the key that turns on the new KC lights. There is something to the right of the Ebrake, no idea what it would be. Everything else, im just going to trace wires and see where they go.
fj inside back.webp

Not sure how to mount the seat, not sure if i would want to at this point? Maybe if i found another one.
fjfront.webp

The infamous bezel.
 
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fj engine.webp

Engine bay - the wire on the air cleaner was running along side the drivers side header and melted.
fj under.webp

Yep, its all white...
fj transfer.webp

Leaking at the bottom of the front silver part.... Im lead to believe thats the transmission fluid leaking into the transfer case which is overfilling it.
fj back wheel.webp

The frame/body separation. Body is all rhino lined.
fj PTO.webp


The PTO winch. He says its all there, but Im not sure i will ever use it.... but who knows.
 
That bumper must be for pushing Colorado boulders. Is the truck from Boulder? I can't think of anything else except an irate elk or small saplings maybe. It kind of looks like it was used at the docks with those spot lights, but then it would probably have a hitch there. Maybe the mechanic threw a tire on the front and used it to push disabled cars. I love the early look with the corrugated sides and simplicity also, but I find the supersize bumper distracting.
 
Apologies in advance for overloading you guys on pictures, but this is probably the best place to get any info on it. The serial number is FJ40~55599 (EDIT - under the hood, it shows 35399 - apparantly I cant read) , was right next to the bumper.
fj bumper.webp

It looks like the bumper is riveted on? Best I can tell is they cut the actual bumper off, welded the larger lower piece on in place of it, then welded the top middle section on top of it. I dont think its coming off unless I torch it off again.
fj wipers inside.webp

Inside view of the wiper motors.
fj wipers outside.webp

With the wiper blades installed.
 
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This part is referred to as the bezel. It goes around the headlights and is supposed to be oriented like this with the thick side up. People new to FJ40s often don't know their's is on incorrectly and suffer a few insults from the purists here. A few early year cruisers actually had "Land Cruiser " stamped into the thick part but it was discontinued for reasons unknown to me. You have an amazing 40, thank you for sharing!

fotor_1761338924437.webp
 
cruiserkev said:
This part is referred to as the bezel. It goes around the headlights and is supposed to be oriented like this with the thick side up. People new to FJ40s often don't know their's is on incorrectly and suffer a few insults from the purists here. A few early year cruisers actually had "Land Cruiser " stamped into the thick part but it was discontinued for reasons unknown to me. You have an amazing 40, thank you for sharing!

View attachment 4017561
Click to expand...

20250901_131418.webp
 
In its “correct” orientation, the bezel centers the TOYOTA logo on the grill. Toyota took away the option to be wrong in ‘79.

IMG_4385.webp
 
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