Intro- "The Dude Magnet"

[CBFJ]

I bought this beautiful 69 FJ40 from @Fj40owen in May, and have been meaning to post this for a while now!

Even though I have no maintenance skills, tools or garage space I couldn't control myself when I saw the patina. So I towed her over several mountain passes to her new home! Recent work done by PO:

-new radiator
-new manifold gasket
-new aftermarket carb
-new fuel filter
-new door weatherstripping
-new brake master cylinder
-new red top battery


Looks like a '74 engine swap? Am I reading that F540328 serial correctly?

Issues:

-speedo, fuel gauge, horn, oil temp gauge, parking brake, turn signals...don't work. (hazards do work, though
-currently won't idle, an issue I have posted here. The latest is fuel between carb and engine. I have a mechanic buddy coming over to check it out.

To do list:

Since I am pretty unskilled at the in-depth mechanicals, I figure I should crush the cosmetic, starting with a new headliner and weatherstripping, and reconditioned raingutter zone. Pics attached.

-2" OME lift, once I save some $.

-30 x 10.5 pizza cutters, want to keep it as O.G. as possible. Maybe paint the wheels? Anybody know what the original wheel color was?

-rear heater has been disconnected, but might be good to re-hose. could be trouble though.

-roll bar? possible? if so do I need the shorter seats? or is there a way around this?

-second rear seat so the kids don't beat each other up.

-front seats- take care of the rips, either recover or replace.

Managed to driver her over Cottonwood pass to Classic Cruisers in Poncha, kind of returning her to the cradle, and had a great time with Brandon.

I figured the patina was more important than all the rest; I can figure all that out but man I love this thing! Don't worry- this will NEVER be painted!

I found the license plates on eBay and got them certified or whatever by the state for parade use; I figure every time I drive her it's a parade so they're staying on!

I look forward to leaning a ton as I rehab the "Dude Magnet" (so named because pretty much every guy stares and women couldn't care less. Why did I buy this again?!)

 

[CBFJ]

mas...

 

[CBFJ]

poco mas...

Also, she was apparently used by the Animas County CO fire district to scout for wildfires, then was relegated to a field for 25 years.

 

[Catching Neutral]

Congrats
The cruiser corp coral seat covers look great with that color/patina
Enjoy your new rig

 

[CBFJ]

Congrats
The cruiser corp coral seat covers look great with that color/patina
Enjoy your new rig

whoa good call on the coral. Thanks

 

[Jdc1]

Looks like a great start. You are definitely right about the 40s being a dude magnet. I had a guy pull up next to me at a stop and say “I have no idea what that is but GD it’s beautiful.”. My daughter and wife love riding in them though.

 

[cruisermatt]

Awesome 40, saw it on CC’s page a few weeks ago. You said you’d never paint it, it’s definitely in the right hands.

 

[Pighead]

Yup, that looks like a Late F engine. With a vacuum retard dizzy (you might wanna fix that), a metal fan (you might wanna swap that to a plastic fan) and some odd looking thermostat housing bolts...you might wanna do the right thing and ignore that for now

 

[HelloKitty65]

Think acorn hubcaps and smaller taillights would be period correct. What a beauty!

 

[LandCrusher'70]

Think acorn hubcaps and smaller taillights would be period correct. What a beauty!

Quite sure acorns are earlier. The 69’s had the larger taillights.

 

[cruisermatt]

Does your vacuum 4wd work?

 

[Hugh Heifer]

Great patina and all original. Really nice. Love it.

 

[Living in the Past]

Think acorn hubcaps and smaller taillights would be period correct. What a beauty!

Quite sure acorns are earlier. The 69’s had the larger taillights.

The small tail lights a d acorn hubs caps ended around the end of 68 I believe. Same with tall single level hood pads. Seen a few early 69 with them. If Toyota didn't drop anything pre 3/69 would be easier to track changes.

But those don't matter as this appears to be a 70 model not a 69. Clearance lights on the side verses reflectors and no bib lights started with the 70 model. I have a 10/69 70 model. If the tubs is original to the frame think it would date 10/69+.

 

[3_puppies]

The small tail lights a d acorn hubs caps ended around the end of 68 I believe. Same with tall single level hood pads. Seen a few early 69 with them. If Toyota didn't drop anything pre 3/69 would be easier to track changes.

But those don't matter as this appears to be a 70 model not a 69. Clearance lights on the side verses reflectors and no bib lights started with the 70 model. I have a 10/69 70 model. If the tubs is original to the frame think it would date 10/69+.

but only until mid 70 run as it has single circuit brakes, didn't that start mid year 1970?

nice rig, enjoy it.

 

[Living in the Past]

but only until mid 70 run as it has single circuit brakes, didn't that start mid year 1970?

nice rig, enjoy it.

7/70 which I consider the start of the 71 model. I was just considering the last few months of 69. But thinking 10/69 or possibly early 11/69 by what looks like another small change I think I can make out on my phone.

 

[Living in the Past]

Has the A pillar plaque which should have production month on it.

 

[LandCrusher'70]

but only until mid 70 run as it has single circuit brakes, didn't that start mid year 1970?

nice rig, enjoy it.

7/70 which I consider the start of the 71 model. I was just considering the last few months of 69. But thinking 10/69 or possibly early 11/69 by what looks like another small change I think I can make out on my phone.

Just to support what you two have stated. My 07/70 did in fact come with a dual circuit brake system.

 

[HelloKitty65]

I had a truck registered as a 1969 model, and LITP told me the later hubcaps I put on it were wrong. By the VIN it was a May of '68 production date. For me It came down to when the production switchover came, and a 1969 registered truck could go either way.

Builds - WAS: 68 FJ40 in Seattle, Now: My 68FJ40 build thread - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/was-68-fj40-in-seattle-now-my-68fj40-build-thread.1046549/post-11777720

 

[Crusha]

Nice 40, perfect name!

 

[Dizzy]

Nice truck. Welcome to Mud.

Love the pics of Colorado! Animas County is where my folks are from, and this 40 probably worked to look after my folks ranch (near Trinidad) which has certainly had it's share of wildfires.

Looks like a '74 engine swap? Am I reading that F540328 serial correctly?

There are holes in the head for the air-injection rail, so it is a 9/73+ USA head. Also, the oil filter on the passenger side started with the F.5.

Weren't the original wheels were single-stage glossy grey on the outside and black on the chassis side? I believe that they were riveted early, not welded.

Tire choice is probably not something I'm going to convince anyone about, but, the originals were likely H78-15 - a bias-ply that some Mudders currently get from Coker. I'm happily running 215/75/R15 on low-range(ish) Forest Service roads, no problem. Although 235/75/R15 were installed on my truck when I started, they technically (if you dig deep) call for a 6"-wide rim (your wheels are 5.5"-wide). Your spring bushings are shot, and a refresh of the existing suspension will buy you an inch up or so. I'm a big fan of the stock suspension.