Hello, my name is Tony and I’m a Toyota addict. On my fourth Toyota, built out a 2006 Tundra and a 2015 Tundra (current daily driver).
For as long as I’ve been with my wife (16 years) she has wanted an older “jeep like” vehicle for the occasional driver/weekend trips to wine country. I had looked for Series II/III Land Rovers for awhile but have also been looking for a FJ40.
On my way to Montana for my annual spring bear hunting trip I located a 1971 FJ40 sitting on the side of the road in Salmon Idaho. Here’s what she looked like when I first saw her:
After speaking with the PO I learnt that it was a 1971 with a Chevy 327 under the hood and that it ran. We agreed upon a price (almost too good to be true actually) and made arrangements to meet in a few days. Met up with the PO and we immediately struggled to get it to turn over. Turns out, truth be told, it had been sitting there exposed to the elements for 4+ years without anything being done to it. No regular maintenance, no regular startups, no battery tender etc. PO hooked up two "relatively new" batteries to her and she wouldn't turn over at all. At this point I'm thinking well the price just went down again significantly. I recognized that there was an O'Reilly's right up the Highway so I headed off there to pick up a new battery and some starter fluid.
Once the new battery was installed and after hitting the carburetor with some starter fluid she turned right over.
I paid the PO and then flat towed her up and over Lost Trail Pass and back into Montana.
After a week of unsuccessful bear hunting it Montana it was time to flat tow her back to California. Took a hard look at the tires manufacturing date and realized they were about 9 years old. Wasn't terribly comfortable flat towing it 1,100 miles with those tires so dragged it down to Les Schwab for some new shoes.
Stayed with the original tire size (31x10.5x15) for now. A day and a 1/2 later or so and she was back in California where she will get some real work done to her.
What I've learned so far about the truck:
Title says 71 FJ40. According to the frame numbers/id plate it was manufactured in July of 71 - FJ40107483
Anyways, looking forward to this trip and learning everything I can.
Project Website
Instagram
YouTube
For as long as I’ve been with my wife (16 years) she has wanted an older “jeep like” vehicle for the occasional driver/weekend trips to wine country. I had looked for Series II/III Land Rovers for awhile but have also been looking for a FJ40.
On my way to Montana for my annual spring bear hunting trip I located a 1971 FJ40 sitting on the side of the road in Salmon Idaho. Here’s what she looked like when I first saw her:
After speaking with the PO I learnt that it was a 1971 with a Chevy 327 under the hood and that it ran. We agreed upon a price (almost too good to be true actually) and made arrangements to meet in a few days. Met up with the PO and we immediately struggled to get it to turn over. Turns out, truth be told, it had been sitting there exposed to the elements for 4+ years without anything being done to it. No regular maintenance, no regular startups, no battery tender etc. PO hooked up two "relatively new" batteries to her and she wouldn't turn over at all. At this point I'm thinking well the price just went down again significantly. I recognized that there was an O'Reilly's right up the Highway so I headed off there to pick up a new battery and some starter fluid.
Once the new battery was installed and after hitting the carburetor with some starter fluid she turned right over.
I paid the PO and then flat towed her up and over Lost Trail Pass and back into Montana.
After a week of unsuccessful bear hunting it Montana it was time to flat tow her back to California. Took a hard look at the tires manufacturing date and realized they were about 9 years old. Wasn't terribly comfortable flat towing it 1,100 miles with those tires so dragged it down to Les Schwab for some new shoes.
Stayed with the original tire size (31x10.5x15) for now. A day and a 1/2 later or so and she was back in California where she will get some real work done to her.
What I've learned so far about the truck:
Title says 71 FJ40. According to the frame numbers/id plate it was manufactured in July of 71 - FJ40107483
- Chevy 327 conversion
- Rochester Quadra-Jet Carb
- SM465 Transmission (looking at casting marks of GM 6273212)
- Advance Adapters Split transfer case (Advance Adapters 715571)
- Stock axles (assumption)
- Stock springs (assumption)
- 31x10.5x15 tires
- Saginaw power steering - uncertain ratio
- No heater
- No wipers
- Frame appears to be great
- Body is ok, but needs some help
Anyways, looking forward to this trip and learning everything I can.
Project Website
YouTube
