Introduction - Just got a 75 FJ40 (2 Viewers)

[Chiffed]

First, thanks all for maintaining and contributing to an awesome forum. There is just a stellar amount of information here.

So I stumbled upon a neighbor selling a 1975 FJ40 'in progress', complete, and running. I've wanted one for decades, so I didn't hesitate. The hard top sides are rough, there's a million little things, it's sure not rust free, and the heater fan is done. But it has boxes of new parts, engine worked over well, new carb, mild lift with shocks and springs, and a new ragtop. It seems like a great candidate for a frame-off resto, and it is, by accounts, a blast to drive*
I haven't wrenched in a looong time, but I previously kept a budget Alfa race car, Model A truck, and wrenched on crazy stuff at the BC Transportation Museum back when dinosaurs roamed the earth. Thanks in advance for your patience as I ask many dumb questions... I'll use the search function best I can, but newbs will be newbs. Pics and more details coming soon, and I hope y'all can help with my punch list. Meanwhile I'm reading threads like crazy.

*I have busted ribs from a fall, so driving it is not fun for me YET. Also, the seat is in it's original munchkin mode.

 

[franklin40]

looking forward to seeing what you’ve got!! welcome to the madness!!

 

[charliemeyer007]

You need books/manuals.
Lots of free download here, hopefully it has the ones for your rig.

Land Cruiser Factory Service Manuals (FSMs)

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

www.cruisercult.com

The Chilton one is better than nothing

 

[Chiffed]

You need books/manuals.
Lots of free download here, hopefully it has the ones for your rig.

Land Cruiser Factory Service Manuals (FSMs)

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

www.cruisercult.com

The Chilton one is better than nothing

Brilliant. I'll print those up. Thank-you.

 

[pb4ugo]

Congrats on your find. Don't tear it apart yet. Try and get it running and stopping, if you can. Post pics for sure. A lot of 40's have been blown apart and never reassembled. Life gets in the way. Let's look at it, and assess what you have. You need to figure out want you in a 40.

 

[Chiffed]

Congrats on your find. Don't tear it apart yet. Try and get it running and stopping, if you can. Post pics for sure. A lot of 40's have been blown apart and never reassembled. Life gets in the way. Let's look at it, and assess what you have. You need to figure out want you in a 40.

Plan is to daily drive it, read forums, and try to avoid banging my left knee on the wheel too much. Once I'm comfortable I'll take it for a bit of a longer run to really clear the cobwebs.

I still haven't even decided if I want it stock or mild mod or heavy mod. Time will tell.

 

[pb4ugo]

Good answer, drive it and enjoy it.

 

[knuckle47]

You’re gonna need a good bright flashlight as you go deeper down that rabbit hole… I have a spare if you’d like

Congratulations and good luck…
Upload some pictures…when I tended bar 52 years ago…they told me “ice makes the drink”

Here, pictures make the post! Got it?

 

[Land Shark]

The advice above is solid. Get it running, driving, and stopping and enjoy the $#!T out of it. That is exactly what i am currently doing.

AND, WE, NEED, PIC'S

 

[rlong]

Well you have the right credentials: “Model A truck, and wrenched on crazy stuff at the BC Transportation Museum” The FJ40 is only slightly more modern; at least they have overhead valves!

 

[Chiffed]

Well you have the right credentials: “Model A truck, and wrenched on crazy stuff at the BC Transportation Museum” The FJ40 is only slightly more modern; at least they have overhead valves!

Worked on a Duesenberg model A too. Overhead cam, great brakes, 4valves per bucket... also cleaned up the oil leaks from John Lennon's Rolls. Great experience for a teen.

 

[Chiffed]

Pics to start! Including many random parts.

 

[pb4ugo]

That looks great. Get it up and running, stopping and driving.

 

[Chiffed]

Took it for a drive yesterday. It'll take a bit to get used to a manual choke again, but that's no biggie. The seating will be fine once I fab an extender for the seat belt... it's a bit of a strangler. Clutch is abrupt at the top of the pedal travel, but that can be adjusted per the manual (thanks!). Torque is abundant, and I even managed to start on a hill without drama. As far as I can see, everything works but the heater fan, and that shouldn't be too hard.

I'm planning on reinstalling the back seats, but with a prop to the floor for stability. The hard top is a whole other project.

Edit: Brakes are new and strong and work in a panic, as when some doughead lost his garbage can out the back of a pickup in front of me yesterday.

 

[knuckle47]

I have used these in my Chevy pickup and the suburban… they silence the buzzer too that sound when you don’t have the belt connected. They add a few inches in the event you’d need a longer belt and they help relocate a shoulder belt that rubs your neck in a bad spot

Amazon.com : seat belt extender

 

[Land Shark]

Looking good man

 

[Chiffed]

OK, tomorrow I get dirty. I'm currently in town having bought wipers, oil, filters, and other sundry bits. I'll give it a fresh start on fluids, trace down that heater fan fault, and maybe start the "what's rusting now?" game.

I also have to figure out why it won't go into reverse now when it's warm and running. I'm gonna have fun!

 

[Paul_A]

Nice! I have a '75 FST in the same color (see pic to left), we could be step brothers Looking forward to more pics and updates.

 

[CruiserInProgress]

Your having owned an Alpha is an excellent credential.

The guys on Top Gear UK believed you're not really a "petrol head" until you've owned an Alpha.

I've never owned an Alpha, but I grew up on old British cars and bikes, which is a similar experience.

Welcome, and have fun with your new toy.

Looking at your pics, you're way ahead of me in terms of starting point!

 

[Chiffed]

Your having owned an Alpha is an excellent credential.

The guys on Top Gear UK believed you're not really a "petrol head" until you've owned an Alpha.

I've never owned an Alpha, but I grew up on old British cars and bikes, which is a similar experience.

Welcome, and have fun with your new toy.

Looking at your pics, you're way ahead of me in terms of starting point!

Clarkson said Alfas will break your heart, but we raced and broke the car instead. We broke that car over and over and over. We used up every cheap GTV part within 100kms. We had blue sky under all 4 tires on Deers Leap. We successfully lost races with only 3rd gear. The head gasket failed often enough our nickname was White Smoke. I crossed the finish line one time, dead last, with the muffler sparking on the ground and the front brakes on fire.

Good times.