Is my 40 a 1975 or 7976? (1 Viewer)

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Oct 30, 2018
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East side of TN
So about 6 months ago I picked up my FJ40, it was a semi resto mod that has sat for 8 years in a barn pretty much. The title says its a 1976 but when i changed insurance to State Farm last week they swear up and down its a 1975. So the reason for my question is i am looking to get some hard doors and understand there is a change in them from '75 to '76... any know how i can be sure? The plate on the driver side door has been painted over when it was rhino lined so i think trying to remove the rhino liner would destroy the wiring on the plate. Any thoughts or suggestions in general.

here are a few photos if that helps

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beats me. Are there any external differences that are easy to see between '75 and '76?
 
My frame number on the front passenger side matches my vin on the title and registration, is there a letter or number in the vin that tells me the year it was made?
 
Spector offroad website has page to decider the numbers. But I think the frame number is just that Last 5 and it’s a 9 digit number
 
225243 sure looks like it was made between May and June '76 then .
 
and i should have said thanks for all the info. i really apricate the help and I'll call state Farm and let them know
 
If it is a US-spec, there will be a different EGR warning or combo warning light on the dash, 75 or 76. Also, the original steering wheel for '75 has like a red T emblem, not blue; obviously, this one has been swapped. The transfer case linkage changed styles after March of '75. Discs vs drums, otherwise, the same spare tire carrier, etc.

The '75 door should fit a '76, and the other way around, right?
 
From what I see, your body, spare tire carrier and dash configuration are identical to my May '76. Mine is FJ40223789
 
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beats me. Are there any external differences that are easy to see between '75 and '76?
no, they are exact in nearly every aspect short of perhaps a little bit in the wiring harness late in the 76 model year...and the obvious front brakes.
 
My rig is a 1976 model year (disc brakes), built in late 75... VIN is 207897.

If mine's a '76, yours has to be. 😆
the model years typically started in oct and ran till the following sept....there are a few exceptions to this general rule of thumb.....the 1975 model year being one..jan75-sept75...so the 1974 model was also one....oct 73-dec 74.
 
the model years typically started in oct and ran till the following sept....there are a few exceptions to this general rule of thumb.....the 1975 model year being one..jan75-sept75...so the 1974 model was also one....oct 73-dec 74.
Yeah, mine is a Sep 75 build but a '76 model year... just meant that based on VIN, there's no way the OP's rig is a '75.

Granted, there's some perks to being a '75 in the regulations space ... 😆

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