Joining the FJ40 Crew

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2dub

2dub

Joined
May 22, 2024
Threads
10
Messages
57
Location
Aydlett, NC
The FJ40 has always been something I've wanted but have been waiting for the right time & opportunity. I found this 1979 and got an exceptional deal on it.

The previous owner did a really good job with restoring it. He had TrollHole rebuild the engine just about 2000 miles ago. He also did some mods I already wanted to do including smog delete, tailgate vs ambulance doors, dual swing out rear bumper, AC and more.

My to-do list (for now) includes:
  • New Choke Cable - he had one that he never installed - so that will be this weekend.
  • The exhaust is very loud, source and solve that.
  • The Prior owner had a heavy duty suspension because he put more weight in it and towed a trailer. With only me and no load the ride can be a bit jarring. So I will go with a lighter weight suspension. The Bilstein shocks are pretty new, so I'm thinking of getting the OME Dakar springs and shackles and keeping the existing shocks.
  • Remove the electric power steering. It looks like it its the EZ Electric power steering. Our test drive was cut short because on its own it would suddenly cut hard left - into traffic (yikes!!!!)- we turned it off and everything was fine, but I'll remove it and go back to stock non- power steering until the CCOT power steering kit is available again.
  • Rebadging - The PO recently had the red repainted and debadged, but he gave me a package with all new badging - I'll get that done this weekend too.
But that will keep me busy enough for now and I'm sure I will always find more things to do to it.

Sorry for the bad pics it didn't get delivered until just before sunset last night.

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2dub said:
so I'm thinking of getting the OME Dakar springs and shackles and keeping the existing shocks.
Click to expand...

Have you looked at the parabolics? Terrain Tamer parabolics installed - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/terrain-tamer-parabolics-installed.1347611/


2dub said:
but I'll remove it and go back to stock non- power steering until the CCOT power steering kit is available again.
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I have a rule about CCOT that I developed many years ago after a couple purchases for myself and reading some posts here on 'Mud. They're fine if you need something soft, like sunvisors or seatcovers. Or a calendar. For steering or brakes or something really important I go to a more trusted vendor.
This is a very old rule, they may have changed in the last 30 years, but I have not had to give them another chance so I don't know about their more recent practices.
 
Pighead said:
Have you looked at the parabolics? Terrain Tamer parabolics installed - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/terrain-tamer-parabolics-installed.1347611/



I have a rule about CCOT that I developed many years ago after a couple purchases for myself and reading some posts here on 'Mud. They're fine if you need something soft, like sunvisors or seatcovers. Or a calendar. For steering or brakes or something really important I go to a more trusted vendor.
This is a very old rule, they may have changed in the last 30 years, but I have not had to give them another chance so I don't know about their more recent practices.
Click to expand...
I'd second that opinion about CCOT... everything I've bought from them can be found cheaper but more importantly of better quality.
 
Agree with CCOT. Good for a few things but not important stuff like steering or brakes.
On the E steering. There is an adjustment on the box to adjust the side to side amount of input. Usally behind a decal on the unit.
If working properly, E Steering is great for everyday driving and mild off road.
Key is to make sure all your OEM steering components are in near perfect condition.
Your issue sounds like something in amiss with the unit its self or set up in the OEM equipment.
 
Thanks for the direction on everything.

I did the deep dive on the TT suspension. Looks like I'll be saving up a few more bucks than intended. And am probably going to go in that direction. It looks like it will be both comfortable and functional. I do some mild off roading but primarily forest service roads and such, definitely nothing terribly technical.

But I'd also like to fix the droop I have in the drivers side rear.

Tomorrow I'm going to reach out to EZ Electric and try to get a manual and some trouble shooting tips.

The other problem I discovered yesterday is that the EZ Electric under dash section left very limited access to the fuses. The horn isn't working and I thought I'd start with the fuse. Now I've got to get a game plan as to how to easily get that.

I also want to reach our to Bestop to get the directions on properly operating the soft top. I'm thinking of completely removing it and getting a bikini top for the summer. Since it will be kept in my garage.

I'm sure I'll be here regularly asking questions and doing research...
 
We all have Cruiser Lean unless we’ve done something special to solve it, but from what I’ve read the TT setup can solve it. From the sounds on your intended use, you will be really happy with TT.

As far as parts and CCOT, my only buy was the HFS front bumper for my winch, otherwise it’s Toyota OEM (there are several good “dealers”) and/or Cruiser Outfitters for the bulk of my parts. Racer and a couple others have done great at filling in the gaps for things that are NLA.

Congrats, enjoy that 40
 
Hot take here, but about 5 years ago I did buy the HFS 2.5" suspension lift kit and installed it myself. I have been pretty happy with it, although I can't compare it to much as the suspension that was removed was stock, sagging, and just bad.

But generally speaking I think the opinions of CCOT are probably pretty accurate. Early on in my FJ40 ownership I would buy a bunch of stuff from them, until I learned for myself the benefit of OEM and stopped putting lesser parts even at the expense of "cost savings". I think my headliner I bought from CCOT to the others point.
 
77mustard40 said:
We all have Cruiser Lean unless we’ve done something special to solve it, but from what I’ve read the TT setup can solve it. From the sounds on your intended use, you will be really happy with TT.

As far as parts and CCOT, my only buy was the HFS front bumper for my winch, otherwise it’s Toyota OEM (there are several good “dealers”) and/or Cruiser Outfitters for the bulk of my parts. Racer and a couple others have done great at filling in the gaps for things that are NLA.

Congrats, enjoy that 40
Click to expand...
I got lucky and don’t have a lean on my ‘67 and didn’t do anything special other than replacing my springs, shackles, and shocks. But now I’m afraid to do body mounts for fear of re-introducing the lean.
 
Got the choke cable installed. I'm going to have someone who actually knows carbs look at it and see what adjustments might need to be made.

Unfortunately, I'm out of town until Wednesday, so no working on it this weekend.

But I did get a reply from EZ Electric. I was impressed by their quick reply. They gave me a couple of troubleshooting ideas. I'm going to play with that soon.

Since this will be garage kept (at least until I can afford a hard top) I'm going to get a bikini top to enjoy the summer.

I am going to paint everything that is chrome black, and then the tow hooks red. -- That's got to count for some additional power. ;)

Other than the loud exhaust & hard suspension I'm very fortunate not too much needs to be done mechanically. I'm sure more will pop up, I did get this partially to be a project vehicle. I will pressure test the exhaust with soapy water for leaks, but my initial reaction is that it is just the muffler, if so that will be an easy fix. And I'm saving some $$$ for the suspension.

Hit a little SNAFU with getting it registered so I still can't "legally" drive it, but that will be taken care of when I get home next week.
 
Congrats and welcome.

Chime in to the local clubhouse and say hello. Not too many members in the eastern NC area but lots in RDU and some at the coast. @Redfish is in FarmVille.

forum.ih8mud.com

NC- Olde North State Cruisers

North Carolina clubhouse
forum.ih8mud.com forum.ih8mud.com
 
78crzr said:
Congratulations, and welcome to the LC obsession!
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It's been a long obsession. Forever I have driven my wife insane pointing out and drooling over every LC we see, especially 40's. I irritated her when we went to Costa Rica last year pointing out every one we saw and there were hundreds.

I think she just gave in to get me to STFU.

Last year there was a really nice one for sale along the side the highway near our house for months. Each time we passed it I said how much I wanted it. One day she just yelled at me to just F'ing buy it. but they were asking more than I was willing to pay.
 
@2dub hey congratulations on your 40… I hope you’ve read some of my experiences with the Terrain Tamer suspension…I have a few notes , comments and installation pictures here. No sag…great ride…2” lift NO BANGING into holes and ruts. Plan on a $3200 ball park. I say this one more time…I never wanted a $40,000 Land Cruiser but mods like this are beneficial. It made my FJ40 a dream to drive. I’m no longer in the mountains…I’m on blacktop 90% of the time and Fire trails the other times

Ps: don’t forget the 4* caster shims
 
2dub said:
It's been a long obsession. Forever I have driven my wife insane pointing out and drooling over every LC we see, especially 40's. I irritated her when we went to Costa Rica last year pointing out every one we saw and there were hundreds.

I think she just gave in to get me to STFU.

Last year there was a really nice one for sale along the side the highway near our house for months. Each time we passed it I said how much I wanted it. One day she just yelled at me to just F'ing buy it. but they were asking more than I was willing to pay.
Click to expand...
I can understand! Bought my first FJ40 over 20 years ago and been afflicted ever since. Glad your wife gave in and you got your 40!

We were also in Costa Rica last December and I was amazed at how many we saw. My wife has also taken to LC’s so she was pointing them out constantly while there..or anywhere else! It’s a great addiction!
 
Is there any easier way to work behind the dash. I removed the aftermarket radio and amp (the radio didn't turn on). I also still haven't figured out the horn issue. But the cigarette lighter also doesn't work. I'm going to dig more into it this weekend, but I was wondering if any body had some hints or a better way. Also the aftermarket AC adds a layer of complexity for getting back there. I'll probably start another thread after looking at it a little more. I still have yet to test the wipers.
 
Removing the ashtray will give you some insight, then remove the heater duct under the dash on the passenger side will give you a lot more room. There's only 2 screws holding it in place and a clip that hold a vent cable. I find this to work the best. Beyond that you can unbolt the heater. For the driver side, you can disconnect the battery and remove the dash cluster. I find this is only a little helpful and a pain in the butt because of the speedo cable.
 
FYI, once you've cleared the way as outlined by @pb4ugo, it's not that bad to remove the under-dash harness if you ever get to that point.

After making a few repairs under the dash, including replacing the fuse block on my 79, which was a pain doing it in-place, I ended up removing the harness to make things easier. Turns out, it wasn't that difficult. Lots of labeling as I went helped.

In my case, my 79 had been desmogged long before I got it. The smog components were long gone, but all the harness pigtails were still there. While making my repairs (cleaning contacts, adding grounds, adding accessory wiring, etc.), I removed all those smog-related pigtails to clean things up. It noticeably shrunk the harness.

Probably the biggest impact to getting things working properly again (lots of issues with things not working or working intermittently) was cleaning of contacts, everywhere, including inside switches, terminals and grounds.
 
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