Joining the FJ40 Crew

[Roastchestnuts]

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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Welcome to the madness! if you find yourself on Ocracoke hit me up! we can talk cruiser nerd together! You are not too far from me!

 

[2dub]

I haven't been to Ocracoke in years.... May have to take you up on that.

 

[2dub]

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.

Same, mine was desmogged by the PO. I did notice some unattached pigtails near the steering column I was going to try and identify. I would love to clean it up. Sunday is supposed to be rainy so that means good garage time after the obligatory mothers day stuff.

 

[2dub]

Memorial day weekend was a washout, but I got to spend some quality time in the garage.

I just created another thread about some of my electrical woes.

But here's what I got done:

I bought a pair of cheap Amazon UTV lights to use as dome/reading lights. I wish I had known they were USB-B charging. I had to go but a separate cable. I assume everything is USB-C now-a-days.

New LED headlights, and turn signal lenses. - I'll get another set of lenses sooner than later. These are cheap knockoffs and the fit isn't perfect. Also just changing the lens made the signal go from working perfectly to when the lights come on the the turn light comes on too. I have no clue how that happened...

I removed the backseats. Which led to me removing the soft top. Unzipping the back released the tension enough the back became unhooked. Since I was planning on taking the top off soon anyhow, I just went with it.

I de-chromed almost everything. Until I ran out of paint. so the tailgate latches and hinges will be next week. The side mirror arms are half way done. But with more paint it will allow me to do some touch ups on the roll cage too. The hinges and latches were chrome and I touched up the doors too.

 

[2dub]

Then just to get under the skin of purists (j/k) I released my not so inner nerd and made some Darth Maul vinyl decals for the kick vents. From the first time I saw it at the PO's house it made me think of Maul.

 

[2dub]

Now I have the most beautiful FJ40 that's stuck in the garage

Spent all weekend washing, clay barring, compounding ( the hood took 4 times to get some of the imperfections out), polishing and waxing.

Now I can't get it to start. I've run down the battery so am charging it back up. I wanted to take it for a quick spin this afternoon and nada. In the 2 months I've had it, it's always been a little diva to get started, but today it just won't turn over.

It's a shame because Tuesday I was going to take it to the local Land Cruiser club meet up. I really won't have time to toy around with it until next Saturday.