Journey to My First FJ40

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I feel Im still a new owner. At 40 (2 years ago) I noticed a 40 for sale..and I was done for. My huz thought Id lost my mind. Im a tech junkie. I live for the latest and greatest. No college degree, ZERO mechanical knowledge...never had been within a 20 foot radius of a 40. But I knew. The huz sent me here to mud, told me a club would be the best place to start. ONSC, here in North Cackalacky is a very active group.

My "druthers" changed with the unfortunate lack of choices on the coast of NC. I too felt saddened to turn down some seriously neglected landcruisers..within the club word of mouth presented me a 40 that an owner had sadly decided to sell.

We drove 3 hours inland, and the minute I saw her, I knew. 1974 FJ40-Id brought cash-and "mejane" came home with me.

Drum brakes, manual steering..two things I didnt "want"..turns out, neither are things that I mind. Well adjusted drums work great. Manual steering is no biggie..my huz helped me replace suspension. I cleaned the undercarriage, sanded and sprayed it by myself. 4 months after purchase, mejane ride the trails in Uwharrie National Forest. I still marvel that MY sweat equity made that happen.
Long story shortened, a year and change later - jane had an awesome rattlecan job done (birthday gift from my husband) and he guides my questions. For the most part, I refer to FSMs I downloaded and my club. Im a stubborn old woman and I like getting my hands dirty. Good luck. I have it on great authority that geeks make the most attentive owners...
 
I forgot a picture of jane..cheers!

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I've owned a vortec 350 40 series, several diesel 40 series, an F-powered 40 series, several pre-'81 2F-powered 40s and half a dozen or so post-'81 2F-powered 40 series. I can honestly say that I vastly prefer the post-'81 2F-powered 40 for overall feel, driveabilty and power curve. Granted, fuel economy requires deep pockets, but then it's not much worse that the newer super-sized Toyotas. You just can't beat that straightsix for diving pleasure in my opinion.
 
sarca said:
I forgot a picture of jane..cheers!
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Excellent pic! Thanks for sharing your genesis story. I'm patiently awaiting my FJ40 to reveal itself. In the meantime I have renewed interested in working on the cars I do have in preparation. FSMs downloaded and studied!

sarca said:
Im a stubborn old woman
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Whoa now, I beg to differ! You're only a few years ahead of me. We are young! :)

sarca said:
I have it on great authority that geeks make the most attentive owners...
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Right on!

Glad your husband is so supportive. My wife was with me to visit both cruisers this past weekend, and she's not slamming on the brakes. Spousal support is a huge help. After all, I'm more obsessed with her than I am cruisers.
 
Chamba said:
I've owned a vortec 350 40 series, several diesel 40 series, an F-powered 40 series, several pre-'81 2F-powered 40s and half a dozen or so post-'81 2F-powered 40 series. I can honestly say that I vastly prefer the post-'81 2F-powered 40 for overall feel, driveabilty and power curve. Granted, fuel economy requires deep pockets, but then it's not much worse that the newer super-sized Toyotas. You just can't beat that straightsix for diving pleasure in my opinion.
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I really want to find an FJ40 with a 2F all in good working order so I can experience that. There's some old chatter over in the STL clubhouse, so maybe I can pm one of them and trade favors.

Why post-'81?
 
2F is the way to go. I have a 350 currently but I drove a 40 with a 2F all through High School. The 2F to me has a much more reliable feel to it when I drive it. Probably because I have never been in a 2F powered vehicle when it completely stopped moving. Now gas guzzling V8 that's a different story. I also own an 82 FJ60 with 334,000 miles. It is not pretty but it sill wants to run.
 
bigfj62 said:
Now gas guzzling V8 that's a different story.
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I don't think we need a pissing match about the merits of either power plant. But for the record, my 305 SBC gets about 15 - 16 MPG, and I fully expect it to get a couple more when I go EFI. Never personally owned a vehicle with an F motor, but word around here as that they don't get more than 12 - 14, and usually less.

In this case, at least I think, the question of what motor is more about intrinsic value. To the right person, these vehicles would work their way into your soul even if they only had pedals. And in the price range he is thinking about, there is a broad range of options, and quality levels to choose from. In a daily driver situation, a stock rig in really good shape will have more to offer in the way of rewarding owner experience than, say, a well built, ARB'd, lifted, automatic, 35" tire, custom seat, custom dash, full roll cage, SBC powered truck of similar "value". Yeah, it will drive on the street just fine, might even drive/handle BETTER, but it is intended for a different application, and more often that not, a different person.
People like Jay Leno and his boys can put together a "stock" motor for just about ANY vehicle that's ever been produced, but in another 20 years the ability to say "I want a rig with a 2F" may not even be a viable option for all but the wealthiest collectors. So have fun with the search, and don't get in a hurry (or discouraged). Because who knows, that one out there with the pedals might just be the one that catches your fancy, and that's okay too.

lefty b
 
lefty b said:
I don't think we need a pissing match about the merits of either power plant. But for the record, my 305 SBC gets about 15 - 16 MPG, and I fully expect it to get a couple more when I go EFI. Never personally owned a vehicle with an F motor, but word around here as that they don't get more than 12 - 14, and usually less.

Wrong word usage (Gas Guzzling). Not trying to say the 2F gets better mileage. I guess my personal opinion is that the 2F is a stronger motor then most the stuff GM put out. Again I say Personal Opinion. I am not wanting to get into a debate over GM vs. Toyota power plant.
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sypd said:
Books acquired. Totally normal to read these cover to cover before actually having a 40, right? :)
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Sure. I've heard you can even put them up against your skull, close your eyes while rotating them in a REM fashion like the characters in The Matrix. You'll be ready to go after that:grinpimp:.

Oh yeah, those manuals in the pics are like Gideon's Bible, but the factory shop manuals like you have downloaded are the true spoken word.
 
to me, the Haynes was more useful of those two, by far
 
toomanytoyzz said:
Sure. I've heard you can even put them up against your skull, close your eyes while rotating them in a REM fashion like the characters in The Matrix. You'll be ready to go after that:grinpimp:.

Oh yeah, those manuals in the pics are like Gideon's Bible, but the factory shop manuals like you have downloaded are the true spoken word.
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Amen!

Haynes is okay too..but I think hes drinking up all the info he can get!..and itll keep him busy till the Cruiser Gods ship him his 40!

Btw, theres a b&w 2F diagram in one FSM that I considered having blown up and put in a frame on the wall...no joke.
 
I have had a well worn Haynes since pre-internet days as my 40 bible. It's the British nomenclature you have to be wary of. The first car I regularly drove, that I owned, was a 1974 Fiat 124 Sport Coupe, and I clearly remember the Haynes for that said not to "replace" the main bearings because it was "a false economy to do so". Well, "replace" in Brit speak means NOT to put them back in when you rebuild. While I was an impressionable young man at the time, I read that line more than a few times and got the real meaning, did the right thing, and drove it for a good while longer without issue. Now the 40, she's a different beast. I'll look forward to welcoming you to the madness, but i can see it's already somewhat got it's tentacles in you. May there be mercy on your soul....


lefty b
 
sarca said:
Btw, theres a b&w 2F diagram in one FSM that I considered having blown up and put in a frame on the wall...no joke.
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wiring diagrams can have a beauty all onto themselves, I agree :cheers:
 
Picture #1 is of the factory spot welds. There are several good write ups in the tech section here on MUD that discuss them in depth.

Sent by my fancy IOS 7 IPhone
 
I have those same tac weld marks..just pulled off the top and no rust issues to be found. I told my huz not to fill them for a smoother paint job..cause theyre supposed to be there lol
 
1974 FJ40 lost on eBay returns on CraigsList

Unless I am mistaken, the 1974 FJ40 I tried to get on eBay for $22,800 has resurfaced on CraigsList for $59,900. Wow!

Current listing:
http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/ctd/4094311116.html

Previous listing:
http://r.ebay.com/u8jzpt
https://landcruiser5.shutterfly.com

The Fairey Overdrive, the tach, the tailgate straps, the console, the bumper and... and....

They took the bumper sticker off. ;)

It's made up of 3 donor vehicles at least. Is that a $60k FJ40? I thought those numbers were reserved for numbers matching, original restorations.
 
They're smoking crack.
 
I'm with 1911. Probably the delusional flavored crack. Funny how the different light makes the top go from grey, to very beige. But looking at the engine compartment, everything is identical down to the wire routing. The ebay money was probably not too far off, but now for almost 3 times more, it better poop gold bars out the tailpipe for that.


lefty b
 
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