Hey everybody, sorry I have been MIA - didn't realize this thread was still going on and I have been underwater at work. I was planning on starting a new thread to introduce my new (to me) FJ once I got it back from Toyota Techs and could snap pictures.
I ended up finding a '78 FJ40 in Winston-Salem, NC and brought it home 1-2 weeks ago. Original color was Dune Beige, it was repainted Green, it has a non-'78 top but the frame, engine bay and driver's door plaques all have matching serials (one oddity is the color code for Dune Beige was not offered in '78 based on that one color chart but another chart did list it). It definitely has some rust spots in the normal areas, and the rear sill is rusted. A few issues have been found (rear main seal leak, e-brake, leaf spring bushings, inboard axle seals behind knuckles, etc. so trying to figure out what to fix now vs. later and what to tackle on the truck).
Appreciate everyone's advice and help throughout the process - I probably overpaid for it, but then recently there has not been a lot of inventory south of $20k even for butchered trucks so I jumped on this one so I wouldn't regret missing another. Also, apologies in advance for all of the posts asking for yet more advice on how to restore it!
Uploading pictures now and will attach later today. Thanks!
I ended up finding a '78 FJ40 in Winston-Salem, NC and brought it home 1-2 weeks ago. Original color was Dune Beige, it was repainted Green, it has a non-'78 top but the frame, engine bay and driver's door plaques all have matching serials (one oddity is the color code for Dune Beige was not offered in '78 based on that one color chart but another chart did list it). It definitely has some rust spots in the normal areas, and the rear sill is rusted. A few issues have been found (rear main seal leak, e-brake, leaf spring bushings, inboard axle seals behind knuckles, etc. so trying to figure out what to fix now vs. later and what to tackle on the truck).
Appreciate everyone's advice and help throughout the process - I probably overpaid for it, but then recently there has not been a lot of inventory south of $20k even for butchered trucks so I jumped on this one so I wouldn't regret missing another. Also, apologies in advance for all of the posts asking for yet more advice on how to restore it!
Uploading pictures now and will attach later today. Thanks!
