Making '73 FJ40 A Daily Driver

[MuddyMaestro]

Ok, what would it take to get my '73 FJ40 up to daily driver status? It is basically stock everything as far as the engine and tranny is concerned. It'll hit 60 mph, but it takes a while and the engine whines like no tomorrow. Any suggestions or answers?

 

['69 Yota]

Well, the easiest answer is just drive it. If everything like brakes and fluid levels are up to snuff, just drive it. I have a stock '69 that I drive every day and have for the last two years. It helps that the closest freeway is 3 hours away and highest speed limit in the county is 55 and the road to work is 50, but if the steering and brakes are in good shape, just drive it.

 

[Thornton]

My son ran his 73 for over a year as his dd about 9 yrs ago. It was stock, other than 2- 1/2" lift with 33's. He would pull away from the pack at a red light and run it at 65 to 70 with no problem. I guess at 16 your indestructable and so is your cruiser. I would think that the main thing would be the gears , swap out the 4.11's to start. Next would be get rich. My Tacoma at 18 mpg is bad enough I could not see driving my 71 at 12 mpg as a dd. The other would be to make sure that your steering is tight and your brakes are in order. Good Luck in your venture.

 

[ibejamie]

Ok, what would it take to get my '73 FJ40 up to daily driver status? It is basically stock everything as far as the engine and tranny is concerned. It'll hit 60 mph, but it takes a while and the engine whines like no tomorrow. Any suggestions or answers?

I think posting some pictures is definately a requirement for making a DD out of your rig...

x2 on just driving it... the keys... you'll need the keys though.

Welcome

 

[calixto]

I drive my 73 everyday and love it. I don't have a big commute though. Just make sure all the safety stuff brakes, steering, etc. work good. Also I would suggest getting some shoulder belts. Not sure about yours whinning to hit 60? While my truck doesn't like it, it will do 65mph down the freeway all day long. Do all the cheap tune up stuff fluids, PCV, plugs, wires, dizzy cap & rotor, air filter, fuel filter, timing and see if that doesn't help out.

 

[MuddyMaestro]

I think posting some pictures is definately a requirement for making a DD out of your rig...

I'll try to get some up as soon as I can. Yea, my dad told me I should start by changing the gears, but I don't know if that would affect the off-road capabilities. I'd much rather keep it the way it is rather than change its performance off-road. I probably will upgrade to a 4 speed though...

 

[Bossman]

As others have said, make sure your steering and brakes are up to the job. It may be a good time to consider 4wdb mod and power steering of some sort. Depending on lift I would just run some larger meats to gain some top speed rather than change the gearing. If you are really serious something like a Ranger O.D. might be a good option. Also, good call on the 4spd - that non-synchro first on the 3spd can be a pain in a DD (ask me how I know). Good luck......and post pics.

 

[hicruise55]

Years ago I drove my '75 FJ40 with 38s pretty much everywhere! Stock 4:10s no powersteering ect... I loved it! I'd drive it across the state, though Seattle, I mean everywhere. Ya, I was young and it wasn't the fastest rig.. but man your CRUISIN! the thumbs up alone are worth it! Just make sure its safe

 

[wells.jack]

i drive mine pretty regularly, if its squelling i would tighten up the belts, i know i could use a tighter one on mine. i wouldn't blow money on power steering, you get used to not having it and it builds your delts if you parallel park alot. other than that i'd fix the problems as they come or when you get enough cash to upgrade somthing. happy driving!!!

 

[greenfox]

73 fj40 every day for 5 years all stock. And going on a 500 mile round trip this weekend.

 

[DWitcher]

Don't get in a hurry. Let the dumbasses go buy and you'll meet them at the light. Brakes and steering are your biggest concern.

 

[SLOonTheGo]

Only things that I would say you need is

check the brakes, fluids etc, stearing.

then
1. Gum, get the bugs off your teeth from the huge grin you will have from rolling a sweet 40 all over.
2. Spare shorts for after your first OH SH** moment, it's always the other guy so watch out for it, keep space etc, 4 wheel drums and 3500 lbs don't stop so fast.
3. Copious amounts of gasoline. The 40 drinks more fluids in 26.2 miles than I do running the same distance in a marathon.


Congrats on the 40 and pics are a must.

 

[brian]

other than another gear, a 4speed is'nt that huge of an improvement for road driving....they both have a 1-1 top gear.

 

[dgangle]

Without a lot more information from you there can be a whole lot of babbling with all kinds of people telling you what's important to them and spending your money for you.

Let me answer your question with a series of questions.

What's important to you? ie: economy, comfort, look cool, etc

How much money do you have to spend?

What help, skills, tools & facilities do you available?

These and your priorities ultimately dictate what mods/improvements if anything you can chose to do. Overdrive tranny, 3:70 gears, rubber overdrive, fuel injection, diesel conversion, AC, power disk brakes, power steering????? Some people can't even afford to fix their brakes right!

My advice would be to buy a Civic for practicality, comfort & economy and drive the Cruiser for recreation. That is coming from a guy ignored all of the above and daily drove a continually evolving FJ40 from 16-26. Now a bunch of years later I have the Cruiser I wanted but could not afford then and I drove it I think less than 600 miles last year. Times, priorities and tolerance for inconvenience all change.

 

[MuddyMaestro]

Ok, to clear up the bit about my saying it whines, what I meant was you can audibly tell that the engine has reached its RPM limit. I can hit 60 no prob, but on the highway everything is 70 and my cruiser just can't do that very easily. I want to put disc brakes on all 4 wheels and definitely upgrade to a 4 speed. I would change the gears but like I said, I'm worried it'll affect the off-road bit. If it won't, please tell me.

I'm not worried about economy, seeing as how I want to make it a DD it would be ridiculous of me to worry about such a thing. As far as priorities, it is already the most badass thing you will see on the road, unless another 40 pulled up next to me and comfort isn't something I worry about too much. I mainly just want to be able to hit 70 without worrying that the engine is gonna give up.

 

[dgangle]

Well given that, higher ratio ring & pinion and a rubber overdrive (larger tires) are going to affect the slow-speed off road ability. Whether this amount will be unacceptable to you we cannot determine. The cheapest method of getting the RPM's down on the highway is a rubber overdrive. Gains ground clearance too. Next are different ratio rear ends. 3:70's can be done cheap as I have documented elsewhere. These are relatively inexpensive mods. The only way to have the best of both worlds is with a different transmission. NV4500 has the granny gear and overdrive. It's like $3k alone and takes over $100 in special synthetic oil to fill. Can you afford this price of admission?

Remember that you are driving a vehicle designed prolly 50 years ago as an Asian alternative to the military jeep. The FJ40 was never designed to meet the needs of 21st century suburbia with $4 gas. They are as aerodynamic as a barn door and arguably as unsafe as a motorcycle. I have heard it said that Toyota quit importing the FJ40 because it could not meet the ever increasing USA safety and emission standards. They gave up. Sell it in the third world.

They are certainly cool and many of us are very passionate about them but for 99.99999% of us they are discretionary toys, not daily drivers. I ain't loaded by any means but I certainly have the means to drive one daily if I wanted. Given the choice of only one vehicle to drive all the time it sure as heck wouldn't be one of these.

Remember too that in all reality, actually how important is the absolute true off-road ability for something that is daily driven? Sounds like the requirements of someone posing around in an H2.

 

[spdwaver]

Mine is a daily driver by choice: I drive it because I enjoy driving it more than any vehicle I own. It also helps that I have a short drive to work (<15 mi.). Like everyone else is saying though, you will need to work out a few mechanical details if you plan to drive at higher speeds.

I also want to x2 on what Brian said: my four-speed (SM420) did not gain much of a higher top speed; especially since first gear is useless on the street.

Either way, enjoy!

 

[Alz Toy]

Fairly Cheap Option

Well, since he allready has the 3 speed tranny/bellhousing, how about 3.70's with a SM 420? Seems like He'd gain on both ends. Just a thought. Al











































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