Builds Marion Rising: 1974 FJ40 FST

[MadMace]

All good stories start with some dramatic opening. My story and how I came to acquire my FJ40 is no exception. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, well here's 4,000 words worth of pictures.

 

[MadMace]

Okay, I already know what you're thinking. "This is a Land Cruiser forum, not a Jeep forum"...I know how Land Cruiser people feel about Jeeps. I know because I am now a Land Cruiser person who used to own a Jeep Wrangler. Specifically, a 2015 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon that had 10,000 miles on it when it spontaneously caught fire while I was driving down a busy road. This Jeep was bone stock, there was nothing added to it so it catching fire was purely a Jeep manufacture issue--unfortunately Googling "Jeep Wrangler fire" will bring up some disturbing information. I can almost certainly assure you that my feelings about Jeeps are as strong, if not stronger, than the average Land Cruiser person. I guess, in some weird way, I should thank Jeep--because of this Jeep fire I became hooked on the FJ40.

More tomorrow. I promise, I'll get to the 1974 FJ40 FST soon, because, after all, that is what this thread is really about.

 

[ColoradoCarlisle]

Sounds like a smokin' good thread
Subscribed

 

[MadMace]

My first memory of the FJ40 goes back to hunting in the Davis Mountains in Texas. A bright orange Dodge Ram Charger, several misc. Ford and Chevy pick-up trucks and one lone blue Toyota were what brought terror to the mule deer of the Davis Mountains when I was learning to hunt. The one that sticks out more than any is that Toyota. It could go anywhere. I remember it being electric blue but researching it now I am sure it was a stock blue color, like Royal Blue or Medium Blue; I think my mind transformed the memory of it into that sharp electric blue color because I thought that Toyota was FANTASTIC.

I was born in 1973, so by the time I could start driving the newest FJ40 was 6+ years old. The look of the FJ40 can never be replicated but I remember trying to like other "trucks". Remember the Suzuki Samurai? That was high on the list until safety studies showed it rolled over on its side and top as well as it did on its wheels. There was also Joe Isuzu and the Isuzu Trooper. Ultimately, I got a Ford Bronco II. Don't get me wrong, great, fun truck but it just wasn't like that "electric" blue Toyota.

So, we now come to the summer of 2017. FJ40s have long been out of my mind--so many other things had come to occupy that space, not the least of which is being a dad to a teenage daughter and soon to be teen boy. Interestingly, my son has long had a fascination with jeeps. I don't mean Chrysler Jeep, I mean jeep in the generic form--world war II type Jeeps. We start discussing getting a jeep type truck. Of course, the only thing new that looks like a jeep is Chrysler's Jeep Wrangler. So, after much searching we found a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon--color "Tank". Probably the coolest color for a vehicle I had or have heard. And the name fit the color perfectly--this color looks straight of a Sherman Tank with clear coat.

All was great until the eve of New Year's Eve when said tank colored Jeep Wrangler Rubicon caught on fire. As is obvious from the pictures, it was a total loss. It really sucked...not for the reason you are thinking...of course your car catching on fire sucks, but that's not what really sucked. What really sucked is the form of the Jeep Wrangler is what I loved. Nothing else has that form is what I remember thinking at the time...and nobody in my family will ever be in another Jeep. My son was devastated. He loved that truck--to him it was what that electric blue Toyota was to me at that age. Main difference is that the Toyota didn't go down in a blaze of failure. But then those memories of that electric blue Toyota stated to percolate. A little research here and there in my free time and this "ih8mud.com" hit kept coming up as I was researching FJ40s. A half a day one Saturday on this forum and I got the sickness...the obsession...to own an FJ40.

Amongst many searches on this forum that I found intriguing, these were 2 of the best:

Putting out feelers on 1974 FJ40 worth
and
1974 FJ40 FST with parts stash, Central Texas $25K obo

Little did I know when I was looking at these threads for the first time that I had found my (and my son's) FJ40.

The party is just getting started, so come along with me as this story continues. I'm going to need a lot of help, direction, and advise so please chime in, especially if I am talking about doing something that is wrong.

Let me introduce you to Marion...I'll explain more about the name as we go.

She's photogenic. That being said, pictures do this 'ol girl no justice. She's even more beautiful in person.

 

[Jtk72]

I can’t wait to see what you and your son are going to do to her. A lot of people said I would regret selling my 40. Knowing that it’s going to be restored, used, and cherished by a father and his son just makes me smile. I enjoyed the time I had with her but I have a feeling I’m going to enjoy reading this thread even more.

Subscribed.

 

[Rigger]

That looks like original paint. If it is, don't ever repaint it.

 

[MadMace]

Yes, it is the original paint. That paint will not be touched--buffed and waxed yes, touched-up or painted no. She's got some dents in her passenger-side fender that we know are from the original owner's daughter hitting a tree learning to drive--you can see them in one of the pictures above by the fender light. Those dents stay as well. I am 100% about preserving her as she is. There are some other neat additions she has from long ago, like shotgun racks mounted under the back fold down seat. Those will be cleaned up and put back on. Her history is too cool to do anything but preserve.

I will be posting a ton of pictures as we go, maybe too many but I am doing this with my son and I want to memorialize this for him, so he can go back as he gets older and remember.

 

[greenbeasty]

Subscribed!

 

[cbmontgo]

Glad you ended up with that '74. It is a beaut.

 

[MadMace]

Here are some of the details on Marion:

Model: FJ40 FST
Build date: October 1973. Numbers matching.
Engine: 1.5F (I know that there is technically no "1.5F" but that is what it is often referred to as). Serial number on the engine puts its date of manufacture shortly after September 1973 (Serial number F510001 built 9/73 F543390 built 5/74. Marion's engine serial number F514142).

As far as I know, I am the 4th owner, or 3rd, depending on how you look at it. She was purchased by a fellow Mudder, Jtk72, in 2012. He purchased her from the grandson of the original owner (grandson inherited her when his grandfather died). She was clearly loved by her original owner's family. Jtk72 told me how the family cried when he loaded it onto the back of his vehicle hauler to take her to her new home. Below is the link to Jtk72's thread, in post #7 of that thread he describes her history up to that point (8/2012):

Marion's History by Jtk72

Jtk72 and his wife have taken incredible care of her. They rescued her out of a barn and got her running. He fixed electrical problems she was having, got her new brakes, clean carb, sealed radiator and on and on. There is no question they love her and it would be impossible for me to have bought my FJ40 from a nicer couple.

She's got her original doors with original plexiglass (not currently on; the doors that she currently has on were custom made half doors). I am also quite sure that she has her original spare tire--I'll post some cool pictures of this tomorrow. It's quite possible she has her original headlights, at a minimum they are OEM--I'll post pictures of this tomorrow as well. Of course, she has her original paint--don't worry, she will never be repainted as long as I have her.

She does not have her original bows and of course her original soft top is long gone.

Okay, enough chit-chat...time for some pictures, which is what we all want!!!

Picture by Jtk72 when he brought her home in 8/2012

Picture from Sunday March 18, 2018 in my garage. I didn't realize it until I was putting this post together that Jtk72 and I took almost the exact same picture 6 years apart.

Her heart and her muscle

Notice the kick-ass shotgun rack on the fold down seat on the right. Those will be cleaned up and put back on.

Many, many more pictures to come so stop back by soon!!

 

[rrv333]

Great looking 40 and story!

 

[MadMace]

So here are the pictures of what I think is the original spare tire. Of course, the wheel is not the original color. The reason I think it is the original is the date code on the tire is "343" and is labeled as made in Japan. This means that this tire was manufactured in Japan in the 34th week of some year that ended in "3"...i.e 1973, 1983, 1993, and so on. The 34th week of 1973 was August 20th to August 26th. Being that the truck was built in October, 1973 and close to the manufacture date for the tire if made in 1973 is likely not a coincidence. Also, Dunlop tires were what the FJ40s left the factory with.

Also a picture of what quite possibly are the original headlights, at a minimum they are OEM. It was actually my daughter that noticed the headlights...I was amazed that she recognized the name on the headlights as what was used on FJ40s. I guess I am teaching her well.

 

[MadMace]

So I plan on posting many pictures as I go through Marion's refresh. I hope that these can serve others in the future. To that end, please post any pictures that ya'll might have to add to the discussion. I am a HUGE visual learner so the more pictures the better. In addition to pictures, please post any comments, suggestions, corrections, criticisms, different options, etc. so this thread can be as helpful to others as possible.

So, let' get started with the refresh.

Because Marion has not been driven much over the last several years I wanted to make sure the piston rings were well oiled and forming a good seal in each cylinder. We chose Marvel Mystery Oil because it is a light oil and figured it could get down around the rings better...and my son loves Marvel, especially Captain America...he thought the name was pretty cool.

 

[ginmtb]

Congrats I love that cruiser glad it is going to a great new home! @Jtk72 sorry that you are without it now but I know that you've been trying to sell it for some time now.

 

[MadMace]

The next several posts are going to be refreshing Marion's original FST/soft doors. I found some decent threads here on Mud regarding this, but none that I found comprehensive so I'm going to try to be as detailed as possible.

Here are the doors as they stood when we acquired them with Marion.

 

[Jtk72]

Congrats I love that cruiser glad it is going to a great new home! @Jtk72 sorry that you are without it now but I know that you've been trying to sell it for some time now.

Thanks - I'm happy that we owned it. I wanted a 40 so bad and I was lucky enough to find this one, learn some things one it, and pass it along to an amazing new owner who has the ability to care for it the way it needs to be. Seeing his son working on it with him warms my heart.
I have absolutely no regrets - I was so afraid I was going to "kill it" because I just didn't have time for it.
We aren't leaving the land cruiser world - we may move to something a bit more modern that fits our family and my special needs bro-in-law. Maybe a 100 series. We'll just have to see how things work out.
Plus, I get to live through MadMace and his build thread.

 

[MadMace]

Thanks - I'm happy that we owned it. I wanted a 40 so bad and I was lucky enough to find this one, learn some things one it, and pass it along to an amazing new owner who has the ability to care for it the way it needs to be. Seeing his son working on it with him warms my heart.
I have absolutely no regrets - I was so afraid I was going to "kill it" because I just didn't have time for it.
We aren't leaving the land cruiser world - we may move to something a bit more modern that fits our family and my special needs bro-in-law. Maybe a 100 series. We'll just have to see how things work out.
Plus, I get to live through MadMace and his build thread.

You'll also get to see your girl when ya'll come down to San Antonio and we meet for a bite to eat!!

 

[MadMace]

More door pictures.

 

[Grant Woodbridge]

Fantastic starting point to a great truck.

 

[MadMace]

Making some good headway on the refresh of Marion. A lot of work on the doors, I'm going to post some pictures here in a little.

I have started to remove seats to clean out the inside. Also, getting some parts off to get to the powder coater which brings me to a question. The roll cage/bars need to be blasted and powder coated but I cannot seem to get some of the bolts out. I have circled said bolts in the picture below. Each attachment plate has 2 of these and 2 regular bolts. I tried to remove the nuts from the bottom as they look like they come off but my 1/2 inch impacts wrench cannot budge them. Can somebody please tell me how to get these out so I can get this off and to the powder coater.

Thanks much, and Happy Easter!! Don't eat too many Peeps.