Builds Mississippi Delta Beast - 1974 FJ-40 Rescue and Rehabilitation (4 Viewers)

[wngrog]

Power steering is going on at
49 Tire Pros

Easier said than done. Some owner at some time had broken 2/3 bolts for the alternator mount into the head off so they moved the alternator to the drivers side where the power steering pump goes.

 

[wngrog]

I checked in on this today

Looking good @wct49

Alternator is back to the OEM spot

Rebuilt sector. Didn’t even know this was possible. Nice.

@orangefj45 PS kit going in.

 

[wngrog]

I think this round is almost finished. I saw new weather stripping and even rebuilt front door guts have happened.

Lift and winch are on. Looking slick.

PS cooler

Saginaw pump

Come Up winch

Rebuilt center arm

Mini Truck power steering box. These things are getting hard to find.

 

[wngrog]

I stopped in to see and ride in the Delta Beast on the way home from work today.

The suspension, power steering and rattle reduction 49 Tire did really put the final touches on it.

Great truck.

 

[imyahucklbrry]

Said it before but I really like what you did with this truck... sort of like a favorite pair of ‘fit just right, completely broke in and tastefully worn’ jeans!

 

[wngrog]

Said it before but I really like what you did with this truck... sort of like a favorite pair of ‘fit just right, completely broke in and tastefully worn’ jeans!

Thank you. Very kind.

 

[wngrog]

When I checked the Beast out the truck had some things I wanted to address while @ducksntrout was back in Atlanta.

He dropped it off at a friends house and @geologic dropped me off to drive it home.

I looked it over and made a list and I worked a few items over.

First issue, it was crazy low on oil. It’s barely drippping and not smoking so I’m not sure where 5 quarts of oil went. I used some 30wt when I baselined it so it may have blown through.

I put a $35 @beno large filter on and loaded it with some nice thick oil.

Second, it had a wicked exhaust leak under the intake. I had one here so I swapped that out.

Third, the suspension is new and a lot of bolts had backed out of the fixed pins. I put new bolts in with red lock tight on 3 of 4. One though was stripped out and I had to tap it out to 10mm

 

[wngrog]

I got the Delta Beast buttoned up. Got all the gauges working again.

Runs like a top. Drives great.

Will see what pops up next as it’s 43 years old but as of now I give this an A+

 

[Dirtgypsy]

Awesome read man. Thanks! Cant wait to see the next project!

Clint

 

[geologic]

Sounds like your ready for mine

 

[jim land]

your 40's look awesome , love the patina , don't ever paint these , touch up only

 

[Nader]

$8500 in parts.

108 hours of labor (not including the weekend I spent fixing my throwout bearing mistake)

So you want to build an FJ-40? Better bring your wallet. Nothing on these things is cheap but they are 100% worth it.

The new owner comes and gets it Friday. It's ready.

What a fun build! I've also learned the hard way how costs escalate quickly. Some quick math on this project including the more recent work farmed out with OME suspension and power steering conversion, and then undervaluing your labor, has me guessing the costs up to about $20K, not including the original purchase price of the truck.

I know in my crusty project, I have more into it now than a more solid, less needy example would have cost at the outset. But once you get attached to these trucks, which is basically inevitable, it's hard to hold back on the progress and spending!

 

[wngrog]

Yeah don’t get into a 40 if you don’t want to spend lots. I’ve got zero labor and zero body work costs in my Project Patina pictured there with the Delta Beast and I have $20,000 in it.

 

[wngrog]

Look who showed up looking for a place to sleep.

 

[ducksntrout]

View attachment 1626598 View attachment 1626602

Look who showed up looking for a place to sleep.

Back to her birthplace.......

 

[Fj moneypit]

View attachment 1626598 View attachment 1626602

Look who showed up looking for a place to sleep.

What lift and are the tires 33x10.5 or12.5? Thanks. Love the look.

 

[wngrog]

Old Man Emu 2.5” with 33 x 10.50’s

What lift and are the tires 33x10.5 or12.5? Thanks. Love the look.

 

[onemanarmy]

Looks great.
What center arm/pivot rebuild kit did you use?

 

[wngrog]

Cruiser outfitters

 

[Charliemurphy]

@wngrog
Just found and went completely through this build thread. Amazing! First, just wanted to say how much I can appreciate you taking the time to take pictures video, load the video up then annotate here for all of us. You are a great resource. Ima bolter, not a welder too (not yet anyways) so I enjoyed seeing someone restore this without a single bit of welding or painting (not counting the bedliner which was pretty cool to see).
I had a question about the replacement of the electric choke with the manual. Did you did that for reliability or to make it more period?

Thanks again. I'm going to be buying an FJ/BJ but it looks like I should hold off and save a bit more money. Seems like speindg a bit more in the front on a nicer rig will actually save money down the road....Still I love working on these old rigs.

Thanks again!!!