My 1975 FJ40 to be expedition rig, lots of potential

[forestderp]

$200 '68 - nice.

Regarding the lift/tires, my 31s and a rear locker have gotten me through a lot of trails just as well as any other rig for the past 6 years. Plus I feel less tippy doing it. Still (always) have plans to go bigger some day, but with essentially no other modifications needed I've been pretty happy.

Thanks for the reassuring input that I don't need to go that big.

I would be interested in doing that also, but I'm getting close to putting mine away for the winter.

I think I will be in the cities on the 13th for a midwest overland meeting, I can drive the cruiser down then if you want to check it out.

Great paint job on the bezel!!

Thanks!

Truck is moving along well. How did the stereo turn out?

Honestly it is still sitting on the shelf, I got busy with work and other things and haven't returned to that project yet.

Get the spacer kit for the bezel, found on the "parts you don't see every day thread".

Ordering a couple sets tomorrow!


-Sean

 

[forestderp]

Well I ordered two sets of those spacers for the Bezel. Also I stopped by my parents place and my dad machined me up a couple of hinge carriers.
These things are beef cake! I used heavy gauge dom tubing. I might get the welding them in tomorrow and making the swing outs.

 

[forestderp]

Got a little bit done tonight, not the prettiest thing I have ever made but it seems to me that the concept I have going is pretty solid. I am thinking tomorrow I can have it mostly done.

The one side has a spring action pin, and the other is getting a bolt with a handle on it, should hold everything nice and solid and still be somewhat manageable to use.

-Sean

 

[chaosbooboogunner]

Sure I'd buy a couple. Give me a price.

 

[forestderp]

Got some more Bumper work done.

Also got my mats to a point that they actually look like bezels...

 

[myquestoyota]

Also got my mats to a point that they actually look like bezels...

Those are looking better. I'll have to think about that.

 

[forestderp]

So I have this idea for a sleep platform and am curious as to what you guys think of the idea.
I plan to make the platform either slide out in several sections to fit in the bed or use a couple piano hinges to connect the boards, the idea is to make a lockout in the position I need on both swing outs and another piece to be a receptacle for the platform, then from there make a tent that attaches to the cruiser and to the platform to keep bugs and rain out. For the tailgate I will hinge what I currently have and use some toggle clamps to hold it up. What do you guys think good idea? Or not so good?

 

[myquestoyota]

So I have this idea for a sleep platform and am curious as to what you guys think of the idea.
I plan to make the platform either slide out in several sections to fit in the bed or use a couple piano hinges to connect the boards, the idea is to make a lockout in the position I need on both swing outs and another piece to be a receptacle for the platform, then from there make a tent that attaches to the cruiser and to the platform to keep bugs and rain out. For the tailgate I will hinge what I currently have and use some toggle clamps to hold it up. What do you guys think good idea? Or not so good?

Have you seen this?


https://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series-tech/248870-i-made-something-awesome-snt.html

 

[forestderp]

Have you seen this?


https://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series-tech/248870-i-made-something-awesome-snt.html

No I hadn't thanks for the link! I think my use of the swing outs will be much easier for setup than what he had. I will likely build the sleep platform next week. I will most likely use the sides of a 79+ hardtop and the rear hatch from an earlier cruiser and a drop down tailgate for the hardtop.

 

[forestderp]

Well got a little bit ambitious and started on the sleep platform.

 

[forestderp]

Does anyone have a good recommendation for birfs? One of mine is clicking when engaged in 4wd and since the truck is parked until spring I want to replace/upgrade them. I also have a line on a hardtop for this beast
-Sean

 

[forestderp]

Got started on one knuckle tonight, I found water in it and the grease was looking pretty rough. So I disassembled the birf cleaned it and repacked it with new grease. The knuckle bearings were also pretty rough so I am glad that I am redoing them.

-Sean

 

[SteveH]

Great photos and stories. Whatever you do, don't drive that thing on salted Minnesota roads, any more than necessary!

 

[forestderp]

Great photos and stories. Whatever you do, don't drive that thing on salted Minnesota roads, any more than necessary!

I have a daily driver so the FJ40 gets to stay indoors all winter long.

 

[mjanderle]

I have a daily driver so the FJ40 gets to stay indoors all winter long.

C'mon....that's weak. Is it a museum piece?

Spray the entire truck with this stuff :

http://www.fluid-film.com/

And drive the snot out of it! That's what it's for!

 

[forestderp]

C'mon....that's weak. Is it a museum piece?

Spray the entire truck with this stuff :

http://www.fluid-film.com/

And drive the snot out of it! That's what it's for!

I may have to do that....
Anyway this plexus stuff is really awesome.

Before

after

This weekend I will have a chance to finish up my bumper and the knuckle rebuild woot!

 

[subzali]

Looks like you need to take your welder to your quarter panels.

On the sleeping platform, I like that idea. FJ40s are nice and maneuverable being so short, but I've thought about sleeping inside of mine too. For now I just throw the tent out with the sleeping bag and call it good

Only problem with an FJ40 is that it's so small that ALL of your gear would have to get thrown out while you slept, which can sometimes be a pain. I'll be interested to see what you come up with.

No idea on the birfs, my suspension leaves pop a little when turning, but I think my birfs are fine. It's good that you're rebuilding them and replacing the trunnion bearings. That alone might help a lot.

 

[forestderp]

Finally got the knuckles all back together, what a chore... with all the shimming, and cleaning and painting...Only to get covered in dirt again in the spring lol.

And the GF got me a contour camera, so now I can take some better footage on the trails, I also finally replaced my broken point and shoot camera with a pentax optio adventure camera that is supposed to be crush proof, freeze proof, shock proof and water proof to 33ft as well as dust proof. We will see how this one lasts, my last two "adventure proof" cameras have broken in ski crashes and kayak loading mishaps lol.

 

[Max.Powerzz]

The sleeping platform is slick!

 

[forestderp]

Finished my rear bumper, so I then pulled her out of the garage and filled up the tank, and drove her 50 miles just to keep things working right. A few pics.

I am going on a roadtrip sunday where I fly to vegas from minnesota, then drive to yuma az, park there and venture into mexico via bus/foot, and from there going to san diego then driving back to mn.