My $50 '76 FJ40!

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Frank Albarado

Frank Albarado

Joined
May 25, 2016
Threads
6
Messages
27
Location
Austin, TX
That got your attention didn't it? Hey everyone, my name is Frank and I was finally able to track down an affordable 40. I've wanted one since the first time I saw one many moons ago. $50 you say? How could I ever pull that off? Well, it's because I only bought a frame! I was perusing Craigslist and just couldn't help myself. I go to pick it up this Saturday hopefully. My goal is a long term (since I'm starting from practically nothing) build up. What I do know about it. According to the seller, it already has SBC motor mounts welding on to the frame and from the pictures it looks like the front shock mounts aren't there. I'll have to see what else I'm dealing with when I pick it up. As for my plans, I'm pretty open at this point but am leaning towards a resto-mod since there is no way to make it an all-numbers matching original rebuild. It will, eventually, be a third vehicle to get myself and my son out to camping spots, National and State parks, etc. As for tracking down parts, I plan to get them when and where they come up. If I find a part, I'll get it, clean it up, rebuild/paint it when applicable and box it up and store it until I'm ready for it. So if you know where any inexpensive parts are, let me know because I need EVERYTHING!!! Wish me luck! I'll post pics of the frame after I pick it up this weekend.
 
well starting from scratch you'll know exactly what you got :)

my brother in the late 80's bought a Dodge Aspen from our cousin for $50 .... who bought it from another guy for $50 .... my brother eventually sold it to a friend for $50 ... who later sold it to a scrapper for less than $50 lol

when my brother had it the rust was so bad you couldn't put your feet down in the back seat... it would touch the ground :)

at least you do not have to deal with the rust issue .... you don't have floors yet :meh:

Welcome to Mud!!
 
Wow that's incredible to start from scratch like that, I'll be looking for your posts.

Welcome to MUD!
 
Frank Albarado said:
That got your attention didn't it? Hey everyone, my name is Frank and I was finally able to track down an affordable 40. I've wanted one since the first time I saw one many moons ago. $50 you say? How could I ever pull that off? Well, it's because I only bought a frame! I was perusing Craigslist and just couldn't help myself. I go to pick it up this Saturday hopefully. My goal is a long term (since I'm starting from practically nothing) build up. What I do know about it. According to the seller, it already has SBC motor mounts welding on to the frame and from the pictures it looks like the front shock mounts aren't there. I'll have to see what else I'm dealing with when I pick it up. As for my plans, I'm pretty open at this point but am leaning towards a resto-mod since there is no way to make it an all-numbers matching original rebuild. It will, eventually, be a third vehicle to get myself and my son out to camping spots, National and State parks, etc. As for tracking down parts, I plan to get them when and where they come up. If I find a part, I'll get it, clean it up, rebuild/paint it when applicable and box it up and store it until I'm ready for it. So if you know where any inexpensive parts are, let me know because I need EVERYTHING!!! Wish me luck! I'll post pics of the frame after I pick it up this weekend.
Click to expand...


I see a donor truck in your future.
 
Thanks for the welcome folks! You guys are right, at least I'm not having to worry about rusty body panels - yet. Still have to find a tub. As for a fj43, you'll have to forgive me but I'm not too familiar with one. I come from the bowtie crowd. From my quick research, it looks like a little longer 40. That would be nice but I'd have to be able to find a fj43 tub and stretch my frame or stretch both a body and my frame. I don't think I have the skills for that just yet. As for a donor truck, that would be optimal but thanks to the HOA (and my wife) I don't have a place to put it. I currently have an '89 4x4 suburban that is my camping, hunting, exploring truck and I will still be working on that. For the time being the 40 frame will reside in my storage shed once I make sure it's nice and straight and usable. Still some decisions to make before tearing into it. I'm pretty set right now on ordering a mild lift springs, say 2.5 inch. I will be running 33's or something equivalent. I'll need to find some cruiser axles since I would love to run a set of factory steelies and caps. If not, any suggestions for axles swaps? Since it will see lots of road miles, I'd like to have 4 wheel disc all the way around. Bilstein shocks, power steering conversion. Any other frame related mods/things to consider while I'm at it?
 
Well Frank, welcome to the group... can't wait to see what you come up with... What are you going to do engine wise..? Stock 2F, 3FE, or Diesel setup..? Just curious... You can definitely pick your pleasure right now for sure... What kind of timeframe are you looking or hoping for..??

Good luck and keep us up to date with pics... Your in the right place... Follow the Classified's here and you will find everything you need no doubt...!
 
It's a 1976 frame. No title that I know of but I will know for sure when I pick it up. My hope, maybe naively, is to find a tub with a title. Even if I don't, in Texas it's pretty easy to get a bonded title. I've done it before with an old international scout. My time frame is pretty open but I know it will take a while. I really want this to be a father/son project. However my son is only 2 and even when he gets old enough, he just might not be in to it. As for motor, really everything is on the table. Keep in mind this build won't be for the purists as I don't have anything to restore and keep original. I could go with stock motor, but that would facilitate cutting out the SBC mounts currently on the frame and fabbing up mounts for a toyota motor. I could go SBC or 5.3 chevy which would be the seemingly cheaper and easier route. My other thought was a mercedes diesel om617. Keep in mind that my wife and I are small business owners and thanks to the rising costs of labor and goods and our personal insurance going through the roof, there isn't a whole lot of play money so that is a consideration as well. I guess like most folks, cost will always be a factor.
 
FJ43s have a 5-6" longer wheelbase and about a foot more frame. You could easily stretch a 40 tub to a 43s length.

I'd look for a Fj60 or BJ60 as a donor. Rusty 60 series diesel rigs regularly are for sale for under 2k up here. It'd give you axles, drive train, and lots of other parts.
 
I'm not sure what you mean by ''bowetie'' White collar ?
Anyway ... an interesting endeavor you are mustering up and one of personal finance, research and elbow grease for the novice ''bowetie'' ?
You must have seen something that inspired you to go the landcruiser route ? what is the story behind it ?
Do you have an end vision of what this thing will be like or are you searching out a complete Landcruiser also ?
I only ask as over 20 years I have spent many hours working on these passions !
take the blue pill and see how far the rabbit hole goes ! take the red pill and wake up thinking this was a dream ! ( the Matrix )
 
the frame has the VIN number stamped in it - be certain that it's not stolen before you build it up (or even pick it up). A horror story to help you - my dad bought an XL250 that was stroked to 330, but it had an oil leak from the top of the case due to a crack. No worries, he went to a local parts house and bought that part. He fixed the problem before he took it down to be inspected. That part has the VIN number - and it had come from a stolen bike. He couldn't register it... without taking the bike completely apart again (it's the top half of the transmission on the XL 250) and replacing it with a non-stolen part. There was some noise by the cops that they wanted to seize the bike because of that part.
pick it up on a weekday, call the non-emergency local cop number and ask if it has been reported stolen.... really simple, really easy to avoid a really bad issue later.

And let me add, grinding the number off is even a worse idea then not checking before you buy it (or at least before you build it)... The shop's name escapes me, but down in your state a company that built elsinore clones got nailed for doing just that...
 
alberta mac said:
I'm not sure what you mean by ''bowetie'' White collar ?
Anyway ... an interesting endeavor you are mustering up and one of personal finance, research and elbow grease for the novice ''bowetie'' ?
You must have seen something that inspired you to go the landcruiser route ? what is the story behind it ?
Do you have an end vision of what this thing will be like or are you searching out a complete Landcruiser also ?
I only ask as over 20 years I have spent many hours working on these passions !
take the blue pill and see how far the rabbit hole goes ! take the red pill and wake up thinking this was a dream ! ( the Matrix )
Click to expand...

bowtie meaning Chevy. No upper crust for me, I work for my money.
 
Welcome to Mud. Being a Chevy guy would be a plus for many on this site as Chevy parts are often used on these cruisers. You've already received some very good advice. Here's something coming from my perspective.

Since the frame has SBC mounts already on it, I would recommend checking the location of the mounts to make sure they are properly located. Contact Downy on this site and get his Chevy swap information as that would allow you to check the frame against his measurements. This seems to be an important consideration since the location of the motor in the engine compartment can affect cooling, and other items. Chevy did something that I consider very good, standardized components. If the frame mounts check out as good the possibilities for many different motors are there.

Coming from my perspective I would seriously consider the GM 6.2/6.5 diesel family. They are designed to bolt up to almost any SBC motor mount and transmission. They are a slightly bigger block than the SBC, but they have been used many times in a 40. Also, spend some time lurking on a website for the 6.2/6.5 vehicles. Here's a couple sites that I recommend: The Truck Stop and, 6.5L Diesel Engine - Diesel Place : Chevrolet and GMC Diesel Truck Forums The first one is my personal first choice, but they both have some excellent members and information available.

Don
 
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