My 78 FJ40 Project - HD
- Thread starter SliderJack
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- Thread starter
- #82
Nope, not much of either, that's why it's taking so long.
The guys in the clubhouse warned me. Haha. I think I got my second wind and bit more time in the next couple weeks. So I hope to make some progress.
- Thread starter
- #83
I've been spending some time working on figuring out how to install the 72 5-piece bench seat in my 78 truck. I started a thread on that here: https://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series-tech/788042-has-anyone-put-72-5-piece-bench-seat-78-a.html
Look like you are doing it right! Thanks for the thread Jack.
- Thread starter
- #85
Time to get back to work!!! Moved to Tennessee. Great club support here.
Put the 40 back together for the move so I started to take it back apart yesterday. I also roughed in the barn doors. Garage is smaller than I had in WI but I'll have to make do and wife's car will have to sit outside.
Put the 40 back together for the move so I started to take it back apart yesterday. I also roughed in the barn doors. Garage is smaller than I had in WI but I'll have to make do and wife's car will have to sit outside.
Where at in tennessee ?
Vae Victus
Posting more than I know
Ditto. I'm in Nashville. Several of us here.
- Thread starter
- #88
Near Knoxville. Appalachia Cruisers have a great active club. Looking forward to getting this thing done and doing some rides.
https://forum.ih8mud.com/forums/tn-appalachia-cruisers.165/
- Thread starter
- #89
Added an update to the seats. They are near complete.
https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/has-anyone-put-a-72-5-piece-bench-seat-in-a-78.788042/
Finally cut the rear quarters to make room for the tires and articulation. I'm going to put Bushwacker flares on.
https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/has-anyone-put-a-72-5-piece-bench-seat-in-a-78.788042/
Finally cut the rear quarters to make room for the tires and articulation. I'm going to put Bushwacker flares on.
- Thread starter
- #90
Worked on stripping the barn doors and gas tank cover. I drilled out the spot welds on the license plate holder and removed it since I'll be using a driver's side spare tire bracket.
- Thread starter
- #91
I took the tub off and started work on the bottom. I scraped the years of crud off, cleaned up some of the POs welds, added a few more, some reinforcement, scuffed, primed, seam sealed and covered with a home-made lizard skin alternative. Basically I added glass micro spheres used in aero space to some Rustoleum.
- Thread starter
- #92
I started working on the brakes. I painted Poser's brake bracket and installed the rear disc conversion. I bought a complete brake line kit and installed most all the lines on the frame. I need to change the rear for the disc conversion. I also installed the Warn hubs up front.
- Thread starter
- #93
Worked on the exhaust today. Got it tacked in.
When I ordered some steering parts from Summit, I found a muffler and exhaust pipe they had on clearance for cheap. The picture on summit made it look like it had smooth bends instead of the actual crimps, but I made it work. I took the clamp and drilled out the bracket so that I could mount it higher up through the rubber directly. I bent the bash plate underneath and might need to modify it a little, but I got the exhaust through it rather than under like was stock.
When I ordered some steering parts from Summit, I found a muffler and exhaust pipe they had on clearance for cheap. The picture on summit made it look like it had smooth bends instead of the actual crimps, but I made it work. I took the clamp and drilled out the bracket so that I could mount it higher up through the rubber directly. I bent the bash plate underneath and might need to modify it a little, but I got the exhaust through it rather than under like was stock.
- Thread starter
- #94
Spent a lot of time stripping the tub. Chemical stripper, wire brushes, stripper wheels, My trusty drill even finally gave up and died. I made some reinforcement patches for the under-seat toolbox, sanded the entire tub, treated for rust, and sealed it. Really happy how it turned out. Can't wait to get the body work done and get it painted!
Vae Victus
Posting more than I know
I like the idea of using the trailer as a rolling platform for the body work.
- Thread starter
- #96
Making some great progress! I wont win any awards for my paint job but after a couple of weeks with long hours prepping, sanding and more sanding, I finally got some paint on the tub. Very happy to see it coming together!
On Craigslist I found a ShelterLogic garage. They sell them at Tractor Supply. Worked really well. I had considered using a fan to blow air in after it went through a furnace filter, but there was a little breeze and it wasn't a super tight seal, so it wasn't really needed yet kept most debris out of the paint. Around 10MPH wind though the tent wants to take off if you have it on pavement and not staked in the ground.
I found a local auto paint supply store and described my project. They set me up with UPOL primer. Worked good as far as I know. It was a little rough and required a lot of sanding, not sure if that was my setup though.
I purchased a $70 spray guns from Home Depot, came with two guns, regulators, funnels, brushes, etc. Primer specs suggested a 2.2 tip, stuff was thick, so I ended up buying a second old-style gun from Advance Auto and used it for primer. The other two I used for base and clear.
I had what seemed to be the usual trouble getting the right color for 416. The mix turned out very olive color. The tank cover underneath was in great shape and we matched the color from that. I think it turned out a little darker, but the color is very interesting. It looks dark in the garage under flourescent lights but in pictures it looks very light.
The basecoat went on good
It got pretty hazy in the tent for the clear, I could have used lights. I had a couple runs with the clear, but I'll sand and buff them out and retouch if necessary when I paint the remaining pieces. I was very anxious to get the tub done so I could put it back on the frame and continue reinstalling everything over the winter. I missed one weather window and another one popped up later that allowed me to prep the trans tunnel, bib, tank cover, and fenders. Enough to get most of the truck together and wired!
I ended up with BASF paint, LIMCO line. Basecoat Clear. I turned out very shiny, maybe too shiny for a truck. Something to consider when you're painting yours. Outside temp needed to be 60 degrees. I painted outside then after an hour or two moved it into the garage which stays around 60.
Very happy to get the tub back on the frame!
Now I'm working on the wire harness and started a thread here: https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/wire-harness-refurb-78-fj40.823534/
On Craigslist I found a ShelterLogic garage. They sell them at Tractor Supply. Worked really well. I had considered using a fan to blow air in after it went through a furnace filter, but there was a little breeze and it wasn't a super tight seal, so it wasn't really needed yet kept most debris out of the paint. Around 10MPH wind though the tent wants to take off if you have it on pavement and not staked in the ground.
I found a local auto paint supply store and described my project. They set me up with UPOL primer. Worked good as far as I know. It was a little rough and required a lot of sanding, not sure if that was my setup though.
I purchased a $70 spray guns from Home Depot, came with two guns, regulators, funnels, brushes, etc. Primer specs suggested a 2.2 tip, stuff was thick, so I ended up buying a second old-style gun from Advance Auto and used it for primer. The other two I used for base and clear.
I had what seemed to be the usual trouble getting the right color for 416. The mix turned out very olive color. The tank cover underneath was in great shape and we matched the color from that. I think it turned out a little darker, but the color is very interesting. It looks dark in the garage under flourescent lights but in pictures it looks very light.
The basecoat went on good
It got pretty hazy in the tent for the clear, I could have used lights. I had a couple runs with the clear, but I'll sand and buff them out and retouch if necessary when I paint the remaining pieces. I was very anxious to get the tub done so I could put it back on the frame and continue reinstalling everything over the winter. I missed one weather window and another one popped up later that allowed me to prep the trans tunnel, bib, tank cover, and fenders. Enough to get most of the truck together and wired!
I ended up with BASF paint, LIMCO line. Basecoat Clear. I turned out very shiny, maybe too shiny for a truck. Something to consider when you're painting yours. Outside temp needed to be 60 degrees. I painted outside then after an hour or two moved it into the garage which stays around 60.
Very happy to get the tub back on the frame!
Now I'm working on the wire harness and started a thread here: https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/wire-harness-refurb-78-fj40.823534/
Awesome work and great thread. I noticed you are running the stock carb and aftermarket headers, me too. Having a tough time finding how to connect line and where from fuel breather off tank as I have no charcoal cannister, ideas?
- Thread starter
- #98
Thanks! Sometimes I wonder if anyone reads these posts.
At this point I can't say. I haven't done more than just run the motor for a half a minute or so at a time. I need to hook up all my vacuum and emission lines yet.
definitely do read em!
so much to learn from what other people are doing to get around certain problems n such.
in the process of rebuilding my own 73' 40, great fun and a lot of hard work. regularly look at people's build threads to hopefully solve problems before i come across them
will be keeping mine (almost) stock, i think the hardest part though, as many people will find...picking the colour! 
hah
looks like you're doing a great job though, and having a lot of fun in the process!
look forward to more updates
so much to learn from what other people are doing to get around certain problems n such.
in the process of rebuilding my own 73' 40, great fun and a lot of hard work. regularly look at people's build threads to hopefully solve problems before i come across them
will be keeping mine (almost) stock, i think the hardest part though, as many people will find...picking the colour! hahlooks like you're doing a great job though, and having a lot of fun in the process!
look forward to more updates
