Builds My attempt at bringing another FJ40 back to life (2 Viewers)

[thebigredrocker]

I stripped and painted the ol’ girl’s rear heater awhile ago. The painted heater parts got hung with other parts that need attention above my workbench. I’ve probably banged my head on the heater cover 25 times. Tonight was the night to wrap it up. Fan motor didn’t budge when I hooked it up to a battery, so cleaned the crud off and pulled it apart.

Felt was dry.

Used a small peice of Scotchbrite and a screwdriver to clean the gummed up socket. Then used a small strip of fine grip waterproof sandpaper and a long screw to smooth it out, guessing the motor spins in the socket.

Soaked the felt with oil. Used Polaris SCL chaincase oil because it’s for snowmobiles and cold weather

Polished this up

 

[thebigredrocker]

Fan worked great.
Rear heater....Done

 

[Rock40]

Great progress and looks awesome!

 

[Nader]

That came out beautifully! I'll be attacking mine soon, and it won't be looking this good.

 

[65swb45]

I didn’t see where you say the motor actually works now. : flipoff:

Started packing your order a little while ago. Here’s a teaser shot

 

[thebigredrocker]

Haha I was hoping to avoid the “does it actually work question”

On low the fan doesn’t spin. It will spin on high now, but is quite noisy. Fan blade does spin much, much, more freely by hand.

In order to insert the bulbous end of the armature shaft into the fan housing base socket(pivot) I bent 3 tabs that appear to hold the felt. So, I wonder if the saucer looking thingy is resting/riding on the three metal tabs. The steel tabs seem to have some spring. Might use some gear tooth paint on the saucer to verify whether the tabs are causing drag. Also wondering if new brushes would help.

@65swb45
Super stoked you hooked me up with a bunch of parts “the ol’ girl” is missing. It just feels RIGHT to install genuine Japanese parts on this rig. I really appreciate the help and encouragement you’ve given me.

I was reminded of this cruiser’s karma last fall:

A friend of mine whom I hadn’t seen in awhile came by the house. He hadn’t seen or heard about the neglected white 40 since I yarded it on a trailer and brougt it home a few years ago.

Backstory: He is a cruiser lover and is the person I bought my first 40 from. A 76 he had torn down but decided to sell and I impulsively bought. He grew up with a 40(his dad let him plow snow in it when he was 14). So he has deep rooted 40 series love & appreciation. I’m guessing the last time he drove an FJ40 was 30 years ago.

So last fall I said, do you wanna head to the garage and check out the white 40. He says, sure! When he saw it, he was speechless. Did not say hardly a word. He sat in the freshly upholstered passenger seat and his eyes got big as he looked it over and noticed all the improvements. I was suprised how much he remembered. Thinking back on it, he was in awe, sorta like the cruiser gave him goose bumps. Watching his reaction was rewarding. Of course I fired it up and popped the hood. He’s much more mechanically inclined than I, so when I braaped the throttle he noticed the instant throttle response. We were all smiles. There is something special about these rigs.

 

[65swb45]

...and now I can see why you need the driver’s side running board.

Cool story about the PO. I've often wondered what the PO of my first cruiser would think if I could show him what he started by selling me my RUFTOYS. His name was Jeff Wilhoit. I tried going back to the house where I bought the cruiser even a few years afterwards and he had already moved on.

 

[thebigredrocker]

I believe that running board incident was the final straw that spurred the PO to sell. The 40 was parked in his friends field for years. His friend backed into it with a tractor, bent the fender, buckled the running board under, bashed the drivers door(fixed now) and exposed the weakened rocker panel. I believe it was a mere few days later I crossed paths with the PO at a gas station and the rest as they say, is history.

 

[HelloKitty65]

Keeping to my low budget game plan I rehabbed all my drum wheel cylinders, dual brake master, clutch master and clutch slave. When I confirm my engine and tranny are working I'll order some new brake shoes and probably drums.

@JohnnyC did OEM 3 speeds come with a spray painted code. Or is the mark from a rebuilder?View attachment 1280919

I have a spray painted "S" on my firewall. Any idea what these mean?

 

[thebigredrocker]

I’m not sure. I’ve since seen other threads where people have posted pictures of codes sprayed on the tranny. Do you have a picture?

 

[HelloKitty65]

I’m not sure. I’ve since seen other threads where people have posted pictures of codes sprayed on the tranny. Do you have a picture?

 

[HelloKitty65]

It seems too new. But some things seem timeless.

 

[ERNRAM]

Mark,

Great thread. I'm working on my 71fj40 also and you give me more motivation to get it on the road

Ernie

 

[sproggy]

Just came in from installing a new fuel pump from CItyracer in my 71fj40. Success!

 

[thebigredrocker]

@ERNRAM @sproggy I look forward to seeing your projects.

The ol’ girl is still in storage. Can’t wait to get her out to stretch her legs soon.

 

[GadgetPhreak]

@ERNRAM @sproggy I look forward to seeing your projects.

The ol’ girl is still in storage. Can’t wait to get her out to stretch her legs soon.

Hey Big Red, where in Wa are you? I’m in Redmond area. If you’re around these parts and want a cruising buddy, let me know

 

[imyahucklbrry]

My attempt at bringing another cruiser back to life gained some promise late last night. I bolted the newly surfaced manifolds back up and she ran nicely. I probably still need to do some fine tuning though. I am optimistic I'll soon have enough confidence in this rig to take it for a long drive. Right now, it idles at 650rpm and 18 inches of mercury. I backed it out of the garage at midnight and the acceleration stumble seems to be gone. What a relief! I did pull my carb apart again to give it another cleaning prior to my much anticipated test fire. While inside the Aisan I bumped my main jet from a 112 to a 120. Also switched the rubber accel plunger in favor of a leather plunger.

Thanks to @woody for creating a cruiser forum, where someone like myself with zero knowlege can learn how to make a cruiser go again.

I really want to remove that air cleaner bracket and clean it up. Don't want to open a can of worms though(breaking a head bolt) If anyone has experience with head bolts breaking, feel free to reassure me leaving it alone is wise.
View attachment 1405062

Just finished reading through your work progress... Ok, mostly I looked at the pictures... but I did run across one something you said that I just have to take issue with! It’s highlighted above...

After seeing what you’ve done with this truck and you say something like that just slaps me right in the face with a dose of ‘humble’.... me thinking where does that put me in comparison if you have zero knowledge... do I use negative numbers?

 

[thebigredrocker]

Found a passengers side paddle handle that works. Now my daughters can exit the cruiser without help from me

Stripped it and left it used looking for now. Even added an online auction site grip

Finally installed door limiters. Made rubber pucks from a chunk of horse trailer mat.

Picture of the newly installed limiters and NOS gas cap(Mark’s Off Road in SoCal)

Decided break out the Naval Jelly to reduce some passenger side rust.

 

[sproggy]

Hmm I like the naval jelly work. I have some rust on my '71 that I could hit with it. You brush it on and then wipe it off or...? Are you going to paint it now or oil the bare metal? How does the naval jelly compare to using POR-15? I was thinking of hitting mine with that stuff...POR-15. I suppose it's a lot pricier...

 

[dodored]

Great thread - Subscribed