My"brand new" Fj40

[SimiFj40]

Hi All
I just got my first 1971 FJ40, being new to LC crowd i have million questions.
Car was sitting for 8 years without starting- i checked oil it looks fresh and it is not low, also original owner took out radiator and thermostat with housing - looks like there is a broken stud i will have to deal with. But any way i am a happy owner since i always wanted to have one. I am sure i will get it to work eventually.
Any advice on how to get it running is greatly appreciated. Pics to follow as soon as it will stop raining in sunny California

 

[cjgoode]

welcome, congrats, and give us some pictures. People here will answer every last one of those million questions, but you have to pay them with pictures. Make sure you bezel is on correctly before posing pics or the bexel police will show up.

 

[JohnnyC]

after the radiator and t-housing are back,,,put antifreeze in it...check all the elect conections...put gas in it (some times alil down the carb helps) and crank ....did the po touch anything else?

x2 pics

x2 welcome to mud

 

[cjgoode]

I would get a good battery, make sure the starter motor works, check for oil. Then check the compression in each cylinder. It is the simplest test and tells the most about the condition of an engine. If compression is good, good chance the engine is good. I would then fire it up without the radiator, put some starter fluid down the carb and see if it will run for few seconds. Will not hurt the engine but will give you some idea about the rest of it. If you do not hear any bad knocking noises then get the radiator stuff taken care of. That is what I would do. Engine is likely good, but I would hate to waste time fixing the stud and getting the radiator hooked up and filled to find out you have no compression in several cylinders or bad bearings etc. Firing it up for 2 or 3 seconds with no coolant should be fine

 

[nspctr1]

When I rescued my 71 it had sat underneath a lean to for several years and was actually covered in chicken s**t and feathers. I drug her home, drained all of the fluids, pulled the plugs and put a little diesel in the cylinders and hand turned the motor a few times just to make sure nothing was broken or jammed or locked up. Once it was turning pretty freely I put in the plugs, new oil and just water and put a little fuel in the carb and she fired right up. I ran it that way for over a year until I yanked the motor for a sbc swap.

GL and welcome

 

[SimiFj40]

Thanks for advice, i will get to it as soon as rain stops, i pulled out dipstick and oil on it looks really fresh so hopefully there is nothing wrong with it. PO upgraded carb. to Holley unit - looks like 350 cfm 1bbl, also changed gear shifting from column to the floor, transfer case shift is in its original location under the dash.
I got original rollbar and brush guard with it - although not installed at the moment.
I am slowly discovering things so updates are to follow. Forgot to mention PO lost the keys to FJ so i guess i will have to replace ignition cylinder and all the locks - any good source for that?
BTW whats the deal with the bezel?.
Pictures as soon as weather permits - it is raining cats and dogs since yesterday.

 

[cjgoode]

Search for the Bezel many posts about it, and also in the FAQ section. Just make sure the thick part is on top, I still think factory must not have always installed the correctly, shocked at how many pics are posted with them not correct.

 

[SimiFj40]

Here are pictures of 1971 Fj40.
View attachment 363414



View attachment 363416
Does anyone know what is that thing next to radiator?

 

[SouthBostonFJ40]

It's a jack.

 

[cjgoode]

love the fj, and that color. Looks real nice.

 

[tlc_4play]

Sometimes, if a motor has been standing for a long time, moisture / condensation from the inlet and exhaust manifolds, rusts the the valve stems, and as soon as you try to start the motor, the valves stick in the guides, then they get clouted by the pistons, and the result is bent valves and sometimes even holed pistons or at least damaged pistons.

I would rather pull the head first, check all the valve stems and the cylinders before cranking it up.

 

[JohnnyC]

your bezel is correct

 

[Nevinsj]

Is that a 350 CFM Holley or a 500 CFM Holley (P/N 4412) 2BBL?

 

[handcannon]

Good looking 40! 71 is a good year, of course I'm biased since mine is also a 71. Since it's been setting for 8 years it might be a good idea to pull all the plugs. Put a squirt of oil in each cylinder, leave the plugs out, rotate it by hand for at least one revolution, then crank it for a few seconds with the starter to distribute the oil before trying to fire it up. Just my opinion. Wish you the best with your new toy.

Don

 

[SimiFj40]

Since i can't find any model number on the carburetor i assume ( based on Holley recommendations for this size of the engine) that it is 350CFM - definitely it is 1BBL.
Before i can crank it i need new key and ignition cylinder since PO lost all the keys and of course a battery .
FJ is missing couple things here and there - no thermostat housing, radiator was removed etc. but hopefully it will start soon.

 

[youmustbecrazy]

I owned a 71 that same color about 20 years ago. I still dig the color, almost painted my current ride that green. Have fun and enjoy!

 

[My71FJ40]

Nice, fellow 71 owner as well, my first one was a 67, but no matter they are all great! Read the FAQ's...I am still digging through them on and off, good info there! Welcome to MUD

 

[Splash]

Very nice!! Have fun. I am up in Sacramento. Georg at Valley Hybrids in Stockton is the bomb if you need a mechanic. PM me if you want his info or find him on Mud at orangeFJ45.

 

[Ziffdaddy]

Looks great! I live nearby in reseda, maybe I can see it sometime.

 

[SimiFj40]

Any time Ziffdaddy, right now it is sitting in my driveway in Simi Valley, let me know when You want to come by.