Builds My FJ40 Journey... (1 Viewer)

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Joined
Mar 28, 2017
Threads
6
Messages
144
Location
Vancouver, WA
Good evening fellow mudites...uh...mudigans...mudders perhaps? My first experience with a FJ40 was as a teenager. A friends stepdad had one in Eastern Oregon and took us for a ride. Red, rusty, and gutless. It was a thing of beauty. I knew then I was hooked and one day I'd have one. 18 years later I began the search. Well, after almost a year of searching locally I finally found a decent body and runner at an acceptable mid level price. A 1973 FJ0 with a hard top. PO had removed the 1F and 3 spd tranny and replaced it with a 2F and 4 speed from a newer model FJ60 so he said. Overall, the body has surface rust but is in what I consider exceptional condition. I have now had it for a while and my tax return has come in! This is my story of not what I would consider a restoration, but more of a cleaning and polishing....prepare for cruiser porn!

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These pics represent the way the jalopy started out this morning. I will try and continue updating throughout the course of my journey and with this thread. As you can see, it still has some issues. Rust around the rear top seal. A few dents and dings, and some good old fashioned TLC is needed.

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Ok ladies and gents, first question on my tear down. What is this? Is it possible to get a new seal for it? It currently has large rust scale under the rubber seal. None of the metal looks overly damaged however I loathe rust. So, should I just clean it with the seal in place and paint then hope for the best? Or do I tear the seal off, remove rust, then powder coat hoping I can locate another seal?

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And end of today results of the tear down.. I have yet to decide if I'm going to clean it up and paint on the frame or go for the full frame off. I fear if I do the full frame off, I'd be too scared to drive it and I'm certain it will be more costly. I want to clean and/or refurbish as much original stuff as I can. I enjoy the patina but can't have any rust. Rear quarter panel was a test sunject for my attempt at painting. I am no good. Definitely will leave painting and body work to the professionals.

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I was told to drive it and fix it up a little at a time. Enjoy it and learn more about it. You see frame off restorations never get finished. I bought one... you can check out my thread for what I've done to mine for the past three years. Good times. Congrats on your purchase!
 
I was told to drive it and fix it up a little at a time. Enjoy it and learn more about it. You see frame off restorations never get finished. I bought one... you can check out my thread for what I've done to mine for the past three years. Good times. Congrats on your purchase!

That's a very grave concern of mine. I see how many people on this site have started the full restoration process and their threads can be years long and still not finished. I want to drive the thing not stare at it in pieces in my garage. And thanks for the pointers on the cowl and drain hoses!
 
I can attest that @Racer65 is a stand up seller and overall good guy here on MUD. I purchased the drain tubes and cowl gaskets as I was refurbishing my 40. The drain tubes were tough to install with the limited space and my big hands so I suggested to @Racer65 the drain tubes needed to have slightly larger ends to make them easier to install. So he updated his drain tubes and I now have them on my 40. Easier to install and still in place securely without clamps. As I said, @Racer65 is a stand up guy and one I will purchase from again.
 
Congrats on your purchase. I restored a 1973 Ford Bronco and I can validate it ends up taking years to complete a true frame off build. Started December 2006. Finished November 2015. Life is what happens while you're making plans. In the end I am driving basically a new Bronco, but there are all those years of work and waiting for the day I could drive it. Been driving it now more than a year and I feel it was worth the wait because I can jump in, hit the key and drive it cross country if I wanted and feel confident it won't leave me on the side of the road. But there were times I thought I'd never finish.
 
Does anyone know of a cleaner or easier way to route the water heater lines for the troop heater? I have solid copper with partial rubber lines and what looked to be many splices. It would be nice to replace them with 2 complete lines.

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Also, anyone know of the original pewter/silver color of these interior pieces like the window handles, door handles, and troop heater in a spray can?
 
And I have a spare tire carrier the PO gave to me during my purchase but he shoddily replaced the rear sill and the hook/lock mechanism that bolts to the sill is missing. Anyone have one lying around they would like to part with or know where you can find one online? I may check a local junk yard here of classic cars.
 
I see no reason to do frame off at this point. Get it mechanically sound and drive it. They are much more fun to drive than having a garage full of parts. my .02
 
Here is my evening update....I feel like I'm falling down the rabbit hole. Every time I get a part off thinking I'm not going any farther I find uncleanliness and years of dirt, grime, and rust. My OCD is not helping. 4/6 windows are out. PO helped me out by siliconing one of the rear windows in bless his heart. That one had to be cut out. I'm glad I chose to remove them as rust was forming and spreading underneath. The window seals are close to new so I believe they are ok. I discovered both my front calipers to my disc brakes are leaking. Never seen that before. Once those are replaced my entire brake system will be new besides lines. Got the heater completely removed including the blower. Got the top unbolted and loose to be removed. My 2500 paint job is turning into a 6-8k frame on restoration. I'm nearly getting daily deliveries of parts. Still missing a few parts listed in my wanted ad. The hook for the spare tire latch that bolts to the rear sill. The T handle for inside the rear hatch. I have family members urging me to sell it once it is done. I haven't made up my mind.

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