Builds My Hawaiian 1975 Fj40 Resto-resurrection

[Aloha Jen]

Nice work as always! I just went through this on my '75 as well but had to buy a New OEM tank. You saved quite a bit of money going with the good used tank. Is there any advantage to going with the later model plastic fuel filter vs the original metal one for that year?

I have the metal one for my year, but wanted to use a clear one for when it’s first started up and running in order to check if anything is getting caught in the filter from the new/used tank and lines. After a few thousand miles, I may swap in the fancy OEM metal one.

 

[White Stripe]

That tank is amazing. I have a lot of questions about that 78 but will hold off so I don't derail your thread.

 

[Aloha Jen]

That tank is amazing. I have a lot of questions about that 78 but will hold off so I don't derail your thread.

Derail away, all five cruisers in my garage are fair game for discussion on any of my build threads. As for the ‘78, aka “The Chicken Barn 40”, was found over on the west side of my island. I was told there was a guy that had a few 40’s in pieces sitting in some abandoned chicken barns and a couple more rotting in the field next to the barn. We took a trip over to the other side of Oahu and found some treasure, albeit in pieces. Any serious Land Cruiser fan would have seen the potential right away! Here’s a few pics pulling it from the chicken barn and loading on the dolly for the hour long ride back to its new home.

Farm owner had a backhoe that pulled it out and pushed on to the uhaul dolly.

The second of two truck bed loads full of all the 40 parts.

Sorting through the boxes of parts and bagged hardware that came with the 40. Some good stuff was hiding in there.

Unloaded from the tow-dolly (which was super sketchy with 30 year old tires on the rear) and ready for a good hose down to get all the spiders and dust/dirt from sitting for over a decade.

 

[Aloha Jen]

Unloaded the two truckloads of parts; degreased, scrubbed and rinsed all the various pieces that made up a complete cruiser.

Then reassembled to see how everything fit back together. And just like that, a nearly complete Cruiser (minus the engine and hardtop) and was added to my growing LC collection.

 

[greenbeast]

Read the Kona low hitting Oahu tonight and next few days! When I was there last month it was sure dry!!

 

[Aloha Jen]

Back to the ‘75 build, the 1978 Chicken Barn fj40 will get its own thread soon.


After going back and forth for a while, the decision was made to pull the air cleaner and give it a refresh even though it was in pretty good shape already.

As with most things on this project, it was degreased/scrubbed, any loose rust was sanded, treated remaining light rust and bare metal with the Ospho, followed by primer and paint. Added a fancy new correct year reproduction decal that I believe is from City Racer.

All the other components, brackets, front horn, clamps, intake hose were all refreshed and added a new Denso air filter to finish it off.

Also removed all the clamp/clips and removed all the rust and treated with Ospho followed by a couple coats of Penetrol. Cleaned up really nice and a huge upgrade to when the previous owner spray painted them black. Finished that off with all new Overland Metric hardware.

All hooked back up and looking so beautiful! Really makes the engine bay look much nicer. Really happy we decided to freshen it up.

 

[roma042987]

I love your thread Jen. You are one of a kind! Happen to have a single twin sister?

 

[Greek Cruiserhead]

I love your thread Jen. You are one of a kind! Happen to have a single twin sister?

Ok, a two years older doesn't hurt either...

 

[Aloha Jen]

I love your thread Jen. You are one of a kind! Happen to have a single twin sister?

I do have a twin sister, her name is Jess and is 3 minutes older than me. She is single and is even more into Land Cruisers than me.

But…she just entered the convent to become a nun because she said she couldn’t find a guy that loved owning multiple Land Cruisers and her excellent cooking/baking skills.

 

[wngrog]

Now I know you and your husband both post under this name

 

[Aloha Jen]

Now I know you and your husband both post under this name

Don’t give him credit for my photoshop skills and jokes! He’s got his own account on here @pescado, but he hasn’t posted in years, so little to no chance in him chiming in.

 

[wngrog]

Haha

 

[roma042987]

I do have a twin sister, her name is Jess and is 3 minutes older than me. She is single and is even more into Land Cruisers than me.
View attachment 3493466
But…she just entered the convent to become a nun because she said she couldn’t find a guy that loved owning multiple Land Cruisers and her excellent cooking/baking skills.

Have mercy!

 

[6f40j9]

slap some boards up on that chicken coop and it’s an air b n b worth $500/night.

That’s what ours pretty much was the last time we stayed on the north shore in 2022

 

[Aloha Jen]

Read the Kona low hitting Oahu tonight and next few days! When I was there last month it was sure dry!!

Yes, looking like rain everyday this week. But got a nice little break in the rain yesterday evening with just a light south wind.

 

[tom warner]

With the radio and dash wiring all squared away, the front heater box could be installed. My brass heater pipes going coming through the firewall to the heater box were a mess. Very corroded and black insulation was falling off when touched. Even though my 40 had a rear heater, I salvaged the heater pipes off of my other 40 that most likely didn’t come with a rear heater as it was original to Hawaii. Those brass heater pipes do not have the extra down pipes that go to the rear. Since I will never use the rear heater here in Hawaii, these unique pipes were perfect.
View attachment 3484764
I used the same salt and vinegar dip to clean the brass pipes and they came out spectacular. I ordered some inexpensive 13mm ID foam rubber insulation for the heater pipes. Below is the stuff I ordered if anyone needs the details. It’s 6 feet, so may be long enough to do rear heater pipes as well.
View attachment 3484763


Had to break out the good stuff to get through this next part.

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Settle down Moderators, it’s just a little J&J baby powder .

View attachment 3484767

When applied to the outside of the brass pipe and inside the foam insulation, the insulation slides right on the brass pipes so easily. A little compressed air shot through after clears out most of the baby powder.
View attachment 3484768

can you supply the source of the foam insulation you used?

 

[tom warner]

please supply name of source of the 13 mm foam insulation for the pipes. thanks

 

[wngrog]

Easy killer. She may need more than 15 minutes to respond.

 

[Aloha Jen]

please supply name of source of the 13 mm foam insulation for the pipes. thanks

Got it on Amazon, $9.99 for 6ft section.

Pipe Insulation Foam Tube,Foam Tubing for Handle Grip Support,13mm ID 23mm OD 2m Length Black (13mm x 23mm)

https://a.co/d/clKmQwJ

 

[bikersmurf]

Got it on Amazon, $9.99 for 6ft section.

Pipe Insulation Foam Tube,Foam Tubing for Handle Grip Support,13mm ID 23mm OD 2m Length Black (13mm x 23mm)

https://a.co/d/clKmQwJ

I just checked out the product you’ve linked. I has the working temperature listed as -40 to 176* F. Before you have it all together, I’d confirm it’s not going to melt when the brass pipes surpass 212’.

I’d suggest Armscell or similar high temperature pipe insulation instead.