My kid wanted a Jeep, she's getting a 77 FJ40 LS Swap instead (15 Viewers)

[JKIII FJ40]

As the title states, like most kids her age she is slightly indecisive and easily influenced by others. She is 15 now and will be driving sometime next year, I asked her what she wanted to drive for her first car and she replied she wanted a "Jeep". When I asked her why, her reply was that she wanted to collect "ducks".
I have enough parts left over from my build so I decided to find a basket case, in the Northeast that's about any 40 you can find as they are all rusted out and far from any loving care unless you want to spend some serious amount of money. The plus side, the pay as you go while I build it approach and having some parts already on hand passed the wife (aka COO, CFO, and expert on everything) litmus test. This I thought was a win-win for me as I really wanted to build another Land Cruiser as there is nothing to do in the winter and I really don't have anything left to do on my 74. Of course the wife added the condition that it must have an automatic, well that just made it a little more complex and a tad bit more work too. I do however get to work on it as its for my daughter without her complaining as much as she did with the first build. I secretively believe she added the condition of an automatic so she can drive it in the summer with top off.
So sit back and enjoy the next couple of months as I try to make a rust bucket in to something drive able before August. She turns 16 in August plus I go to one car show a year and would love to have both 40's in the show. My kid does actually go to the show with me so It would be really cool to have a father/daughter showing. Fingers crossed.

 

[JKIII FJ40]

So after a month or two and countless hours of searching I found this fine rust specimen near Boston. I borrowed my friends car trailer and the wife decided she wanted go with me. The jokes on her, she had no clue how fun it is getting a non running vehicle on to a trailer is. The seller and his brother were great and helped me push it on the trailer after dodging typical Massachusetts drivers. After getting it home I got a pic with my kid, she has no clue what fun this is going to be.

 

[sogncab]

I'd get her a jeep.

You're safer driving drunk than riding with a teenager.

FJ40's are death traps compared to modern vehicles and teenagers can't drive for crap.

 

[DangerNoodle]

I'd get her a jeep.

You're safer driving drunk than riding with a teenager.

FJ40's are death traps compared to modern vehicles and teenagers can't drive for crap.

Woah now, you ride with me and I'm a literal chimpanzee.

I would have killed for a 40 as my first car.

 

[JKIII FJ40]

I'd get her a jeep.

You're safer driving drunk than riding with a teenager.

FJ40's are death traps compared to modern vehicles and teenagers can't drive for crap.

True. Of course we have been secretly practicing on a private road by my house with my 74. She was able to start, stop and do a three point turn in low gear without stalling. She isnt able to up shift yet, and we need to keep it on the down low as the wife would kill me.
The 40 will have some updates to provide a better stance and will only be used locally. I am guessing she will be bored of it when its time to go to college.

 

[JKIII FJ40]

And so it begins, dissemble and see what is usable.

 

[JKIII FJ40]

And as expected, nothing significant can be saved. I was hoping the bulkhead was salvageable but the rust was too much so I cut it up piece by piece to get to frame.

 

[JKIII FJ40]

And with that, behold….a rusty frame. The cab is gone. The motor and transmission are out, and the next chapter is about to start

 

[John McVicker]

This is great. I give your daughter props for not wanting a ‘regular’ vehicle for her 1st car.

 

[JKIII FJ40]

Tear down to the frame complete

 

[JKIII FJ40]

New rear cross member and gussets, engine on a skid ready to head out to a friend who had the misfortune of both a cracked head and block, and the old axles yanked.
There are many ways to do what I am doing, I of course follow the "if it was easy, everyone would be doing it approach".
The 77 came with 4.11 gears and drums on the front (yeah, drums). I also read that 3.70's would be better gearing so I pulled the axles from my 74. I previously swapped in my 74 a set of axles from an 81, really wasnt much work to swap them. The 74 now has my spare 4.11 disc axle that was on the floor since the previous swap. I also just finished building a FF (FZJ73) axle with an 80 series locked axle. for the rear. I also installed brand new leaf springs, pins and bushings too in the 77.

 

[Pitter Patter]

So after a month or two and countless hours of searching I found this fine rust specimen near Boston. I borrowed my friends car trailer and the wife decided she wanted go with me. The jokes on her, she had no clue how fun it is getting a non running vehicle on to a trailer is. The seller and his brother were great and helped me push it on the trailer after dodging typical Massachusetts drivers. After getting it home I got a pic with my kid, she has no clue what fun this is going to be.

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Good thing it has that diamond plate to hold it together! Stoked you’re doing this. Looks like fun

 

[JKIII FJ40]

This is great. I give your daughter props for not wanting a ‘regular’ vehicle for her 1st car.

She didnt have much of a choice, the lack of being assertive made it easier for me to build another 40

 

[JKIII FJ40]

Good thing it has that diamond plate to hold it together! Stoked you’re doing this. Looks like fun

amazingly enough, it was the only thing holding the body together.

 

[clrussell]

Is the rear tank going back in?

 

[JKIII FJ40]

Is the rear tank going back in?

dont think so. I had aspirations to reinstall it but then I am limited on pushing the rear axle back, I have it back an inch now and will need to see how short the drive shaft is going to be before considering it. Plus, I just got a brand new tub and really dont want to add another hole in the rear.

 

[JKIII FJ40]

Quick trip over the border to MA, it’s vortec 4.8 with 4l60e transmission. Hopefully it’s good, I have a lead on another engine if it doesn’t pan out. I did luck out and found out the transmission is a reman.

 

[JKIII FJ40]

More frame prep. I wire brushed it and painted it with farm implement paint. I know I could’ve sent it out to get blasted and such but I have a target budget that I need to keep. Plus I’ve had good luck with it on my 74.

 

[JKIII FJ40]

And now the motor is in.

 

[pbgbottle]

Cool. My daughter stole mine. I wish I kept all my spare parts to build a second rig all I needed was a 3/4 tub and I could of built a complete truck 350 4spd though , but I sold off all my spare stuff when my daughter was 8. Needed the cash.
now she just steals my rig. Have fun with your daughter.

,,