Need your Opinions on a 40's

[ttora4runner]

Looking at this 40's and want your all opinions on it. 1967 RHD 40's it sat in a barn for 20 years and has only been back on the street for about 5 years. The mileage is unknown, speedo doesn't work, back glass is cracked and left door is tweaked slightly at the top. Runs and drivers but smokes a little. The seller is asking 3500.

 

[ttora4runner]

The lever on the side of the transmission tunnel is for the transfer case. Why would it be on the side like that.

 

[roma042987]

Looks pretty rough. what engine is that and does it have the original drive train?

 

[cjgoode]

That lever on the transfer case is interesting, definitely not factory that is for sure.

 

[ttora4runner]

Looks pretty rough. what engine is that and does it have the original drive train?

Its an old Chevy V8. As far as I'm aware the drivetrain is original besides the engine though I question the t-case cause of the floor lever.

 

[JasonH]

Possibly an overdrive?

 

[SteveH]

That's sort of one of those 'what next?' FJ40s. You could strip it all down and do a full resto and install a F-series engine, you could just drive it, you could put in a newer 350 (as needed). Nasty paint job there, if you want to do a full resto.

If you already have a couple of FJs, then I would pass - if you do not have an FJ40 of any sort, then this is a pretty solid candidate. You would have to de-junk it and roll back some of the PO mods and spruce it up, but it could be a fun rig. Paint the bezel white, at least - sheesh!

 

[Chamba]

Looks like a fantastic resto candidate. I prefer rhd myself. Do you know any background on it? Was it a Jap import? Aussie? US spec rhd for postal, etc?

 

[Living in the Past]

That lever on the transfer case is interesting, definitely not factory that is for sure.

My guess that is the high range low range shifter for the transfer case. The vacuum shift control is still under the hood. When the V8 was installed this was how they adapted the shifter. Have a earlier FJ40 that a lever in this location was used to shift to 4WD. The vacuum shifter on the early FJ40s has expose linkage. They attached to the rod directly. Just have to love PO. So what is that under the hood, a siren?

Not many early RHD FJ40s in this country but not sure it would be worth doing a total restore. Good luck finding the correct spare tire carrier. Best bet would be to install a 75/76 spare tire carrier. You put it on the right side and the lower won't open until you open the tire carrier. I believe that is the correct gas pedal for a early RHD. Since it has a V8 you would need to make the linkage for it to work on a F135 again. 64 thru 68 complete tail light housings are another thing not easy to come by. Rust/dent repair and sourcing parts is not going to be easy. Depending on how well it runs I don't think the price is bad. But if you plan on restoring do more research on what it needs. If you could restore the right door and replace the left side you would have one of a very few if any early FJ40 doors that have a key lock on both sides That would probably bring the value up a couple of bucks.

 

[Chamba]

Rhd and LHD in this year had the spare on the right, yes? Unless there is something wrong with that one, why would he want to move it to the left side?

 

[Living in the Past]

Rhd and LHD in this year had the spare on the right, yes? Unless there is something wrong with that one, why would he want to move it to the left side?

I believe it was on the left side. Take a look at the picture of the barn doors. The one on the right opens first. LHD the left door opens first. No reason to switch unless the spare was on the left. I think the Australian market had them on the left. Oz required different things than other markets. Like the amber rear turn signal back in the early sixties. We had a 63 or 64 posted in the 25 section I believe that had to have extra amber turn signals added. My 65 micro-fiche shows a Australian market only rear tail light.

I might add if the license plate mounted on the right than the spare had to be on the left.

 

[Chamba]

I believe it was on the left side. Take a look at the picture of the barn doors. The one on the right opens first. LHD the left door opens first. No reason to switch unless the spare was on the left. I think the Australian market had them on the left. Oz required different things than other markets. Like the amber rear turn signal back in the early sixties. We had a 63 or 64 posted in the 25 section I believe that had to have extra amber turn signals added. My 65 micro-fiche shows a Australian market only rear tail light.

I might add if the license plate mounted on the right than the spare had to be on the left.

I'll be dammed, I reckon you're right (as usual). It even has the licence plate bracket on the right door..... Does not surprise me; Aussies love pedantic regulations. Even trailers have to have amber indicators.

I'm sure I've seen the spare on the right in Australia....I guess I'm confusing the US and Australia again....a problem with spending so much of my life in each place.

 

[Living in the Past]

I guess I'm confusing the US and Australia again....a problem with spending so much of my life in each place.

I would have you pick me up a H55F out of a HJ47 next your there but I believe those never made it to OZ in the 45/47 series those mainly went to the Middle East market. Could always find me one out of a LX If it has a gasser. I know those are laying around everywhere. While your at it could use the rest of the LX to go with it. Just wouldn't seem right to put the triple wipers off a RHD vehicle onto a LHD. Does you LX have the hand brake attached to the transfer case or? Another goofy thing about OZ. Seems they got transfer mounted hand brakes even after most other markets it moved to the rear axle.

Back on subject $3500 as a driver, not sure I would restore it.

 

[Chamba]

I would have you pick me up a H55F out of a HJ47 next your there but I believe those never made it to OZ in the 45/47 series those mainly went to the Middle East market. Could always find me one out of a LX If it has a gasser. I know those are laying around everywhere. While your at it could use the rest of the LX to go with it. Just wouldn't seem right to put the triple wipers off a RHD vehicle onto a LHD. Does you LX have the hand brake attached to the transfer case or? Another goofy thing about OZ. Seems they got transfer mounted hand brakes even after most other markets it moved to the rear axle.

Back on subject $3500 as a driver, not sure I would restore it.

The 40 series got the handbrake from '81 on the axle just like the US. Only the 45/47 retained it on the transfer case for some odd reason.

 

[ttora4runner]

Looks like a fantastic resto candidate. I prefer rhd myself. Do you know any background on it? Was it a Jap import? Aussie? US spec rhd for postal, etc?

Don't know. Besides that it was sitting in a barn for a while up till the past couple of years.

 

[ttora4runner]

That's sort of one of those 'what next?' FJ40s. You could strip it all down and do a full resto and install a F-series engine, you could just drive it, you could put in a newer 350 (as needed). Nasty paint job there, if you want to do a full resto.

If you already have a couple of FJs, then I would pass - if you do not have an FJ40 of any sort, then this is a pretty solid candidate. You would have to de-junk it and roll back some of the PO mods and spruce it up, but it could be a fun rig. Paint the bezel white, at least - sheesh!

Ya, the bezel needs to be repainted big time. Nope, don't have a 40's. I've been looking for a Troopie or 45LV actually but haven't been able to one I can afford or that isn't a total rust bucket.

So what is that under the hood, a siren?

A big a horn.

 

[Fast Eddy]

For that price I'd say it's not a bad deal. Lots of work if you don't want to drive it just like that. The winch alone is worth $500.

 

[Chamba]

For that price I'd say it's not a bad deal. Lots of work if you don't want to drive it just like that. The winch alone is worth $500.

Agreed. I'd love to know more about the history though. Given it's in Wy, I wonder if it was brought over from Australia at some point with a mining venture of some sort. If it has any sort of provenance from Australia, then it may have some minor collector value there (Snowy River project for instance had many Cruisers and some have been restored for museums). If it has any ownership history indicating Pyt Ltd (or simply Ltd for exploration and some mining ventures), that could be indicative of an Aussie connection.

I would love to explore the firewall a bit to se if there is an Aussie compliance plate hidden under the grime somewhere.

 

[ttora4runner]

I've asked the owner to email me a photo of the VIN plate.

I'll probable be heading out tomorrow after work to look at it.

 

[edwjmcgrath]

Sorry, RHD, fugly paint, V8, rust, body work and windows needed, 67 but far from original....I'd pass.
If you want to drive it the way it is, maybe.
If you want to do a restoration, by the time you get done, you could have gotten much better for less if you spent more to begin with. IMHO.