Looks good!
Builds New Alaskan FJ40 intro thread (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Aussie Alaskan
- Start date
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firefighterjed
SILVER Star
Any indication that this rig ever lived in idaho? I knew of one in the 90s that was this color in Eagle Idaho.
- Thread starter
- #143
The only history I have for this rig was that it was "discovered" on an old (maybe abandoned) Alaskan mine site and brought to Fairbanks several years ago.
I traded for the FJ40 from @12112321AKYLE and so he may have more info about the history.
Its a common color to respray on these rigs, but I know I bought this one with another one that was in Idaho at one point, so it is possible that it was also there. These are pictures of the rig I bought with the blue one that @Aussie Alaskan has now. These pictures from 1997, I'm not certian if the previous owner had the blue one back then but he had my yellow one for 26 years and may have brought both up to Alaska. You can always check the VIN against registration history.
firefighterjed
SILVER Star
1997 pics rule out the idaho one I’m thinking of. Thanks tho!
The one from my last belonged to a really cool mentor for me in the fire service and also probably the reason i found interest in cruisers. His was beautiful and was an inspiration for me as I worked on mine back in 95-99
The one from my last belonged to a really cool mentor for me in the fire service and also probably the reason i found interest in cruisers. His was beautiful and was an inspiration for me as I worked on mine back in 95-99
- Thread starter
- #146
My rear ambulance door hardware was pretty loose and rattling enough to be annoying, so next up was to tighten the interior handle and alleviate the rattling. While I had it all apart I went ahead and sanded/painted it. The rattle is gone and it looks brand new. The interior handle is held in place by a large rivet and so I had to drill that out for disassembly and used a 10mm SS bolt and nut combo for reassembly along with a nylon spacer.
- Thread starter
- #149
Where are you at sir? What year is your rig? Run/drive? What are you plans with it? Should be a fun project/ride/money pit/toy!!
- Thread starter
- #150
Took the FJ40 out on the highway yesterday and at speeds above 50 mph it wanted to wander all over the road and the steering was super loose. Not a big deal at lower speeds, but dangerously noticeable at hwy speeds.
Anyways, today I unbolted the heat shield and tightened up the steering box quite a bit. Now it runs just fine at 65 mph! Win!!
Still about 3" of play in the steering wheel, but I'm planning to replace the 45 year old tie rod ends at some point and hopefully that helps clean the steering slop up even more.
Anyways, today I unbolted the heat shield and tightened up the steering box quite a bit. Now it runs just fine at 65 mph! Win!!
Still about 3" of play in the steering wheel, but I'm planning to replace the 45 year old tie rod ends at some point and hopefully that helps clean the steering slop up even more.
Im in Anchorage, its a 1971. First get it running (fuel issue, then clutch), then paint over/stop the surface rust (any suggestions on paint/bedliner for the interior floor?) then probably run out of money haha. For now I just want it good enough I can throw some stuff in the back and take it around town/camping. The rest of the restoration stuff will have to wait until after I have a better place to work on itWhere are you at sir? What year is your rig? Run/drive? What are you plans with it? Should be a fun project/ride/money pit/toy!!
- Thread starter
- #152
I did POR-15 for all of my rust inhibiting stuff. Ended up doing my entire floor that way, but my plan is to paint over that rust preventive layer with original green paint at some point.
- Thread starter
- #153
Started the temporary install of my retro manufacturing radio. I had to create a couple of brackets for the install, but once I had them roughly cut out I did a test fit.
My FJ40 doesn't have any speakers in it so I'm looking around for ideas for speaker location. Not sure it'll make too much difference since the FJ40 is so loud, but may as well put a couple speakers in as long as they look clean.
My FJ40 doesn't have any speakers in it so I'm looking around for ideas for speaker location. Not sure it'll make too much difference since the FJ40 is so loud, but may as well put a couple speakers in as long as they look clean.
- Thread starter
- #154
Did a baseline decibel measurement reading last night, since my FJ40 has zero sound deadening currently.
Took my FJ40 for a drive and did decibel readings at 10 mph increments with a construction grade handheld decibel meter. Not fancy, but it's more accurate than my phone. Did a measurement at 65 mph as well. All readings were done cruising on flat ground.
Idles @ 700 rpm
Idle: 68 dba
20mph: 80 dba
30mph: 83 dba
40mph: 83 dba
50mph: 90 dba
60mph: 92dba
65mph: 94 dba
70mph: 94 dba
These measurements are using my vehicle speedometer and the speeds are roughly 9% lower than gps.
For example: 30mph speedometer equals roughly 33mph, and 70 mph speedometer equals roughly 77 mph...
Took my FJ40 for a drive and did decibel readings at 10 mph increments with a construction grade handheld decibel meter. Not fancy, but it's more accurate than my phone. Did a measurement at 65 mph as well. All readings were done cruising on flat ground.
Idles @ 700 rpm
Idle: 68 dba
20mph: 80 dba
30mph: 83 dba
40mph: 83 dba
50mph: 90 dba
60mph: 92dba
65mph: 94 dba
70mph: 94 dba
These measurements are using my vehicle speedometer and the speeds are roughly 9% lower than gps.
For example: 30mph speedometer equals roughly 33mph, and 70 mph speedometer equals roughly 77 mph...
- Thread starter
- #155
I was getting a reading of around 16V when the alternator was charging the battery and so after a bit of research I pulled the voltage regulator off and opened it up. By bending the tab down a bit I was able to get it read just above 13V. This took 3-4 tries to get it bent "just right" pretty cool how you can adjust this 50 year old equipment like it's brand new and without a laptop too!
Does anybody know what sat on the empty bracket shown in my first and last pics? My rig is fully stripped of all smog equipment so I'm guessing its a bracket for something like that.
Does anybody know what sat on the empty bracket shown in my first and last pics? My rig is fully stripped of all smog equipment so I'm guessing its a bracket for something like that.
- Thread starter
- #156
Took some temp readings after driving around for a few mins last night and getting it up to temp. I believe these readings are right in line with normal operation temps
.
I also tested the vacuum with a cold engine and also with a hot engine to see if any discernable vac leaks showed themselves when thermal expansion did it's thing with the carb and manifold.
My readings cold were around 22 and hot they were 18-19 even tho my guage says 27. Once I disconnected the guage it still read 7-8 and slowly went down as it cooled off. My guage was hanging down next to the manifolds so it got pretty hot.
Anyway, my test showed no vac leaks at temp. I also sprayed starter fluid all around the base of the carb and the manifold area and no discernable RPM changes.
Still dealing with a hot start problem with my rig, but checking stuff slowly and surely.
. I also tested the vacuum with a cold engine and also with a hot engine to see if any discernable vac leaks showed themselves when thermal expansion did it's thing with the carb and manifold.
My readings cold were around 22 and hot they were 18-19 even tho my guage says 27. Once I disconnected the guage it still read 7-8 and slowly went down as it cooled off. My guage was hanging down next to the manifolds so it got pretty hot.
Anyway, my test showed no vac leaks at temp. I also sprayed starter fluid all around the base of the carb and the manifold area and no discernable RPM changes.
Still dealing with a hot start problem with my rig, but checking stuff slowly and surely.
John McVicker
SILVER Star
The empty bracket you refer to holds the windshield washer fluid/bottle.
I have one of those reservoirs @Aussie Alaskan I'll snap a photo if ya want it when I get home. I'm using the reservoir that came from the '76 parts car.
- Thread starter
- #159
That would be awesome. Let me know. Will you be in the Fbks area next week when you come up?
I'm only heading to Anchorage and wasila. But it should fit in a medium USPS box
