New Member Here with 78 FJ40

[quesadeee]

Hi Everyone,

I live in St. Louis and have my grandfather's 1978 FJ40. He bought it brand new and put a 350 in it almost immediately. Him and my grandmother drove it all over Colorado and Utah. It has/had dual gas tanks, dual batteries, air conditioning, factory warn-winch, roof rack, an old altimeter thing, lev-o-gauge, various doo-dads; so it was heavily used. My grandfather also had a fj55 that him and my grandmother drove all the way from Colorado to Guatemala. It had a 350 and dual everything as well. I know where the FJ55 is, but it's in pretty rough shape, may get it back some day and restore it, who knows.

The FJ40 has a decent amount of rust, but is drive-able, everything works. Hoping to find someone in Missouri or Southern Illinois who has experience with FJ40 body work to fix it up. Looking forward to using the forums. Thanks!!

 

[rkymtnflyfisher]

No pics, no proof.


Welcome to the madness

 

[Pete]

Hi Everyone,

I live in St. Louis and have my grandfather's 1978 FJ40. He bought it brand new and put a 350 in it almost immediately. Him and my grandmother drove it all over Colorado and Utah. It has/had dual gas tanks, dual batteries, air conditioning, factory warn-winch, roof rack, an old altimeter thing, lev-o-gauge, various doo-dads; so it was heavily used. My grandfather also had a fj55 that him and my grandmother drove all the way from Colorado to Guatemala. It had a 350 and dual everything as well. I know where the FJ55 is, but it's in pretty rough shape, may get it back some day and restore it, who knows.

The FJ40 has a decent amount of rust, but is drive-able, everything works. Hoping to find someone in Missouri or Southern Illinois who has experience with FJ40 body work to fix it up. Looking forward to using the forums. Thanks!!

There are few bodies on any vehicles that are simpler than an FJ40's so I really don't see the need for someone with experience with FJ40 body work. This is not a 911 Porsche! All it takes is someone with MIG skills welding sheet metal to cut out the rust and weld in new metal if you want to do it right. I can tell you in advance it won't be cheap. You might even want to buy yourself a little Lincoln or Miller MIG set up that runs on household current and dive in. There are tons of vendors who offer most all of the replacement panels like quarter panels, fenders, floors, etc. Once the rusty panels are removed and repaired or replaced, any auto body painter ought to be able to finish the job.

If you want to have a pro do it, I'd avoid body shops that specialize in collision repair. There aren't many real body men working in those kind of shops these days. They want to remove and replace with a factory part.

By the way, I grew up in Southern Illinois but haven't lived there for almost 50 years but still have family there who are Jeepers. Good 4-wheeling at Land-Between-the-Lakes in Kentucky. I also have a grandson in Saint Louis who had a Wrangler (until my great granddaughter was born!) who used to do a lot of 4 wheeling in the Ozarks in MO but I don't know the specific places.

Good luck,
Pete

 

[quesadeee]

There are few bodies on any vehicles that are simpler than an FJ40's so I really don't see the need for someone with experience with FJ40 body work. This is not a 911 Porsche! All it takes is someone with MIG skills welding sheet metal to cut out the rust and weld in new metal if you want to do it right. I can tell you in advance it won't be cheap. You might even want to buy yourself a little Lincoln or Miller MIG set up that runs on household current and dive in. There are tons of vendors who offer most all of the replacement panels like quarter panels, fenders, floors, etc. Once the rusty panels are removed and repaired or replaced, any auto body painter ought to be able to finish the job.

If you want to have a pro do it, I'd avoid body shops that specialize in collision repair. There aren't many real body men working in those kind of shops these days. They want to remove and replace with a factory part.

By the way, I grew up in Southern Illinois but haven't lived there for almost 50 years but still have family there who are Jeepers. Good 4-wheeling at Land-Between-the-Lakes in Kentucky. I also have a grandson in Saint Louis who had a Wrangler (until my great granddaughter was born!) who used to do a lot of 4 wheeling in the Ozarks in MO but I don't know the specific places.

Good luck,
Pete

Thanks for the info, Pete. I actually have experience MIG welding and have a crappy welder. Maybe I'll just buy a better MIG, practice on some junk panels, then dive in.

 

[Pete]

You're probably more than half way home if you have MIG experience!

Good luck!

 

[AKAIE15]

Welcome.

Post some pics.

 

[rrv333]

Pics or it's fiction

 

[quesadeee]

 

[quesadeee]

My grandpa liked his label maker. Also, roof rack is off because it won't fit in garage with it on!

 

[fyton2v]

White FJ40s are the best kind of FJ40s. Welcome to the club. Oh, and your bezel is upsid.... ah, missing.

 

[quesadeee]

White FJ40s are the best kind of FJ40s. Welcome to the club. Oh, and your bezel is upsid.... ah, missing.

Yeah, my grandpa was concerned about cooling. The A/C condenser is in front of the radiator, and at the time converting to a 350 was a little less tested than it is now.

Oh, and checked the frame stamp, it's a 76!

 

[Strait Cruisin]

Oh, and checked the frame stamp, it's a 76!

'76's are by far and away the best example of the entire landcruiser line and quite possibly the best vehicle ever. This is a totally fair and honest appraisal of the facts and not biased at all, never mind that I own one made in April of that year.

 

[Matt1260]

Get a GOOD MIG welder that uses shielding gas and can adjust the temp low. Will make welding the sheet metal so much more pleasurable. Cheap ones that splatter all over the place and blow through metal are good for door stops and that's about it.

 

[quesadeee]

Ok, so maybe it IS a 1978. Frame stamp is FJ40-285776. I figured the 76 at the end meant it was made in 76, but a chart I found online placed that number in July of 1978.

 

[Pete]

It looks great from the front!

 

[quesadeee]

Pete, the rear is what's rusted. The front half actually looks pretty good. My G-pa had it rust proofed by "Zeibart" a long time ago, it worked on the front half, and the frame looks good.

 

[Jersey Cruiser]

Welcome to the forum! I have a 79 that was still a 78, bezel, gas tank location are the give aways. It is stock engine 6 cylinder and needs a new tub. I've done a bit of research and these run the gamut, from a French brass beauty down to aluminum or fiberglass tub. I love this truck and will one day restore it!