New owner intro - and request for help

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B

bhuneke

Joined
Jan 16, 2026
Threads
1
Messages
5
Location
Pleasanton, CA
Hi all - excited to be here!!

So, crazy story about our FJ. My wife grew up with a '79 which her father sold to one of our friends in 1998. He joined the military and stored it at his buddy's house in FL. A couple weeks ago he called us to let us know that he was going to sell it and wanted to know if we wanted first dibs - HELL YEAH!!!! So we set up transport and now have my wife's childhood FJ sitting out front (received 3-days ago).

It has been well maintained and ran/drove well the first two days after delivery, but last night broke my heart. I went outside to warm her up with the choke on and it was revving high, but I just got it, so I didn't think anything of it. Then it just died. I tried to get it going a few more times and it would start up but die immediately. I tried a few more times, then looked under the car and the muffler looked like I just pulled it out of a volcano - YIKES!!! Then I found this MacGyver fitting on the ground beneath the engine bay *pic 3.

So I stopped messing with it and did some research since I don't know anything about FJ's. Yet.. To me it sounds like an air issue - vacuum leak? Can you guys look at the 2nd and 3rd pics and let me know if I'm on the right track?

Appreciate all the insight and stoked to be here!!!

Brandon

fj1.webp
fj2.webp
fj3.webp
 
Welcome to the site. It looks like a nice project. Looks like the thing in the 3rd pic was on the open thing in the 2nd pic.

So you've been running it with really the old gas in the tank? Have you checked all the fluids?

It's an FJ40.
 
Hey Brandon, welcome to the forum. Much luck to you and your wife with this FJ40. Since it was running and I don’t know that you know if it sat for a while but make some junk in the fuel tank has gotten shook up to clog either a line or filter….since it seems like a fuel delivery problem to me but certainly could be anything…. Pick a starting point


EDIT: AUTO-CORRECT thinks it knows better
 
Last edited:
pb4ugo said:
Welcome to the site. It looks like a nice project. Looks like the thing in the 3rd pic was on the open thing in the 2nd pic.

So you've been running it with really the old gas in the tank? Have you checked all the fluids?

It's an FJ40.
Click to expand...
Thanks! That's what it looks like to me. The vehicle has been driven and maintained/driven by the person who was storing it for our friend. All fluids are good and not old.
 
knuckle47 said:
Hey Brandon, welcome to the forum. Much luck to you and your wife with this FJ40. Since it was running and I don’t know that you know if it sat for a while but make some junk in the fuel tank has gotten shook up to clog either fine or filter….since it seems like a fuel delivery problem to me but certainly could be anything…. Pick a starting point
Click to expand...
It has been driven regularly and running smooth according to the person who has been storing it. I still think it has to do with the part I found on the ground
 
The open port is likely causing a large vacuum leak and needs to be plugged with the thing you found on the ground.
 
Just an update, I connected the part I found on the ground to the fitting in the second pic. It started up fine at normal rev's. I pulled the part off while it was running and the revs went way up. I think that's the culprit, just want confirmation. Thanks again for the help!
 
bhuneke said:
Just an update, I connected the part I found on the ground to the fitting in the second pic. It started up fine at normal rev's. I pulled the part off while it was running and the revs went way up. I think that's the culprit, just want confirmation. Thanks again for the help!
Click to expand...

You have @orangefj45 Georg at Valley Hybrids less than an hour away from you. He will be an awesome/close resource repair place. I am sure he will chime in with his contact information for you.
 
Congrats and welcome to the Cruiser lifestyle! Looks like a nice solid unit that should offer years of enjoyment even as it slowly erodes your bank account.

Since you're new to the scene, someone might as well let you know that "FJ" is not a helpful moniker when it comes to Land Cruisers, since it could potentially refer to any number of models, including FJ55, FJ60s, FJ62, FJ80, FJ70, FJ45 [edit: or, GASP, the FJ Cruiser!], etc. So just call it your "40" or FJ40 and we'll all know what you're talking about.

We'll also need to see a photo of the front to make sure your headlight bezel isn't upside down. ;)
 
I’d start getting familiar with the desmog threads. By that piece of hose being used to cap off and the trim screw in one vacuum line as a plug (pic 3), it looks like a partial desmog was performed or, the deletion of some inop parts at the least. Do you need to pass smog where you are? If not I’d look into doing a complete, proper desmog.

Looks like a good start though, but we need waaaaaaay more pics!
 
Welcome to Mud. I’m just up the road in Danville. There’s a few of us around this area.

Being a 1979, you’re going to have to smog it. Typical CA BS. I’d see if it’ll pass smog before putting any money into the truck. Sorry to be a downer but it’s the reason I only looked at 1975 and older trucks when I was looking to buy. It can be done but it’s a PITA.
 
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