New snow plow/project/conversation piece... (2 Viewers)

[darwink1]

The mouldy green snow plow/project/blood sucking money pit..

A fourty came up for sale locally a week or so ago and I figured it wouldnt be a bad idea to take a look at it....

A test drive and 1800$ later I had a plow truck. Its a canadian 1969, 6cyl gas, 4spd tractor like machine with a working plow. Dude had it parked w/o starting it for a month or two and it fired right up after some creative choke work (roughly -15 today). He was using it to plow his and his neighbors driveways since 06, otherwise it sat.

Took a good look at it today and the frame looks allright. The motor looks "clean" and most of the accessories seem to work. The tub is pretty rotten in the rear quarters and the front drivers fender is droopy and has some cancer. I dont doubt for a second that I wont find a lot more.....

Bought it spur of the moment so no real plans yet. Gonna plow the driveway with it this winter, thats something right there....

D

 

[splib]

Nice score! Looks like it's had its share of 'creative' mods. What are those things on the sides of the windshield?

 

[darwink1]

They look like tabs for lights but they may have another purpose. Noticed them today and they looked like they were supposed to be there... Not a 40 expert by any means so what do I know.

Creative mods are all over this thing, Ill post some better shots when it gets to my place. I was just surprised at how well it drove. No power brakes or steering but the motor sounded great, didnt blow smoke and the brakes stopped it.

Question: Are the side mounted signals common? Ive searched a bit and all I see is the fender mounted ones... Mine are missing .

D

 

[splib]

You should have fender mounted front signals, either the rectangular ones or the small round ones, depending on the year of your truck and side reflectors, not marker lights; orange ones on the side bibs above the fenders and red ones in the back.

Looks like someone filled in the holes on the fenders for the front signals. You should be able to see them from underneath.

 

[splib]

I see it's a 69, so it should have the rectangular front signals and side reflectors.

 

[fj404life]

Great score! I plow with my 69. Makes a super good plow rig. I only do my road as I would not want to tear it up plowing for $$. Its a heavy 4x4 short wheel base tractor. Doesn't get much better for plow duty!

 

[78fj40mg]

Great find for $1800. Nice rig, just add some paint and you've got a great rig!!

 

[Captain M]

Nice find!! looks great. I know you just acquired her, but any ideas what your plans are for the spring/summer months?

 

[AKcruiserfreak]

Nice! I forsee a very modified future for this 40. I would love to find a 40 with a plow.

TK

 

[darwink1]

Honestly, I dont really know how this one is gonna turn out. As soon as my buddies found out I got it theyve been inundating me with parts offers lol. One guy has a 60/14 bolt axle set and my other buddy is gonna have an extra set of sixty axles in the near future. Yet another guy I know has a 5.3 on a motor stand in the corner of his garage...

I just want to get it in the garage and have a good look. I have a feeling that its had a motor or tranny swap at some point. Its a 69 but has a 4 speed (reverse is far left and down), all the searching Ive done its supposed to be a 3 on the tree. The motor looks to have either been painted and/or apart at some point. The whole things been painted orange and matches the "cold weather" air intake that Ive seen on other 40's. Im kind of hoping that it turns out to have a motor/tranny swap from a later model. Should have taken pictures of the engine bay but we were too busy crawling all over it and only remembered to snap some shots right before we left.

One thing I am thinking of doing is keeping it ratty looking. Dont get me wrong Ill be cutting and replacing a buttload of steel but I dont want it to end up looking all pretty and shiny like the sixty. I want it to be able to audition for jeepers creepers if that makes any sense at all. 4wd Rat rod 40?

Plans change tho and if I know myself at all it may not be mine in a month or two. Who knows. The only reason I say this is that theres a 55 for sale a couple hours away....

We need to start an LCA (land cruiser anonymous) for people with major addictions.

D

 

[AKcruiserfreak]

The rat rod is the direction I'm going with my 40 too. Check out my build thread. I'm just beating out some dents, and getting the thing running.

TK

 

[CruiserStuff]

I've been plowing snow with a 40 for almost 15 years now. LOVE IT! Great rig for the task. I've found that the survival of the rig depends on the driver and the driver can operate his machine in one of two ways: 1) bashing around using the skinny pedal as much as possible, 2) finesse and common sense. I have never fried a clutch, bent or cracked a frame or blown out a rear end (like many other plow operators I know). Through the years, I've easily made close to $200K.....

 

[darwink1]

Nice! Im not looking to make cash, just do my own driveway (which isnt big at all, just used it as an excuse) and maybe an older neighbor or two. Actually wish the guy would drop it off soon, the plow just went by and left a foot and a half of wet slush at the end of the driveway.

Crossing my fingers that it actually gets here today.

D

 

[darwink1]

I think it used to be red....

http://youtu.be/NnNmPSBFavU
http://youtu.be/4VajzQ-Vbhc

Feel free to tell me whats what.

D

 

[darwink1]

Some close ups.

D

 

[darwink1]

D

 

[darwink1]

Its got AC...

D

 

[Tancruiser]

I plow with my 73 fj40 and love it gets into all the tight spots I chain up all 4 wheels and go slow never broken any thing in 16 years of plowing and we average 400 inches of snow a year up here, nice find eh

 

[darwink1]

^^^ So that is a 2f eh? Cool. Its supposed to be a 1f? Im guessing? I kind of did a quick search on the phone while in the garage yesterday and got the impression that the 2f had the oil filter on the drivers side. Mine is on the ps so I got all depressed lol.

Couldnt see any numbers on the block at all. I hear theyre supposed to be near the starter somewhere but theres nothing there except a hatch mark about 2" away from the starter on the block. The floor of the garage was all wet from it thawing yesterday so Ill crawl around a little more today and see what I can see.

Any markings on the t case or tranny I should look for?

As far as the tape goes I think Im gonna pass for now lol. Used that stuff on my 80 build (body job 1.0, "93 80 Beater") and told myself never again. The 40 will either be living in the garage or the closed in car port this winter so Im not too concerned about neighbors bitching about a junker in my driveway. I have good neighbors and do their snow regularly so Im sure they dont mind the idea of the plow truck.

Also, any quick patch job on this tub wouldnt be quick and it would end up looking like paper mache lol. The rear 1/4's have about 3-4 layers of steel/bondo, theres some galvanized steel thrown in there for good measure as well. The rear cargo area/inner wheel wells have been redone about 15 times and the whole area is one big patch. Dont get me started on the driver/pass floor pans (picture orange, wet cardboard but not as strong)... Ive decided to start looking for a half decent tub, for now the old crumbly one can stay where it is. It aint gonna pass a cert no matter how much patching I do.

Got a lead on an old dude w a couple 40's stashed close to me so I might take a boot out there today and see whats what.

As far as the fluid film goes, its great stuff and Im one of the people thats been spreading the word ever since I started hanging around the forums. It turns into a wax when dry and leaves a protective layer. I did my tacoma bed/cab floors when I got it in 03, sold it this summer and the film was still there no rust at all.

D

 

[darwink1]

Cool.

Contemplating goin for a little drive to try and find a couple 40's sittin at an old dudes place I was told about. Gonna bring some tools just in case.... Hopefully the guy is there and I can talk to him otherwise Ill just leave a note with my number if theres anything good.

D