New to FJ40 Scene

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2F Drivetrain
With 11 days to go before my 6th spine surgery (7th ruptured disc, 3 in my neck, 4 in my low back), my wife has been telling me again, repeatedly, that I should put an automatic transmission in the FJ40 (which would mean a Chevy V8 & auto transmission or Toyota V8 & auto transmission) so that my hips (rebuilt 40 years ago) and low back (a mess in progress) would not be under as much strain as a stick shift, but I just wanted to experience the 2F & 4 speed with the mechanical Overdrive unit. But, my wife has reminded me several times, even today, that she feels she is too old to drive a stick shift, and if it had an automatic transmission she could use it to go grocery shopping and/or take the dogs to the vet.

I am still trying to make up my mine, but if there is anyone out there looking for a 1978 Toyota 2F engine and 4 speed transmission WITH a mechanical Overdrive unit that would cut your highway RPM's by a great deal, send me a private message and let me know. I'd like to put together a short list if I decide to sell it. I gave $2,800 for the 2F, 4 speed transmission, transfer case, and mechanical Overdrive unit. Thank you for your time.



Thank you.
 
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FloridaLife said:
With 11 days to go before my 6th spine surgery (7th ruptured disc, 3 in my neck, 4 in my low back), my wife has been telling me again, repeatedly, that I should put an automatic transmission in the FJ40 (which would mean a Chevy V8 & auto transmission or Toyota V8 & auto transmission) so that my hips (rebuilt 40 years ago) and low back (a mess in progress) would not be under as much strain as a stick shift, but I just wanted to experience the 2F & 4 speed with the mechanical Overdrive unit. But, my wife has reminded me several times, even today, that she feels she is too old to drive a stick shift, and if it had an automatic transmission she could use it to go grocery shopping and/or take the dogs to the vet.

I am still trying to make up my mine, but if there is anyone out there looking for a 1978 Toyota 2F engine and 4 speed transmission WITH a mechanical Overdrive unit that would cut your highway RPM's by a great deal, send me a private message and let me know. I'd like to put together a short list if I decide to sell it. I gave $2,800 for the 2F, 4 speed transmission, transfer case, and mechanical Overdrive unit. Thank you for your time.



Thank you.
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Best of luck with your upcoming surgery!
 
Power Liftgate FJ40?
I hope everyone had a good Christmas, and that you all have a Happy & Safe New Years tonight.

Surgery went well. I was supposed to have surgery last Wednesday, stay over night, and then back home on Thursday. Instead they kept me in ICU for 2 days, then another room for 2 days before letting me come home. I don't have any pics of the new hardware yet, but will post one after my appointment on the 6th.

Also, got the 40's rolling chassis and tub towed back to my house / garage, and the idiot is supposed to bring the rest over in a trailer and offload it into my garage. Then in February if I have healed enough I'll get focused back on it again.

Hey, here is some food for thought for everyone regarding the FJ40 liftgate. My wife, bless her heart, as been driving an old (wasn't new when we got it because we never buy new, can't afford it) Toyota Sienna minivan for about 12 years and it has been great but it was time to replace it. So, I bought her a 2018 Toyota RAV4 ADVENTURE XLE. I liked the Adventure because it sits 4 inches higher which makes it easier for us to get in and out of, and it has a tow package with something called an 'Automatic Trailer Sway Detection and Control' or something like that, a bunch of safety features, and it has a separate transmission fluid cooler and engine oil cooler which I thought both would help on top of Toyota's already lasting forever. Now, the minivan had a power Liftgate, but it had 2 normal gas struts to hold the liftgate, and a separate motor and arm that would push it up and open, or pull it down and close it. However, on this RAV4 there is no separate motor. Instead, the dealership told me the motor is built into the struts (someone had put cheap Walmart manual struts on it and that's why the power Liftgate wasn't working). Well that got me to thinking... could someone get a pair of these struts, if they are the right length, and mount them to their FJ40 and liftgate, and get the button that activates it from the lower dash and/or from the edge of the liftgate and/or the key fob and convert their FJ40 into a Power Liftgate? Food for thought. I'd go measure mine but he hasn't delivered everything else yet. I'll attach a pic of a tape measure held up to the ball mount at 1 end of the strut and the measurement to the other end.

The other pic is my latest trophy (it's bigger than it looks in the pic) + some staples if someone has a sharp enough eye to spot them.

Happy New Year!

2018 RAV4 Power Liftgate Strut.webp


Lumbar 2025.webp
 
FloridaLife said:
I hope everyone had a good Christmas, and that you all have a Happy & Safe New Years tonight.

Surgery went well. I was supposed to have surgery last Wednesday, stay over night, and then back home on Thursday. Instead they kept me in ICU for 2 days, then another room for 2 days before letting me come home. I don't have any pics of the new hardware yet, but will post one after my appointment on the 6th.


The other pic is my latest trophy (it's bigger than it looks in the pic) + some staples if someone has a sharp enough eye to spot them.

Happy New Year!

View attachment 4058839
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Wishing you all the best with your recovery Florida brother!
Sending healing thoughts your way!
 
Greek Cruiserhead said:
Wishing you all the best with your recovery Florida brother!
Sending healing thoughts your way!
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Thank you. Once I bounce back and get this 40 going, if you are here in Florida we should get together sometime. Send me. PM and let me know where you are. I've wondered if there is group of owners near me that meet up once in a while.
 
FJ40 Power Liftgate?
FloridaLife said:
I hope everyone had a good Christmas, and that you all have a Happy & Safe New Years tonight.

Surgery went well. I was supposed to have surgery last Wednesday, stay over night, and then back home on Thursday. Instead they kept me in ICU for 2 days, then another room for 2 days before letting me come home. I don't have any pics of the new hardware yet, but will post one after my appointment on the 6th.

Also, got the 40's rolling chassis and tub towed back to my house / garage, and the idiot is supposed to bring the rest over in a trailer and offload it into my garage. Then in February if I have healed enough I'll get focused back on it again.

Hey, here is some food for thought for everyone regarding the FJ40 liftgate. My wife, bless her heart, as been driving an old (wasn't new when we got it because we never buy new, can't afford it) Toyota Sienna minivan for about 12 years and it has been great but it was time to replace it. So, I bought her a 2018 Toyota RAV4 ADVENTURE XLE. I liked the Adventure because it sits 4 inches higher which makes it easier for us to get in and out of, and it has a tow package with something called an 'Automatic Trailer Sway Detection and Control' or something like that, a bunch of safety features, and it has a separate transmission fluid cooler and engine oil cooler which I thought both would help on top of Toyota's already lasting forever. Now, the minivan had a power Liftgate, but it had 2 normal gas struts to hold the liftgate, and a separate motor and arm that would push it up and open, or pull it down and close it. However, on this RAV4 there is no separate motor. Instead, the dealership told me the motor is built into the struts (someone had put cheap Walmart manual struts on it and that's why the power Liftgate wasn't working). Well that got me to thinking... could someone get a pair of these struts, if they are the right length, and mount them to their FJ40 and liftgate, and get the button that activates it from the lower dash and/or from the edge of the liftgate and/or the key fob and convert their FJ40 into a Power Liftgate? Food for thought. I'd go measure mine but he hasn't delivered everything else yet. I'll attach a pic of a tape measure held up to the ball mount at 1 end of the strut and the measurement to the other end.

The other pic is my latest trophy (it's bigger than it looks in the pic) + some staples if someone has a sharp enough eye to spot them.

Happy New Year!
Click to expand...
 
FJ40 Power Liftgate
Has anyone out there ever tried swapping their Liftgate struts / props for some like the RAV4 that have the motor built into them instead of a separate motor to raise and lower the liftgate? I'll attach a pick of the length of them.

Part of me thinks "Might be handy" because it has been on our Sienna. But, part of me thinks "No, this is supposed to be a minimalistic utilitarian blast from the past, and you don't need it.

🤔

PXL_20251231_202239694.webp
 
Pinterest idea and very viable comment at the end.

But I guess that is what SEMA is for. I’M GUESSING you can modify the vehicle anyway that suits yard ideas. I’ve seen heated seats in FJ 40s that I never thought was a possibility but it would sure be a nice luxury now that I am older. I use the heated seats in my pick up summer and winter just for the arthritis factor. I think if you find a way to make it work and it’s something you want go for it if it modifies the vehicle beyond recognition I think that’s a spot I would steer clear of.

I’m thinking it might be worth investigating it if it’s something you really want. I never thought electric power steering would be a thing.
 
Happy New Year! Glad to hear you're on the mend.

Keep in mind, if you're running the spare tire carrier you'll have to open it b4 opening the rear lift hatch.
 
pb4ugo said:
Happy New Year! Glad to hear you're on the mend.

Keep in mind, if you're running the spare tire carrier you'll have to open it b4 opening the rear lift hatch.
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LOL!!! :rofl: That is a GREAT point! The spare tire & holder would 100% be in the way. See there everyone... when you are on narcotic pain killers you can come up with some crazy ideas and forget things like the spare tire & holder even being there. LOL! You can also double order things from Amazon or Ebay, and then when they arrive you scratch your head and wonder "How did I end up with 2 of these?" I've done that too since surgery. And I ordered them from the hospital bed with my phone. I guess I should have had my wife take my phone. LOL
 
I imagine the minivan has a separate latching mechanism to keep the liftgate closed. As does the FJ40. So in order to make your idea work, it seems to me that you would also need a power latch release.

Daryl Butler built a replacement full length liftgate hatch for his 40 about 40 years ago. Took the opportunity of building from scratch to also make a power window in the upper half of the hatch that retracted into the lower half for ventilation. Truly OOAK.
 
And…. I’ll bet there’s an APP for that! 😉
 
65swb45 said:
I imagine the minivan has a separate latching mechanism to keep the liftgate closed. As does the FJ40. So in order to make your idea work, it seems to me that you would also need a power latch release.

Daryl Butler built a replacement full length liftgate hatch for his 40 about 40 years ago. Took the opportunity of building from scratch to also make a power window in the upper half of the hatch that retracted into the lower half for ventilation. Truly OOAK.
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That sounds very interesting. One of the things I liked most about my Gen 3 4Runner was that the glass in the liftgate would go down all the way (power too). I loved it if you had fishing poles sticking out of the back, or if you went to get a couple pieces of lumber that were too long to fit, or even in the heat of the summer when I would get in it I would lower all the glass including the liftgate to blow all the hot air out to help the A/C.

I am really hoping / praying that this will be my LAST surgery, and that I will be able to be more active and teach the boys how to work on things on the 40, and take them fishing in the 40. I hope 2026 will be better for all of you too!
 
FJ40 Hat?
Does anybody make a good looking baseball cap with an FJ40 on it? Preferably freeborn red? I found 1, but it says 1973 on it. I'd rather have no year on it, or 1971. It would be nice if some site had it set up where you could pick the color of the FJ and the year or to leave the year blank.
 
My wife is an avid quilter and has some crazy sewing machines that embroider all kinds of stuff… I know since she started doing this in 2001this “technology” has simplified to a point of computer scanning turning your photos into embroidery and hats are even now a home doable project.

Stop into one of the stores around that do uniforms and all kinds of other clothing. I’m betting you can have some made easily and not too crazy on costs. We had a bunch done for our motorcycle club 20 years ago for about $20 each and that was then
 
knuckle47 said:
My wife is an avid quilter and has some crazy sewing machines that embroider all kinds of stuff… I know since she started doing this in 2001this “technology” has simplified to a point of computer scanning turning your photos into embroidery and hats are even now a home doable project.

Stop into one of the stores around that do uniforms and all kinds of other clothing. I’m betting you can have some made easily and not too crazy on costs. We had a bunch done for our motorcycle club 20 years ago for about $20 each and that was then
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Hey, that's a good idea. Thank you.
 
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