FloridaLife
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #601
Well, that is good to know since my wife said she would only ride in it here in Florida with me if I had A/C, and I was definitely planning on doing that!
New to FJ40 Scene
- Thread starter FloridaLife
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
Well, that is good to know since my wife said she would only ride in it here in Florida with me if I had A/C, and I was definitely planning on doing that!
FloridaLife
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #602
Update
New
FloridaLife
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #603
A big Thank You to @criusermatt who I went to see on Tuesday to pick up a good condition used split transfer case. Rick at BTB told me that running the original 3 or 4 speed transfer case with the LS swap would result in the transfer case whining so bad that it would drive me nuts, and I should run a split case to eliminate that problem. And, cruisermatt had just what I needed. 
He also showed me on a '71 there at his shop where the linkage is, and how it moves for the original dash mounted 4wd controls, which is perfect for my hip & back surgeries so I won't have to bend and lean over to grab a stick on the floor. I'll post those pics and short video below too. And MAN he has some cool stuff going on in his shop, and they can do anything. One was an FJ40 with an LS swap AND they were adding a supercharger to it! Over 600 horsepower! Another rig in there they owner sourced and brought them I think it was a 2024 or 2025 V8 with a 10 speed automatic.
From there I drove over to see the guy that is helping me with my 40 and snapped a handful of pics. He was about to sandblast the chassis nice and clean (he figured we might as well with everything else that has been and will be done, and I agree) and get it painted. He also has the front fenders almost ready to paint and if you remember from the pic I posted when it first arrived here some previous owner had made holes in the fenders and mounted what looked like headlights as auxiliary lights on the fenders, so he's had to repair that. He's also got the spare tire holder and rear doors blasted shiny and almost ready to paint. I also dropped off the rest of the parts I had.
So, what started out with the intention of putting the engine together and start driving with the patina (and the crankshaft & pistons were missing) is now going to end up being like a new FJ40. All new rubber, seals, gaskets, felts, mounts, and so on. Maybe I'll tell my wife to have me burred in it. But with what it has ended up costing us she may want to drive it until she croaks and leave it to one of the boys. In fact, (and I know I've said this before) if some stocks do well, eventually maybe we will build a 2nd one, and be able to either leave one to each of them when we die, or give each one of them one on their wedding day that they could either keep and enjoy them, or sell and use the money to put a down payment on their first home. Hmm... I just had an idea... if some stocks do well, they could sell them back to me for the money for a down payment on their first home. LOL!
Here is a link to the short 9 second video of how cruisermatt showing me how the transfer case linkage works for the dash control on the '71, and I'll add some pics below:
New video · Tuesday, Apr 28
- https://photos.app.goo.gl/jzzhwzZc9QPKtjFs8
He also showed me on a '71 there at his shop where the linkage is, and how it moves for the original dash mounted 4wd controls, which is perfect for my hip & back surgeries so I won't have to bend and lean over to grab a stick on the floor. I'll post those pics and short video below too. And MAN he has some cool stuff going on in his shop, and they can do anything. One was an FJ40 with an LS swap AND they were adding a supercharger to it! Over 600 horsepower! Another rig in there they owner sourced and brought them I think it was a 2024 or 2025 V8 with a 10 speed automatic. From there I drove over to see the guy that is helping me with my 40 and snapped a handful of pics. He was about to sandblast the chassis nice and clean (he figured we might as well with everything else that has been and will be done, and I agree) and get it painted. He also has the front fenders almost ready to paint and if you remember from the pic I posted when it first arrived here some previous owner had made holes in the fenders and mounted what looked like headlights as auxiliary lights on the fenders, so he's had to repair that. He's also got the spare tire holder and rear doors blasted shiny and almost ready to paint. I also dropped off the rest of the parts I had.
So, what started out with the intention of putting the engine together and start driving with the patina (and the crankshaft & pistons were missing) is now going to end up being like a new FJ40. All new rubber, seals, gaskets, felts, mounts, and so on. Maybe I'll tell my wife to have me burred in it. But with what it has ended up costing us she may want to drive it until she croaks and leave it to one of the boys. In fact, (and I know I've said this before) if some stocks do well, eventually maybe we will build a 2nd one, and be able to either leave one to each of them when we die, or give each one of them one on their wedding day that they could either keep and enjoy them, or sell and use the money to put a down payment on their first home. Hmm... I just had an idea... if some stocks do well, they could sell them back to me for the money for a down payment on their first home. LOL!
Here is a link to the short 9 second video of how cruisermatt showing me how the transfer case linkage works for the dash control on the '71, and I'll add some pics below:
New video · Tuesday, Apr 28
- https://photos.app.goo.gl/jzzhwzZc9QPKtjFs8
That fuselage is my idea of fun… I could put that in my yard and use it as an office and man-cave with all the conveniences of home !
FloridaLife
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #605
LOL, I had a similar thought. I asked about it, and the former governor of Florida (may have even been governor at the time) wanted a plane fuselage on a bus chassis and set it up to drive it in parades and public event. They got into it, and discovered it weighed so much on that chassis that it would not be safe to drive. So, they punted on it, and parked it at the back of the property. I bet you could buy it at a great price! Send me a PM if you want the contact info!
Well…. I can’t fly it to New Jersey and if it can’t drive anywhere…it’s gotta stay there
You aren’t thinking creatively enough- if it’ll float, she’ll make it to Jersey….
FloridaLife
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #608
Now that's funny!!!
Country of Origin?
New
FloridaLife
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #609
I saw a listing on BaT for an FJ40 with this VIN plate, so I did a Google Gemini search of what country of origin "dun" is (unless I'm reading it wrong and it is lun) and it said India. But, sometimes search results are wrong, so I thought I'd throw it out there and get some confirmation:
I would guess Jun(e) 1973
Production date June 1973?
FloridaLife
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #612
FloridaLife
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #613
Oh gotcha. So if it says that it meets Federal Motor Vehicle Standards then it was a US market FJ40, correct? That's what I thought, but then the "dun" (which probably is Jun) and the "IN" on the 2nd one threw me. Unless on the second one it is simply saying it was made "in Dec 1971". Looking at these rigs on BaT and trying to tell what is a US market and what isn't, and some of them say, but others don't.
Trunk Accessory
New
FloridaLife
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #614
Anybody know where I can order one of these for the back of my 40?
Last edited:
Frame Looking Better
New
FloridaLife
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #615
Making progress! The frame is blasted clean and painted with a thick protective paint. The springs aren't done because they will be replaced and then they will be painted along with the axle housings & pumpkins, and any other items not done are because they have to be dealt with when installing the drivetrain and Advanced Adapter stuff.
@FloridaLife you’ve got to be smiling now that there is forward movement…
FloridaLife
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #617
Yes I am!
I was just telling my wife yesterday that it doesn't seem real after all the B.S. we went through with the idiots that had it over a year.
- Joined
- Jul 22, 2012
- Threads
- 637
- Messages
- 17,345
- Location
- Winter Park, Florida
- Website
- www.cruisermatts.com
You know you’re going to have to cut out and move the crossmember back right?
FloridaLife
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #619
Yes I am!
Yes sir. That's why it is not painted. It will be painted after it is moved. And I bought the crossmember from either BTB or Advanced Adapters that is needed for the split case I got from you, and it will need to be cut down a little to fit and then put into place. But, I greatly appreciate the heads up in case we didn't know.
That's what a snorkel is for, you don't need it to float!