New to FJ40 Scene

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A/C, Heat, & Defrost New
Whew... I got a REALLY hard and sharp pain today, right in my wallet! But, got the A/C, Heat, and Defrost system ordered. Went with the Vintage Air SureFit Gen 5 system for the FJ40. I got with them about the challenges of mine having the fresh air pull, the 4wd engage pull, and Hi / Low lever under the dash. They had 2 solutions: 1. We could relocate those by making some brackets to move them down lower so they would be just beneath the plenum for the rectangle vents. Or, 2. Use the exact same Gen 5 Magnum Max Evaporator & Blower kit but the one with the ducts on the sides instead of on the front, eliminate the long under the dash plenum and rectangle vents, and be able to tuck and hide the tubing up behind the dash and mount vents either in the dash, or mount them under the dash. I actually like the look of the round vents better, and we can space them out better. I choose to believe it will be great. And, if we head north around the holidays to visit family where it gets chilly, or go on vacation to show my family the mountains and snow for the first time the heat and defrost will come in handy. I also included the LS A/C compressor relocation kit that moves it from the bottom passenger's side to the top passenger's side to be easier to get to, AND that will help with making sure the front pumpkin has plenty of travel room.

Vintage also has, at no additional cost, a kit to go along with the system to mount a couple of vents on the roll bar and either blow additional cold air at you from behind, or towards anyone or pets riding in the back.
 
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Lower Dash Pads New
Looks like the local idiots lost the lower dash pads because they did not make the transfer to where it is being worked on now. So, if anyone has, or knows where I can find, the lower dash pads that fit a '71 (build date December 70) FJ40 let me know.

And the rear liftgate was hiding rust holes under Bondo. So I am looking for one of those too.

Thanks
 
FloridaLife said:
Looks like the local idiots lost the lower dash pads because they did not make the transfer to where it is being worked on now. So, if anyone has, or knows where I can find, the lower dash pads that fit a '71 (build date December 70) FJ40 let me know.

And the rear liftgate was hiding rust holes under Bondo. So I am looking for one of those too.

Thanks
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fj40dash.com

FJ40 Lower Dash Pad Set (68-72)

FJ40 Lower Dash Pad Set, two pads. Reproduction of Toyota's Lower Dash Pads. Reproduction Polyurethane Lower Dash Pad Set for fj40 (BJ40, BJ42, & FJ40) 68-72 Two piece lower dash pads. Presently only sold as a set. This two pad system is before Toyota put a hole in the dash for a radio. The...
fj40dash.com fj40dash.com

Liftgate is going to be tough to find- might be worth fixing.
 
Jdc1 said:
fj40dash.com

FJ40 Lower Dash Pad Set (68-72)

FJ40 Lower Dash Pad Set, two pads. Reproduction of Toyota's Lower Dash Pads. Reproduction Polyurethane Lower Dash Pad Set for fj40 (BJ40, BJ42, & FJ40) 68-72 Two piece lower dash pads. Presently only sold as a set. This two pad system is before Toyota put a hole in the dash for a radio. The...
fj40dash.com fj40dash.com

Liftgate is going to be tough to find- might be worth fixing.
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Your the man Jesse! Thank you!
 
FloridaLife said:
Your the man Jesse! Thank you!
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Bear in mind , those FJ40dash.com pads have a massive "FJ40DASH.COM" stamped right on the face of them......
 
Chamba said:
Bear in mind , those FJ40dash.com pads have a massive "FJ40DASH.COM" stamped right on the face of them......
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on the upper lower is quality. Also wouldn’t be as loud as the 5.3 that’s sitting in the engine bay.
 
FloridaLife said:
Reminder, my FJ40 is a 1971 with a build date of December 1970.

Anyone have a hood spear in good condition, no rust, that would polish up nice?

Also exterior door handles that the chrome is still good on? Mine the chrome is long gone and they are gray.

And tail lights with mounting brackets? Mine appear to be boat trailer lights & brackets.

If you have any of these and you are willing to part with them, please send me a PM.

Thank you.
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Remember that its possible to send off your spear and have it rechromed. I had mine done many years ago and it was amazing what they did. Your results may very of course. Most importantly... Deep Breaths
 
A lot can happen in those 3 steps to chrome…. Copper is like a high fill “primer” nickel adds a layer and they can build up spots before the chrome stage. All of my parts on this bike were only nickel plated. Chrome was not yet developed in the early 1920’s…

Pitted to start….mirror finished final product
IMG_2102.webp
 
JMZ400 said:
Remember that its possible to send off your spear and have it rechromed. I had mine done many years ago and it was amazing what they did. Your results may very of course. Most importantly... Deep Breaths
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, my hood spear is pitted. Soni don't think having it re-chromed is an option.
 
knuckle47 said:
A lot can happen in those 3 steps to chrome…. Copper is like a high fill “primer” nickel adds a layer and they can build up spots before the chrome stage. All of my parts on this bike were only nickel plated. Chrome was not yet developed in the early 1920’s…

Pitted to start….mirror finished final product
View attachment 4222895
Click to expand...

Ohhhh.... I didn't know they could fix pitting. Hmmm...
 
Always worth talking g to one of them… there was a guy here in Newark, NJ. Got to talk to him and know him REAL well between the bike parts and Victrolas, (yes, the crank up kinds) he would do some great work polishing aluminum and plating parts. My wife calls it smoozing. It’s so much easier when you get to talk to someone. The job becomes secondary. They may go out of their way for you too

CHATGPT SAID;
If you mean chrome plating, especially the shiny decorative chrome associated with automobiles, the commercially practical process dates to the mid-1920s.

The key period was 1923–1924, when Colin G. Fink and Charles H. Eldridge in the United States developed a practical chromium electroplating process. At roughly the same time, Erik Liebreich was developing a commercially usable process in Germany. Historical accounts generally date the first commercial electrodeposition of chromium to 1924.

Fink’s process was patented in the United States in 1926, and chrome plating began spreading rapidly through industry during the late 1920s.

For automobiles, the timeline is particularly interesting. Nickel plating dominated before chrome. By the late 1920s, manufacturers began putting a very thin layer of chromium over nickel. Chrome was harder, resisted tarnishing, and kept its bright appearance much better.

So, roughly:

Before ~1925: polished nickel was the common bright automotive finish.
1924–1926: practical commercial chrome plating arrives.
Late 1920s: chrome begins appearing commercially on automobiles and other products.
1930s: chrome becomes extremely common on bumpers, grilles, handles, lamps, trim, and household products.
 
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knuckle47 said:
Always worth talking g to one of them… there was a guy here in Newark, NJ. Got to talk to him and know him REAL well between the bike parts and Victrolas, (yes, the crank up kinds) he would do some great work polishing aluminum and plating parts. My wife calls it smoozing. It’s so much easier when you get to talk to someone. The job becomes secondary. They may go out of their way for you too

CHATGPT SAID;
If you mean chrome plating, especially the shiny decorative chrome associated with automobiles, the commercially practical process dates to the mid-1920s.

The key period was 1923–1924, when Colin G. Fink and Charles H. Eldridge in the United States developed a practical chromium electroplating process. At roughly the same time, Erik Liebreich was developing a commercially usable process in Germany. Historical accounts generally date the first commercial electrodeposition of chromium to 1924.

Fink’s process was patented in the United States in 1926, and chrome plating began spreading rapidly through industry during the late 1920s.

For automobiles, the timeline is particularly interesting. Nickel plating dominated before chrome. By the late 1920s, manufacturers began putting a very thin layer of chromium over nickel. Chrome was harder, resisted tarnishing, and kept its bright appearance much better.

So, roughly:

Before ~1925: polished nickel was the common bright automotive finish.
1924–1926: practical commercial chrome plating arrives.
Late 1920s: chrome begins appearing commercially on automobiles and other products.
1930s: chrome becomes extremely common on bumpers, grilles, handles, lamps, trim, and household products.
Click to expand...

I got my water manifold and valve covers chromed on the '58 big block Hemi for my '34 Coupe. First they copper plated everything, then nickel, then chrome. Looked GREAT! The problem these days is the EPS got to be such a pain in the butt that a lot of the smaller and more reasonable prices shops shut down. Now I can't find anyone near, and the 1 shop I did find within a couple hours of here wanted freaking $250 to do the hood spear! 😳🤯
 
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I have a few pairs of the new OE running boards in stock here. I think I can do under $200 including shipping within FL
 
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