Hello all!
I'm the new proud owner of a 1978 FJ40... Have been searching for about a 9mo or so for a good fit, and this one had my name on it. I've had it about a week, and still getting this and that fixed up on it. The plan is to make it my daily driver (I don't drive a ton) and to use it as an adventure-mobile for some occasional off-roading. The last I've really wrenched on a car was in my 20's (used to autocross), and it feels good to get my hands dirty again.
I don't know much about the car history... All I know it was imported from Europe, restored here (where they swapped a US speedo in, as its in MPH). It's only been stateside a few years. So far engine / tranny work real smooth, no difficulty starting it, and the paint job is a solid B-, but it still puts a BIG smile on my face! That said, there are lots of little electrical gremlins I've been chasing down here and there. In the last week, I've got the running lights / headlights back up and running, the parking brake light and the fuel gauge. Still need to get oil pressure / engine temp gauges working, find a hazard light switch, dome light, amidst tons of other things. I haven't found much if any rust, and my main focus right now is on safety stuff (headrests, roll bar pads, seatbelts, parking brake, hook catch all need addressing).
Future plans for the car might include some sound deadening, but not sure on that yet. I will definitely get a heater back in the car (I'd like to keep it as stock as I can), and I'm looking for other bits and bobs that seem to be missing (usually starts with me wondering what a given hole is for, doing some searches, and then trying to chase down another part).
Glad to be on the forum! Many a google search in the past several months have brought me here for answers, and I'm really digging the learning process.
I'm the new proud owner of a 1978 FJ40... Have been searching for about a 9mo or so for a good fit, and this one had my name on it. I've had it about a week, and still getting this and that fixed up on it. The plan is to make it my daily driver (I don't drive a ton) and to use it as an adventure-mobile for some occasional off-roading. The last I've really wrenched on a car was in my 20's (used to autocross), and it feels good to get my hands dirty again.
I don't know much about the car history... All I know it was imported from Europe, restored here (where they swapped a US speedo in, as its in MPH). It's only been stateside a few years. So far engine / tranny work real smooth, no difficulty starting it, and the paint job is a solid B-, but it still puts a BIG smile on my face! That said, there are lots of little electrical gremlins I've been chasing down here and there. In the last week, I've got the running lights / headlights back up and running, the parking brake light and the fuel gauge. Still need to get oil pressure / engine temp gauges working, find a hazard light switch, dome light, amidst tons of other things. I haven't found much if any rust, and my main focus right now is on safety stuff (headrests, roll bar pads, seatbelts, parking brake, hook catch all need addressing).
Future plans for the car might include some sound deadening, but not sure on that yet. I will definitely get a heater back in the car (I'd like to keep it as stock as I can), and I'm looking for other bits and bobs that seem to be missing (usually starts with me wondering what a given hole is for, doing some searches, and then trying to chase down another part).
Glad to be on the forum! Many a google search in the past several months have brought me here for answers, and I'm really digging the learning process.
