New to me 79/40 Stainless Steel

[alberta mac]

On a whim and completely impulsive I bought a 79 fj40.
The transaction was quick and the interaction was very agreeable, looks like the seller , a decent guy and I have mutual interests as he has another 40 he wants on the road asap.
Upon a little inspection she is a hurt'n and needing some luv'n !
1/4 panels I think and look to be pooched, inner fenders, no fender support and the front end well...
The good is the motor seems strong and idles nice, solid frame, so I have a decent platform to rebuild and save another Cruiser.
The plan:
I gotta make some room in my garage and be able to dissect and eliminate the cancer.
I will be going stainless steel like my last bj42 so I still have all the drawings and details.
Once I get her in the garage I can start updating with pics as I go.
Out with the old and in with stainless steel from the door posts back, a half stainless tub with rockers in stainless steel. There is also some front end clean up that needs to take place.
It already has some decent BFG tires but a 4'' lift to accommodate 33'' tires is the plan.
more to come...

 

[ChubbyHands]

congrats on the purchase.

 

[SteveH]

Photos?

 

[alberta mac]

Photos?

Here in Canada we see a whole different level or restoration that the warmer locations don't see. I'd consider myself somewhat hardcore in my interest in Cruisers, Drove one from 93 to 2006, off roader, my dd that I drove to work 45min one way, put about 230,000km on it. It is parked now with some electric gremlins and a few other issues and an oop inspection once the work is complete.
I was contemplating redoing in steel but that only lasted a day before the better of me kicked in and decided on #304 stainless steel. The stainless has held up on my bj42 from 95 until 2006 ( parked in 06 to current ) for off-road and being a daily commuter, it is still intact as the day I finished welding it. It should see the road next year before or after this one is complete.
Back to the 79, There are still parts missing that I'll inquire about, there is still a lift gate to go with the old skool roof which should be a nice compliment, I have some fibreglass 1/4 doors that might be kicking around if they didn't get lost in the move and I think I found a suspension on my garage that is for a 40 but not sure if it's stock or higher ?
It's a strange thing not driving one for years and what one resorts to when impulse kicks in and what you will buy. The wife responded '' I knew you would find something to put in that parking spot once you freed it up'' I wasn't even planning on buying another cruiser ! She knows me well I guess !
As much as this may seem like quite the undertaking as it really may seem I'm bringing this one back from the dead ! I'm looking forward to the journey with this one. The 2f runs very well and the short drive from my house to my mechanic was only 5 minutes.
Once the garage has been cleared to put her in I'll be taking more photos on the deconstruction / reconstruction process in Stainless Steel !

 

[FJ404345]

.Congrats !, ...a lot of work the coming months

 

[diesellibrarian]

Did you buy that off Liam? He had it on a trailer at our Calgary meet-up in early October. You don’t see many purple Cruisers so it kind of stuck out haha.

I’m curious about your use of stainless. Do you buy it by the sheet? Do you find it hard to work? And do you just butt weld it to the stock steel? What kind of wire do you use?

 

[alberta mac]

Did you buy that off Liam? He had it on a trailer at our Calgary meet-up in early October. You don’t see many purple Cruisers so it kind of stuck out haha.

I’m curious about your use of stainless. Do you buy it by the sheet? Do you find it hard to work? And do you just butt weld it to the stock steel? What kind of wire do you use?

Yes Liam. The body will be cut from the door posts to rear, all that will remain will be the hardtop rail. I'll submit the drawings to some shops to cut and bend then it will be tig welded. The 1/4's will be a lap joint and connected to the A pillar. stainless in and out but no ribs in floor or inner fenders. I believe it's 307L or 309 filler wire when welding stainless to steel. No not hard to weld it. I love working with stainless and have a stainless exhaust on my other cruiser. I won't be cutting or bending it but will sub it out to some shops around town for a quote then pick it up and fab it up in my garage.

 

[OlYellr]

Yes Liam. The body will be cut from the door posts to rear, all that will remain will be the hardtop rail. I'll submit the drawings to some shops to cut and bend then it will be tig welded. The 1/4's will be a lap joint and connected to the A pillar. stainless in and out but no ribs in floor or inner fenders. I believe it's 307L or 309 filler wire when welding stainless to steel. No not hard to weld it. I love working with stainless and have a stainless exhaust on my other cruiser. I won't be cutting or bending it but will sub it out to some shops around town for a quote then pick it up and fab it up in my garage.

I’m watching this. I got cancer too and interested in your approach. Have a 1980 = same as yours.

Congratulations

 

[alberta mac]

I’m watching this. I got cancer too and interested in your approach. Have a 1980 = same as yours.

Congratulations

How are your body mounts ? located below driver and passenger seat. They can fill with mud when off roading and then rot out. I did replace mine in my 1983 bj42. I'm not sure if anyone makes a replacement but I guess anyone could just fab up a replacement.

 

[OlYellr]

How are your body mounts ? located below driver and passenger seat. They can fill with mud when off roading and then rot out. I did replace mine in my 1983 bj42. I'm not sure if anyone makes a replacement but I guess anyone could just fab up a replacement.

Tackled them this summer and a quick patch to the frame when doing my body mounts. Could not get to the #3 mounts easily so saving those for another day… (I went with OEM)

Sample starting point

And

And

And

 

[pbgbottle]

Are you in these Facebook groups. I saw that one on market place. Has a touch of rust. Haha.

https://m.facebook.com/groups/976636749726006/?ref=share

https://m.facebook.com/groups/151761238548365/?ref=share

 

[jim land]

I have a nice cowl section from an 84 bj42 and a 79 one in less better shape but still better than yours, only thing is im in quebec

 

[alberta mac]

Tackled them this summer and a quick patch to the frame when doing my body mounts. Could not get to the #3 mounts easily so saving those for another day… (I went with OEM)

Sample starting point
View attachment 3763386

And
View attachment 3763373
And
View attachment 3763374
And

View attachment 3763375

Tackled them this summer and a quick patch to the frame when doing my body mounts. Could not get to the #3 mounts easily so saving those for another day… (I went with OEM)

Sample starting point
View attachment 3763386

And
View attachment 3763373
And
View attachment 3763374
And

View attachment 3763375

Nice work !!

 

[alberta mac]

Are you in these Facebook groups. I saw that one on market place. Has a touch of rust. Haha.

https://m.facebook.com/groups/976636749726006/?ref=share

https://m.facebook.com/groups/151761238548365/?ref=share

Yes joined groups

 

[alberta mac]

Update : Have been going over my old drawings of body panels, measurements etc... a review of details and checking before submitting to a shop for estimates. Somehow there are drawings with missing data ? How these were produced in 1995 I don't know ? Perhaps a lost revised drawing ?
Anyway the progress of going over detail drawings, checking with my old stainless 42 and a 1970 fj40 have been the task for the week.
I'm guessing next week to submit drawings for an estimate then it's clearing up the garage to work in.
I'm not a desk guy and why drafting didn't work, I'm a shop guy and can't wait to get into the shop with the cutting wheel to remove the rear half of the 40 in and out in prep for Stainless Steel ! Hoping the estimates are reasonable !
enclosed is a current pic of my stainless 42 that was fab'd in 1995.
Enclosed pic because we all love Cruiser Porn !

 

[alberta mac]

Yes joined groups

'' A touch of rust '' is an understatement ! lol but hey I'm saving another from being someones parts source.

 

[alberta mac]

It has taken a while double checking dims but am excited to create a second gen stainless tub with improvements, modifications but will still retain the original look. Looking forward to this new build.

 

[psmbfuer]

Update : Have been going over my old drawings of body panels, measurements etc... a review of details and checking before submitting to a shop for estimates. Somehow there are drawings with missing data ? How these were produced in 1995 I don't know ? Perhaps a lost revised drawing ?
Anyway the progress of going over detail drawings, checking with my old stainless 42 and a 1970 fj40 have been the task for the week.
I'm guessing next week to submit drawings for an estimate then it's clearing up the garage to work in.
I'm not a desk guy and why drafting didn't work, I'm a shop guy and can't wait to get into the shop with the cutting wheel to remove the rear half of the 40 in and out in prep for Stainless Steel ! Hoping the estimates are reasonable !
enclosed is a current pic of my stainless 42 that was fab'd in 1995.
Enclosed pic because we all love Cruiser Porn ! ....

Hey Alberta Mac. Nice work - I missed the fact that you had a thread running. It does look like you have some serious work ahead, and looking your 42 tub, your 40 is in good hands. I will be following with interest - my 42 might be up next after wrapping up my 77.

 

[psmbfuer]

Tackled them this summer and a quick patch to the frame when doing my body mounts. Could not get to the #3 mounts easily so saving those for another day… (I went with OEM)

Sample starting point:

And nice mount @OlYellr.

 

[OlYellr]

And nice mount @OlYellr.

Coming from you after drooling with your 77 stainless steel thread, thank you.