New to the Forum- 1979 fj40

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kellervernon

kellervernon

10 Year
Joined
Aug 30, 2015
Threads
63
Messages
474
Location
maine
hello all just checking in....
new to the forum and will have lots of questions soon.

First vehicle ever was a 1972 fj40 in the baby blue.
dad brought home torches and an arc welder and set me to work
at welding the frame back together and somehow, eventually, getting the old girl (Ezmerelda)
back on the road. Even caught on fire at one point... but thats another story.

Bought another 1972 from a kid in Saugerties, NY in 1998 or so and got that on the
road while I was in college in NYC just before gas prices rose to just about 4 dollars
a gallon (in NYC anyway). Imagine my surprise when it cost me over 100 dollars to drive home
for thanksgiving that year. Sold it for a measly 4gs. a few years later. solid truck too...

Anyway Im back in the game and for my 40th birthday (this January), I picked up a 1979 with almost
a completely useless tub but a great hardtop, good cowl, solid frame, with either really low mileage of 50k or really high 150k. who knows? Thinking Gozzard tub as this one really isnt salvageable and my welding skills are yet to be developed.

Anyway, looking for parts and advice. Site is awesome and have already mined a ridiculous amount of knowledge in the last few weeks.

Thanks and sorry for the book. Brevity is not one of my virtues.
 
Welcome, Cured for many years and now finally back to the madness again !!

Any picture available from the new 79 ?


:cheers:
 
FJ404345 said:
Welcome, Cured for many years and now finally back to the madness again !!

Any picture available from the new 79 ?


:cheers:
Click to expand...
coming right up....just picked up a used carb I'll rebuild. looking for original linkage. Has an adapter for a Holley which Im not interested in.
Will do a cold compression test this weekend just to see what we get and then see if I get her to run before I start pulling everything out. Full frame off...

20150917_173617.webp


20150917_173747.webp


20150917_173651.webp
 
Welcome aboard. A 40 on your 40th, pretty nifty!
 
I see your in Maine ... Did that truck come from Boston ma area?

Where in Maine are you... We are in wells most summers and next year we will have a seasonal site again
 
JohnnyC said:
I see your in Maine ... Did that truck come from Boston ma area?

Where in Maine are you... We are in wells most summers and next year we will have a seasonal site again
Click to expand...


Im in Portland. Yes came from Franklin. Paid too much but I have big plans! heheh. I like that it has the later year diffs the 3.73s.
If youre in Portland, come check my hotdog sandwich shop out in the Old Port. Blue Rooster Food Co. You'll love it!
 
I think that may have been a friends truck ... Frelow? He past away and another friend got the truck

The confer roof rack I bought new in 91' or there abouts :)

@SouthBostonFJ40 ... Alex would know ... was this Heathers?

Probably last saw the truck in 98'

I could be wrong ... It was long ago

We do go to Portland often... To bam bam bakery ( family is gluten free ... My wife and one boy has celiac disease )

I can eat anything :) and some of my other kids ... there is a burger joint we normally go to as well bgood? I think is the name they do the GF thing as well

There are TONS of eateries down there I may have been in yours lol

Are you right down there in the mix? It's a great area

There is aluminum as an option as well... Either one is better than listening to steel rust :)
 
I bought it from a guy in Franklin who i believe said a woman had owned it.
I probably should have waited for a different truck as I think he canabalized the interior
the carb etc. for a few extra bucks. i would love to get the back story on the truck if you
have contact info for previous owners.

my shop is on Dana street. If you were at bam bam im sure you made your way toward us.
were one of few that does a true late night menu. total mayhem.

Anyway ... supposed to stick to the tech in this forum i think.. whoops.

I like the price point of the Aluminum but dont love the hard sharp angles.
The composite tub really looks good and I had agood conversation with Mike Goddard via text.
he builds yachts first and foremost and he was saying that even in their boats they are replacing a lot
of stainless with composite. Simply holds up to the salt better.
5gs for the tub though. but it includes the cowl.
 
Mike has been at it a LONG time... malotte may be cheaper then mike but quality is shotty

There are many threads here about gozzard fiberglass tubs... Seen quite a few Canadian trucks with them ... All quality

I have fiberglass front fenders :)
 
I like the fact that the composite tub is one piece all the way through the cowl.
he wont sell one that is separated. doesnt even build it. too many issues he said.
what really sold me was that some guy bought a 40 and didnt know it was a gozzard tub for a whole year!
since my tub is not really salvageable Im pretty sure thats the route.

hope to meet you. give me a shout next time youre in Portland.
 
some may disagree, but i think you're making the right choice re fibreglass where salt is concerned, and especially re a Gozzard tub ... from time to time he slips up a bit, but his stuff looks great ... here's a thread by crushers, who has done a couple of builds with Gozzard's stuff ... looking forward to following your project ...

1HZ install into a 1978 FJ40
 
Hell Ya !
It actually looks good ! but then again we can't see the underside and all that rust, I'd sayt just drive it for a few months to get the feel then pull her in and do the work. Gozzard does make a kick ass tub, thick solid fibreglass that will make your truck look '' factory fresh '' you'll turn alot of heads when she's done ! If you can afford it, it would be great to drop a turbo diesel ( Toyota ) in there with a 5 speed !
Cheers
A.M.
 
alberta mac said:
Hell Ya !
It actually looks good ! but then again we can't see the underside and all that rust, I'd sayt just drive it for a few months to get the feel then pull her in and do the work. Gozzard does make a kick ass tub, thick solid fibreglass that will make your truck look '' factory fresh '' you'll turn alot of heads when she's done ! If you can afford it, it would be great to drop a turbo diesel ( Toyota ) in there with a 5 speed !
Cheers
A.M.
Click to expand...

the tub is smoked. frame looks good. not running as of yet but it will be! will start researching the turbo diesel but may just use the 2f as it's already paid for. just started rebuilding a used carb today to hopefully fire her up next week!

thanks!
 
Pinhead has great videos on rebuilding the stock carbs

 
JohnnyC said:
I think that may have been a friends truck ... Frelow? He past away and another friend got the truck

The confer roof rack I bought new in 91' or there abouts :)

@SouthBostonFJ40 ... Alex would know ... was this Heathers?

Probably last saw the truck in 98'

I could be wrong ... It was long ago

We do go to Portland often... To bam bam bakery ( family is gluten free ... My wife and one boy has celiac disease )

I can eat anything :) and some of my other kids ... there is a burger joint we normally go to as well bgood? I think is the name they do the GF thing as well

There are TONS of eateries down there I may have been in yours lol

Are you right down there in the mix? It's a great area

There is aluminum as an option as well... Either one is better than listening to steel rust :)
Click to expand...

I don't think so John. That truck was in worse shape when I saw it a few years ago. I think I sent you pictures. I may still have them and if so I'll post them for comparison.
 
I think my tub may have been worse than that when I bought it. New quarter, new rear seal, patch the rear bed, rear fender wells, new floor pans and it's as good as new.:)

Good luck with it.
 
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