Newbie here with buyers remorse.

[myKIDStoy]

hey guys,

New to the forum and new to the FJ community. Just bought myself and kids a 78 fj40. got a pretty good price mostly bc of the amount of rust on rear quarters.

I don't really have buyers remorse but the more and more I work on it teh more problems keep arising. I guess that's what happens.

I bought it with the brakes not working. Replaced both calipers and rotors. I desmoged it, bypassed the rear heater. And now i noticed one of my rear springs leaf is split in half (just 1 out of the 6??).

I was wondering if anyone in the community would be kind enough to look at it and point out things that might need to be fixed asap or soon or leave it be.
Maybe you can show me how to offroad it.


I live in Avondale so i'm trying to keep my drive locally. My rigs top speed is 50mph. So if anyone in the west valley can help me out that'd be great. I notice almost everyone is in the East Valley.

I love my 40 and so do my kids.
Thanks in advance.
Oscar

 

[cook]

Wow, sweet looking rig. I don’t know anyone that lives on the West side, but would suggest you make it down to one of the monthly meetings on the third Friday of the month.

Can you explain the comment about your top speed being 50 mph?

 

[Tools R Us]

Buying an older rig can take some work to make reliable. Are the springs stock or lift type, brand? Your options are; buying new spring(s), finding a used leaf or having a new leaf made. Depending on what leaf and where it's broken, you my be able to wheel it like it is. One local rig has done some pretty aggressive/long distance wheeling with a broken leaf. It will put more stress on the other leafs, so best bet is to repair soon.

Anyway welcome!

 

[myKIDStoy]

THANKS COOK.

For some reason my rpm is at 4000 at 50 to 55mph. The prior owner said not to exceed 4000.
If that normal. Can i go faster? I would love too. Bc right now i just aviod the freeway, bc its too dangerous for me and other drivers.

 

[Tools R Us]

THANKS COOK.

For some reason my rpm is at 4000 at 50 to 55mph. The prior owner said not to exceed 4000.
If that normal. Can i go faster? I would love too. Bc right now i just aviod the freeway, bc its too dangerous for me and other drivers.

IMHO the best cure for that is rubber overdrive,,, ie bigger tires!

 

[myKIDStoy]

rubber overdrive... Nice

Tire's are 31x10.5.

Don't know if i have stock or lifted springs. How can I tell? What should stock height be? My rear fender is cut?

 

[Tools R Us]

rubber overdrive... Nice

Tire's are 31x10.5.

Skinny 35" tires, problem solved!

Don't know if i have stock or lifted springs. How can I tell?

Looks lifted to me and don't see long shackles? It could be aftermarket springs or add-a-leaf in stock packs. Look for markings painted on the top of the packs. Good pics may help, what leaf is broken and where, in the middle or towards the end? What brand/color shocks are on it?

What should stock height be? My rear fender is cut?

Don't know what the stock height was, probably doesn't matter, they are mostly sagged by now? Yep, those quarters are cut.

 

[Scott68FJ40]

I believe that the gearing is a little different between your 1978 and my 1968, but with the stock drive train in the 68, with 31's 3000 rpm would be 65 mph.

Welcome to aboard and check out the main 40/55 tech section here on Mud, there is a lot of great info over there.

 

[myKIDStoy]

took some pics while at work.

They look like OME shocks. Can't tell. No markings on springs.

Also attached is the pic of the broken spring leaf. Rear leafs looks like 4 leafs.

 

[BMAN]

I've got a full set of stock springs you can use to pilfer whatever you might need. I'll trade em to ya for what I got into em, 2 12's of Blue moon.

 

[myKIDStoy]

cool,

I can do that. Can I just replace the ones i have now with yours?

What side of town are you in?

Any members on the westvalley?

 

[cook]

I believe that the gearing is a little different between your 1978 and my 1968, but with the stock drive train in the 68, with 31's 3000 rpm would be 65 mph.

Welcome to aboard and check out the main 40/55 tech section here on Mud, there is a lot of great info over there.

I don’t own a 40, yet, but the numbers your reporting don’t sound right and the PO’s comments don’t help. If you are still able to contact the PO might want to ask about any modifications that might be the cause for your speed problem. And it is a problem. In Arizona there tends to be long drives to get to the trials we want to wheel on, so if your stuck at 50mph you’ve got a problem.

And it is definitely worth the time to read and post up questions on the main mud board. Good luck and hope to meet you at one of the meetings (or trail runs).

 

[msahr]

Top speed 50? You should be able to do a lot better than that at 4000 RPM. Here's a dumb question, you've made sure you're in 2 HI right? And it's in 4th gear?

I think those springs look lifted. Which leaf is broken? Can you take a picture of it?

As far as rust and stuff goes oh well. You can buy ANY body replacement part and re-do it. Or you could use those awful diamond-plate cover-up panels.

 

[msahr]

BTW don't get discouraged on this, looks like you've got a nice rig and it already has lots of good bits... Gas shocks, stainless steel brake lines, warn winch, mild lift, headers... and hey it's an FJ40!

 

[leftarmtan]

Hey man,Im in avondale also(avondale blvd./encanto).I have two fj40's so im pretty familiar with them,however mine are rockcrawlers so Im not that savy on stock rigs.Looks like a real clean 40 and definatly a good year to start with.Feel free to call me and I can help you with whatever I can. 623-252 8260 Jim

 

[splitshot]

Nice to see another 40 on board.

 

[Tools R Us]

...
For some reason my rpm is at 4000 at 50 to 55mph. The prior owner said not to exceed 4000.
If that normal. ...

That doesn't sound right? The stock gears should be 4.11, may have been regeared lower? Have you checked/confirmed that the tach is set for the correct number of cylinders?

...
Also attached is the pic of the broken spring leaf. Rear leafs looks like 4 leafs.

Not a "good" break location, needs to be addressed. I'm not up to speed on the springs on later '40s, but that doesn't look stock and most that I have seen have more leafs? Ruff Country maybe?

My advice is to do what is needed to make it reliable/wheelable and take it out and wheel it. After getting some seat time, make bigger changes to reflect your needs/wants. Way too many have spent big $$$ setting up a rig, then wheel it only to find they would have preferred a different setup for how they use the rig.

 

[Tools R Us]

I believe that the gearing is a little different between your 1978 and my 1968, but with the stock drive train in the 68, with 31's 3000 rpm would be 65 mph.
...

They should both be 4.11, IIRC the '40 went to 3.73(?) in 1980?

 

[mikeob1]

I think I looked at this rig...yeah check transfer case. It if is the one it had a webber carb and HEI iginition and aftermarket Tach/ Vacuum guage. Also had a lockrite in the back, so maybe you have super tall gears draining you of top end.

I'd be happy to look at it for you. PM me.

 

[Rocky_LC]

Maybe it's a speedo thing? Use your GS reciever to verify.

Do you have a Tach? My '74 doesn't.

Looks like a nice rig. I worked on mine for several years before I felt I had worked all the bugs out. Yours looks pretty solid. Mine didn't have a hardtop, nor a winch. Like others have said - it looks like a nice platform.

I also have 3 stock springs (you can have 'em if you get to the east side of Tucson), I broke a rear leaf like you did.

I bought a Downey 4" lift (about $400, but he's out of the business), a nice mod.

Good luck.

Rocky / Chuck