Hi Everyone,
My best friend since 7th grade recently passed away (far too soon) and so his family gave me his 1967 FJ40 hardtop- (I guess that makes it a 'V'). Pictures below. He was the second owner, having bought it around 1984 from a family friend, a doctor who kept it garaged at the small airport at Mammoth Lakes, California, to get to his ski cabin. Included with the FJ are a few boxes of new parts from Specter Off Road- bumpers, gaskets, window/door seals, seat cushions, headliner, etc. He intended to restore it, so I'm going to finish the job for him. Going to need a ton of advice from those of you who have gone before into this insanity... and I go willingly, albeit ignorant of so many details.
I have an acquaintance who restores cars to Concours-quality who has offered some guidance and his painting expertise. We will be doing a frame-off job, but not rebuilding everything. His mechanic checked the engine (original F135) and felt it was solid with good compression, perhaps needing a little top end work (valve guides). 3-on-the-tree transmission also passed muster. So that was a relief. Also, they recommend not bothering to switch to disc brakes, as I don't intend to drive this thing too hard or too far. I like the idea of keeping most things original, though I probably will keep (and camouflage) the electronic ignition! Or get the one that goes inside the distributor. The one thing my wife would like would be headrests on the front seats, for safety. I like the original seats, but see her point. Anybody see headrests added to the stock seats. Or are there 'period' looking seats with headrests?
Today my wife and I started removing things in the interior and marveling at how simple it all is. Looking forward the this journey.
Thanks
Brian & Susan Berdan
Bainbridge Island, Washington.
ps. I would love to know who the great FJ mechanics are in the Seattle area. If there's someone on the west side of Puget Sound (Kitsap Peninsula), that'd be ideal.
My best friend since 7th grade recently passed away (far too soon) and so his family gave me his 1967 FJ40 hardtop- (I guess that makes it a 'V'). Pictures below. He was the second owner, having bought it around 1984 from a family friend, a doctor who kept it garaged at the small airport at Mammoth Lakes, California, to get to his ski cabin. Included with the FJ are a few boxes of new parts from Specter Off Road- bumpers, gaskets, window/door seals, seat cushions, headliner, etc. He intended to restore it, so I'm going to finish the job for him. Going to need a ton of advice from those of you who have gone before into this insanity... and I go willingly, albeit ignorant of so many details.
I have an acquaintance who restores cars to Concours-quality who has offered some guidance and his painting expertise. We will be doing a frame-off job, but not rebuilding everything. His mechanic checked the engine (original F135) and felt it was solid with good compression, perhaps needing a little top end work (valve guides). 3-on-the-tree transmission also passed muster. So that was a relief. Also, they recommend not bothering to switch to disc brakes, as I don't intend to drive this thing too hard or too far. I like the idea of keeping most things original, though I probably will keep (and camouflage) the electronic ignition! Or get the one that goes inside the distributor. The one thing my wife would like would be headrests on the front seats, for safety. I like the original seats, but see her point. Anybody see headrests added to the stock seats. Or are there 'period' looking seats with headrests?
Today my wife and I started removing things in the interior and marveling at how simple it all is. Looking forward the this journey.
Thanks
Brian & Susan Berdan
Bainbridge Island, Washington.
ps. I would love to know who the great FJ mechanics are in the Seattle area. If there's someone on the west side of Puget Sound (Kitsap Peninsula), that'd be ideal.
