Newish FJ 40 - Few questions

[nahdont]

Hi Everyone!!!

I recently purchased a 1973 FJ 40 and have been LOVING it, its a soft top and I've been doing some cheap modifications to get it to a reasonable driving standard, fixing headlights, spotties, indicators etc. Its not my main car but I've been using it way more than my regular car haha I'm not that mechanically minded but I can sort myself out and I'm learning quickly.

Got it for $2000 AU so I wasn't expecting much but boy is it fun to drive, its got a bit of rust about it and most of the electrics weren't working when I got it, have done the best I can with using this forum and what I know but I have a few questions. I am on an tight budget being a student and have been using a lot of parts from an unregoed V8 that has been lying around the backyard. Ive gotta get the brakes fixed as I'm not that confident on playing with them yet, so I better get them bled and balanced

First and most Importantly is the soft top itself which I am not currently using but helps when storms come around. Its brown, now I don't know what they are referring to when the say soapy water will wash it of because this is properly stuck on haha, (struggling to scrub it off with a wire brush) Take a look. Any tips to get this visible, its a really good canopy and a new one is to expensive, so I was thinking maybe buying that clear PVC stuff from somewhere and stitching it up myself?

My second question is what is that thing next to the radiator and should it be plugged into anything? I have allot of wires just lying around which I need to reattach so I may as well start here

Tried to upload some photos so hopefully they will work, got more questions about a stereo and the rear spot light that's not working but will but them on another post as I took plenty of pics!

Look forward to hearing from everyone!

 

[jmdaniel]

Your first pic, I will defer to the guys with soft tops, but I do think that "window" is trash, unless you want the world to have a sepia tone.

Your second pic is the horn.

Your third pic, weird is misspelled.

Others will be along shortly. Welcome to MUD!

 

[nahdont]

Another problem I've been having is with the rear spotlight, its mounted under the rear doors and wired to somewhere under the car, the switch is near the gear stick which makes it hard to see whats underneath, I'm not sure why its not working, as far as I can see there is no relay attached to the on any part of the circuit but it does get lost in a whole bunch of wires that are taped together and go towards the fuses so I'm not sure.

The ground is screwed back into the metal at the rear of the car, maybe there could be an issue with earthing all the way back to the front?
I've taken a few photos, the first shows the inconvenient place for the switch.
The second shows the underneath, ( only just managed to squeeze the camera up there to see what was going on) looks like 3 wires? Not know why but hey!
The third shows underneath where the wires seem to join and somehow connect. two wires just sitting there unattached but they don't even look like they can be joined.

I'm considering starting from scratch and re-wiring it myself, I'd like to use the switch that's already there but I'm not entirely sure what order the fuse/switch/relay/ (Or if I even need a relay because the switch is so far away and out of the way)/ light/ wires etc go in.

Maybe the switch could be blown if there's no relay right?

Thanks!

Oh so apparently I can't post any more pics Not sure if I have to wait and take down those other three before I can post more or what but anyway I'll just let it hang for now

 

[nahdont]

Ah just read User guide more pics later

 

[Tim71FJ40]

You can rewire the whole truck pretty easily and it isn't super expensive. There are a couple of generic harnesses you could use, EZ Wiring Harness, Painless Wiring Harness, are most popular. It takes some studying of the wiring diagrams, some basic understanding of DC circuits, a few tools, ...

And you have to very patient and methodical about working through each circuit until things work. The good thing is that most are independent of each other, so one day you decide to get headlights working with your dimmer switch, and do nothing but that until it's done.

You may end up taking some of your switches apart and cleaning them, but again, it can all be done one at a time.

Make sure you are ready to stay parked for at least a couple long weekends, but probably 3 or 4. I'm an electrical guy, not an engine guy, so my dad wired the starter/distributor/alternator/voltage regulator... and I have slowly done all of the lights, gauges, signals, and sensors myself.

You will learn a ton...

I think the EZ harness I got was on Ebay for about $175 USD.

 

[Tim71FJ40]

... And congratulations on your new obsession.

 

[bikersmurf]

I'd have to agree that those windows look toast. A boat shop could likely replace the windows if the rest of the top is in good enough condition.