one stop mechanic for FJ40 / paint and body shop r (1 Viewer)

[cotton42]

In '83 My father purchased a '78 FJ40 from the second owner and we've had it in the family ever since. For various reasons we haven't driven it to speak of for 3-4 years now and I'd like to get her back in shape. The FJ40 is all original with no mods and 60K original miles. I know of a few minor things mechanically that need repair and of course we have rust on the rear pan and rear sill and some rust under on of the front lights. But none to speak of in the rear quarters. Compared to most unrestored FJ40's, this one is really in very nice shape.

I have a decent budget but can't afford a full frame off and am not looking for a trailer queen show winner.

What I'd like to do:

1) Fix everything that needs repair mechanically and run through all mechanical systems from A to Z and if there's any question rebuild or repair. I basically want a 100% reliable truck mechanically. (I don't think we need to go in to the block unless we have compression problems I don't know about.)

2) Get the rust fixed professionally and in a top notch way. I'd like a complete paint job and on the interior too and I 'd like to take the front clip off and paint the inside of the engine compartment and maybe the front frame rails.

3) all new rubber weatherstripping, badges and new or replated hood latches, new headliner and factory looking new seat covers.

4) My blue sky wish list would include vintage air, an OEM looking sound system without cutting the dash or serious wiring harness mod and a front wench.


I don't want any serious non factory mods and wan to keep the thing stock and I don't want to do anything now with a modest budget that I couldn't later go back and finish up more funds.


Where I need help:

1) has anyone attempted something similar in scope of work with a similar truck and who would be willing to share costs with me?

2) I'd like a recomendation on an experienced mechanic who has worked on FJ40s and who can handle steering, power train and electrical fixes.

3) Ditto for a paint and body guy that has experience with patch panels and who has an eye for craftsmanship.

I'm in Texas and would prefer Texas, but NM and OK are options too. I've been told about a fellow who might just be my guy mechanically, but I'm curious to see if his name pops up.

I have more photos and will try to figure out a way to link them.

Appreciate the help and guidance!

 

[cotton42]

I think I have a working link to more photos:

http://78fj40.shutterfly.com/

 

[Tigerstripe40]

Mechanical work is relatively cheap, however, body work costs the most money as it is the most labor intensive. Your trucks tub is in great shape so you may be able to have the rust repaired relatively inexpensively.

How much work can you do yourself?

From your laundry list, a full frame off restoration isn't going to be much more work (tub will likely need to be removed from the frame to do what you want, why not have the frame sand blasted, powder coated, add new body mounts).

 

[cotton42]

I did a frame off on a 53 Ford in my late high school and college years when we had shop space and practically every tool needed.

That said, I'm capable of doing the frame off and a decent painter myself but we no longer have the warehouses nor many of the tools and my time is zero. So, really I'm looking to farm out the work, but I don't mind "GC'ing" the work and taking the truck several places.

I was afraid that I'd be looking at a frame off, however, some of the quotes I've gotten from specialists range from $40K to $70K top end and that seems to be getting into trailer queen territory which I'm not sure I want or need.

That said I really want the mech systems top notch and the rust fixed right (BTW, the floor pans have zero rust).

I'm open to suggestions and I don't mind putting the FJ on a trailer and taking it a few places for folks to look at.

 

[ElHefe]

Where in Texas? Where is the non-surface rust? Any rot? I see the sill holes and bubbles...

I would suggest neutralizing the rust as fast as you can while you make up your mind on which shop to send it to.

That truck looks amazingly original.

 

[FJsnoozer]

I did a frame off on a 53 Ford in my late high school and college years when we had shop space and practically every tool needed.

That said, I'm capable of doing the frame off and a decent painter myself but we no longer have the warehouses nor many of the tools and my time is zero. So, really I'm looking to farm out the work, but I don't mind "GC'ing" the work and taking the truck several places.

I was afraid that I'd be looking at a frame off, however, some of the quotes I've gotten from specialists range from $40K to $70K top end and that seems to be getting into trailer queen territory which I'm not sure I want or need.

That said I really want the mech systems top notch and the rust fixed right (BTW, the floor pans have zero rust).

I'm open to suggestions and I don't mind putting the FJ on a trailer and taking it a few places for folks to look at.

Call cruiser corps. In OKC

Contact | Cruiser Corps

Talk to seaknight about the work they just did on his to see how happy he was. His truck was in a rollover

Colvins automotove. In austin...
-Colvin Automotive-: Home

PM 77 mustard 40 as they just finished up fenders and rear sill on his.
-Colvin Automotive-: Photo Gallery[pointer]=1&tx_lzgallery_pi1[showUid]=35

here is an fj55 they just did
https://forum.ih8mud.com/tx-lone-star-land-cruisers-austin-chapter/589223-who-owns-resto-pig.html


Wimberly 4wd is closing, so I dont know if they would take on the project.

I dont know what a decent budget is. I am doing what you listed plus a few mods. I am doing all of the work myself and it will cost me a little over 10K

 

[Fast Eddy]

In my opinion (worth what you're paying for it), it's only unrestored once. Get rid of the carpet. Get someone to carefully remove and replace the rear sill with a copy from Awl_TEQ (perfect, amazing copy). Derust just the floor and coat it with color-matched bedliner. Then do what you want mechanically, stereo, winch, maybe a little lift.

I would not repaint that. It's only unrestored once. You'll spend $20000 and in ten years it will be worth the same as if you didn't touch it, maybe less.

 

[Sea Knight]

Call cruiser corps. In OKC

Contact | Cruiser Corps

Talk to seaknight about the work they just did on his to see how happy he was. His truck was in a rollover

x2 on Cruiser Corps in Oklahoma City. Good people. They'll work with you and do as much or as little as you want, at a reasonable price. I hung out there daily while they were working on my 40 and was impressed that they know their way around Cruisers, so there's no learning curve. I think their body man told me he'd rebuilt something like 30 FJ40's. Their body shop is called Dent Depot. Mike Denison owns CC. 888-217-4070

 

[JasonH]

2) I'd like a recomendation on an experienced mechanic who has worked on FJ40s and who can handle steering, power train and electrical fixes.

PM Texican on here. He's your man for any FJ40 mechanical work. He also has a great paint/body guy he uses.

 

[DSRTRDR]

In my opinion (worth what you're paying for it), it's only unrestored once. Get rid of the carpet. Get someone to carefully remove and replace the rear sill with a copy from Awl_TEQ (perfect, amazing copy). Derust just the floor and coat it with color-matched bedliner. Then do what you want mechanically, stereo, winch, maybe a little lift.

I would not repaint that. It's only unrestored once. You'll spend $20000 and in ten years it will be worth the same as if you didn't touch it, maybe less.

I agree

 

[77mustard40]

Here is the thread to my sill work from last summer in addition to the body work being done to Sea Knight's rig. I used a CCOT sill and Colvin (Austin, TX) did the work, turned out great other than the fact that I now need to finish the whole rig.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/tx-lone-st...-chapter/486317-sill-wars.html?highlight=sill

Finding a good Cruiser wrench is one thing, there are several that are qualified depending on what needs attention. Diving in to the paint and body world is another issue. Do your research before jumping in and plan in detail what you want done before opening the can of worms, it will be expensive.

 

[cotton42]

Many thanks to all for the help with suggestions and the responses. Several replies suggested fixing the rust but not doing a full repaint. Since I couldn't post all of the photos originally, I couldn't show that the doors and other areas have some oxidation down to bare metal. See this link http://78fj40.shutterfly.com/

That said, I think what I'm hearing is to repaint the rust patches and oxidation areas and blend the new paint to match the original factory paint, fix the mech issues (minimal as they are) are drive it.

Thoughts?????

 

[1973Guppie]

as others said, I would just fix the rust in that rear sill, redo all the rubber, tune up the engine, etc, then maybe get the outside of the truck repainted (you will probably have to as replacing the rear sill is going to ruin some of the paint in the corners from the spot welds. I would not consider repainting the interior or the firewall, you are going to have to do a frame off to do that.

Noah