Operation Olive, My 1975 FJ40 Ground Up Restoration

[joyRidaz]

I'm digging your exhaust set up. Need to do something similar.

Couple questions:
1) can u pls post pic of the front half where it comes from manifold and tucks to the frame rail? My stock one is under the frame rail.
2) is that muffler fairly quiet? Is so what brand etc.
3) did you have this custom built/bent? On my 60 I found a set up pre-bent which was great for a diy-er lacking a tube bender... Have found pre-bent stuff for the forty at a reasonable price

@mudders-Any idea what would happen if I added a cat? I presume it would slightly impact performance but not help with the fj40 cologne(the smell)?

Looks great!

Routes above the cross member and inside the frame rail.

 

[broth9640]

I will snap a few shots today. The exhaust was custom built for me from the stock manifold back. It was done by AA performance exhaust here in Denver. The cost was 350.00 until I upgraded to the stainless muffler. Out the door it was 435.00. They did an amazing job in about two hrs while I waited. The welds look perfect! They hit them with a zinc primer when they were done to keep it all from corroding. I would avoid the pre-bent setup stuff. I initially bought a down pipe from Shane at Metric TLC, but it mimics stock exactly and runs the exhaust to the outside of the frame rail. Connecting a bunch of sections with clamps would just make leaks really likely. I will try and snap as many photos as possible so you can take them to an exhaust shop and show them exactly what you want. I wish I had done that while it was up on the lift. It truly looks beautiful! One last word of advice. Find a shop that carries new studs that will fit the flange and have them replaced or order some from Toyota. I also brought with me the Toyota gasket for the flange and a flange from metricTLC. Most shops won't have a flange like this and the will end up using something that doesn't fit by modifying it. This just keeps it stockish and clean.

http://shop.metrictlc.com/1975-87-2F-Exhaust-Manifold-Flange-F-01.htm

 

[broth9640]

One last word of caution. MetricTLC has been flaky to say the least. Buyer beware! Check out the bad vendor section, there is a lengthy thread there about it. I have had some issues with them, but always got my stuff. I just had to harass him via email about it. It sucks because he carries so much unique stuff that isn't available everywhere else.

 

[Weber Sarge]

Just to be fair, I think most of the issue with MetricTLC is health related to my knowledge .
I built my own here as well , just a few simple bends in 2.5" pipe off Mark's header with a small 10" long glasspack and out the drivers corner . Simple and growls a bit under a torque load .
Sarge

 

[DanS HJ-45]

One last word of caution. MetricTLC has been flaky to say the least. Buyer beware! Check out the bad vendor section, there is a lengthy thread there about it. I have had some issues with them, but always got my stuff. I just had to harass him via email about it. It sucks because he carries so much unique stuff that isn't available everywhere else.

FWIW, I ordered some decals from Shane a couple weeks ago. I've got them already.

But I understand the issues people have been having with MetricTLC, but it seems to me like it's been mostly the seat covers. Will find out. Dad has some seat covers ordered from him as I type...

Dan

 

[broth9640]

Yeah I sure hope it all pans out. I have ordered a fair bit of stuff from him and have always received it. On two occasions I had to send multiple emails, but ultimately got the stuff. I would like to try out his OEM colored silver powder coat, but it's a bit pricey and I worry about ordering now. I guess I need a new radiator sticker now too after that overheating debacle. She's running like a top now. Cooler than ever actually.
Only issue now is smelling the exhaust. The back draft is strong! I am wondering if a tailgate might help? Anyone have experience with this? I am sure it will be fine with the top on, but I don't think that will happen until October. The other problem I have is wanting a bikini top and a set of sweet half doors.

Almost forgot, she needs an alignment pretty badly too. I was surprised that it still has a fair bit of play in the steering after all new tie rod ends. I guess the steering gear box is prob heavily used. Future projects I guess.

 

[DanS HJ-45]

The Pewter powder from Shane is spot on, IMHO.

We've used it extensively on the 40s and 61.

Dan

 

[broth9640]

Sweet, I might have to wait a week or two, the wife's about to have a heart attack over how much I spent in under a week. Man all these last minute thing to finish her add up! I think I dropped like 2k in about a 3 day time frame . But she is running!

 

[alabamatacomaguy]

Sweet, I might have to wait a week or two, the wife's about to have a heart attack over how much I spent in under a week. Man all these last minute thing to finish her add up! I think I dropped like 2k in about a 3 day time frame . But she is running!

The way my math works for cruisers is you divide what you spend by 2 and if that's not enough subtract some more and then tell the princess.
We haven't tied our knot completely yet so this may only work for a little while longer for me.
But honestly your saving money buying cruiser stuff today, it's only getting more expensive, once you get her to understand that everything is fine... and the fact you need extra parts of some things so you can save even more in the future, but the real savings are when you buy complete cruisers so you need another cruiser and then another poor condition cruiser to take parts off and a poorer condition cruiser to take parts off to help the first parts cruiser you have because it has potential and now that you think about it it's not that far gone and you can save it.


If your princess is watching you close pay in cash and learn to hide cash. I bought doors yesterday and had the cash hidden in my shoe. The seller laughed but my girl is still happy.


Anyway I enjoy your thread. Cruisers Looking good

 

[subzali]

Cruisercorps sells the pewter too. Also consider a downturn at your exhaust tip to alleviate the smell. Treeroot did all sorts of testing and that was his best solution. I have that in mine and it works well

 

[broth9640]

Great tip! Do you have a pic by chance?

 

[Weber Sarge]

45* out/down at the corner of the rear tub . Works the same for Cruisers , Sami's , Heeps and Binders .
Sarge

 

[broth9640]

45* out/down at the corner of the rear tub . Works the same for Cruisers , Sami's , Heeps and Binders .
Sarge

Definitely going to stop by the auto parts store and grab a doe turned tip and give it a try. The headaches are killing me.

 

[broth9640]

Pulled the carb and cut off the EGR pipe. Filled it with JB weld and sanded flush. Doesn't look all that pretty at the moment, but when I get around to rebuilding the carb it will get some fresh paint to blend it in.

 

[broth9640]

 

[Honger]

Love this build man. The dune beige turned out super slick. You going to put the hubcaps on those wheels?

 

[broth9640]

Thanks, I appreciate the positive comments. The hub caps will be coming soon, but just trying to get all the mechanicals sorted so I can drive it this summer. Every time I work on it, it seems like the punch list grows rather than shrinks.

Installed the prop valve for the rear, but still sorting that all out since the rear is still locking first. I also rewired the rear pig tail and got the side marker lights up and running.

 

[broth9640]

Realized my spare tire carrier needs work. Of course I missed this before it went to paint! Doh!

 

[broth9640]

 

[broth9640]

Welded up and added some material on both the latch and the hook. Took a lot of fitting, grinding, welding, grinding and fitting again before I got it to latch nicely.