Operation Olive, My 1975 FJ40 Ground Up Restoration
- Thread starter broth9640
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Looking great. Keep up the good work. 
Looking really good. I am at the exact same point. I have over 20 hrs of sanding into the rear quarters to get them flat. I'm still not satisfied. What a pain..... I too had to lose the factory spot weld look due to the rear quarter repair.
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You are simply flying through that! It looks amazing.
From what I see there, you can certainly handle the painting yourself--as long as you can do it inside your garage and keep it warm enough.
Either that, or see if you can rent a paint booth.
Dan
From what I see there, you can certainly handle the painting yourself--as long as you can do it inside your garage and keep it warm enough.
Either that, or see if you can rent a paint booth.
Dan
- Thread starter
- #126
Thanks for the encouragement guys. I need it. I have only 90 days left to get this thing done and at this rate I am starting to wonder if its possible. 
I have about 16 days free in December. Hoping to get the tub, frame,axles and engine/tranny into paint by the end of the month.
I have about 16 days free in December. Hoping to get the tub, frame,axles and engine/tranny into paint by the end of the month.
- Thread starter
- #127
I am thinking about the garage, but my only heat is a propane blower heater. It seems to burn really clean , but I am concerned about carbon soot settling on the paint. Any experience with this? I figure I would just heat the garage and tub up for several hours prior to get the metal up to a decent temp then shut off the heat while I spray. Then reheat after I finish spraying. Any thoughts?
I doubt you would have much issue using a propane heater. Get some garage door insulation. Its pretty cheap. I would run the heater as you describe, but wait to turn it back on until 15-20 mins after spraying. Does the heater have a fan? You wouldnt want it blowing dust around the garage.
x2. Get it nice and toasty. Turn the propane heater off, spray a coat of paint. Give it 15-20 minutes, then let the heater roar again. Rinse, repeat.
Also, you'll need some heat to stay on overnight for it to really cure. Electric heaters are probably best for this, as the propane is going to be overkill.
Alternately, see if you can rent a paint booth for a day or two.
I have heard that Bodyworks Custom Painting will rent a booth for you to spray in. The biggest hassle with this is loading all the stuff onto a trailer and driving it down there and back.
As to the timeline: DEFINITELY possible.
Dan
Question: were FJ40 rear quarters ever flat, even from the factory? Even the nicest restored FJ40's I can remember seeing have had some wave in the sheet metal.
I'm about to replace my own quarters, so I may need to adjust my expectations before I begin.
JD
At the risk of having the mob come after me, I'm just going to say that your rig will look better without the spot weld dimples. Of course I'm not a purist... But I think a restoration/refresh is a great opportunity to improve on the original. That's the great thing about doing this yourself, for yourself... You don't have production deadlines like they did back at the factory!
If you want you can do it in your garage and take the necessary precautions so that it turns out good for you. You will have to make sure that there is no dust and also you will have to make sure you keep the temps up during and after you shoot it. The paint has to cure to make it turn out right.
Also another option to you, I will throw this out there I am down in the springs I have a shop with a full down draft paint booth. I am open to helping local cruiser buddys with projects like this. Infact I just finished painting my Olive Green 77. If you have your own paint gun I will let you use the booth for free as long as you cover the cost of electricity and propane on your job.(no more then $150.00) That way you know you are going to get the best paint job possible. If you want to do that like I said I will help you out as much as possible. Just let me know. The Build looks good and when you are doing a full frame off you want to make sure you do it right.
Keep at it!
Also another option to you, I will throw this out there I am down in the springs I have a shop with a full down draft paint booth. I am open to helping local cruiser buddys with projects like this. Infact I just finished painting my Olive Green 77. If you have your own paint gun I will let you use the booth for free as long as you cover the cost of electricity and propane on your job.(no more then $150.00) That way you know you are going to get the best paint job possible. If you want to do that like I said I will help you out as much as possible. Just let me know. The Build looks good and when you are doing a full frame off you want to make sure you do it right.
Keep at it!
I am impressed. You doing a thorough job and it looks great. Keep it up.
- Thread starter
- #134
Also another option to you, I will throw this out there I am down in the springs I have a shop with a full down draft paint booth. I am open to helping local cruiser buddys with projects like this. Infact I just finished painting my Olive Green 77. If you have your own paint gun I will let you use the booth for free as long as you cover the cost of electricity and propane on your job.(no more then $150.00) That way you know you are going to get the best paint job possible. If you want to do that like I said I will help you out as much as possible. Just let me know. The Build looks good and when you are doing a full frame off you want to make sure you do it right.
Keep at it![/QUOTE]
Big T ! That would be awesome! I do have my own paint gun, but I will have to figure out how to get it down there. I will keep you posted if I decide against the garage. I am now considering painting it the way that Buckroseau painted his 45
https://forum.ih8mud.com/fj45-owners-club/104821-3-days-3300-miles-later.html
Basic idea is to paint the interior, Jambs, Firewall, inside of fenders, etc... Then reassemble the vehicle and shoot it reassembled on the outside to avoid color mismatching by painting things at different times.
I am wondering how to do this method with a clear coat. Can I use clear on the jambs and still paint over it later when I do the whole truck assembled? I would rather just do it all in a paint booth at once, but the logistics to getting it there and back seem daunting.
Keep at it![/QUOTE]
Big T ! That would be awesome! I do have my own paint gun, but I will have to figure out how to get it down there. I will keep you posted if I decide against the garage. I am now considering painting it the way that Buckroseau painted his 45
https://forum.ih8mud.com/fj45-owners-club/104821-3-days-3300-miles-later.html
Basic idea is to paint the interior, Jambs, Firewall, inside of fenders, etc... Then reassemble the vehicle and shoot it reassembled on the outside to avoid color mismatching by painting things at different times.
I am wondering how to do this method with a clear coat. Can I use clear on the jambs and still paint over it later when I do the whole truck assembled? I would rather just do it all in a paint booth at once, but the logistics to getting it there and back seem daunting.
Big T ! That would be awesome! I do have my own paint gun, but I will have to figure out how to get it down there. I will keep you posted if I decide against the garage. I am now considering painting it the way that Buckroseau painted his 45
https://forum.ih8mud.com/fj45-owners-club/104821-3-days-3300-miles-later.html
Basic idea is to paint the interior, Jambs, Firewall, inside of fenders, etc... Then reassemble the vehicle and shoot it reassembled on the outside to avoid color mismatching by painting things at different times.
I am wondering how to do this method with a clear coat. Can I use clear on the jambs and still paint over it later when I do the whole truck assembled? I would rather just do it all in a paint booth at once, but the logistics to getting it there and back seem daunting.[/QUOTE]
Ya it will be a heck of a trip back and forth. Just let me know on what you want to do and like I said I will help out as much as I can. You will be impressed on how clean you can shoot in a booth. Aspeciallly for how clean you are shooting in your garage you will do awesome in a booth.
Also about the mismatching of the paint.....as long as you get enough paint to shoot the entire cruiser from the same batch that is gonig to give you the most consitant paint job. From my expreinece when you paint your door for example on Monday then paint your hood on Tuesday you wont have any mismatches as long as you shoot from the same batch of paint. Its when you run out of paint and have to go back to the paint shop to get more paint mixed up and they add just a hair to much of some ingredient that throws it off.
- Thread starter
- #136
I got all the brake lines,fuel lines, and other random stuff off the frame today as well as the springs,steering rods,shocks etc disconnected. Now its just waiting to be lifted off and sand blasted. Hopefully tomorrow.
- Thread starter
- #137
Almost forgot. I removed the manual gear box end pedestal to make room for the mini truck power steering.
- Thread starter
- #138
Engine refresh! ok not a real refresh, but a repaint. I have spent the last 3 days stripping this and cleaning it. I managed to get the block and the valve cover in color. I put a clear coat over the valve cover and it turned out great! Well except for a small run. I will just sand it a bit and touch it up. Over all really happy with how it turned out. Man this job took forever with an assortment of wire wheels and about 8 cans of brake clean. now I just need to clean and paint all the other parts .
- Thread starter
- #139
Some more pics
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- #140
I am loving it! I almost didn't paint the cover, but I am really glad I did.;p
