Builds Project Beach Cruiser | The 1971 FJ40 Patina RestoMod

[GRM]

One item that never worked on my 40 was the tire carrier. The lower hinge was seized. No amount of pounding, pressing and heating was freeing it.

After searching for years, I found a set of white hinges last week off a 1970. The color is slightly off, but I bet I’m the only one that would notice.

I was surprised my 31” spare did not fit. I ended up using a 1” wheel spacer to bolt it on. Any idea what size tire will fit on the stock carrier?

 

[GRM]

The 40 made it’s way back home today! I have been wanting a proper roll cage since I bought the truck. I finally have one, which allows me to run the long jump seats along with shoulder belts on the front seats.

Driving the truck feels much more solid. Next step is new seats, again.

 

[GRM]

After more than 10 years, I finally did a proper clr treatment and griots wax. It cleaned up nice. Wheels hadn’t been cleaned in 20 years. I’m really surprised how well they cleaned up.

 

[GRM]

With a few sunny days shining in California, I find myself looking to the laundry list I hope to get accomplished between now and summer.

One project that has worried me for awhile now is the intake hose. When we built the truck, a few items were rushed. Grabbing a length of rubber hose from the parts house seemed like a good idea. As time progressed, I watch the hose bow out and know its only a matter of time before the hose breaks apart, or I break something on the intake. With the air filter hard mounted to the fender and the engine moving all over about it’s mounts, it was apparent to me that a flexible intake hose was necessary.

After a lot of searching I found that a Nissan Maxima intake tube is the perfect fit for my FJ62 intake. This is a common Dorman part, number 696-083.

 

[Downey]

Livermore, I'm sure glad those connector bars between front cage and rear roll bar are not so close to my head, those connectors should have been out in the radius's further away from your head- - -just wait until your head does some bouncing in off road terrain- - -sorry for the bad news Bro.

 

[GRM]

n front cage and rear roll bar are not so close to my head, those connectors should have been out in the radius's further away from your head- - -just wait u

We tried placing them farther out; it won't work with this cage design. I've driven it enough off-road and on with this cage, and my head is no where near the bar in the drivers seat (passenger seat is another story... but that's getting replaced as its too tall). Furthermore, the bar placement is within an inch of where it is placed on most FJ40 roll cages, such as a metal tech cage. I think the camera angle is making it look like the bar is centered over the driver/passenger head, where in reality its far from it.

I have about 0 concern about the placement of the connecting bar.

 

[Downey]

Well ok then, ride in peace Bro.

 

[EWheeler]

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The 40 made it’s way back home today! I have been wanting a proper roll cage since I bought the truck. I finally have one, which allows me to run the long jump seats along with shoulder belts on the front seats.
View attachment 2520837View attachment 2520838Driving the truck feels much more solid. Next step is new seats, again.

Any idea what those red bucket seats are out of? Those look like perfect candidates for a scout 80 I'm slowly putting together. I want something with some bolsters but something I can take the headrests off to have the old school bucket look.

Love your build man, thanks for sharing!

 

[GRM]

Any idea what those red bucket seats are out of? Those look like perfect candidates for a scout 80 I'm slowly putting together. I want something with some bolsters but something I can take the headrests off to have the old school bucket look.

Love your build man, thanks for sharing!

Thanks for the compliments on the build.

The seats are procar rally seats. I haven’t been over the moon about them, so I’m swapping them for stock seats. If your interested in them, shoot me a message.

 

[GRM]

I was slightly embarrassed to share this before, but when looking through my old photos, I realized it would make a good story.

When building my 40, I lived on a hillside in the Santa Cruz mountains, on a dirt driveway. It always rained, and the road was always muddy. Doing any kind of engine swap required putting down plywood, and welding constantly risked a wildfire.

I thought: it would make sense to get some shop space and continue the major work inside. I reached out to my network, and one of my employees had an idea: his friend rented a corner of a shop; big enough for 2 cars. He was willing to sub rent one of the spaces, then work on my 40 in his spare time, when I needed help. It seemed like a win.

So I loaded the 40 on the trailer and dragged it to Santa Clara. When I got to the shop, the bay was still full, but the guy assured me it would be clear in a few days. I rolled my 40 into a parking spot and took off.

Over the next 3 months I completed the 2fe, assembled the parts, and kept reaching out about work to be done. Yet my 40 was still outside.

Finally we agreed he would install the drivetrain for me and do the brakes. I loaded up the 2fe and drug it to Santa Clara. I got to the shop, but the door was locked. I waited with my employee for 2 hours while the owner kept making excuses. Finally I had enough: we decided to do it ourselves.

I ran out to a tool shed and rented and engine hoist. Then the two of us proceeded to pull the front clip and swap in the 2fe behind a car wash parking lot. The entire time the owner of the shop was no where to be seen.

The next day, I came back, found my 40 still where I left it, behind the car wash. I loaded it up and took it home.

To this day I haven’t heard back from that shop owner.

Lucky I’m old friends with Tim Scully from Scully Offroad. While my old Toyota is not of the caliper of vehicle he works on, I was luckily to have his help to finish it up.

 

[merbesfield]

That’s

I was slightly embarrassed to share this before, but when looking through my old photos, I realized it would make a good story.

When building my 40, I lived on a hillside in the Santa Cruz mountains, on a dirt driveway. It always rained, and the road was always muddy. Doing any kind of engine swap required putting down plywood, and welding constantly risked a wildfire.

I thought: it would make sense to get some shop space and continue the major work inside. I reached out to my network, and one of my employees had an idea: his friend rented a corner of a shop; big enough for 2 cars. He was willing to sub rent one of the spaces, then work on my 40 in his spare time, when I needed help. It seemed like a win.

So I loaded the 40 on the trailer and dragged it to Santa Clara. When I got to the shop, the bay was still full, but the guy assured me it would be clear in a few days. I rolled my 40 into a parking spot and took off.

Over the next 3 months I completed the 2fe, assembled the parts, and kept reaching out about work to be done. Yet my 40 was still outside.

Finally we agreed he would install the drivetrain for me and do the brakes. I loaded up the 2fe and drug it to Santa Clara. I got to the shop, but the door was locked. I waited with my employee for 2 hours while the owner kept making excuses. Finally I had enough: we decided to do it ourselves.

I ran out to a tool shed and rented and engine hoist. Then the two of us proceeded to pull the front clip and swap in the 2fe behind a car wash parking lot. The entire time the owner of the shop was no where to be seen.

The next day, I came back, found my 40 still where I left it, behind the car wash. I loaded it up and took it home.

To this day I haven’t heard back from that shop owner.

Lucky I’m old friends with Tim Scully from Scully Offroad. While my old Toyota is not of the caliper of vehicle he works on, I was luckily to have his help to finish it up.

Anyway. That was ~4 years ago, and a mistake I hope never to happen again.

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That’s one heck of a story and something you should definitely be proud of. Perseverance is what it takes and I really need some of that myself. Thx for posting the story.

 

[cruisermatt]

Just read through this, can't wait to get back on my 71 project. Same color and same plans

 

[GRM]

I’ve been dreaming of this for 11 years, and I am finally going to swap out the mini truck wheels.

 

[Catching Neutral]

You will not be disappointed with the racers…had mine for about a year now and just love them.
What tires are you considering?

 

[GRM]

What tires are you considering?

I’m leaning forwards a 235/85r16 Falken Wildpeak MT. I think they they have the closest look to a squared off 1960’s super traction mud tire, yet with modern radial design.

It’s hard to find photos of the Falken’s in this size, but I did find an Instagram post showing what I’m talking about.

My only hesitation is that an all terrain is a better fit for how I drive my land cruiser.

 

[EWheeler]

I’m leaning forwards a 235/85r15 Falken Wildpeak MT. I think they they have the closest look to a squared off 1960’s super traction mud tire, yet with modern radial design.

It’s hard to find photos of the Falken’s in this size, but I did find an Instagram post showing what I’m talking about.

View attachment 2861758

My only hesitation is that an all terrain is a better fit for how I drive my land cruiser.

Sometimes form trumps function for the cool factor. Falken M/T's!!!

 

[Dizzy]

My buddy in college introduced me to Cruisers, in a serious way. Your engine swap reminds me of his 40 rattle can olive drab paint job that he did on the top level of the Medical School parking structure, in between filling-in multiple choice exam responses to frivolous trivia that is a standard path towards actual engineering.

 

[Catching Neutral]

MTs all the way…you will not regret it… if you did get those wheels from city racer I believe they are 16s

 

[AZguy]

Working on a beach Cruiser myself here in Florida....

 

[GRM]

After 12 years of owning this Cruiser, I finally got the wheels and tires I dreamed of installed. No more hand-me-down mismatched 25 year old tires on my beach crusier.

Wheels are grey city racer 16x5.5 steel wheels and tires are falken wildpeak mt’s in 235/85R16. Hub caps are straight from Toyota.

After doing a bunch of research, I decided this is my ‘formula’ for a perfect 40. Stock height with (basically) a 32x9.0x16 tire. The Falken tire is made by Sumitomo Rubber, the same company that made the factory Dunlop tires in 1971. Of any modern tire, I feel the tread pattern is the closest to the look of a 70’s mud tire. The fact its the same manufacturer as what rolled off the factory is icing on the cake.

Going from 31x10.5x15’s to 235x85x16 is night and day. With manual steering I can turn in a parking lot again. The tires are soft, ride amazing and inspire confidence on the road. It feels ‘right’ to drive.

I love it. The wait was worth it for me. I have been waiting far too long for my cruiser to feel like this.