Builds Project Old Blue Eyes (1 Viewer)

[jesus888]

Starting up a new build! I had 2 x FJ40s from Montana delivered to my sister-in-laws farm and we decided to start working on Old Blue Eyes first…

She’s in much better condition than Old Yeller and I think we have a better shot at getting her back on the road this summer, and my FJ80 project is drawing to a close, so let’s get down to what I know…

Project Old Blue Eyes…
She’s got a Chevy 350 (or 327 or 305)… will confirm - casting number: 3956618
Full Tank of old gas
Beautiful patina that I will NEVER paint
A willys keep transfer case with straight-cut gears - prob gonna have to change that out
Super-corroded battery - needs replacing
Probably a Turbo-350 transmission with some interesting linkage connections with the column shifter

The goal today was to get her started and we succeeded… idles ~950 rpm after we drained the tank, changed the oil, replaced the battery, and changed the fuel filter and a few soft lines.

Didn’t get her to move, I think the ATF is low, so that’ll be for next time and then we can figure out what’s next!

 

[jesus888]

And a few more…

 

[jesus888]

Admins, if you could add a BUILD tag, that’d be peachy…

 

[CBFJ]

Beauty! What year?

 

[Chungas Revenge]

Righteous…

Seems these old “blue” cruisers develop the best character after few decades of baking/weathering in the sun.

 

[jesus888]

Beauty! What year?

That’s a good question and something I should know right off the bat for some reason. I didn’t really examine the VIN plate yet… I believe both of mine are 1970 FJ40s

 

[jesus888]

Righteous…

Seems these old “blue” cruisers develop the best character after few decades of baking/weathering in the sun.

You’re telling me… I’ve had a couple FJ40s before this and I’ve always only wanted Patina’d Blue… it’s just the best IMHO

 

[3_puppies]

Beauty! What year?

looks late 60's to 1970. others may pin point better

looks like they survived the trip east.

 

[jesus888]

Yup confirmed 1970… Feb 1970, maybe?

 

[sterling]

I love the old blue as well @Chungas Revenge nailed the patina comment
WTF would anyone(PO) drill a hole there in that VIN tag?
Almost looks like a pilot hole with a hole saw judging by the outer swirl marks...that stopped errr... prematurely?

 

[CBFJ]

You’re telling me… I’ve had a couple FJ40s before this and I’ve always only wanted Patina’d Blue… it’s just the best IMHO

Couldn’t agree more. This one and my 11/69 are twins

 

[jesus888]

Quick update:
She’s home from my sister in laws farm and ready for activities… just as soon as my 62 is out back together in the next week or so, she’ll be in the garage and I’m gonna be making a list of what needs to get done!

 

[jesus888]

About a month from now, getting a new driveway, so this things gotta move (namely into the garage) so @SkeeLo22 decided today was the day to take step 2 of Start, Drive, Steer, and Stop… we got it started like a year ago

We suspected that the TH400 transmission was empty but the dip stick was broken so couldn’t really check it, so we ordered up some parts and they sat in the garage behind the 62 project until today.

Here’s what we did:

• Removed TH400 pan, got saw that it was about half full but the fluid looked pretty clean considering what we were expecting, also to note the bolts came out without incident nor much persuasion
• Cleaned the pan up a bit and replaced the filter that had clearly seen better days but wasn’t terrible and got it all snugged back up with a new gasket…
• Filled her up with the red stuff, threw the battery back on the tray from the tender and she fired right up…

 

[jesus888]

More…

• Attention then turned to putting in the hillbilly fix to the hillbilly exhaust with some aluminum foil and duct tape (obviously this is just so we don’t choke - as much - on exhaust while we see if this thing moves…
• Since the brake pedal currently goes tbe floor, we threw the rear up on jackstands and decided that was safe (enough) to see if those wheels turn when we figured out how this gear shifter controlled the Automatic transmission…
• It’s got a Willys heep transfer case behind the TH400, so after quite a bit of trial and error and shifting the “twin sticks” in all the positions, we finally got it moving… of course driver side wheels is stuck but the passenger side moves freely and we now understand PRN321 on the shifter.
• Next steps are freeing up that Driver wheel, prob just knock the drum off for now and then tackle the brakes

 

[jesus888]

I'm gonna add a bunch more pictures because we love pictures, but I'm gonna try and break the internet with as many pictures as I'm gonna add

 

[jesus888]

Some more...

 

[jesus888]

Just a quick thank you to @SkeeLo22 ... I feel like everyone should have a close friend that is a (lot) little OCD, value-oriented, easily-amused, organized to a fault, not afraid to take ANYTHING apart and put it back together... makin it look easy. This one's gonna be driving around the neighborhood in no time....

 

[jesus888]

With a new driveway coming sooner than expected, priority is to get this 40 rolling so I can stuff it in the garage, where most of the real work gonna happen anyway…

Only way to do that is to get this rear driver wheel unstuck. Since this rig has a Willys t-case and no ebrake, something inside there was stuck.

Nothing a BFH and about 7 screwdrivers under the tutelage of @SkeeLo22 couldnt handle

Innards removed, and the wheels is free!

 

[cruisermatt]

Looks like a good candidate for later drums with integrated parking brake.

 

[jesus888]

Looks like a good candidate for later drums with integrated parking brake.

I have a line on a later front and rear end setup that's relatively local but I figured we'd get there soon enough, just want to make sure I can roll her in the garage for now and started seeing what we got! Gotta do some digging on the brake master/booster setup that I may need to procure so we do it once and don't invest in something that's gonna get replaced...