Project Ugly Duckling: 4WD Toyota Owner Magazine's 1970 FJ40 build/3B swap

[4WD Toyota Owner Magazine]

Anything new?

Just got some 7" LED rounds from Truck-Lite. Also doing up the brake master, clutch master, and axle rebuild kit from Cruiser Outfitters. No photos yet, been swamped!

 

[4WD Toyota Owner Magazine]

We also just got this in :-D

 

[ERNRAM]

We also just got this in :-D

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Not cheap...but nice

 

[4WD Toyota Owner Magazine]

Excited to do this install!

 

[spotcruiser]

I love your fingernail polish, Dave.

 

[Rigger]

We also just got this in :-D

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Can't wait to see how this turns out!

 

[ginmtb]

Can't wait to see how this turns out!

Me too since you have a 69/70 and these are designed for 73+ vehicles. I'm sure racer65 let you know that before purchasing it from him... Adapting to an earlier model can be done but it definitely involves more work then the simple bolt on process it was designed for...

 

[ryanwk628]

Me too since you have a 69/70 and these are designed for 73+ vehicles. I'm sure racer65 let you know that before purchasing it from him... Adapting to an earlier model can be done but it definitely involves more work then the simple bolt on process it was designed for...

I have an 11/69 and looked into this. I believe the issue was with the column shift where they had to modify it with a special jog in the rod. That shouldnt be a problem if they are going to use a 5 speed floor shift. My big concern was space under the dash for my long legs.

 

[4WD Toyota Owner Magazine]

I love your fingernail polish, Dave.

Bwhahahaha! Been too long since the days of Cruisers and pizza!

 

[1Fine40]

Fancy! (Nice choice on the polish color..almost a shiny primer!)

 

[ryanwk628]

Installing the Bilsteins in the front reminded us that FJ40 upper shock mounts are pretty tight to the frame; we’ll be looking at making changes in the near future.

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Im looking to do essentially the same lift this spring replacing an ebay set up from the PO. Hells Creek quoted me for springs w/ bushings. Did you have any issues with the 5/8" CCOT pins vs the 15mm stock size? Clearly you made it work but did the extra 35 thou on the diameter cause you any grief?

 

[4WD Toyota Owner Magazine]

@ryanwk628 senior editor Tim Lund, who did this section, will chime in shortly.

 

[4WD Toyota Owner Magazine]

Been getting a bunch of basic stuff done. Emblems on. Ordered front knuckle kits and brake components from the ever-awesome Kurt @cruiseroutfit (Cruiser Outfitters). In no particular order....

 

[4WD Toyota Owner Magazine]

PM time. Put the 70-series axles on the old girl so we decided to put in new hardware all around (discs front, drum rear)

 

[4WD Toyota Owner Magazine]

The crew.

 

[4WD Toyota Owner Magazine]

@ryanwk628 from Tim: We used the Hell Creek bushings in the springs and Energy Suspension bushings in the shackle mount on the frame.

 

[ERNRAM]

Any more updates?
I love this build by the way

 

[4WD Toyota Owner Magazine]

Have gotten some good progress done. Getting the heart (and lungs?) 3B/H55F transplanted in.

We began with a dirty, neglected and cobbled together frame. Doing the job right means starting from scratch. First thing we did was torch out the old mounts making room for the new mounts we were given. This is a little tough when you’ve never actually had your hands on a torch before, like these students.

 

[4WD Toyota Owner Magazine]

These mounts were holding on for dear life, but with a prybar, some heat, and some good ol’ elbow grease it’s no problem. Be careful when prying. Know where you may land if you slip. The old mounts may want some blood but don’t give it! One final push with the prybar and, we got it. Years of added horror, finally gone, such a relief.

 

[4WD Toyota Owner Magazine]

The frame rails had to be cleaned free of rust and other unwanted junk. This took a lot of grinding and sanding with a 4.5” wheel, and a lot of dusting ourselves off to remove the slag and rust. Having a clean surface is like a blank canvas--it’s going be perfect for welding on new mounts.