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

[4WD Toyota Owner Magazine]

Still smooth sailing thanks to the fact that Energy Suspension welded the nuts onto the plates that sit on the top bushings. This design saved us A LOT of frustration and it’s a feature we all appreciated.

 

[4WD Toyota Owner Magazine]

Final stretch! With the holes lined up, the bolts were ready to be hand tightened in with some help. Some of the places were a little tricky and tight squeezes. At last we could tighten these bolts down using a ratchet and deep socket. We got them darn tight because the last thing you want while you’re taking off down the road is the body coming loose. As far as simplicity we would give them a 9/10. Kinda stoked to have the "little" things like this updated as well as the big heavy things

 

[White Stripe]

Looks nice! Are you guys planning on doing any body work or leaving it as is?

 

[ERNRAM]

I am most interested in the BJ70 axle swap into thr FJ40. I recently purchased a set of axles from a BJ70 so i will follow this in great detail on the spring purch shift and overall delta in overall width from wheel mating sureface to opposite side. I have heard 20mm delta versus a 40 setup, but never seen it fully documented.

I also have a 3b /5 speed and 38mm idler TC, so this is almost exactly my plan also

 

[ryanwk628]

Looks nice! Are you guys planning on doing any body work or leaving it as is?

With all those kids you could have have given each of them a wire brush and had that frame ready for paint in 20 minutes!

 

[4WD Toyota Owner Magazine]

Looks nice! Are you guys planning on doing any body work or leaving it as is?

We were literally talking about this today. Paint was the plan, but then we thought, why? It's going to be an expeditioner and wheeler, so good-to-excellent paint seemed a waste. We also plan on parking this in the SEMA lot this year, and we like the idea that this FJ40 with the old, battered patina is sitting there amongst the trucks with $50,000 paint jobs. We'll also likely leave the rust, it's not bad, but we may dig into it.

One other idea came up. We posted an ad on CL soliciting offers for paint jobs--no rattle cans, but home booths. We got an amazing amount of replies from $300 to $1000. Some of us want to try one just to see how it turns out.

 

[4WD Toyota Owner Magazine]

I am most interested in the BJ70 axle swap into thr FJ40. I recently purchased a set of axles from a BJ70 so i will follow this in great detail on the spring purch shift and overall delta in overall width from wheel mating sureface to opposite side. I have heard 20mm delta versus a 40 setup, but never seen it fully documented.

I also have a 3b /5 speed and 38mm idler TC, so this is almost exactly my plan also

Cool. We will post here and in the magazine too as well (4WD Toyota Owner, link below). It will be well documented, and maybe Mud can make it a sticky.

 

[White Stripe]

We were literally talking about this today. Paint was the plan, but then we thought, why? It's going to be an expeditioner and wheeler, so good-to-excellent paint seemed a waste. We also plan on parking this in the SEMA lot this year, and we like the idea that this FJ40 with the old, battered patina is sitting there amongst the trucks with $50,000 paint jobs. We'll also likely leave the rust, it's not bad, but we may dig into it.

One other idea came up. We posted an ad on CL soliciting offers for paint jobs--no rattle cans, but home booths. We got an amazing amount of replies from $300 to $1000. Some of us want to try one just to see how it turns out.

Well the only thing about the patina is the rear quarter cuts kinda ruin it. Just a idea here-how about putting a fj43 half tub on it and lengthening the hard top to fit? It would increase interior space. Just an idea. Landcruiser heaven has 1/2 tubs at a reasonable price.

 

[1Fine40]

One other idea came up. We posted an ad on CL soliciting offers for paint jobs--no rattle cans, but home booths. We got an amazing amount of replies from $300 to $1000. Some of us want to try one just to see how it turns out.

Very interested in this...real spendy paint jobs are a waste for a "field" 40 in my opinion unless you have $$ to burn! Post up on the progress and process as it rolls along!!

Cheers

 

[4WD Toyota Owner Magazine]

One more note on the 3B swap...we ordered new from Toyota what the counterman told me was literally the last 3B air conditioning idler pulley to be made available in the NAS market. After we bought it, no more to come. I don't know if that's true, but we're hoarding that idler pulley carefully as we prep for an A/C install.

 

[4WD Toyota Owner Magazine]

Well the only thing about the patina is the rear quarter cuts kinda ruin it. Just a idea here-how about putting a fj43 half tub on it and lengthening the hard top to fit? It would increase interior space. Just an idea. Landcruiser heaven has 1/2 tubs at a reasonable price.

Thanks for the tip and idea! Checking it out now!

 

[White Stripe]

Thanks for the tip and idea! Checking it out now!

Now problem. U could probably install some lifted rear fj60 flipped Springs flipped backwards to get the fj43 wheelbase. Then just extend the frame behind the rear spring hangers. U could still use your bumpers and stuff. I'm not sure if landcruiser heaven has the 43 half tubs on their website site. U may have to call them. Ebi cruisers may have them also.

 

[ERNRAM]

Any updates?

 

[4WD Toyota Owner Magazine]

Any updates?

Yes! Getting the 3B/H55F/tcase laid in, fabbing mounts, lots of heavy moving, all for the March/April 2017 issue. here's some sneak peeks!

 

[4WD Toyota Owner Magazine]

Close up and personal.

 

[ERNRAM]

Nice... Very interested in what you guys do for glow plug control....wilson switch?

 

[ERNRAM]

Looks like you have a unicorn H55F top shift cover with the forward location.

Envious

 

[4WD Toyota Owner Magazine]

Nice... Very interested in what you guys do for glow plug control....wilson switch?

We bought a relay and device from Europe to handle that, although I do not have the info in from of me as I wrote this remotely. I'll find it...eventually!

 

[4WD Toyota Owner Magazine]

Looks like you have a unicorn H55F top shift cover with the forward location.

Envious

We brought that entire setup in from Australia, crossmember included!

 

[ERNRAM]

Anything new?