Builds Pterodactyl we call it- a 1972 FST FJ40 (2 Viewers)

[ceylonfj40nut]

At the prompting of @thatcabledude, I am cobbling up a build thread to capture our friendship with Pterodactyl. She is a 1972 FJ40 FST.

The PO @Ocho77 owned it. We bought it from his. For sale ad here. Prior to @Ocho77, it belonged to @RustyNailJustin. It was white when Justin owned it. @Ocho77 and his wife meticulously scraped it off to reveal the OEM color. It turned out great!

We had the chance to drive it while in MI where @Ocho77 was leading the annual cruiser meet! We got hooked! Pic that said we need it in our lives!

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

It coincided with a trip @dogfishlake was making to TX and he is the only one I would trust to transport it for us to our home. He did a meticulous job of shrink wrapping it at his shop prior to shipment. It got to the house where its steward @Cowboy45 unpacked it and got it off the trailer! What a beaut!

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

@Ocho77 youngest daughter Audrey loved this truck and she shared a note with @Cowboy45. She called it Hades. We call it Pterodactyl because of the noise the starter makes when firing up!

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

Initial Specs
1972 FST
Toyota 3 spd manual
Toyota transfer case
350 sbc
Dual exhaust
Coral seats
33x10.5 BFG MT tires
4.11 diffs
Has all the hardware and doors for FST install (FST on order)
Electric cooling fan

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

@Cowboy45 and @SipLife went about getting it ready for inspection and registration. Reverse light wiring, signals, horn, brake adjustment, wipers all functional.

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

@Cowboy45 took his first test drive in it. I did as well

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

The electric fan was not cooling well during the hot TX summers. We swapped it out and tried other high flow electric fans which still did not help! At last attempt @Cowboy45 and @SipLife whipped up a fan shroud and swapped it over to a mechanical fan clutch that did the trick! @Cowboy45 who is 17 drives it as his daily to high school!

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

As a right of passage @Cowboy45 together with his brother @SipLife wanted to drive their rigs to Solid Axle Summit 6. This meant a thorough baseline and systems check before the trip. @Cowboy45 did a knuckle job, all new tie-rod ends, front and rear brakes refresh, all new fluids.

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

We did a shakedown test prior to SAS6 and did a trip to Arkansas in the Ouachita mountains. All checked out!

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

@Cowboy45 also added a roll bar/ bikini top and a 4 plus spare tire carrier before the trip!

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

SAS6 was a blast! All went smooth! Boys dis well in their rigs! Drove from Dallas, TX to Ouray, CO and back! @thatcabledude took a great pic as the boys trucks navigated the switchbacks. @landcrusher909 took a great pic from his side mirror of the trucks! Thanks guys!!!

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

@Cowboy45 has been keeping up with routine maintenance and DD ing it!

The three speed/350 combo is wicked fast! I cant beat it in an off the line race in my tundra 5.7L!

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

@Cowboy45 added a patina fj40 bumper to replace the bent one that came with it originally. He also added some LED city racer front lights for safety! Huge upgrade. Recommend!

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

Other than a starter motor, this truck has been super reliable! @Cowboy45 drives it daily.

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

@Cowboy45 decided to sport some 12.5 MTs on deep dish wagon wheels for the summer! They look great!

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

A year passed and we decided to take it to SAS7. @Cowboy45 drove it out and back. @SipLife and I accompanied him in his 40 and my fzj80. We did a fluid check and bolt tightening/ inspection, and permanent comms. It was a great trip

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

Some more pics of SAS7 @Cowboy45 is having a blast being its caretaker! Only issue we had was cracked front drive shaft slip joint dust cover which we fixed with duct tape. It was great to have @landcrusher909 give expert trail driving and truck advice real time on the trail to @Cowboy45. The dip in the creek was chilly!

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

A little post trip inspection. All good. A stone had hit the PS front turn signal wiring and cut it. Got it fixed. Clutch fluid reservoir was a little low and slave boot seemed wet. Filled it back up and will watch it.

 

[clrussell]

I love the young guns with the 40s. Keep up the pics and the stories. I’m following along.

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

I love the young guns with the 40s. Keep up the pics and the stories. I’m following along.

My other son’s 40 journey is here. We call her Bluebonnet.

Builds - Bluebonnet - 5.3/H55 FJ40

Are you still running the original gears? I'm thinking of swapping in 3.70 gears.

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