Build Rescuing a Basket Case '72 FJ40

[diesellibrarian]

Sorry, but remind me what year this one is again!

Speaking of your '71, and wipers & washers, did a 1971 with a build date of December 1970 have a windshield squirter and fluid reservoir on it?

Well I can confirm that a build date of Feb 71 has both reservoir and squirter, so I’m gonna say the Dec 70 does as well, haha.

 

[FloridaLife]

Here's a link to the kit from Cruiser Corps, BUT if the image is accurate it uses 2 separate squirters rather than 1:

https://cruisercorps.com/products/w..._pos=4&_psq=windshield+&_psid=524a23a0b&_ss=e

 

[pb4ugo]

When did Toyota stop making the split hood?

 

[FloridaLife]

When did Toyota stop making the split hood?

My research shows August of 1971. So the 1972 models no longer had the split hood.

 

[MatthewMcD]

Well it’s been a while since I last updated this thread! I’m still working on that ‘71 VW bus. I think I mentioned above that it would take a couple of months, but here we are 10 months later and it’s finally almost ready for paint. In that same period I also fully renovated and sold another house, so yeah it’s been a crazy winter and spring. But I am on vacation now for another week or so, and I’ve been feeling the urge to get the Basket Case FJ40 on the road. I’ve been working in my driveway since the bus is still in the garage. I don’t mind working outside, but the annoying thing is that my tools are at the garage, which is 5 minutes from my place by bicycle. Anyway, I’m making do.

I guess the big news is that I seem to have resolved the rough running/sputtering issue that has plagued me since I first fired this thing up. Idling was never an issue, but the moment I put any throttle into it, it would cough and fumble and misfire. I’ve checked, rebuilt, or replaced every system, so was at a bit of a loss. But then I got to thinking that if it only misfires as the RPMs rise, maybe there’s an issue with spark advance. The engine is an F155 with the original vacuum retard distributor. Just for fun, I decided to pull that old dizzy and swap in a used 2F vacuum advance distributor that I got earlier this year in trade for a 6-pack of beer. I set the points with the dizzy out of the car (way easier) and dropped it in. Lo and behold, it runs like a champ with that new dizzy! It revs freely and pulls strongly across the power band. I am very excited at this development.

So now I’m picking away at the last few things I need to pass safety: a speedo cable, an exhaust and muffler, and….that’s about it! I’m very stoked that I might be able to get some miles on this thing before winter.

Digging the ‘72 out from under the carport:

View attachment 4184096
The ‘76 - ‘80 distributor I installed instead of the stock one:

View attachment 4184097

Using the proper tool:

View attachment 4184098

Anyway, that’s all for now. Hope to have more updates in the coming weeks.

Love my vac advance distributor. In my mind it makes sense.

 

[diesellibrarian]

My research shows August of 1971. So the 1972 models no longer had the split hood.

I have both a ‘71 (Feb 71) and a ‘72 (Dec 71) and neither has a split hood, though the ‘71 has the chrome hood trim whereas the ‘72 does not.

 

[FloridaLife]

I have both a ‘71 (Feb 71) and a ‘72 (Dec 71) and neither has a split hood, though the ‘71 has the chrome hood trim whereas the ‘72 does not.

Interesting. Is one stronger than the other? Meaning, is the split hood stronger than the one piece hood? I've heard someone can stand on it without damaging it, although I don't want to try it and find out! Especially after all the paint & body work is done.

 

[diesellibrarian]

Finally put an exhaust system in the 40, though I inadvertently bought a super loud muffler that is going to have to go pretty much right away, haha. At the store I was more focused on finding a muffler with the correct inlet/outlet sizes than on the type of muffler. So now my truck sounds like a cammed muscle car. Kinda badass, but dang if a topless 40 isn't loud enough without adding exhaust to the mix.

Anyway, the system is thrown together from repair pieces I bought at the hardware store. I fit them up on the truck, tack welded them, then pulled the system out and finished the welding on the bench. Turned out ok! Still need to the add the side dump tailpipe, but I think I might need that custom bent.

Some pics:

By and large, the truck is running ok, though it seems to want to die when I come up to a stop sign. So I need to work on the idle a bit, I guess. Carbs, man. They're the worst.

 

[MatthewMcD]

super loud muffler

FJ40 version of "Jumbo Shrimp".

 

[diesellibrarian]

FJ40 version of "Jumbo Shrimp".

Indeed. I’m a victim of oxymoron.

Or maybe I’m just a moron.

 

[diesellibrarian]

Over the weekend I got the exhaust system buttoned up, which I believe to be the last hurdle between me and a safety inspection, currently scheduled for next Monday. Adding the tailpipe reduced the sound considerably, which may mean that I won't have to replace the muffler right away, haha. Again, this was cobbled together from bits of off-the-shelf pipe, so I'm mildly surprised at how well it's turned out.

I was able to fab up a small bracket to tie the tailpipe to the stock exhaust hanger. Everything is super solid!

So yeah, should hopefully have this thing on the road next week! Pretty excited about that.

Peace out (for now).

 

[FloridaLife]

Over the weekend I got the exhaust system buttoned up, which I believe to be the last hurdle between me and a safety inspection, currently scheduled for next Monday. Adding the tailpipe reduced the sound considerably, which may mean that I won't have to replace the muffler right away, haha. Again, this was cobbled together from bits of off-the-shelf pipe, so I'm mildly surprised at how well it's turned out.

View attachment 4193049

I was able to fab up a small bracket to tie the tailpipe to the stock exhaust hanger. Everything is super solid!

View attachment 4193050

So yeah, should hopefully have this thing on the road next week! Pretty excited about that.

View attachment 4193051

Peace out (for now).

Looks great! Good job, as usual. And hey, if you move to a free state you don't have to get an inspection, much less book an appointment for it.

With doing the LS swap on mine I'm pretty sure is will have dual exhaust, hopefully with an H pipe, but I've been trying to decide if I should bring them out behind the rear wheels like you did, or out the back. Hmmm.... Suggestions?

 

[pb4ugo]

Looks great! Good job, as usual. And hey, if you move to a free state you don't have to get an inspection, much less book an appointment for it.

With doing the LS swap on mine I'm pretty sure is will have dual exhaust, hopefully with an H pipe, but I've been trying to decide if I should bring them out behind the rear wheels like you did, or out the back. Hmmm.... Suggestions?

I dont know anything about the requirements of an LS engine. If at all possible I personally would try and run a large single exhaust. After decades of wheeling with sbc's, I try to run the exhaust up and out of the way, so i can drop the trans, tcase without touching it or can be easily taken apart if you're running dual exhaust. I can easily disconnect the engine from the manifolds or from the end of the Y pipe.

 

[FloridaLife]

I dont know anything about the requirements of an LS engine. If at all possible I personally would try and run a large single exhaust. After decades of wheeling with sbc's, I try to run the exhaust up and out of the way, so i can drop the trans, tcase without touching it or can be easily taken apart if you're running dual exhaust. I can easily disconnect the engine from the manifolds or from the end of the Y pipe.

That's a GREAT point! And "if" I remember correctly, a lot of Chevy Tahoes and Silverados had a Y pipe and a single out exhaust pipe.

 

[clrussell]

That's a GREAT point! And "if" I remember correctly, a lot of Chevy Tahoes and Silverados had a Y pipe and a single out exhaust pipe.

You don’t need dual exhaust with an LS. 2.5” y together is plenty.

 

[FloridaLife]

You don’t need dual exhaust with an LS. 2.5” y together is plenty.

To your point, after reading what you said I did some research and was surprised by this:

Y Pipe & Single Exhaust -Vs- Dual Exhaust

 

[RevISK]

Looks great! Good job, as usual. And hey, if you move to a free state you don't have to get an inspection, much less book an appointment for it.

With doing the LS swap on mine I'm pretty sure is will have dual exhaust, hopefully with an H pipe, but I've been trying to decide if I should bring them out behind the rear wheels like you did, or out the back. Hmmm.... Suggestions?

Different country.

 

[diesellibrarian]

Big news! The 40 passed inspection with no notes. I had to get a full inspection (what we call an out-of-province inspection) because there was no record of this truck having been registered anywhere in Canada, ever. This means that it was probably last registered during the era of paper records, so…1980s sometime??

Anyway, it has been rescued from both the crusher and the document shredder of oblivion and is legal to drive around, which I intend to do as soon as I fix a rather profuse leak from the rear diff…

Next step is to see about getting a custom canvas soft top made for it. And then I think we’ll head to the mountains with some pals and shoot some guns. Thanks for following along with this build!

 

[CruiserTrash]

Big news! The 40 passed inspection with no notes. I had to get a full inspection (what we call an out-of-province inspection) because there was no record of this truck having been registered anywhere in Canada, ever. This means that it was probably last registered during the era of paper records, so…1980s sometime??

Anyway, it has been rescued from both the crusher and the document shredder of oblivion and is legal to drive around, which I intend to do as soon as I fix a rather profuse leak from the rear diff…
View attachment 4196922

Next step is to see about getting a custom canvas soft top made for it. And then I think we’ll head to the mountains with some pals and shoot some guns. Thanks for following along with this build!

There's lots of great build threads on Mud, but there's a number of them that I can count on one hand that are very inspirational to me. This is one of the latter. Thanks for letting us follow along and congrats! Now go blast some rounds in the woods to celebrate!

Never forget...

 

[clrussell]

Ok I’m going to have to come read this thread.

That half can is kinda cool and I have an extra hard top that’s rough..