Restoring 1983 FJ40 Esmeralda in Colombia comments needed

[CHAS404]

Drove her in downtown city center today. Runs very strong. Not exactly fun driving a perfect truck where people cut over all the time and there are TONS of motorcycles all on sides! I had a big truck let me in and police patrol staring at the shiny green FJ40. The locals love this truck and are happy to see the high quality restoration.

There are plenty of these trucks down here but very few shine like this one. Most are still used on a daily basis.

Today I saw 3 70 series, a 60 series, one Daihatsu F20 and went and had lunch at my favorite place where the owner has a worn out 1977 I think FJ40. He uses it to pick up food etc for his restaurant. That is all before noon.

 

[CHAS404]

My interior guy is fantastic. He had a Daihatsu F20, a Toyota 2 door 70 model and a MINI all waiting for interiors plus FJ40.





FYI that mini MAY have been one of several thousand MADE IN VENEZUELA in the early 90s out of fiberglass. Yes I had to google that.

the 70 model is getting a soft top. truck looked NEW. i think early 90s model.

 

[CHAS404]

This is why I chose this interior guy. Hand sown interiors NOT KITS made in a factory.





I went a touch darker than the original grey. looks better I think and it was what I had to choose from.

The orange leather is for the Mini looks great!

 

[CHAS404]

The headliner will be close to original style. The visor color will be a bit off. I am going with light grey. At some point you have to stop stressing over the details! He is making me a custom vinyl floor covering/ removable mat too.

Trying to decide on custom cushions for the roll bars. Afraid of it looking like a Jeep. Roll bar will be not correct but nice jet black.

Here is a guy at work.

 

[CHAS404]

Oh FYI we are using the head rests from a 70 series. They seem very close to the original 1983 ones in the USA.

 

[CHAS404]

Getting closer... I like the headliner. pretty close looking to original. the seat vinyl is a shade darker than stock like I knew but much thicker and has a nice grain to it.

picture below is another green truck like Esmeralda but very macho and her evil brother twin. has winch and power windows and over all looks very nice until u look under the front floor mats and yes... rust.

I am now a semi expert on rust and not easily swayed by a nice looking truck. the black trim looks good actually.

 

[fjfjfj]

Yea, yours looks so nice. Great job. I like yours much better then your evil twins. lol.

 

[CHAS404]

Evil twin has evil rust. He looks actually pretty cool though. it is the first modified Colombian truck I have seen that has a THEME atleast that he stuck with!

 

[CHAS404]

So many cool trucks here... OK yesterday I spent the whole day in lines doing paperwork for my new company I am forming and getting papers for export. I really just want to forget the day but let's just say everything you think stereotypically bad about developing countries and bureaucracies in general (like our IRS) I happened to live through. At the end of the day I got the ONE PAPER I needed.

 

[CHAS404]

I really like the work the interior guy does. I am pleased. a few details I would change on the next truck. The roll bar looks incredible I dont want to cover it with the cushions. The custom vinyl removable flooring is incredible. Hard to explain it is light weight but strong. made from same material as the interior but has a light cushioning under it. You can pull up the front to see the floors. also the rear section removable.

My pics are DARK I will post better ones later.







need to change out window handles for new etc in Florida.

 

[CHAS404]

FYI color is a touch darker than stock which I knew. I felt it just looked better and was thicker higher quality material.

Headliner looks great. very close to stock pattern.

Anyhow it is all new and all nicely installed.

 

[CHAS404]

bad quality photos. The roll bar looks great. idea was to follow the profile of original but extend to keep the two man benches. perfect. The bar is custom made and custom fitted. Made with same diameter as stock but thicker metal. The front legs are bolted to the floor. We can now attach seat belts to the bar not the top so that we can run a bikini top for summer etc. The bar is oven painted black with a light texture which is nice.

 

[CHAS404]

you guys like my previous owner's rearview mirror cover? haha. have not removed yet actually works! helps to spot angry moped drivers passing you on the right.

truck interior is done. It needs a few mechanical check ups I noticed after driving. An alignment. stereo installed.

Then hopefully ship and import. Needs console installed plus some trim items that are easier to get in the USA.

Plan to have my mechanic in Florida review everything. Plus I will be putting some miles on it work out any bugs!

 

[CHAS404]

Oh I need heat/ac system. Could not do what i wanted in Colombia. either vintage or olde air products dual modern under the dash unit I think.

 

[CHAS404]

She is nearly done. Ready to ship. will post soon. she nearly cut out on me though test driving up the mountain. she is not happy with the incline now for some reason! has to be carb adjustment issue. FYI dont ever stall out at rust hour up a mountain hwy with 100 impatient Colombians behind you!!!

 

[CHAS404]

It was the float in the carb. Fixed. Some minor issues but I need to try to ship her. the paperwork here is killing me. hopefully i can ship soon. heavy learning curve.

 

[CHAS404]

Interior photos. very pleased. tried to get an alignment at this very nice new shop with high tech equipment but the kid said he was afraid to scratch the white wheels.

So I skipped it for now. She runs great and steers and stops great. still rides like bucking bronco but that is the way it is. carb nearly cut out on me but we fixed it today.

The interior is great along with roll bar and the six passenger set up.

I need to get her to Florida where I can insure her to a high amount and drive her on big wide flat roads.







The custom vinyl floor looks GREAT. i may try to get my guy to modify them and maybe I can sell some in the US. really are nice.

Thanks to Mud member I can't remember for the idea of the 80s looking cassette deck with ipod connection. looks COOL. I mounted a hidden speaker under the dash until I figure out what to do.

 

[CHAS404]

Better photos... the slightly darker than stock grey vinyl looks good with the green. Hard to explain but this green WAY brighter in person. Really grew on me.







The truck had factory openings on that side to mount the antennae. not sure if that is the same in the US. Great bec we did not have to drill into anything.

I had the guy fix the odometer and put it in zero. Was supposed to fix all the gauges but they don't work other than the fuel gauge.

I just want to get the truck to Florida so it is safe and I can fix the little stuff. Every day here on the street I fear it getting run into by local maniac drivers.

 

[FJ404345]

Looks good, they did a good job in a relative fast period. Did the Dash Cluster has 000000 km now?

 

[Chamba]

Getting closer... I like the headliner. pretty close looking to original. the seat vinyl is a shade darker than stock like I knew but much thicker and has a nice grain to it.

picture below is another green truck like Esmeralda but very macho and her evil brother twin. has winch and power windows and over all looks very nice until u look under the front floor mats and yes... rust.

I am now a semi expert on rust and not easily swayed by a nice looking truck. the black trim looks good actually.

Black rims, yes. Black roof and Bezel? Not so much.

Man, you make me want to move back to Panama and get my truck redone....