ROTM - vfrer (1 Viewer)

[vfrer]

So I guess I'm doing a ROTM, I guess it is a build thread too..

I had a 1967 40 that was basically my first toy and my introduction into auto mechanics and such. Had alot of fun driving, wheeling and fixing it. Got really familiar with the world of 4-wheel manually adjusted drums and what driving an old Toyota is all about. I ended up replacing the F engine with a later 2F/4-speed/3 speed x-fer combo that ran really nice. The frame was on its way out and I didn't feel to safe so I parked it with the plans of replacing the frame "at some point". About 4 years later it was time to start tearing it apart and making a plan.

Here is what I found....

So the search for a donor started... I came across these on craigslist in CT.

The seller said they were all going to the junkyard in a week so free picking for $500. I went down there with a Uhaul with a full car trailer and loaded this guy (1976) up along with everything I could grab and fit in the uhaul...

This was summer of 2006... step one, clean and POR the chassis and add a 4" HFS lift...

And then the donations began...

I was diligent and just started cleaning/repairing/replacing as I went. (Paint is Ace hardware safety blue out of a can)

 

[vfrer]

The body was rough but with a new welder I was ready...

I replaced the rear bed, supports, rear sill and wheel wells (all home made) and quarters (CCOT)...

Then it was mostly clean and paint the body and get it on the road. Made it to the fall gathering and had a blast. It had been on the road for about 4 months at this point.

Other mods etc...
All new brakes and stainless lines
xfer rebuilt
H41 tranny
new clutch, slave, master, flywheel
Aussie in the rear
Metaltech (still in process)...

All in all it was an great time and an incredible experience. I smile everytime I look at it and am looking forward to lots of wheeling this year.

Eric

 

[Sporin]

nice job!

 

[Leaping Deer]

Wow Eric, I didn't know you put that much work into that rig yourself. Nice job!!

The frame looks like it was in pretty rough shape!

 

[rapovt]

Nice work Eric. Good to see another cruiser saved!

 

[82cruiser]

Great job and beautiful looking 40. I like the safety blue. Do you have a brake? Looks like it from the wheel wells you fabbed. If so, what kind and do you like it?

 

[nat88toy]

wow nice write up and build you do some awesome work

 

[rblank]

that's schweet.....

 

[Spud]

Most Excellent!

 

[JJS]

Eric, that looks great. That looks like it was a lot of hard work.

 

[vfrer]

Thanks for all the comments! It was a lot of work... I figure I spent about 20 hours a week on it for about 8-10 months. Not bad for a guy with a 40 hour a week desk job and having never done something like that before Definitely owe many thanks to Mud as I got a lot of help here. I didn't even have to post.. a FSM and the search button and all questions were answered.

I do not have a brake... that is the only bend that I had done by someone else. I would have tried it if it were 16ga steel but it is 12ga. Paid $100 for a local sheet metal shop to cut the two wells and put that one bend in... I wrestled with the flanges. All the other bends I did by hand or with a vice and some angle iron.

 

[peepers]

great work. i would say you have a knack for it!

 

[Mad Jack]

Great write up!! The work looks awesome! Lots of pics, thanks! Best part and I laughed when I saw the kid toys scattered around your work area....or is that your pink big wheel??!!(looks like my work area!) Thanks for sharing!

 

[LCCRUISER]

SUPER, Super job on your 40 and the write-up. I did the run with you that Friday at the FG. I had the tan 40 and took the bypass where you pretzeled the drive shaft. Did you get that squared away? Larry

 

[rabid]

Looks great! Nice fab work.