Year: March 1975, no factory front disk 
Nick Name : 'Ol Rusty, my son named it.
History: From what I can tell the body came from three or more donors, the engine may or may not be the original, it has the oil cooler but I have been told that was an option in 75. Other than that it was pretty much stock whem I bought it.
We purchased it in 1993 for $3000 and kept it pretty much stock until 1997.
In 1997 we had some work done by a local shop:
-Saginaw manual steering conversion
-Front shackle reversal
-ARB lockers F&R
-Confer Aux tank
-Confer rear bench seat
Here is how it looked a couple of years ago
But it looked like this more often
For many years it was my daily driver. My commute was from Reno to Carson City. This route took me through Washoe Valley, considered to be the Burmada triangle of weather in N. NV. In winter white outs are common even in good weather because of the high winds and build up of snow in the valley.
A few years ago I hooked up with the local TLCA chapter. Everything changed.
One trip over Fordyce riding along in another rig and I was hooked.
For the first year I read everything I could find on the internet about modifying an FJ40. A lot of stuff here on Mud, and a lot of stuff on other sites.
Then I started working on the finiance committie,
A lot of negoation later I started working on the new and improved 'Ol Rusty
The list:
PS conversion by PSC, ( w/ rock ram, not installed)
SOA
HySteer by Pro Comp
Toy Box
Orion t-case
HFS Front bumper
Warn 8274-50 winch
STC (Kayline) Soft top
Metal tech family cage.
Front disk conversion/mini truck knuckle swap
Longfield Birfs and inners.
Over two years and a lot of help from Mud later it was done.
This is me the first time out of the garage
I still grin when I remember it.
I'm pretty happy with the results. I had never done anything like this before, so I'm sure there are things that will need to be modified. But overall it seems to work well:
The first technical trail I will do is Fordyce Creek, the equivelent of jumping in the deep end of the pool after one or two swimming leassons. Hey, I never said I was smart!
But I may have a great spotter along, I'm hoping that will help make up for my lack of skill.
Nick Name : 'Ol Rusty, my son named it.
History: From what I can tell the body came from three or more donors, the engine may or may not be the original, it has the oil cooler but I have been told that was an option in 75. Other than that it was pretty much stock whem I bought it.
We purchased it in 1993 for $3000 and kept it pretty much stock until 1997.
In 1997 we had some work done by a local shop:
-Saginaw manual steering conversion
-Front shackle reversal
-ARB lockers F&R
-Confer Aux tank
-Confer rear bench seat
Here is how it looked a couple of years ago
But it looked like this more often
For many years it was my daily driver. My commute was from Reno to Carson City. This route took me through Washoe Valley, considered to be the Burmada triangle of weather in N. NV. In winter white outs are common even in good weather because of the high winds and build up of snow in the valley.
A few years ago I hooked up with the local TLCA chapter. Everything changed.
One trip over Fordyce riding along in another rig and I was hooked.
For the first year I read everything I could find on the internet about modifying an FJ40. A lot of stuff here on Mud, and a lot of stuff on other sites.
Then I started working on the finiance committie,
A lot of negoation later I started working on the new and improved 'Ol Rusty
The list:
PS conversion by PSC, ( w/ rock ram, not installed)
SOA
HySteer by Pro Comp
Toy Box
Orion t-case
HFS Front bumper
Warn 8274-50 winch
STC (Kayline) Soft top
Metal tech family cage.
Front disk conversion/mini truck knuckle swap
Longfield Birfs and inners.
Over two years and a lot of help from Mud later it was done.
This is me the first time out of the garage
I still grin when I remember it.
I'm pretty happy with the results. I had never done anything like this before, so I'm sure there are things that will need to be modified. But overall it seems to work well:
The first technical trail I will do is Fordyce Creek, the equivelent of jumping in the deep end of the pool after one or two swimming leassons. Hey, I never said I was smart!
But I may have a great spotter along, I'm hoping that will help make up for my lack of skill.
