First - a sincere thank you to the people who post in this forum. It has been one of the distinguishing factors of my LC ownership. I feel guilty for taking so much from this forum and its members without giving back!
Prior to owning a 40, I owned a '71 CJ5, '82 Blazer, 91 Wrangler, ’76 Bronco, ’64 Scout 80, ’72 Scout II, ’78 Scout II, and a ’80 Scout 80, ’87 Montero, ’06 Cherokee, and a ’94 FZJ80 (still a daily driver after 10 years). My 1977 FJ40 was the second LandCruiser I purchased, and since have owned and sold a ’98 UZJ100, ’97 FZJ80 (LX450), and a ’92 FJ80 (parted).
Acquisition
I was working on a pretty serious project, putting a ’64 Scout 80 body on a ’80 Scout II frame/running gear. I was into it about a year, and it was finally drivable. A few more details like paint, safety inspection, and registration were all I had left. The International Harvester community was great. The vehicles themselves are quite unique (the bastard children of the 4X4 world), easy to work on, and semi-reliable. I had no intention of selling my Scout.
Enter DMC. Company barbeque and golf outing, I’m talking with the guy who drives the Cruiser with a snorkel about wheeling, my Scouts, his Cruisers, etc. Me being an 80 owner, him being (at that time) the president of our local TLC chapter, I was told about the local club, and the upcoming desert rally. He also said that I should think about selling my Scout, and buying a 40 – he knew of one locally that was a pretty good deal. I had wanted a 40 prior to buying my Scouts, but couldn’t afford one (Scouts are cheap!), but based on my conversations with Dave, I started my OCD type research and bought the 40 I was told about in October ‘05.
I believe I got a great deal on my 40. It needed a couple of things – shocks, exhaust, better tires, but it was a 40, and it was in my driveway.
After a few weekends of working on the 40, I was able to get it registered, install an Aussie locker, some ProComp Xterrains, rattle can it, and drive it around a little. The engine chugged along, it felt safe and tracked straight at 65 mph, it also turned a lot of heads.
In March ’06, we headed out to Moab with the Cruiser club. I was driving the 80, flat towing the 40. Somewhere between Price, UT and Moab, the rear driveshaft fell off, and put the rear pinion through the diff housing. I never felt a thing, but when we arrived in Moab, the 40 was not drivable. We stayed and enjoyed the trip, and towed the 40 home unused on its maiden voyage to Moab.
I parked and repaired the rear diff, and replaced the driveshaft.
During the summer of ’06 I used it to commute 30 miles each way to work, but there was a shudder that would drive me crazy when engaging the clutch. It got so bad, that I ended up parking it until I could diagnose and repair the shudder.
I purchased a ’97 LX450, and my 40 sat for about 9 months untouched. In the Fall of ’07, I pulled the 40 back into the garage and started pulling things apart to figure out what was going on. Evidently, when I dropped my driveshaft, it ripped the bellhousing apart. While I was in there, I decided to perform some upgrades.
First, a new bellhousing. Second, an H41/Orion combo.
I’m no mechanical genius, so it took me a few months to get this done. During this time, I also replaced all fluids, belts, hoses, rear main seal, header, new exhaust, and installed a Helton hot water/shower. In the early Spring of this year, I drove the 40 under its own power for the first time in over a year. It felt great! I took it to the county station for Inspection and Emissions, but failed emissions MISERABLY. I tweaked the Weber carb, tested again, better, but no dice. Third time – fail. Frustrated, I started looking for an Aisin carb to have rebuilt and installed to hopefully alleviate my emissions woes.
While searching for a carb, I came across a ’92 FJ80 for a song, and purchased it with the intent of putting the 3FE in my 40. I began dismantling the FJ80, and took the motor and my 40 to a friend’s place, as this type of project is extremely daunting to my feeble brain.
Currently, my 40 sits in my friend’s garage, 2F plucked, 3FE almost ready to drop in. I’m waiting on a hose (coming from Japan), and other minor parts.
Although I’ve only been able to drive my 40 about 10% of the time I’ve owned it, I’m committed. There’s something about the 40s that is just appealing. They’re simple, robust, enduring. I’m jealous of all of you who get to drive yours, I’ll be driving mine soon!
Current/In Progress State:
1977 FJ40
1992 3FE (195,000)
4" Lift (unknown - po mod, but pretty good flex)
Aussie Front/Rear (front in box - fall project)
35X12.50X15 ProComp Xterrains
Rebuilt front/rear axles (4.10)
H41 trans
Orion xfer (4:1)
Warn 8274 (12voltguy battery/winch panel in box - fall project)
Metaltech premium sliders (on garage floor - fall project)
Helton hot water kit with shower
Hella tractor lights (front, sides - rock lights)
New heater control valve
dual Optima D34M batteries (12 voltguy battery/winch panel in box - fall project)
Searching for "The Elegant Solution" (future plans)
Some better tires
Powdercoat current, or new black wheels
Front 'roo bar (ideally the old school ARB, but hard to find)
Rear 4+ bumper
Bikini top
Air conditioning
Stereo
CB
2M/440 radio
Rewire all except 3FE components
Repaint Dune Beige - WTF was I thinking?
Now for some pics…
Prior to owning a 40, I owned a '71 CJ5, '82 Blazer, 91 Wrangler, ’76 Bronco, ’64 Scout 80, ’72 Scout II, ’78 Scout II, and a ’80 Scout 80, ’87 Montero, ’06 Cherokee, and a ’94 FZJ80 (still a daily driver after 10 years). My 1977 FJ40 was the second LandCruiser I purchased, and since have owned and sold a ’98 UZJ100, ’97 FZJ80 (LX450), and a ’92 FJ80 (parted).
Acquisition
I was working on a pretty serious project, putting a ’64 Scout 80 body on a ’80 Scout II frame/running gear. I was into it about a year, and it was finally drivable. A few more details like paint, safety inspection, and registration were all I had left. The International Harvester community was great. The vehicles themselves are quite unique (the bastard children of the 4X4 world), easy to work on, and semi-reliable. I had no intention of selling my Scout.
Enter DMC. Company barbeque and golf outing, I’m talking with the guy who drives the Cruiser with a snorkel about wheeling, my Scouts, his Cruisers, etc. Me being an 80 owner, him being (at that time) the president of our local TLC chapter, I was told about the local club, and the upcoming desert rally. He also said that I should think about selling my Scout, and buying a 40 – he knew of one locally that was a pretty good deal. I had wanted a 40 prior to buying my Scouts, but couldn’t afford one (Scouts are cheap!), but based on my conversations with Dave, I started my OCD type research and bought the 40 I was told about in October ‘05.
I believe I got a great deal on my 40. It needed a couple of things – shocks, exhaust, better tires, but it was a 40, and it was in my driveway.
After a few weekends of working on the 40, I was able to get it registered, install an Aussie locker, some ProComp Xterrains, rattle can it, and drive it around a little. The engine chugged along, it felt safe and tracked straight at 65 mph, it also turned a lot of heads.
In March ’06, we headed out to Moab with the Cruiser club. I was driving the 80, flat towing the 40. Somewhere between Price, UT and Moab, the rear driveshaft fell off, and put the rear pinion through the diff housing. I never felt a thing, but when we arrived in Moab, the 40 was not drivable. We stayed and enjoyed the trip, and towed the 40 home unused on its maiden voyage to Moab.
I parked and repaired the rear diff, and replaced the driveshaft.
During the summer of ’06 I used it to commute 30 miles each way to work, but there was a shudder that would drive me crazy when engaging the clutch. It got so bad, that I ended up parking it until I could diagnose and repair the shudder.
I purchased a ’97 LX450, and my 40 sat for about 9 months untouched. In the Fall of ’07, I pulled the 40 back into the garage and started pulling things apart to figure out what was going on. Evidently, when I dropped my driveshaft, it ripped the bellhousing apart. While I was in there, I decided to perform some upgrades.
First, a new bellhousing. Second, an H41/Orion combo.
I’m no mechanical genius, so it took me a few months to get this done. During this time, I also replaced all fluids, belts, hoses, rear main seal, header, new exhaust, and installed a Helton hot water/shower. In the early Spring of this year, I drove the 40 under its own power for the first time in over a year. It felt great! I took it to the county station for Inspection and Emissions, but failed emissions MISERABLY. I tweaked the Weber carb, tested again, better, but no dice. Third time – fail. Frustrated, I started looking for an Aisin carb to have rebuilt and installed to hopefully alleviate my emissions woes.
While searching for a carb, I came across a ’92 FJ80 for a song, and purchased it with the intent of putting the 3FE in my 40. I began dismantling the FJ80, and took the motor and my 40 to a friend’s place, as this type of project is extremely daunting to my feeble brain.
Currently, my 40 sits in my friend’s garage, 2F plucked, 3FE almost ready to drop in. I’m waiting on a hose (coming from Japan), and other minor parts.
Although I’ve only been able to drive my 40 about 10% of the time I’ve owned it, I’m committed. There’s something about the 40s that is just appealing. They’re simple, robust, enduring. I’m jealous of all of you who get to drive yours, I’ll be driving mine soon!
Current/In Progress State:
1977 FJ40
1992 3FE (195,000)
4" Lift (unknown - po mod, but pretty good flex)
Aussie Front/Rear (front in box - fall project)
35X12.50X15 ProComp Xterrains
Rebuilt front/rear axles (4.10)
H41 trans
Orion xfer (4:1)
Warn 8274 (12voltguy battery/winch panel in box - fall project)
Metaltech premium sliders (on garage floor - fall project)
Helton hot water kit with shower
Hella tractor lights (front, sides - rock lights)
New heater control valve
dual Optima D34M batteries (12 voltguy battery/winch panel in box - fall project)
Searching for "The Elegant Solution" (future plans)
Some better tires
Powdercoat current, or new black wheels
Front 'roo bar (ideally the old school ARB, but hard to find)
Rear 4+ bumper
Bikini top
Air conditioning
Stereo
CB
2M/440 radio
Rewire all except 3FE components
Repaint Dune Beige - WTF was I thinking?
Now for some pics…
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would be the appropriate salute.
:whoops:
