Builds Salt wagon My first fj40 (build) (5 Viewers)

[Roastchestnuts]

It's very close. A couple more days of working in the shop and it should be driving. Just hard to find the time.

I understand that. I keep adding things to do to my build haha. Currently I have decided to swap out the power steering and steering column back to the original relay rod and gearbox steering. currently finding all the parts. Luckly I found a center arm. and hopfully the steering gearbox and steering wheel shaft are in the works. one of those things you look too hard at somthing and you end up rebuilding everything haha.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

I posted this in general on the Forum but I was wondering if anybody following my build would have this as well so I am posting it here.

I am trying to convert my cruiser back to manual steering and I am about to buy a Manual steering box and column for an early fj40. (mine is a 1964) Can somebody send me a picture/ post a picture of how the steering box is mounted? I am trying to figure out if I am buying the correct one. I have bought a center arm and drag link.

Not a lot of photos of this out on the web surprisingly

Thanks!

@middlecalf would you have a photo of this?

 

[middlecalf]

From ‘65 parts book

Not great pics from ‘63 FJ45 but I think the same as ‘65 FJ40.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

From ‘65 parts book
View attachment 3318691
Not great pics from ‘63 FJ45 but I think the same as ‘65 FJ40.
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Yeah this is the one I am thinking about buying but looks like the box is different. Darnit! well Good thing I have not purchased it yet. I wonder if the steering column is the same splines as the 64 for the steering wheel?

Must be a quirky thing for the year. I wonder If I can change out the mounting point for the mounting for this one. Seems like the early box prior to 1967 is hard to find.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

Pulled all the old worn out upholstery off the jump seats. I am glad I did. Lots of rust forming under there. I wire-wheeled and sripped paint on the bad areas. And started to prime it today. I had to move everything back in the shed because of a rain storm. These are going to look great after I am done! My back yard painting station/ sanding station.

 

[rainingagain]

Yeah this is the one I am thinking about buying but looks like the box is different. Darnit! well Good thing I have not purchased it yet. I wonder if the steering column is the same splines as the 64 for the steering wheel?

Must be a quirky thing for the year. I wonder If I can change out the mounting point for the mounting for this one. Seems like the early box prior to 1967 is hard to find.
View attachment 3318705

Here are some pics of mine, built 6/66-7/66. I can't tell from that pic you posted of the possible candidate, but it looks close, sans the 3 speed linkage.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

Here are some pics of mine, built 6/66-7/66. I can't tell from that pic you posted of the possible candidate, but it looks close, sans the 3 speed linkage.

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Yeah It was not a fit so I had to pass on the steering column and box. I hope I can find one at some point. aparently they are specific to the fj40s up to 66. I dont really want to mod it as I am trying to undo the mods that were done before haha.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

Here are some pics of mine, built 6/66-7/66. I can't tell from that pic you posted of the possible candidate, but it looks close, sans the 3 speed linkage.

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You have a spring green 40 as well?

 

[red66toy]

I have a spare early box if you are interested. I had aspirations of getting it rebuilt and swapping it into my 40 but its just sitting and should go on a rig and get used. No idea on condition but I am guessing it should get new seals and such.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

I have a spare early box if you are interested. I had aspirations of getting it rebuilt and swapping it into my 40 but its just sitting and should go on a rig and get used. No idea on condition but I am guessing it should get new seals and such.

I might be! how much are you thinking for it? I need to find a steering column as well because a previous owner (not the people I bought it from) hacked up the original column for a power steering swap.

 

[rainingagain]

You have a spring green 40 as well?

Carpri blue, but spring green is on my list. Such a cool color.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

I should get this seat done today! Its going to look really nice once its finished! The upolstery on these jump seats are way more simple than the front 60/40 seats. Notice the table I call my painting table... not just for toyota stuff but for art stuff as well haha.

 

[clrussell]

I checked in my tote for that cable and other associated parts. It’s not in there. I really don’t remember throwing it away and told myself I should keep this someone will need it.

I’ve just got to find where I put it. I have another place it might be but it’s behind all the other cruiser parts.

I’ll look there this weekend

 

[Roastchestnuts]

Taking apart my hard top today after Work today to start repairing the fiber glass part and replacing gaskets. (I also need to weld up a few spots from a CB radio antenna) Aditionally this RC crawler is gotta be one of the coolest things ever. I think I will get one before summer gets into full swing. This will be soo fun on the beach.

Amazon product ASIN B0BHVP3YMS

I checked in my tote for that cable and other associated parts. It’s not in there. I really don’t remember throwing it away and told myself I should keep this someone will need it.

I’ve just got to find where I put it. I have another place it might be but it’s behind all the other cruiser parts.

I’ll look there this weekend

@clrussell Thanks I really appreciate it. Random do you happen to still have the 1f engine? At some point before the end of the summer I am going to start looking for one I think.

 

[clrussell]

Taking apart my hard top today after Work today to start repairing the fiber glass part and replacing gaskets. (I also need to weld up a few spots from a CB radio antenna) Aditionally this RC crawler is gotta be one of the coolest things ever. I think I will get one before summer gets into full swing. This will be soo fun on the beach.

Amazon product ASIN B0BHVP3YMS

@clrussell Thanks I really appreciate it. Random do you happen to still have the 1f engine? At some point before the end of the summer I am going to start looking for one I think.

I do still have mine. Still bolted in the cruise and verified it’ll run haha.

That’s about as Far as I’ve gotten

Also that RC cruiser is sweet

 

[Roastchestnuts]

Got a couple of things done this afternoon. Did an oil change in the old 307. I started the hard top tear down. Got it in 4 pieces: the rear scissor door, the two sides and the top. Luckly only a few bolts broke and that was prior to me tearing it down. also the Gutter seems to be in great shape. I may need to weld a patch in one spot. I gotta sand it down and see tomorrow. The plan for tomorrow is to sand down and remove all the rivets and remove the rain gutter and start repairing it. getting the two bolts that ere broken off and starting paint prep.

I also feel better that now the metal parts of my top is sitting in my shed instead of outside.

I also sanded off the desert tan color off the front head light bezel and repainted it cygnus white. That looks 1000 times better however I think I will replace the bezel anyway at some point soon because it has lots of pin holes from rust over the years. One of those aftermarket but oem style ones that have land cruiser stamped in it would be the way I want to go. (not sure if its correct for the year but they are way cool!

I also replaced the sealed beam headlights with that Koito h4 semi seal beam headlights. its still the old wiring I plan on doing the wiring tomorrow.

I dont know of anybody has really noticed but it bugs me but I have the wrong tail lights on my 40. I think the ones that are on it are for a 1969 - 72 or somthing like that. I actually found New old stock ones that are the correct size. One from shop cruiser parts and one from @Cruiser Corps. I am planning on using the tail light cones that @red66toy sells at his shop and a few places sell the brackets for the early fj40 tail lights.

some next month plans: change out the power steering for facory manual steering l'll feel safer driving the cruiser further with the power steering conversion pulled. It was not done that well. so maybe I will be selling a nice power steering box. It looks to be possibly out of an fj60 Ill post pictures when I get to it. I am still acquiring parts for this.

Before sanding and painting

After sanding and painting

 

[Roastchestnuts]

Started grinding the rivets out to get the fiber glass top apart from the gutter. Success on separating the two. I did end up finding some pin holes from rust and for some reason somebody riveted the very front part of the rain gutter back together in two places in the front on either side instead of welding it back together. Looks to me like at some point in the past the hood flew up and broke the gutter. The silver hood ornament was pretty kinked and bent when I got the 40 so this makes since. good news is I should be able to weld it all back together. Everything else seemed ok other than the pin holes and some thin metal around a couple of the rivet holes. The bad news is I will have alot of work ahead of me with the fiber glass top. All of the corners need glass work. The picture below is the best corner haha.

Some other bad news... I bought a part sight unseen (bad nono) and of course its not the correct one. I ordered a center arm for my fj40 from a junkyard and they said it was one for a 64 fj40 but It looks to me to be the later style. So I will be looking for a center arm for an early fj40. If anybody knows where I can find a rebuildable one please let me know.

Ill probably be selling this one soon.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

Not the best welding job but the rain gutter is at least in one piece now. It had these little metal caps riveted on both sides to hold everything together before. (bottom photo) Made alot of holes in the gutter that I will weld up tomorrow (third photo). I also started sanding the top to see how it was without the cracking self leveling sealer. I am planing on sanding down the hole thing and then doing some glass work.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

I am super excited about this! I feel like this is the first step to going more original with the 64 fj40! I have a few harder to find parts that I got as a package deal. I have a early style manual box, three on the tree linkage and shifter and center arm and drag link. I am planning on completely rebuilding the steering system to stock. New tierods ends and tie rod and relayrod. (one of mine is bent and one is kinda sketchy welded together) and rebuild the draglink end. additionally rebuild the center arm if it needs it. (I assume it will). Last but not least I will buy a new steering damper.

Additionally the shift linkage is complete other than the top of the transmission. I am planning on possibly going with @red66toy and his 4 on the tree kit when he makes some more and getting a 4 speed. I hope within the next year or two putting some sort of toyota inline 6 engine. I am still leaning towards an f engine if I can find one.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

Waiting on the steering parts to arrive however I have made some good progress on the top. I did some fiber glass repair on the corners and sanded everything down for paint work. I thought I was going to need to redo a gel coat but it seems to be pretty good. I may do it anyway. I filled a few dings and scrapes with some filler. Its getting there.

Still have some ways to go but I can see the finish line. I got some new rivets from ccot but they seem pretty big compaired to the original ones. I may find some different ones before I start riviting the rain gutter back.