Builds Salt wagon My first fj40 (build) (1 Viewer)

[Roastchestnuts]

Early sender looks to be 16mm / 5/8” diameter with a 1.5 thread pitch.
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I am having a hard time finding the female Sensor end of this pipe of 5/8ths . I am going to maybe email one of these places to see.

 

[Cruiser Cult]

I am having a hard time finding the female Sensor end of this pipe of 5/8ths . I am going to maybe email one of these places to see.

Can you post a pic of exactly what you are threading the early sending unit into? Is it directly into the 2F block or a valve? That 3/8 fitting size indicated in the thread may be for a valve and not directly into the block. The block itself may be 5/8 as well .

 

[Roastchestnuts]

Can you post a pic of exactly what you are threading the early sending unit into? Is it directly into the 2F block or a valve? That 3/8 fitting size indicated in the thread may be for a valve and not directly into the block. The block itself may be 5/8 as well .

Yes I can this evening. I actually have a 2f sending unit installed right now. its installed in the head where the pipe would go. witch actually would indicate that maybe the newer 2f sender threads might be the same as the pipe assuming the 1f and 2f threaded location for it is the same? I still need to buy the early sending unit. I wanted to source this pipe thing first. I also talked to @cruisermatt and he said he might have one of these pipes and will look after he gets back from the relic run on Monday. (I wish I was going but I have to chaperone prom tomorrow... ) But if he does not have one I will still need to find one and It would be nice for everyone to have the info on where to find one.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

before too long I will be posting about a installing a Troa soft top. but for now I am enjoying driving around like this. I finally have all the components mechanically in my dream land cruiser. Its been alot of work but worth it. These fj40s are the coolest cars.

 

[clrussell]

before too long I will be posting about a installing a Troa soft top. but for now I am enjoying driving around like this. I finally have all the components mechanically in my dream land cruiser. Its been alot of work but worth it. These fj40s are the coolest cars.

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One of my favorite cruisers.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

I finally bit the bullet and purchased a Troa top off ebay. The price hurt I offered 2200 and they excepted witch I was not expecting. but I think In the long run it will be super nice. If I want a better nicer top in the future I will have a template at least too. This is what I purcahsed - FJ40 Soft Top + Frame kit. FREE TOOL BAG (Zippered) | eBay - https://www.ebay.com/itm/274792749078 Went with the khaki and rear roll up windows. I heard it takes a while to get so I just decided to go with it. I know quite a few people have ordered these and had good luck. @Catching Neutral are you still liking yours?

Its almost been a full year since I started looking into getting a soft top and I am super excited that I am making it happen now.

Also My wife got the make art Sticker for me. fitting as I am an art teacher.

 

[rfitzpatrick]

I finally bit the bullet and purchased a Troa top off ebay. The price hurt but I think In the long run it will be super nice. If I want a better nicer top in the future I will have a template at least too. This is what I purcahsed - FJ40 Soft Top + Frame kit. FREE TOOL BAG (Zippered) | eBay - https://www.ebay.com/itm/274792749078 Went with the khaki and rear roll up windows. I heard it takes a while to get so I just decided to go with it. I know quite a few people have ordered these and had good luck.

Also My wife got the make art Sticker for me. fitting as I am an art teacher.

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I want one of those, but DAMN! I don't know if I can justify the price. Maybe some day...

 

[Roastchestnuts]

I want one of those, but DAMN! I don't know if I can justify the price. Maybe some day...

yeah its so pricey and hurts my wallet but I really dont want to put the hard top back on just because I dont have a hoist and its just not as fun. I also just could not put a bestop on because you know people will just love my JEEP after that. plus really if I got the soft doors with the bestop one I would be close to the same price as the troa one.

Weirdly my wife was the one that told me to buy it because it will be "more practical for us"

 

[rfitzpatrick]

yeah its so pricey and hurts my wallet but I really dont want to put the hard top back on just because I dont have a hoist and its just not as fun. I also just could not put a bestop on because you know people will just love my JEEP after that.

Weirdly my wife was the one that told me to buy it because it will be "more practical for us"

I've made two big purchases for my 40 in the first year of ownership - a 4Plus tire carrier/cooler combo and a Dobinson's lift kit. Maybe I'll build this into next year's budget. I work a side hustle for things like this, so I just need to wait a while.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

I've made two big purchases for my 40 in the first year of ownership - a 4Plus tire carrier/cooler combo and a Dobinson's lift kit. Maybe I'll build this into next year's budget. I work a side hustle for things like this, so I just need to wait a while.

I know I am going to have to start taking some more shifts outside of my teaching jobs to pay off this top. I am jealous of your 4plus carrier! I think the dobinsons leafs are the single thing that changed how it drove the most other than the engine though. Totally worth it.

 

[middlecalf]

Can you carry your boards with a soft top? Maybe a vertical rack off the back somehow? Or just sticking out the back?

 

[Roastchestnuts]

Can you carry your boards with a soft top? Maybe a vertical rack off the back somehow? Or just sticking out the back?

thats a good question. I am not sure 100% what I will do. Last summer with the top off I had a 9'6 Long board sticking out the back a few times. It was not bad. My shorter boards fit perfectly in the back sticking out a little. Usually with the longboard I just put a shorter board in the bag on top of the longboard and it stayed put. I am not driving fast or very far to the beach here either. The Hard top was a huge pain to strap them on top anyway that most of the time I just made them fit in the back.

 

[Catching Neutral]

@Roastchestnuts ….coolest art teacher ever.
I am still loving my soft top. PM me when you get yours and I can share a what I learned installing mine.
Maybe save you a few minutes.
@middlecalf …I would not put boards on top without some kind of rack.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

@Roastchestnuts ….coolest art teacher ever.
I am still loving my soft top. PM me when you get yours and I can share a what I learned installing mine.
Maybe save you a few minutes.
@middlecalf …I would not put boards on top without some kind of rack.

Thanks! its a fun job. next school year I am teaming up with the shop teacher and we are doing an autoshop club. We are going to rebuild the SBC that I took out of my land cruiser.

I will give you a shout when I get the top in. I am glad I finally bought it. I had already bought oem twist locks for the sides too although I am not sure I bought enough.

I did a couple of things yesterday. I adjusted the valves again and it seems to run better. one was out alot could have been my fault. I think It was valve 10 going towards the firewall. I do hear less valve noise.

I took the fj40 out to the beach yesterday to test out the 4x4. As expected it works great. it was a hair sluggish in 4H but I could have aired down a little bit in the soft sand though. But I did drive it about 1.5 miles from one beach ramp to another yesterday. I snapped some pictures. I also brought a surfboard thinking I was going to catch some longboard waves but It did not end up happening. but I figured I could show how I do that. Normally I throw a towel down on the barn doors but I forgot. Its a beater board anyway.

Little bit of a bummer I had the antenna up and bent it when I folded the windsheild. Ill get another as the seals on this one are a little worn anyway.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

I have no new projects until I get my top in. I have been testing out a new camera and got some cruiser shots yestereday. Figured I would post here. These were all taken with a Hasselblad SWC and a digital back. Super fun camera from about the same time period as the salt wagon. (sans the digital back)

A friend of mine who shoots photos on the outer banks (Daniel Pullen) shot this one of me driving down the road yesteray too.

 

[RevISK]

I’ve always been attracted to the SWC, looks really fun.

 

[405]

Love the look of your 40. Can't wait to see it with the soft top.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

I’ve always been attracted to the SWC, looks really fun.

Dude Its really fun! I am borrowing it from Camera west out in CA but I might trade something for it. SO MUCH FUN. And zone focus is just as easy with the digital back. I need to develop a roll so I can see what it produces in 6x6. I was worried because its one of the earlier models but it works great with the single coated lens. Amazingly sharp for a 60+ year old lens design.

I grabbed these shots with it yesterday too. I love the one of my wife after a kayak tour. (she is a kayak tour guide)

 

[Roastchestnuts]

Love the look of your 40. Can't wait to see it with the soft top.

I am really excited about that too. Its been on my list for some time.

 

[Old74FJ40]

Just got through all 60 pages. Love the Landcruiser!