Builds Salt wagon My first fj40 (build)

[Roastchestnuts]

Happy Birthday
Wives that put up with and support our obsessions are awesome, a definite keeper.
Looking forward to your soft top install. I'm in the process of test fitting my , really old been stored in the garage for way to long, Pakistani soft top that I got in a group buy years ago. Like with the Troa top there is some metal massaging and trimming needed.

I am not happy with the front windshield channel that came with it and would appreciate some detailed pictures of the channel to see if its worth trying to get channel from Troa.

she is great! and certainly supportive. our birthdays are 4 days apart so hers is this Sunday actually. She is calling this summer our soft top summer haha.

I think i saw that you were test fitting yours. looked pretty good.

The Troa channel seems nice. I wish holes were predrilled. its a simple piece. my goal today is to get that installed actually/hopfully so Ill take some pictures and get them posted tomorrow.

 

[120mm]

How about mounting the gas can right behind the fuel filler on the outside?

I haven't mounted mine yet, but I put it behind the passenger seat on the inside and run an electric pump to transfer to the fuel filler when necessary.

Makes filling super easy and no gas gets slopped out.

The downside is that it can snag on something.

 

[SC-Cruiser]

she is great! and certainly supportive. our birthdays are 4 days apart so hers is this Sunday actually. She is calling this summer our soft top summer haha.

I think i saw that you were test fitting yours. looked pretty good.

The Troa channel seems nice. I wish holes were predrilled. its a simple piece. my goal today is to get that installed actually/hopfully so Ill take some pictures and get them posted tomorrow.

Thanks for taking some pictures.
My wife and my birthdays are on back to back days.

I haven't posted the results yet. I should start my own thread so I don't take yours over

 

[SC-Cruiser]

How about mounting the gas can right behind the fuel filler on the outside?

I haven't mounted mine yet, but I put it behind the passenger seat on the inside and run an electric pump to transfer to the fuel filler when necessary.

Makes filling super easy and no gas gets slopped out.

The downside is that it can snag on something.

If you don't want to drill more holes into the body and are worried about the body supporting the weight of a tire and a gas can its the perfect excuse to replace the OEM tire carrier with a 4Plus carrier. I just put one on and couldn't be happier. I

 

[Shark56]

Maybe some guys that have had Landcruiser longer than me can chime in.
Con-fer offered up a mount that attached to the spare tire carrier for fuel cans. I dont recall any threads or complaints about the carrier failing. I never put a can on mine but did mount a jack on the bracket for several years with no issue. Of course that is like 20 lbs compared to 50 ish.
There were two different mounts. One for the older style barn door tire carrier and one for the Tube style carrier. The difference being the angle of the mounting holes.
I dont know if the 30 pounds or so difference would cause problems or not.

 

[Sky King]

Maybe some guys that have had Landcruiser longer than me can chime in.
Con-fer offered up a mount that attached to the spare tire carrier for fuel cans. I dont recall any threads or complaints about the carrier failing. I never put a can on mine but did mount a jack on the bracket for several years with no issue. Of course that is like 20 lbs compared to 50 ish.
There were two different mounts. One for the older style barn door tire carrier and one for the Tube style carrier. The difference being the angle of the mounting holes.
I dont know if the 30 pounds or so difference would cause problems or not.

Back in 78 I had one of those mounts on my 78 FJ40. The can stayed empty mostly unless I was headed for the back country. Under those conditions I never had a problem, probably not the best evaluation test.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

Lots of updates! friday was the last day of the school year. This teacher is on summer break now!

This top is awesome!!! I got the top installed quicker than I thought. the upper door bows were the tuffest part! I ended up lopping off more than I think I should have and taking the center part out? dont know what that part is called but it unbolts. BE AWARE: I have early style doors and this was the only way I could get the doors to shut properly. I think @HelloKitty65 told me about this in a PM. It was easy to take this part out because it was just bolted in on the Troa part. I think on real steal its tac welded in. I will have to find some good weather stripping to put in this area. but it fiits really nice after I took this part out. Ill get a picture this afternoon if I have time.

The turn buckles are garbage and I did indeed use the toyota turnbuckles. I did order 4 more toyota ones as I only ordered 3 per side but I think I am going to do 5 per side. the troa ones would not hold up down where I live. also I am pretty sure I could just bend them around with my hands if I wanted to. I have not added the turnbuckle fittings to the top yet but i will sometime this week. I ordered some better quality ones that should be here soon.

The windsheild channel: this part was tricky as without instructions I installed it the first time around upside down. the channel is curved but it is curved in the opposite direction you think. I used m6 nutzerts to attach it to the windsheild frame. Probibly the most stressfull part of the install was drilling the holes for the nutserts. luckly I guess from factory some pre done holes were there but no captive nuts.

The door B pillars were concerning to me as my doors are strait. but it seems to fit just fine with only minor massaging to a corner (because I dropped it unpacking and bent it a hair...

Attaching the rear part of the top was much easier because Troa actually had factory style mounting stuff now for the back bows. A step up from real steel in my opinion. I used nutserts again for the bottom thing and the side tub mounts.

Some other notes: the troa b pillars have a mount for an iterior light so I ordered one. Ill post more on that when It gets here.

None top related: I have decided to mount the jerry can to the rear barn door. I think for my needs its the best location. and actaully our 1 gas station on the island runs out some times in peak summer for a week or too so a back up 5 gallons is good to have here.

Ill post more photos when I get a chance! and apologize for the crap photos.

all in all this top is awesome and I could not be happier! even though I waited almost two months to get it. Plus even troa's customer service was awesome when I need help with customs.

 

[KennyBob]

Dang! You plowed through that install. I just finally decided to cut those front tabs off last night… and I only cut one of them. Looks great! Now I’m taking notes from you. Do you have that light part number handy?

 

[Roastchestnuts]

Dang! You plowed through that install. I just finally decided to cut those front tabs off last night… and I only cut one of them. Looks great! Now I’m taking notes from you. Do you have that light part number handy?

Those tabs just kinda confused me. I am not sure I see the point of them. my best advice is to test fit everything multiple times. I took the door side part out of my door bows thats bolted in. but I would hold off untill you test fit the doors. Mine are super early doors that are kinda unique among most. on top off all that I have no idea if that was "correct" but it did work to make my doors fit better.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

Updates: I am waiting on 4 more toyota turnbuckles and the "eyes" for the turnbuckles for the soft top. Once I install those I am going to adjust everything. I am loving it though. its so much easier to see out of the back than the corrugated hard top and the handling with the top feels much lighter witch I like. And this time of the summer its nice not worrying if it will rain. Additionally here the weather is crazy this time of the year. it may say sunny all day then change in 30 mins to raining half the day.

I ordered these below. chrome coated brass. I figured this would be best for out here.

Non soft top related: I replaced the front turn signals. they wiring was starting to crumble and I just decided for 60$ from city racer it was worth it. Ill post a picture when I get a chance.

I also ordered the rear license plate mount for the jerry can. I am hoping to put it on the rear barn door when I get all the parts. I still need to order the lights and little light cover things. While not correct for the year it will be all toyota oem.

On the beach the other day.

 

[KennyBob]

Updates: I am waiting on 4 more toyota turnbuckles and the "eyes" for the turnbuckles for the soft top. Once I install those I am going to adjust everything. I am loving it though. its so much easier to see out of the back than the corrugated hard top and the handling with the top feels much lighter witch I like. And this time of the summer its nice not worrying if it will rain. Additionally here the weather is crazy this time of the year. it may say sunny all day then change in 30 mins to raining half the day.

I ordered these below. chrome coated brass. I figured this would be best for out here.
View attachment 3651836

Non soft top related: I replaced the front turn signals. they wiring was starting to crumble and I just decided for 60$ from city racer it was worth it. Ill post a picture when I get a chance.
View attachment 3651835
I also ordered the rear license plate mount for the jerry can. I am hoping to put it on the rear barn door when I get all the parts. I still need to order the lights and little light cover things. While not correct for the year it will be all toyota oem.

On the beach the other day.
View attachment 3651837

Lookin good! Where did you get the twist-lock grommets? I bought some with the punch tool from sailrite. TBD on how they compare to the troa ones.

Got a pic of the license plate mount?
Never mind I think I found what you’re talking about from city racer.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

Lookin good! Where did you get the twist-lock grommets? I bought some with the punch tool from sailrite. TBD on how they compare to the troa ones.

Got a pic of the license plate mount?
Never mind I think I found what you’re talking about from city racer.

Thanks!

Common Sense Turnbuckle Fastener 4 Prong Eyelets With Washers | Upholstery Supply USA - https://www.upholsterysupplyusa.com/products/common-sense-turnbuckle-fastener-4-prong-eyelets-with-washers I also bought a cheep punch tool. worked alright. Its already getting dull and I need 4 more. I did install 6 of the grommets yesterday. Yeah I guess you found the city racer thing. I am still a little on the fence on where I am going to mount the jerry can. I may mount it near the gas filler too. IDK we will see when the city racer thing comes in.

 

[KennyBob]

Interesting. Curious how the Sailrite tool will hold up.
I realized I can’t attach my Jerry can the same way because my 40 has the tailgate instead of the doors. I’m thinking maybe the fender if I don’t build/buy a swing out.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

Interesting. Curious how the Sailrite tool will hold up.
I realized I can’t attach my Jerry can the same way because my 40 has the tailgate instead of the doors. I’m thinking maybe the fender if I don’t build/buy a swing out.

I really actually want to put a tail gate on mine or one of the oem looking ones that just bolt in and dont fold. I think @Catching Neutral has one of these. then the install would be easy becasuse none of the plate stuff is on there anyway. I may do the side too because I am just now realizing I will not be able to put surfboards in the back if a big jerry can is in the way. I gotta think on it for a few days.

 

[Catching Neutral]

@Roastchestnuts, and @KennyBob
A close up

 

[Roastchestnuts]

@Roastchestnuts, and @KennyBob
A close up
View attachment 3652799

Thought you had one @Catching Neutral Thanks for sharing. also worth the wait for sure. this troa top is awesome!

 

[KennyBob]

@Roastchestnuts @Catching Neutral what hardware did y’all use to attach the footman loops?

 

[Catching Neutral]

@Roastchestnuts ….your top looks great …particularly with the seats.
@KennyBob …I used the footman loops sent with TROA. I didn’t like the screws so I sourced stainless nuts, bolts, washer, from my local ACE. If I remember correctly I went with 3mm.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

@Roastchestnuts ….your top looks great …particularly with the seats.
@KennyBob …I used the footman loops sent with TROA. I didn’t like the screws so I sourced stainless nuts, bolts, washer, from my local ACE. If I remember correctly I went with 3mm.
View attachment 3653460

@KennyBob this is pretty much what i did too. I used the troa footman loops but I am planning on replacing them as I dont really like the quality of them. I still need to do the ones for the rear door.

Thanks @Catching Neutral it does match the seats really well.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

Did my first oil change after putting my 2f together yesterday. I had 10w and I think it was too light for it in the heat here. I think it was burning a little bit of oil. No smoke or anything but I knoticed it was a hair low as in just below full after 700 miles. put some 20w50 castrol gtx because it has lots of yummy zinc for the 2f. I have read good things about this oil though. we shall see. It seems to like it.

I also installed the last of the turnbuckles on the soft top. They came in yesterday.