Builds Salt wagon My first fj40 (build) (3 Viewers)

[svsisu]

Good luck in the t100 market. I think they are great, especially the 1997 extra cab stick shift!

However I’ve found you have to be pretty lucky. Most all of the beds are rotted out at a minimum and usually the whole truck has 300k on it, beat to snot and unmaintained. They still want $6k minimum here for junk.

We have a 2006 double cab tundra and it’s been fantastic. You seem to be able to find those fairly cheap for single cabs. The 2uz is awesome.

Funny you mention the T100 extra cab... I picked one up for a great price in May. 214,000 miles and had been with the same owner since 71k. Zero rust (for real!), 1997 5 speed manual, 4wd 3.4 V6. Overall it runs great and is in good condition (couple dents here and there), but needs some love as it’s been sitting in the old boy’s yard forever. Drove it 500 miles home with no problems.

It's crazy how big it feels inside compared to my Tacoma, and even compared to my Troopy the passenger seems far away. I know it's not a "full" sized truck, but it is a very nice balance. With a bed rack, would make a great kayak hauler.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

Funny you mention the T100 extra cab... I picked one up for a great price in May. 214,000 miles and had been with the same owner since 71k. Zero rust (for real!), 1997 5 speed manual, 4wd 3.4 V6. Overall it runs great and is in good condition (couple dents here and there), but needs some love as it’s been sitting in the old boy’s yard forever. Drove it 500 miles home with no problems.

It's crazy how big it feels inside compared to my Tacoma, and even compared to my Troopy the passenger seems far away. I know it's not a "full" sized truck, but it is a very nice balance. With a bed rack, would make a great kayak hauler.

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every once in a while a nice t100 shows up with lower miles. I am looking for a regular cab one. yesterday I went down the rabbit hole of looking at old international trucks from the 1960s after watching a roadkill garage episode. Those things are just the right amount of goofy for me.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

I went down the rabbit hole again with the outer rocker panel yesterday on the drivers side. I cutting everything out and got as far as making and welding in the little triangle piece and fixing and welding in the rusted strip section that the rocker is spot welded too. I cleaned and Rust converted everything I could. I plan on seam sealing everything from the back side once I get it all in as well. I also got the panel mocked up and clamped in place. I will post some pictures of it when I get it stitched in.

Its amazing how much work the one little spot is. unfortunutly the drivers side is going to be much tougher...

Looking at how they designed this no wonder these rust out so badly here. Nothing protects and keeps water/dirt from creaping in where the rocker is spot welded to the triangular support thing.

I did get the rest of the triangular pice off thats still attached in the picture above.

Now for the bad news... I have to wait a day or two to start welding it all in because It is going to be raining all day today. and as many of you know I dont have a garage. Right now I have it all tarped up.

Ill have more pictures soon.

 

[Green Bean]

Nice job. Vice Grip Garage is another one. Similar to Roadkill but they don’t edit out all of the many failures.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

Nice job. Vice Grip Garage is another one. Similar to Roadkill but they don’t edit out all of the many failures.

Ohh I love Vice Grip Garage. Just think its halarious the names for all the parts. Sparkalaters, Lightning wherlers.... Bring The Thunder! My wife jokes and says the intro gives her flashbacks to covid when I was watching that in the mornings haha.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

Its getting there. when I am done it will be so much nicer not to see rot in these places. Unfortunatly I need to order some more flappy disks to finish the driver side. Hopfully I will get that done next weekend. The second more forward rust hole was much easier to fix because the triangular part was in good enough shape to reuse.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

No updates on the salt wagon Rocker project yet but - I got a couple of photos in an Outside Magazine article. I am super stoked. and its a salt wagon photo. These Are the Coolest Surf Towns in the U.S. - https://www.outsideonline.com/adventure-travel/destinations/north-america/best-surf-towns/

 

[rfitzpatrick]

No updates on the salt wagon Rocker project yet but - I got a couple of photos in an Outside Magazine article. I am super stoked. and its a salt wagon photo. These Are the Coolest Surf Towns in the U.S. - https://www.outsideonline.com/adventure-travel/destinations/north-america/best-surf-towns/

Congratulations! That's pretty awesome! The only issue I have with this article is with them calling out Pacific City, Oregon. I've been going there for 16 years and it's getting too busy! We don't need Outside making it any more popular!

 

[Goldbug]

Congrats Robert on the article and great to meet you today and see the salt wagon. Sorry it was so brief.

Can’t believe all the work you’ve done, with no garage! And the engine really purrs. Nicely done!

 

[Roastchestnuts]

Congrats Robert on the article and great to meet you today and see the salt wagon. Sorry it was so brief.

Can’t believe all the work you’ve done, with no garage! And the engine really purrs. Nicely done!

It was great to meet you too. I hope you got to norfolk in time last night. you will have to stick around longer next time! Like I said If I am up your way Ill hit you up for sure. Its always good to meet Land Cruiser guys.

A garage is the dream one of the houses we looked at had a small garage but we just could not make the numbers work.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

Its a good 10 footer haha. I am going to try and wetsand and get everything a little more blended together. but honestly its much better not having a rust hole there. I think knowing what I did on this side the drivers side will come out better. I will say I used a couple of these Eastwood Intergrip Panel Clamp Set - 8pc - https://www.eastwood.com/eastwood-intergrip-panel-clamp-set-8pc.html fom eastwood and it made getting that panel gab so much easier.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

I have bought some OEM lug nuts from city racer. when I was doing the rocker I took the rear passenger tire off and dropped a lug nut and cant figure out where It fell. it was easier just to buy new ones.

I have been saving my tip money from the summer surf lessons and surf camp I do. I am hoping to buy some city racer 16 inch rims at some point with that and switch to a 750 r16 tire. Like some power kings or super traxions. I just love the look of them.

 

[SC-Cruiser]

No updates on the salt wagon Rocker project yet but - I got a couple of photos in an Outside Magazine article. I am super stoked. and its a salt wagon photo. These Are the Coolest Surf Towns in the U.S. - https://www.outsideonline.com/adventure-travel/destinations/north-america/best-surf-towns/

Fantastic. Great that you got some pictures into the magazine.
Will be on Ocracoke Sept 6-9 for some R&R. Hope to see you and check out the salt wagon

 

[SC-Cruiser]

I have bought some OEM lug nuts from city racer. when I was doing the rocker I took the rear passenger tire off and dropped a lug nut and cant figure out where It fell. it was easier just to buy new ones.

I have been saving my tip money from the summer surf lessons and surf camp I do. I am hoping to buy some city racer 16 inch rims at some point with that and switch to a 750 r16 tire. Like some power kings or super traxions. I just love the look of them.

I am debating between the City Racer wheels and the FjCo wheels myself.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

Fantastic. Great that you got some pictures into the magazine.
Will be on Ocracoke Sept 6-9 for some R&R. Hope to see you and check out the salt wagon

Look forward to meeting you man! I should be around that weekend!

 

[Roastchestnuts]

I am debating between the City Racer wheels and the FjCo wheels myself.

They both look really nice! I think the fjco ones would ship faster maybe? but they both are flipping expensive.

 

[firemanj92]

They both look really nice! I think the fjco ones would ship faster maybe? but they both are flipping expensive.

There was a coupon floating around here for FJCo wheels. I will add, I lost 18-22lbs per wheel at each corner coming from the steel to the aluminum FJCO wheels which equates to less wear & tear on components.

The coupon reduced the price equivalent to getting 1 wheel for free. It was available after listening to a podcast, don't remember which and it was at the end...I think the podcast was an interview with FJCo. I don't know if it's still available.

 

[Cruiser Cult]

There was a coupon floating around here for FJCo wheels. I will add, I lost 18-22lbs per wheel at each corner coming from the steel to the aluminum FJCO wheels which equates to less wear & tear on components.

The coupon reduced the price equivalent to getting 1 wheel for free. It was available after listening to a podcast, don't remember which and it was at the end...I think the podcast was an interview with FJCo. I don't know if it's still available.

Did you notice any handling benefits from the lighter wheels?

 

[firemanj92]

Did you notice any handling benefits from the lighter wheels?

Yes, I spoke with you a bit ago about (in the middle of a move and) a brake problem I was having. Well, the lighter wheelset exaggerated the problem which wasn't a brake problem but a set screw not allowing the hub to sit flush. Anyhow yes, it is snappier to drive, quicker to brake and accelerate (I know it's a turtle). It's no longer slinging unwanted rotating mass around. I can drive with just fingers now (especially with the help from you and the repro bushings you are providing/selling-shameless plug for you Chase (@Cruiser Cult). Shortly after I upgraded the susp. to Dobinson IMS replacing the OME's with 1500 miles on them-newish so it's a whole new beast but more importantly easier on my aging body.

 

[SC-Cruiser]

There was a coupon floating around here for FJCo wheels. I will add, I lost 18-22lbs per wheel at each corner coming from the steel to the aluminum FJCO wheels which equates to less wear & tear on components.

The coupon reduced the price equivalent to getting 1 wheel for free. It was available after listening to a podcast, don't remember which and it was at the end...I think the podcast was an interview with FJCo. I don't know if it's still available.

If you remember where you saw the coupon please let us know. As @Roastchestnuts said both are pricey, between the starting price for the FJCo wheels and the shipping for the City Racer wheels I think the difference between the two sets was around $400. The FjCo wheels are nice because of the additional width and weight. The city racer ones are more true to the original steel wheels. It’s a good dilemma I guess