Builds "Scout" the 1977 FJ40

[77CruiserDog]

More of the little details.

 

[77CruiserDog]

A bit of detail on the pictures above....

Picture 1 - Toyota designed beer holders for when you're working on your rig. They keep it stable and allow easy access. They also have designed a spot if your buddy comes over to help.

Picture 2 - I don't have emissions equipment on my rig, so I just ordered this plug for the lower half of my thermostat housing. Part number is 90344-53011 plug, taper screw.

Picture 3 - I'm replacing the body mount kit I originally purchased a couple of years ago from CCOT, which has it's advantages but I felt was missing some key elements. I landed on the Energy Suspension kit, which is extremely complete with all of the pieces you would ever want including the pads that attach to the bottom of the tub.... which the CCOT kit didn't include along with other pieces. As I organized the kit I noticed that the plastic body clips that come with the kit were too small in diameter. Luckily my local hardware store (not a big box store) has nearly 2 huge isles with automotive hardware. McLendon's in Woodinville rocks! They have just about anything and everything you'd need including a TON of stainless, metric and possibly hundreds of drawers filled with misc hardware.

 

[WaTrout88]

Recently found your forum, great stuff! If you ever make it to or go through Spokane hit me up and we can go play around at the ORV park and grab a beer at a brewery or two.

 

[77CruiserDog]

The trans/xfer case rebuild is going a bit slower than expected. Not a big deal, it gave me time to dial in other little details of this minor rebuild.

I was finally able to get the front door hinges loose so when I mount up that passenger door it should close better. Once the body is on the frame I'll be able to adjust it and snug them back down. I was able to free them by loosening the bolts and then tapping on the vertical edges of the door end with a dead blow hammer. The new weather stripping I put on the passenger door was fatter so I think this adjustment will allow the door to close better.

I also damn near bought an FJ60 that went up for sale last weekend on Craigslist here in Shoreline but it sold so quick I didn't have a chance at it. I still really badly want one that I could use as a daily driver. If anyone has a decent one they'd like to sell, please let me know. I've seen some okay ones for sale but nothing seems reasonable.

I also found some pictures that the previous owner sent me....

Before paint -

Primer -

Paint -

 

[77CruiserDog]

Recently found your forum, great stuff! If you ever make it to or go through Spokane hit me up and we can go play around at the ORV park and grab a beer at a brewery or two.

Absolutely!! I have a good friend who lives in Spokane and I will need to take this for a spin once it's all back together. Let's do it!

 

[77CruiserDog]

Here are some more pics the prior owner sent me before I purchased it -

 

[77CruiserDog]

And more -

 

[77CruiserDog]

And the last that I could find -

 

[70 FJ40]

Hey I recently ordered some weatherstripping from City Racer and will be putting it on tomorrow hopefully. I tried for a couple weeks to get the 3M adhesive City Racer recommends but couldn't find it anywhere local and the stuff I ordered online came in as the "super black" adhesive. So I ordered the super glue you used for yours. The paint on my truck is nowhere near as new or nice as yours. I'll even be applying the glue to couple small areas that have some treated surface rust. do you think that will cause a problem. My other concern is removing it if I ever need to. That would probably only be if a piece got ripped or if I finally give in and get the cruiser repainted though.

I'm also not sure exactly sure where to attach the the weatherstripping. My old stuff had so much and several different kinds of glue smeared everywhere that I can't tell from that where I'm supposed to lay the bead of glue. I'm guessing along the seam where the metal from outside of the door is rolled over the edge and meets the metal on the inside of the door. Is this correct? Also, when you spray the accelerator, do you roll the weatherstripping to the side a little so you can spray directly on the glue? Also is the over spray sticky or messy to remove?

Sorry for all the questions but hopefully you don't mind giving me few pointers here.

 

[77CruiserDog]

Hey I recently ordered some weatherstripping from City Racer and will be putting it on tomorrow hopefully. I tried for a couple weeks to get the 3M adhesive City Racer recommends but couldn't find it anywhere local and the stuff I ordered online came in as the "super black" adhesive. So I ordered the super glue you used for yours. The paint on my truck is nowhere near as new or nice as yours. I'll even be applying the glue to couple small areas that have some treated surface rust. do you think that will cause a problem. My other concern is removing it if I ever need to. That would probably only be if a piece got ripped or if I finally give in and get the cruiser repainted though.

I'm also not sure exactly sure where to attach the the weatherstripping. My old stuff had so much and several different kinds of glue smeared everywhere that I can't tell from that where I'm supposed to lay the bead of glue. I'm guessing along the seam where the metal from outside of the door is rolled over the edge and meets the metal on the inside of the door. Is this correct? Also, when you spray the accelerator, do you roll the weatherstripping to the side a little so you can spray directly on the glue? Also is the over spray sticky or messy to remove?

Sorry for all the questions but hopefully you don't mind giving me few pointers here.

No Dude, these are all excellent questions.

First, like you'd expect, do your best to clean the surface of your door so it's as clean as possible. I like the xylene stuff so much, it dissolves that weather stripping glue that is on the door currently so you can really get it clean. I also pressure washed it before hand, that got the big stuff off but was probably not as necessary... stick with the xylene. Then follow that up with denatured alcohol.... I'd also recommend cleaning the weather stripping with the same process. It gets the release lubricants off of it from the manufacturing process.

Before you put the weather stripping on, lay it out on the door exactly where you think it should go. The only spot I found challenging with this process is the very bottom edge of the front doors.... but if you're using the City Racer stuff, it sounds like you're doing your ambulance doors, correct? Either way the process is the same.

I used two saw horses to hold the doors flat and worked in about 6" sections running a tiny bead of the super glue along inboard of that rolled edge. You'll be able to tell when you lay the weatherstrip on the door. It's the lower surface but it's where the weather stripping sits based on what I saw when I took them off. I smeared that bead a bit from one edge to the other in sort of a z pattern. Then I placed the weather stripping and held it down with my hands for 15-20 seconds... no need for the accelerator yet. Then I repeated that process around the entire door so the entire weather stripping was secured.

Then I went around and ran a small bead along the seam of the weather stripping and sprayed it down with the accelerant. Honestly, that super glue is so strong this part was probably unnecessary. I'm not kidding, I can pick up one of the ambulance doors by any section of the weather stripping... that stuff isn't moving. If I ever want to get it off I'll need to use some super glue debonder which is pretty easy to find. I'll likely need to do that when I go to repaint as well. Good luck and let me know if you want any more info. Happy to help.

 

[77CruiserDog]

Also, it happened again. I found a pretty nice white FJ62 in Portland yesterday. I was ready to drive down there this morning but someone else snatched it up. Such a bummer. I would rather have the FJ60 anyway. I like a manual trans, the round headlights and simplicity of no factory EFI. If anyone has an FJ60 lying around and they want it to go to a good home... reach out.

Until then, I'll be scanning Bring a Trailer, Craigslist and the classified section here on MUD. Should I be looking anywhere else??

 

[70 FJ40]

Thanks for all the tips and help @77CruiserDog. That answers a lot of my questions. I'm doing ambulance doors and the front doors. I've got the ambulance doors cleaned and prep. Just need to wipe it down with the denatured alcohol.

 

[77CruiserDog]

Going to look at a 60 today, fingers crossed!!

 

[77CruiserDog]

Today was a great day! "Falcor" the 1984 FJ60 - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/falcor-the-1984-fj60.1263648/

 

[77CruiserDog]

It may have taken a bit longer than I anticipated but it’s a work of art.

 

[77CruiserDog]

Big day!

My wife and neighbor Jim helped make the two pieces one.

 

[Green Bean]

Big day!

View attachment 2801688View attachment 2801689View attachment 2801690View attachment 2801691View attachment 2801692

My wife and neighbor Jim helped make the two pieces one.

It is truly wonderful how 40's bring people together and put smiles on people's faces. Great pics and great job.

 

[77CruiserDog]

Celebratory

 

[Slapshot]

Nothing better than a cold brew after a successful day of wrenching. Congrats!

 

[77CruiserDog]

Cheers to early risers.