Splangy's 1981 FJ40 Restoration Thread

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Nice rig there! Do you have any experience with how well the Caswell Plating holds up compared to factory bolts? What kind of mileage are you experiencing? Thanks.
 
The caswell plating is the same exact plating that the factory used, so it should last just as long. The only variable could be the amount of zinc applied to the parts, which can be controlled by the amount of time they are plated.
 
I noticed you appear to be running the Delta 250s cam. What's your altitude and do you like it? Thanks.
 
re: your SOR springs...My 40 came with a SOR 4" kit. It was STIFF AS A BOARD!
I pryed the spring clamps open just slightly (they were so tight the springs were bound up), and made sure the shackle bolts were loose.
Then put it up on car ramps one in front L and one rear R to cross it up...lube in between the leafs while they are spread...I use motorcycle "chain wax" it drys up so it wont attract sand n stuff.
Let it set a few days then cross it up the other way and let it set...that helped mine a TON! It still wont flex out that great but with some miles its getting there.
 
I enjoyed some nice autumn driving in this thing after burning myself out all summer working on it. I've finally started finishing up the rest of it. I scored a cheap hardtop from one local member (Green40) and a freebie from another (AntFJ). Between the two, I have one good starting point to work from. The drivers side panel from Lane (green40) was in nice shape, but both of the passenger side panels were a little rough. This was the better of the two:

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After removing the cancer:
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Welded in new vertical patches:
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And the lower lip finished:
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I should have all the steel hardtop peices (fiberglass cap is already done) blasted/sanded and in primer in the next couple of days. In fact, I'm headed to the garage now to do some blastin'.
 
Looks good!
 
I figured I'd post a little progress I've been making on the hardtop and amby doors. I sandblasted and epoxy primed everything, did what little body work needed to be done, and have blocked a coat of k36 on the doors. I still have to give the hardtop panels a coat of k36 tomorrow and the amby doors another coat and then sand them with 400/600. I should have at least the doors and the brackets and little parts in paint by the end of the weekend.

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My first time reading through the thread. That is a flipping nice 40 dude. I wish I could do all that stuff...
 
KY Longhunter said:
So amby doors on 81 should be round on the corners?

I never can get that straight.
Click to expand...

Yeah, the 1979-1984 40's had rounded corners on the tubs and rounded outer lower corners on the amby doors.

flaa1a said:
My first time reading through the thread. That is a flipping nice 40 dude. I wish I could do all that stuff...
Click to expand...

Thanks, I've learned a lot of this stuff as I do it.
 
I got sick of seeing people trying to sell crusty, rotten tailgates for $500 so I decided to make my own out of a set of $25 barn doors. I switched the license plate bracket to the pass side and welded on some modified amby door hinges. It'll be a bolt-on tailgate, as I'd like to keep the body original and not bolt any hinges to the rear sill. I started off with a rough set of barn doors, so it's not going to come out as straight as some of the other body panels, but it should look decent.

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