Tell'em you want it really nice. There's nothing 3rd world about a classic cruiser. They're just classic.
Springtail MPAC 1977 FJ40 Build (3 Viewers)
- Thread starter hindsight
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
Can't wait for the products to start rolling out for the 40s! I'd love to see what you can put together for when the top is off.
If you want to leave the spot welds thats cool. However if you want them to disappear Mike and I have figured out how to make this happen. Let me know if you want to remove those and I'll share what we are going to do to the 79 to make those disappear.
- Joined
- Nov 5, 2010
- Threads
- 33
- Messages
- 719
- Location
- Southern Iowa
- Website
- www.springtailsolutions.com
- Thread starter
- #65
The weld spots on the sides are not really the issue, we have already decided that we do not want those to show....it is more a of an issue with the rear of the vehicle where there are some welds and grind marks to be dealt with in the ambulance door area.
It is more of an issue of where a bit of filler is OK and where it is not. Trying to blend beauty and functionality.
Doc
It is more of an issue of where a bit of filler is OK and where it is not. Trying to blend beauty and functionality.
Doc
- Joined
- Nov 5, 2010
- Threads
- 33
- Messages
- 719
- Location
- Southern Iowa
- Website
- www.springtailsolutions.com
- Thread starter
- #66
Any plans to come up with a drawer system for the 40s too? I've been eying the setup from ARB, but I would buy something from you in a heartbeat.
- Joined
- Nov 5, 2010
- Threads
- 33
- Messages
- 719
- Location
- Southern Iowa
- Website
- www.springtailsolutions.com
- Thread starter
- #68
That is the top of my list....I am looking to build one to mount a little passengers seat to.....
FJ Cruiser Third Row Seat, Suv 3rd Seat, Leather Suv Seat
The current plan is to do a single drawer, probably about the height of the wheel wells.
Doc
FJ Cruiser Third Row Seat, Suv 3rd Seat, Leather Suv Seat
The current plan is to do a single drawer, probably about the height of the wheel wells.
Doc
- Joined
- Nov 5, 2010
- Threads
- 33
- Messages
- 719
- Location
- Southern Iowa
- Website
- www.springtailsolutions.com
- Thread starter
- #69
Baby steps lately.....
FJ Cruiser Wheels with 1.5 inch spacers. 33inch Nitto Trail tires
Twin Stick Going on...
Doc
FJ Cruiser Wheels with 1.5 inch spacers. 33inch Nitto Trail tires
Twin Stick Going on...
Doc
Lookin good doc! Maybe you'll have it done in time for the toys for tots run?
- Joined
- Nov 5, 2010
- Threads
- 33
- Messages
- 719
- Location
- Southern Iowa
- Website
- www.springtailsolutions.com
- Thread starter
- #71
Probably more like spring!
Doc
- Joined
- Nov 5, 2010
- Threads
- 33
- Messages
- 719
- Location
- Southern Iowa
- Website
- www.springtailsolutions.com
- Thread starter
- #72
Finally! Some action.....
A little body work and primer happening....
Twin stick installed
Ram Horns installed
Doc
A little body work and primer happening....
Twin stick installed
Ram Horns installed
Doc
Looks good Doc!
Your twin stick looks great, might be a little close to your heater.
But now that I met you, I'm sure you have all the measurements exact.
Your twin stick looks great, might be a little close to your heater.
But now that I met you, I'm sure you have all the measurements exact.
Looks good Doc!
Your twin stick looks great, might be a little close to your heater.
But now that I met you, I'm sure you have all the measurements exact.
Your twin stick looks great, might be a little close to your heater.
But now that I met you, I'm sure you have all the measurements exact.
Bang Bang
Age is a state of mind.
Looks great Doc. Wish the PO had installed straight shifters when he installed the twin sticks. Would be easier to get to and he wouldn't have had to hack up the tunnel cover as much. I have been thinking about going that route. We'll see......
- Joined
- Nov 5, 2010
- Threads
- 33
- Messages
- 719
- Location
- Southern Iowa
- Website
- www.springtailsolutions.com
- Thread starter
- #76
Here is the deal with the twin sticks....they are not actually finished, the materials are shipped as bare metal and require a bit of fitting and welding.
I did not realize this when I sent them off to be coated. Likely, they will need to be shortened and bent a bit. The transmission tunnel cover is a new fiberglass unit that we will cut the holes to fit and then it will be sent off for a coating of linex on both sides for strength and sound dampening.
The previous transmission cover was chopped up for the V8 conversion (hole widened forward) and it was also completely rusted around the base holes.
Doc
- Joined
- Nov 5, 2010
- Threads
- 33
- Messages
- 719
- Location
- Southern Iowa
- Website
- www.springtailsolutions.com
- Thread starter
- #77
Looks great Doc. Wish the PO had installed straight shifters when he installed the twin sticks. Would be easier to get to and he wouldn't have had to hack up the tunnel cover as much. I have been thinking about going that route. We'll see......
It was an easy consideration while the whole thing is apart....only a couple of hundred bucks added to the build
Doc
Your Project FJ40
I just found your thread. Your project FJ40 used to be mine. I sold it about 6 or 7 years ago. The guy that bought it only lived a short way away but I never saw it again. Looking at your first few pictures they did nothing to it but let it rust some more. It is nice to see "Yoda" (as my kids always called it) survived and I am glad to see it get some TLC. I will see if I can find some pictures of it when I bought it. It looked worse then than it did when you bought it.
I just bought another FJ40. It is addicting.
Doug
I just found your thread. Your project FJ40 used to be mine. I sold it about 6 or 7 years ago. The guy that bought it only lived a short way away but I never saw it again. Looking at your first few pictures they did nothing to it but let it rust some more. It is nice to see "Yoda" (as my kids always called it) survived and I am glad to see it get some TLC. I will see if I can find some pictures of it when I bought it. It looked worse then than it did when you bought it.
I just bought another FJ40. It is addicting.
Doug
- Joined
- Nov 5, 2010
- Threads
- 33
- Messages
- 719
- Location
- Southern Iowa
- Website
- www.springtailsolutions.com
- Thread starter
- #79
Doug,
It is good to meet a former owner of this FJ...The guy that I bought it from was in Des Moines off of Grand Avenue. He had owned it for about 3 years with the intent of fixing it up....just never got around to it.
As you can see, there will not be much left of the original when I am done.
Doc
It is good to meet a former owner of this FJ...The guy that I bought it from was in Des Moines off of Grand Avenue. He had owned it for about 3 years with the intent of fixing it up....just never got around to it.
As you can see, there will not be much left of the original when I am done.
Doc
- Joined
- Nov 5, 2010
- Threads
- 33
- Messages
- 719
- Location
- Southern Iowa
- Website
- www.springtailsolutions.com
- Thread starter
- #80
Met with Doug (former owner) yesterday and sold him the old rear bumper....BTW that paid for an awesome lunch at the Zombie Burger in DSM Wish that I would have had more time to chat with him.
Today, I did my usual FJ40 rounds...
Skinned off the old swampers from the wagon wheel rims (still need to decide whether we will reuse the rims or continue with the plan to go with the FJ Cruiser steelies.
Some new body shop shots...
Some interesting adjustments needed near the new cowl but otherwise the work is fairly uneventful.
Doc
Doc
Wish that I would have had more time to chat with him.Today, I did my usual FJ40 rounds...
Skinned off the old swampers from the wagon wheel rims (still need to decide whether we will reuse the rims or continue with the plan to go with the FJ Cruiser steelies.
Some new body shop shots...
Some interesting adjustments needed near the new cowl but otherwise the work is fairly uneventful.
Doc
Doc
