Build Tilda Bogue Service Station - Blue Norther 40

[wngrog]

A **Blue Norther** (also called a Texas Norther) is a dramatic, fast-moving cold front most associated with Texas and the southern Great Plains. It brings a sudden, sharp plunge in temperature—often 20–40°F

- A strikingly clear, deep blue sky that often appears right behind the front once the clouds blow through, allowing intense radiational cooling at night.

 

[wngrog]

Way back end of September, my long time friend @kcsmithson contacted me that he had a buyer for his FJ40 that wanted me to put a Sniper on it and a few other nick nacks and asked me if I wanted to talk to the guy. Turns out it was none other than @CarcaineProblems ....a notorious flipper of all cool cruisers. Of course I took the bait and made a deal to head to Dallas, fill myself with brisket and fajitas and bring this beauty back to Tilda Bogue

SOLD Thread 'Dallas - 1976 FJ40'

Sep 30, 2025

US SPec'ed FJ40 with approximately 87,000 miles that has been in my position for the last 15 years. Super Clean!! It was built to be driveable and we had a blast using while the kids were around. They are gone now and I need the garage space for other projects. I will try to list everything that has been changed over the years, but it is pretty safe to say that most everything you see has been replaced with OEM parts when available and the top of the line alternative when not. Let me know if you have any questions or need to see anything in particular...

• kcsmithson
• Replies: 19
• Forum: FJ40 | BJ40

• 

 

[JackA]

Looks like a nicer version of what I just sold. Keep up the good work.

 

[wngrog]

When I got to Chads house we spent at least an hour loading up all of the beautifully labeled and wrapped body and spare parts. We filled up my truck, the 40 and my trailer with s***. I have not broken into any of that stuff but I'm looking forward to unwrapping and unboxing it all.

The only body part not painted was the hard top. I dropped it at my painters a couple of weeks ago to get a fresh coat of Cygnus to match this insanely nice paint job.

This thing is going off to North Dakota so there's no hurry to get it done until spring but I had a hole in my schedule waiting for parts so I decided to get started on this thing in the mean time.

I pulled it into the shop on Saturday expecting to get busy when a true Blue Norther hit us with ice and snow and power went out. I have a generator at the house but not the shop so it was today before the power came back on and here I go.

You people laugh but 1/2" of ice down here brings down powerlines. We got very lucky. Just 10 miles west and north they got upwards of 2" and it's like a hurricane hit.

 

[wngrog]

Like Chad said in his FS ad, this thing is damn nice and was put together with gobs of OEM parts and nice hardware.

I'm going to do my Tilda Bogue thing and just be happy I'm working on such a clean rust free truck.

I'm going to make the underside look as nice as the outside as I work my way from the back to the front.

First things first. I'm adding rear discs.

 

[CarcaineProblems]

Looking forward to your touches on an already clean 40!

 

[wngrog]

@kcsmithson. What's the story on this truck for the thread?

Got any before pics? I don't suppose you had a build thread

 

[kcsmithson]

Never did a build thread, but I have some early pictures I can post. I bought it in Grapevine TX on Valentines Day 2011. (Still the best present I ever got) It was very clean and ran great. The previous owner had taken great care of it. But as usual, I started replacing every part I could with an upgraded and/or prettier version for every piece I could find. Got it to the point is it now and drove it like that for years and had a blast raising the kids with it. I had it stored in an off site garage along with an FJ60 I am rebuilding, but ended up selling the garage. I couldn't keep it in the garage at the house long term, so it had to go. Such is life. I can't wait to see it once you work your magic.

 

[kcsmithson]

@Texican probably still has nightmares about trying to remove that front bumper.

 

[CarcaineProblems]

Thanks for the additional background @kcsmithson. I've heard the paint is really nice - was it repainted before you got it? Is it original?

 

[kcsmithson]

Definitely a repaint. Spent more than the purchase price on it.

 

[sogncab]

You people laugh but 1/2" of ice down here brings down powerlines.

It would here too if it only happened every five years, but in Minnesota it's not uncommon.

At least you don't have moron rioters.

 

[wngrog]

Only got a couple hours on Blue Norther today. I had to run to 49tire and get something good for it and then all I had was about an hour to get the rear disc brakes finished.

 

[sadovnik]

What rear disc brake kit did you use? Or did you roll your own?

 

[wngrog]

What rear disc brake kit did you use? Or did you roll your own?

This is a JTOutfitters kit. I like their brackets the best.

 

[wngrog]

Got to spend a few hours on BN today. I buttoned up the rear end. New Terrain Tamer Parabolics. These yellow TT shocks are a good 2 steps heavier and have more rebound than the OME yellers. This suspension that came off has very little use but all of the yellow bushings are crumbling from age.

 

[wngrog]

Got one front corner done and now I have to go out for the day.

Added 4• shim

Look at this monster 9 leaf OME pack versus

This parabolic pack

Got the 4Plus flip kit heavily painted. These things love to rust

It's like someone, somewhere knew I would work on this truck one day. Not only were the stickers on the OEM tie rods left on, now they are cooked on with age.

Sneak peek....

 

[Jdc1]

Got one front corner done and now I have to go out for the day.

Added 4• shim
View attachment 4077731
Look at this monster 9 leaf OME pack versus
View attachment 4077732
This parabolic pack
View attachment 4077733

Got the 4Plus flip kit heavily painted. These things love to rust
View attachment 4077734

It's like someone, somewhere knew I would work on this truck one day. Not only were the stickers on the OEM tie rods left on, now they are cooked on with age.
View attachment 4077735View attachment 4077736

Sneak peek....

View attachment 4077737

Eff the next guy….

 

[UZJ40]

Great progress!! Looks good!

 

[wngrog]

Home from MooU.

That's done.

Gonna work on these stickers a bit