Build Unicorns are real... My dream car FJ73 build

[Guyute]

Thanks for the kind words. Good luck with your project!

FYI, I was not super impressed with the carpet from Amazon. I expected something heavier like what is on the ARB, and it was not that heavy. I could not find anything else that looked better, so used what I had. The bad was that it showed staples, so I ended up gluing it all down with Super 77.

Really happy with it overall, just wanted to give you some info.

Thanks. Appreciate the info. Already have some left over Amazonian carpet that I feel the same about. Will also use 77 and try to only staple in hidden areas.

Did you end up getting something to cap the edges?

Think I'm going to make the center divider removable. In camp mode I have some longer items I could stash there.

 

[2fpower]

Thanks. Appreciate the info. Already have some left over Amazonian carpet that I feel the same about. Will also use 77 and try to only staple in hidden areas.

Did you end up getting something to cap the edges?

Think I'm going to make the center divider removable. In camp mode I have some longer items I could stash there.

I ended up routing all the edges with a 1/4" router bit, so rounded them over really well, then just wrapped the carpet around them. Really worked pretty good. seams are all in the inside bottom corners except for the angled section, but Super 77 worked great and you can't see it.

I did find a product to cap it, but did not purchase it. There are different sizes...

Amazon product ASIN B07MFZV5DX
I went back and forth about making the center partitions movable, but finally decided that the center area is really accessible from driver/passenger sitting in the chairs, so it will be the snack/dog treat/needed item area.

 

[2fpower]

You may recall that I was trying to figure out how to keep my doors open… I bought a new limiter for the driver side, as I could not find the pass side piece anywhere. I figured they were similar so I bought an extra driver side to try and make it work.... NOPE.. not going to happen. Here is how different they are....

I also made some aluminum pieces to go over the limiters to effectively lock the doors open....

 

[2fpower]

Here is what I have been waiting for.. the ez slide fridge. My wife is 5' 2" - while I am not vertically challenged, so this is the present for her as she could not see anything in the frig, so I always had to get up and find whatever she wanted... thus, the gift is really for me..... Equivelant of lingerie...

I had to buy the largest one to fit the 62 quart arb fridge, so it seems huge in there!! I had to move the arb compressor over and down to allow the slide to move further to the pass side, which required taking everything apart... but in the end glad to recover a few inches of space. Plan is to make a box that will go into the slide system to use for groceries while the frig is not there.

also installed some speakers mounted to the rollbars.

 

[tucker74]

Look for a mid-90s Isuzu Trooper at a pick-n-pull, has a cool latch that locks the door open at bottom. I bet you could retrofit with some determination. Looking good

 

[2fpower]

S

Thanks. Appreciate the info. Already have some left over Amazonian carpet that I feel the same about. Will also use 77 and try to only staple in hidden areas.

Did you end up getting something to cap the edges?

Think I'm going to make the center divider removable. In camp mode I have some longer items I could stash there.

One note, on those legs I extended to the outsides of the car, make sure to leave room to be able to take the side panels off…. I had to go back and cut some off. Next on my list was to pull the top off and fit the soft top…. so I had to take the sides off to get to the bolts that were …. Wait for it ….all nonexistent…..

 

[2fpower]

So you may recall that I bought a soft top about a year ago, it’s the aftermarket one that @FJBen has. I was well aware that I’d have to make some adjustments to it, and the powder coating was horrible, along with many welds… so even though we’re getting into the winter months, I wanted to get a test fit, then take apart and fix welds and have it re-sandblasted and Powdercoated. I ended up basically taking a full day of Ben’s time trying to figure out how this thing goes together, and figuring out how to fix things.

Here is what @FJBen looks like. Pipe is sitting low in body line in the roll cage thing…

here you can see the angle of mine as it started, twisted about 15 to 20 degrees off....

if you can imagine this part dropping 1/2 inch, it hits the bottom before it lines up with the bolt hole.

it seemed like the two sides were both bent wrong, so I cut both sides at the same point to be able to possibly flip them left to right and twist them to the correct angle...

only stock I found the right diminsion.... it might be strong enough....

here is a pick of the driver side bend in the pass side. It made the pipe sit up about 1/2 higher that Ben's...

but here is when I put the correct side on, but twisted it to the correct angle... So now I am trying to figure out if that 1/2 higher matters....

 

[2fpower]

next up was the Velcro lower sides. On the front, they connect to a vertical piece that has a pin that goes into the top long pieces mentioned above. The only issue is that they have a hole for a bolt but you’d be hitting the body....so undid the sandwiched metal -- clean up the rust -- and welded on a longer piece.

here is finished, just need to drill a hole once the top piece is finalized.

 

[Guyute]

S

One note, on those legs I extended to the outsides of the car, make sure to leave room to be able to take the side panels off…. I had to go back and cut some off. Next on my list was to pull the top off and fit the soft top…. so I had to take the sides off to get to the bolts that were …. Wait for it ….all nonexistent…..

View attachment 3503856

View attachment 3503857

View attachment 3503858

LoL. The PO Curse strikes again. More good info for me though...Thank you. Got sidetracked on another project so you caught me in time. Think I'll just stop at the FRO drawer width then.

Watching your soft top project unfold. Thanks for documenting.

 

[FJBen]

So you may recall that I bought a soft top about a year ago, it’s the aftermarket one that @FJBen has. I was well aware that I’d have to make some adjustments to it, and the powder coating was horrible, along with many welds… so even though we’re getting into the winter months, I wanted to get a test fit, then take apart and fix welds and have it re-sandblasted and Powdercoated. I ended up basically taking a full day of Ben’s time trying to figure out how this thing goes together, and figuring out how to fix things.

Here is what @FJBen looks like. Pipe is sitting low in body line in the roll cage thing…
View attachment 3503877
here you can see the angle of mine as it started, twisted about 15 to 20 degrees off....
View attachment 3503871
if you can imagine this part dropping 1/2 inch, it hits the bottom before it lines up with the bolt hole.
View attachment 3503872
it seemed like the two sides were both bent wrong, so I cut both sides at the same point to be able to possibly flip them left to right and twist them to the correct angle...
View attachment 3503873

only stock I found the right diminsion.... it might be strong enough....
View attachment 3503874
here is a pick of the driver side bend in the pass side. It made the pipe sit up about 1/2 higher that Ben's...
View attachment 3503875
but here is when I put the correct side on, but twisted it to the correct angle... So now I am trying to figure out if that 1/2 higher matters....
View attachment 3503876

No problem at all, anytime. Not sure I was very helpful but I have no doubts you’ll be able to fab anything that needs it.

 

[FJBen]

next up was the Velcro lower sides. On the front, they connect to a vertical piece that has a pin that goes into the top long pieces mentioned above. The only issue is that they have a hole for a bolt but you’d be hitting the body....so undid the sandwiched metal -- clean up the rust -- and welded on a longer piece.

View attachment 3503884

View attachment 3503885

here is finished, just need to drill a hole once the top piece is finalized.
View attachment 3503887

Interesting the differences in pieces.

 

[2fpower]

Interesting the differences in pieces.

View attachment 3504801
View attachment 3504805

View attachment 3504802

Very interesting... I could easily wrap mine and that would create a weather stripping element and keep it from making noise as well.

and does yours not have the hole in the end to bolt to the upright piece?

Also, while I have your ear, does yours have a tailgate rear piece? If so, how does the bottom attach? I have velcro on the fabric top, but nothing to attach at the bottom. I assume they want you to put velcro on the rear door with adhesive... don't really like that idea.

 

[FJBen]

Very interesting... I could easily wrap mine and that would create a weather stripping element and keep it from making noise as well.

and does yours not have the hole in the end to bolt to the upright piece?

Also, while I have your ear, does yours have a tailgate rear piece? If so, how does the bottom attach? I have velcro on the fabric top, but nothing to attach at the bottom. I assume they want you to put velcro on the rear door with adhesive... don't really like that idea.

Mine does have the same hole, just hard to see. I need to do the same thing you did.

Mine doesn’t have a rear tailgate piece as I have full doors. I should have just got one for the future. I’m guessing they didn’t know what to use as there is not a factory option that I know of for a soft upper back door.

I’m wondering if you could make a piece that goes into the removable window tops space?
Put some angle or flat stock on it and put some Velcro plus snaps/oem connectors ?

 

[2fpower]

I’m wondering if you could make a piece that goes into the removable window tops space?

that is exactly what I am thinking....

 

[2fpower]

looking for the part number for the bolts that I was missing connecting the body quarters to the top. I recall seeing a picture of them in a thead... I am thinking they have a long rectangle piece of metal as a elongated washer on them. @bottombracket @FJBen @Beno

 

[FJ73Texas]

just contact @joekatana He used to sell the kits for this.

For Sale - 7x removable top doors cover kit - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/7x-removable-top-doors-cover-kit.1159691/#post-13574653

 

[FJ73Texas]

1989 HDJ74 FRP to FST conversion - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/1989-hdj74-frp-to-fst-conversion.1274273/post-14266104

 

[FJBen]

looking for the part number for the bolts that I was missing connecting the body quarters to the top. I recall seeing a picture of them in a thead... I am thinking they have a long rectangle piece of metal as a elongated washer on them. @bottombracket @FJBen @Beno

View attachment 3505436

On mine those are just plain bolts, no metal pieces.

The Columbian top that was just in question here had those pieces. I don’t think they are OEM Toyota.


Edit: Are these the things you are talking about ?

 

[joekatana]

They are normal JIS bolts with a washer on them , never seen plates on the OEM FRP tops

 

[2fpower]

On mine those are just plain bolts, no metal pieces.

The Columbian top that was just in question here had those pieces. I don’t think they are OEM Toyota.


Edit: Are these the things you are talking about ?

View attachment 3505459

That is exactly the picture I was thinking about. Very good, will just use standard bolts.