Uh... Any tips for a guy who's oldest vehicle ever was a 96 80 series?
It'll take some getting used to..
;p
It'll take some getting used to..
;p
Well I will be daily driving a '77 40 soon...
- Thread starter eingeist
- Start date
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oh boy,gonna have a little culture shock coming your way.
but that is all the fun of it.daily driving a 40 is awesome.
MUST HAVES
i dont care if the rig is topless or has a top.
TOOLS
RAINGEAR/WARM CLOTHES(I DONT CARE IF YOU LIVE IN FLORIDA, BROKEN DOWN ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY TRYING TO GET RUNNING AGAIN WITH CARS WHIPPING BY A MACH 2 GETS COLD)TRUST ME.
SPARE CHANGE OF CLOTHES AND SHOES
FAST ORANGE HANDCLEANER/PAPER TOWELS
WATER/OIL/STARTING FLUID,ETC.
DUCT TAPE/BAILING WIRE.
IF YOU SMOKE YOU WANT A BUTANE TORCH.
FLASHLIGHT/HEADLIGHT
there are many things i am leaving out and others will chime in but the most important thing to remember when driving a 40 is even though it sounds elemetary is:
WHEN THE LITTLE NEEDLE IS POINTED AT "E" IT FRIGGIN MEANS IT, THERE IS NO "AW I CAN MAKE IT ANOTHER 20 MILES". "E" MEANS "E" IN A 40.
TRUST ME.
HAVE FUN
but that is all the fun of it.daily driving a 40 is awesome.
MUST HAVES
i dont care if the rig is topless or has a top.
TOOLS
RAINGEAR/WARM CLOTHES(I DONT CARE IF YOU LIVE IN FLORIDA, BROKEN DOWN ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY TRYING TO GET RUNNING AGAIN WITH CARS WHIPPING BY A MACH 2 GETS COLD)TRUST ME.
SPARE CHANGE OF CLOTHES AND SHOES
FAST ORANGE HANDCLEANER/PAPER TOWELS
WATER/OIL/STARTING FLUID,ETC.
DUCT TAPE/BAILING WIRE.
IF YOU SMOKE YOU WANT A BUTANE TORCH.
FLASHLIGHT/HEADLIGHT
there are many things i am leaving out and others will chime in but the most important thing to remember when driving a 40 is even though it sounds elemetary is:
WHEN THE LITTLE NEEDLE IS POINTED AT "E" IT FRIGGIN MEANS IT, THERE IS NO "AW I CAN MAKE IT ANOTHER 20 MILES". "E" MEANS "E" IN A 40.
TRUST ME.
HAVE FUN
- Thread starter
- #3
I remember my mom running out of gas in both of her old 60s multiple times as a kid... haha.
It's a 1977. It's not pretty but has been maintained well and most of it has been rebuilt. Well, mechanically at least.
Sold the 80 over a year ago now, so it's about time to get back into a Cruiser!
So.. This is new territory for me. The damn thing is older than I am!
I'm flying out and making the drive back to Florida with her.
Uh, she's been in the desert for the last 15 years. So very VERY little rust. The radio is kinda ghetto rigged (if the current owner reads this, sorry man! but it is. haha), I'll need to do something about that.. No A/C, that's gonna suck in Florida..
But, I love her.
A 40 is like an untouchable legend I've never had the pleasure of seeing.
Oh, also, since she is at 4500' above sea level, I'm guessing she'll need a small tuneup when we get down here to the flatlands. Supposidly they have something called a "carbeurator."
Yeah, maybe you guys can teach me a bit about those... I've never worked on one.
... Seriously. haha.
It's a 1977. It's not pretty but has been maintained well and most of it has been rebuilt. Well, mechanically at least.
Sold the 80 over a year ago now, so it's about time to get back into a Cruiser!
So.. This is new territory for me. The damn thing is older than I am!
I'm flying out and making the drive back to Florida with her.
Uh, she's been in the desert for the last 15 years. So very VERY little rust. The radio is kinda ghetto rigged (if the current owner reads this, sorry man! but it is. haha), I'll need to do something about that.. No A/C, that's gonna suck in Florida..
But, I love her.
A 40 is like an untouchable legend I've never had the pleasure of seeing.
Oh, also, since she is at 4500' above sea level, I'm guessing she'll need a small tuneup when we get down here to the flatlands. Supposidly they have something called a "carbeurator."
Yeah, maybe you guys can teach me a bit about those... I've never worked on one.
... Seriously. haha.
gonna go iron butt style huh?
good for you.by the end of that trip you will know just what to expect out of the old girl.
about your carb and tuning, yeah theres probably gonna be some runability issues on the way home(maybe). depends on what the P.O. did to the carb and where the timing is set...
if you dont have a manual for the cruiser ya better go get one asap.
good for you.by the end of that trip you will know just what to expect out of the old girl.
about your carb and tuning, yeah theres probably gonna be some runability issues on the way home(maybe). depends on what the P.O. did to the carb and where the timing is set...
if you dont have a manual for the cruiser ya better go get one asap.
- Thread starter
- #5
Good idea... I wanted something that I wouldn't have to throw money at out of every paycheck.. I think this is the one... If you follow the link in my ad in the classified section there are photos!
Come back in one year and re-read this post and you'll see why it's funny. You'll have a fun experience though
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welcome to the real side of the fun,when you get a chance,send me a pm,im in orlando area but i run with 2 clubs and sometimes we visit matanzas beach.near saint agustine,fl....congrats
Congrats. I looked for your post (pics); couldn't find it.
Where is the rig at?
Where is the rig at?
I think this is the one he is talking about from his wanted post
IH8MUD.com - View Single Post - WTB: WTB ANY Cruiser... 40, 60, or 80 up to $5k
Seems like a long way to drive for one like that if that is it. They come up in Miami and Tampa often. You will love it no matter and the drive will just be a fun adventure. You do not need AC in FL. In order for AC to work you would need the top on and that will be a rare thing. My cj8 has not had the top on in 3 years and we drive it all the time and my fj40's once on the road will likely be the same.
I am not sure what all the wimps are talking about, these drive like a sports car, take it from me who has mostly just driven beatup old 4x4's and the wifes car.
IH8MUD.com - View Single Post - WTB: WTB ANY Cruiser... 40, 60, or 80 up to $5k
Seems like a long way to drive for one like that if that is it. They come up in Miami and Tampa often. You will love it no matter and the drive will just be a fun adventure. You do not need AC in FL. In order for AC to work you would need the top on and that will be a rare thing. My cj8 has not had the top on in 3 years and we drive it all the time and my fj40's once on the road will likely be the same.
I am not sure what all the wimps are talking about, these drive like a sports car, take it from me who has mostly just driven beatup old 4x4's and the wifes car.
I think it's all perspective and what people are accustomed to. Everyone I know can hop in my Grand Cherokee and drive off into the sunset, probably half the people can hop in my Fj40, grind gears and feel a little comfortable driving and then there are people I know that don't even like to be a passenger in my 66 GMC on boggers cause they aren't used to such things. Many moons ago the girl I took to my high school prom, who drove a Volvo, told me the stipulation to going with me was "Not in that thing", my 69 fj40, which was in perfect shape. If you grew up diving big ol' nasty 4x4's, an fj40 is a very refined vehicle, if you didn't its scary hearing gears whine, smelling gas, feeling the wind with the top on and the windows up, and just seeing alot of metal and bare bones instead of digital readouts, plastic, carpet, and corinthean leather. Myself, I just love it, but it just scares some people, damn it!
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JohnnyC
Long ago TLCA# 2231
been DDing my 74 fj40 for over 18 years...my biggest advise is to put gas in it 
sucks when you forget
sucks when you forget
I am starting the same adventure tomorrow. Just sold my Honda Accord DD today, and am going to start officially daily driving my '82 FJ40 beginning tomorrow. The commute isn't too long (just under 17 mi each way), and I finally decided I would rather spend the money I was dropping on the Accord car payment on continuing to improve my Cruiser. Backup plan is the wife's vehicle if she isn't running the little one's around, or bike it (I've done it a few times; it's not as bad as it sounds). AAA membership is up to date in the event I need to tow it home. I've spent the past couple years doing things to the Cruiser to get it working fairly well, and this will give me the motivation to keep addressing all the other little things to get it dialed in. Plus, the 40 is so darn fun to drive.
- Thread starter
- #13
Nice looking cruiser!
I'll need to paint it really soon after I get it. As in <week. It's two different colors, plus some camo.
Your paint isn't original is it? Where did you do it? What did it cost ya? (If you don't mind me asking)
- Thread starter
- #14
Yes that is it. I did see some in south Florida but, well they are a lot more expensive. For commodities I don't necessarily "need" like, full restorations 10 years ago, or oringal owner, etc.. Stuff that I don't have to coin to afford the luxury of.
Also, It rains at 3pm like clockwork in Florida...
Can they get rained in? I'm just thinking, radio, seats, etc... Don't sound too good.
My DD is a '63 with the only modifications being a small block, floor shift 3 speed, and a dual circuit brake system. Then again I've never really owned anything luxurious. I love the rig though, obviously there's compromises to DDing a vehicle like it but if you are fine with how basic they are you'll be golden.
Nice looking cruiser!
I'll need to paint it really soon after I get it. As in <week. It's two different colors, plus some camo.
Your paint isn't original is it? Where did you do it? What did it cost ya? (If you don't mind me asking)
Thanks man. The paint was done by the PO so I don't have all the specifics, but I have kept it in the garage so it has held up.
Good luck with your new ride. Have fun.
You can build them to get rained in. With a bikini top on the radio is pretty safe. Depending on where you put the speakers they can be safe, you can also get a marine radio and marine boat speakers. Seats if vinyl with no rips will do ok. leather well treated will do ok if you dry them off and keep them treated. I plan on leather seats for my fj40 project. Will keep them covered trated like a sattle but will not worry about them to much. Plan to get some cheap off CL. If you have to wear a suit of nice clothes you will need AC. A top on in the summer rain with no AC is brutal, bikini top and full doors not so bad but you will get misted and dripped on, just bikini top in the rain is nice and fun as long as you are not dressed up.
1977 braking systems are an eye opener. If you are used to a longer vehicle with anti lock be very careful, especially in the rain. The first stop is always the thriller. Once the brakes get warmed up you are fine.
Just remember 1977, short wheelbase and nose heavy and you will be fine.
And yes, E means
Just remember 1977, short wheelbase and nose heavy and you will be fine.
And yes, E means
How about an update on the " daily driving". Considering the same thing myself.
TCSTARK
Master Debater & Cunning Linguist
x2 on update. I am considering it as well.
