Where to begin - Inherited my Aunt's 77 FJ40

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Well update on the paint. The hardener is no longer available for the axalta single stage paint we were going to use so its gonna be base/clear now.

I beleive the exterior has now been painted. Cant wait to see it. I've been busy buying whstever additional gaskets that i can and am collecting parts almost daily it seems.

Ordered city racers front mat and new dash pad too.

I'm having a hard time finding anyone to repair my leaking rear heater core. Would like to put the rear hearer in now while the vehicle is being reassembled but now that's gonna happen if i cant get it fixed in time.

More pictures when i get them!
 
NellieFJ40 said:
Well update on the paint. The hardener is no longer available for the axalta single stage paint we were going to use so its gonna be base/clear now.

I beleive the exterior has now been painted. Cant wait to see it. I've been busy buying whstever additional gaskets that i can and am collecting parts almost daily it seems.

Ordered city racers front mat and new dash pad too.

I'm having a hard time finding anyone to repair my leaking rear heater core. Would like to put the rear hearer in now while the vehicle is being reassembled but now that's gonna happen if i cant get it fixed in time.

More pictures when i get them!
Click to expand...

Post up a Want-Ad in the classifieds for the rear heater core. They come up for sale from time to time but I bet there are more than a few folks out there with good cores sitting on the shelf. Mark (@65swb45) at www.marksoffroad.com probably has a few, need to call him to find out though. 818-953-9230.
 
Thanks for the input. As it turns out I found a shop just down the road for the shop doing the body work. Guess I'll see what they come up with.

Body is painte They are finishing up the doors and hood and then just the fiberglass cap yet to paint. Interior metallic silver pieces are painted also. I've got a couple questions for the forum but I don't have any pictures to demonstrate my question. Hopefully I can snag a few on Friday.
 
Progress continues. Really getting excited to drive it again. Every time I see it at the shop I just can't believe it as my only memories of my aunt's "nellie" certainly aren't of it looking like this. I know that she'd be thrilled to see her old truck looking like this!



 
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NellieFJ40 said:
Hello everyone,

I hope I've posted this in the right location and that I'm not too new to be helped! Awesome resource here and apparently some awesome members who have already helped me out.

My Aunt recently passed away and I inherited her 1976(?) FJ40. The data plate shows a build date of October 1976. My Aunt called her Nellie and I will keep the name! She had some truly amazing adventures in the mountains of Colorado and I hope to one day be able to make my own memories crawling around in the mountains with Nellie. She loved her old truck!

Over the past 20 years or so she used the FJ to move snow with a rear mounted 8 foot snow blade. Over that time she couldn't have put more than a couple of miles on a year. The truck spent a good number of years outside and thus I'm sure the rust shown in the pictures below.

The truck seems to run well but I dont have anything to compare it to. In driving it around the last few days the clutch seems to work well as do the brakes. I havent had it running past 40 mph or so as the engines starts to sound pretty loud.

Anyway, over time I hope to maybe do some of the very easy tasks myself (limited tools and moreso knowledge/capabilities) but will hopefully be able to have some work done getting Nellie back into working condition. Obviously theres alot of body work and mechanical work as well. I never need this to be a show truck but rather something that I can toodle around in a bit and do some easy to intermediate off roading with.

I'm not sure where to even begin with this. I've talked to a few members of the local Tall Corn Cruisers group and got a mechanic and body shop to consult with but thought I would start a thread and get some additional thoughts as well!

Thanks so much,
Matt













Click to expand...
Congradulation
 
What I meant to say was I agree, drive it drive it drive it as the other post suggests. He is correct All the usual pain spots, each one can be attacked in turn. Having had a half dozen of these things I woul suggest keep it running while you work on it, keep it stock even when its easier not to, when you get tired of working on Neli, park her and come back later.

As for where to start, I would suggest getting familiar with the brakes, each wheel cylinder, adjusting, working on them, that will rise to the top. Always check all the liquids, watch for increases in leaks, get to know here inside and out.

Thats my suggestion anyway.

Welcome
 
Progress continues putting the front together. Maybe its just the lighting in the picture (i havent seen it in person yet) but does anyone think the color looks off on the bib?

1865938600.jpg
 
Also the shop doesn't know where this line/hose goes (the line he's holding)? It comes off the bottom of the part with the red top. The part is located on the drivers side closer to the front of the vehicle.

Thanks!

756139238.jpg
 
NellieFJ40 said:
Also the shop doesn't know where this line/hose goes (the line he's holding)? It comes off the bottom of the part with the red top. The part is located on the drivers side closer to the front of the vehicle.

Thanks!

View attachment 1529079
Click to expand...
It's the drain hose for the charcoal canister. That's what that red topped thing looks like to me. But yours is a 77 so it's different from mine. I'll let the real experts chime in. My charcoal canister is on the passenger side.
 
I have a 77. I don't have a hose coming off the bottom of that red part. I'm thinking its some kind of drain.
 
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