never really thought about the word restoration that in depth.. but i see what you mean.. maybe i should have said rebuild or..?? i guess drivable would be a good word for it - resale value is not a concern for me...
Which Tub is best? (FAQ)
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Full_Throttle
1985 BJ73 RHD
This coming from a guy with CHEVY engine in his TOYOTA cruiser
hahaha!!! I was thinking but did not want to say!!!
This coming from a guy with CHEVY engine in his TOYOTA cruiser
It's a "Sleeper"
But really, IMO a cruiser with the original body in decent condition is worth more a cruiser with say an aluminum body and original driveline. It has more appeal to me, just thinking what this cruiser has seen and where it's gone, what's done gives it a cool little history and story.
In my case, I'am trying to keep as stock as possible look with a few little luxuries.
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All this talk has about moved me over to the aluminium tub..
My beef is that the AL tub does not have the same body lines inside..
Plus it is to hard to repair..
Its a pain to weld aluminium and that grade is the worst.
My beef is that the AL tub does not have the same body lines inside..
Plus it is to hard to repair..
Its a pain to weld aluminium and that grade is the worst.
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yeah we sorta gave up the its a cruiser when we installed the chevy driveline
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Haha, I gave up on "its a cruiser thing" mainly because I don't really care that much about keeping it vintage stock. I care more about dealing with rust!
I have decided AL unless I hear something that is strongly persuading
my64fj40: Ummm...reality check: It's a TRUCK!
If you want to give me the ridiculous cost difference b/t an aluminum tub and a steel one, I'll graciously accept your offer and be the first to line up outside your door to make sure my 'Cruiser has a steel body.
What the hell is up with the cost of the steel body? It jumped something like 30% in the last 18 mos, right? Sounds like too many middle-men to me and/or price gouging. If some of the other FJ related steel parts companies would combine all their parts and come to market with competitively priced steel bodies (read: 1/2 the price), you can bet the current prices of the steel replacement bodies would drop to be competitive. But hey, that's free enterprise at work...and Aqualu is laughing all the way to the bank!
I agree with you in that if you are going full-tilt no-budget all-stock factory parts only restoration, then anything but a steel body is not the best investment in terms of resale value. If you plan to do any trail riding, etc then the aluminum body is just fine...so is a Chevy engine. But then I don't want a Chebbie in my 'Cruiser. To each his own...
What I can't wait for is Aqualu to come out with their new aluminum frames and (eventually?) aluminum hood and hardtop roof panels too. At that point, you WILL see replica aluminum 'Cruisers getting built from donor rusted-out real 'Cruisers.
Originally Posted by my64fj40
In my opinion if it's not Steel, it's not a cruiser.
I would fix a stock in good condition before dumping money into a replica cruiser.
If you want to give me the ridiculous cost difference b/t an aluminum tub and a steel one, I'll graciously accept your offer and be the first to line up outside your door to make sure my 'Cruiser has a steel body.
What the hell is up with the cost of the steel body? It jumped something like 30% in the last 18 mos, right? Sounds like too many middle-men to me and/or price gouging. If some of the other FJ related steel parts companies would combine all their parts and come to market with competitively priced steel bodies (read: 1/2 the price), you can bet the current prices of the steel replacement bodies would drop to be competitive. But hey, that's free enterprise at work...and Aqualu is laughing all the way to the bank!
I agree with you in that if you are going full-tilt no-budget all-stock factory parts only restoration, then anything but a steel body is not the best investment in terms of resale value. If you plan to do any trail riding, etc then the aluminum body is just fine...so is a Chevy engine. But then I don't want a Chebbie in my 'Cruiser. To each his own...
What I can't wait for is Aqualu to come out with their new aluminum frames and (eventually?) aluminum hood and hardtop roof panels too. At that point, you WILL see replica aluminum 'Cruisers getting built from donor rusted-out real 'Cruisers.
Originally Posted by my64fj40
In my opinion if it's not Steel, it's not a cruiser.
I would fix a stock in good condition before dumping money into a replica cruiser.
I don't want to rock the ship, but I agree with my64fj40 as with my projects I want to stay as true to the original lines and sheet metal as possible and the heritage tubs are as close to the original metal as you can get from what I see. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with an aluminum cruiser, as I've seen some very nice ones. Most recently the ROTW rig that was very well done. Awesome job. Its just my preference. At the same token I won't put a Chevy in my cruisers either, if I'm venturing outside the I6 its going to be Diesel. As mentioned price comparison favors the Aluminum by far. I'm not sitting on a crate of money but I think a properly sealed heritage tub would last another 20 years and for that investment it would be worth it. The good of all this is that its great that these companies are out there giving us options. Other enthusiasts with particular makes and models don't have that option. 
Lakeguy-
Go ahead and fill your cruiser with up with a bunch of aqualu products. To each his own. But don't call it a Toyota FJ40, call it a Aqualu FJ40.
As for the big beef with a Chevy engine, the Toyota in-line 6 was a bloody clone of a chevy engine, what's the big deal with adding two extra cylinders.
Go ahead and fill your cruiser with up with a bunch of aqualu products. To each his own. But don't call it a Toyota FJ40, call it a Aqualu FJ40.
As for the big beef with a Chevy engine, the Toyota in-line 6 was a bloody clone of a chevy engine, what's the big deal with adding two extra cylinders.
No beef here my friend just preference, I'm some what of a bone head purist. Your right on the Chevy block for the F and 2F. My first car was a 55 Chevy that came with a 235 I6 1BBL carb & 3 spd on the tree. It was my first car and restoration project at 15. When I got my first cruiser and saw the F engine in my 70 FJ40 the blocks were identical but the head, carb, and manifolds weren't.
I think we are all right... it all depends on what you are using/building your cruiser for....
Alum=never touch it again/but not 100% resto
steel=100% resto but no matter what you do it will rust again....
the only think I wanted to point out about people doing restos on their rigs, inorder to "properly" seal off the steel tubs you would have to do way more than factory ever did... so then in a sense it is not a "true" resto either...so where does a guy draw the line... let a new tub rust because they want to be correct.... or seal it??
fact is there is no line and each person must decide where they are going with their project and what they want out of it... Heck that is half the fun anyway!!
Alum=never touch it again/but not 100% resto
steel=100% resto but no matter what you do it will rust again....
the only think I wanted to point out about people doing restos on their rigs, inorder to "properly" seal off the steel tubs you would have to do way more than factory ever did... so then in a sense it is not a "true" resto either...so where does a guy draw the line... let a new tub rust because they want to be correct.... or seal it??
fact is there is no line and each person must decide where they are going with their project and what they want out of it... Heck that is half the fun anyway!!
I don't think putting aluminum fenders on a rig makes it any less of a Toyota than a V8. Just as a 40 came with steel fenders, it also came with a 6cyl. I think you're doing a great job on your rig but I don't think you can say it's "restored" with a V8 any more than I can say my aluminum rig is restored, even though I'm keeping the 2F. Build it how you want it and enjoy it the way it was meant to be. Cheers. ....Steve
my64fj40: So, what do you call a FJ40 with a replacement steel tub, fenders, bib, etc? a Heritage FJ40?
If you want to get technical, when you install parts that didn't get produced by Toyota from the early '60s through '83/'84, then you've deviated from the heritage (pun intended) of the Toyota product. So, if it isn't exactly as designed by Toyota and wasn't produced by Toyota, it technically is not a Toyota.
To our fellow FJ40 purists, I'm as much of a blasphemist using an aluminum tub as you are dropping in a V8. Period. We should buy you one of those "Chevota" grille badges from JT Outfitters! Maybe Aqualu will make me one that says "Aquayota"!
For perspective, you should go to national conventions for Ford Mustangs and other muscle cars...these guys are whacko for authenticity using only original or NOS parts...even down to the location and exact color of the paint pencil marks that were placed on the car as it went down the assembly line.
But, I really like seeing the craftsmanship that a lot of guys put into their rigs. Things like engine swaps, suspensions, roll cages, etc . etc., so I guess I'm not a purist. Somewhere between purist and rockcrawler...but leaning towards the purist side.
In summary, I agree with you...steel tubs are the proper way to go...but not at a 100% price difference.
If you want to get technical, when you install parts that didn't get produced by Toyota from the early '60s through '83/'84, then you've deviated from the heritage (pun intended) of the Toyota product. So, if it isn't exactly as designed by Toyota and wasn't produced by Toyota, it technically is not a Toyota.
To our fellow FJ40 purists, I'm as much of a blasphemist using an aluminum tub as you are dropping in a V8. Period. We should buy you one of those "Chevota" grille badges from JT Outfitters!
Maybe Aqualu will make me one that says "Aquayota"!For perspective, you should go to national conventions for Ford Mustangs and other muscle cars...these guys are whacko for authenticity using only original or NOS parts...even down to the location and exact color of the paint pencil marks that were placed on the car as it went down the assembly line.
But, I really like seeing the craftsmanship that a lot of guys put into their rigs. Things like engine swaps, suspensions, roll cages, etc . etc., so I guess I'm not a purist. Somewhere between purist and rockcrawler...but leaning towards the purist side.
In summary, I agree with you...steel tubs are the proper way to go...but not at a 100% price difference.
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JohnnyC
Long ago TLCA# 2231
i am very much in favor of the purist stock look for the fj40's ...you can still be a purist and have an aluminum tub...or a moses tub...or heritage tub. its what it looks like in the end that counts...an oem tub chopped and shortened to fit 38" boggers is no longer a pure LC...and would be much less of an fj40 than an aluminum tub on an all otherwise stock rig.
my .02
https://forum.ih8mud.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=119028&d=1170728911
my .02
https://forum.ih8mud.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=119028&d=1170728911
Yes, Heritage FJ40 because of the company, not because of the authenticity.
Big deal, I could get even more technical and say if the part wasn't produced the same day as your 40 rolled off the line, it isn't proper for your 40. The idea of it being "Toyota" can be so precise down to the point that there is no such thing as a true "Toyota" if you wanted to go that far. The idea of a Toyota is completely arbitrary.
To our fellow FJ40 purists, I'm as much of a blasphemist using an aluminum tub as you are dropping in a V8. Period. We should buy you one of those "Chevota" grille badges from JT Outfitters!
My belief is that there is much more to a 40 than it's engine. The engine is NOT unique, it's not some mastermind invention worthy of great engine praise. It's just what happened to come with it.
The body of a 40 is unique, it's what separates a 40 from a Jeep. No one recognizes the off set rear axle, or the engine, you recognize a 40 by it's design, by it's body.
So your saying if I buy an Aqualu FJ40 and completely stock FJ40, they are the same thing because they appear similar. Why not say a Jeep is the same as a 40 because they are "similar"
BTW your link doesn't work.
Have your tried calling the people you bought it from??
I like alot of the positives with the Aqualu tub, but i just couldn't/can't get over how the 3/4 tub mates to the cowl section on the later model fj/bj's. Which they admitted at the factory. Problem is they sell 350 of 400 units as 79 and older. So unfortunatily they have fallen short of OEM. They are not able to radius there aluminum panels (as they don't have the dies). THe dashes are different also. For the OEM minded person, they just aren't right. But, for all others, i think it's a pretty nice product.
I have a Gozzard Tub...and drive my BJ40, in the winter...I take it to the car wash and blast the salt off every once in a while, and take comfort knowing it's not doing anything to the body... I have flexed it, no cracks, I've seen the truck Gozzard rolled and it was unbelievable...and if it does crack...I did it on my Sea Rays...pencil grinder, some tiger hair...and it's done...plus paint of course...I can stand on the fenders, no cracks, no flex...the only issue is bedding the hardware, but using rivnuts, and PRC to bond nuts etc, and it works fine, and no dis-similar metal issues...
I've never made it out to be "original", but I still consider it to be a cruiser...if I wanted original, I would have had to pick up all the pieces from Belize and Columbia to here...they all fell of on the way : )
I've never made it out to be "original", but I still consider it to be a cruiser...if I wanted original, I would have had to pick up all the pieces from Belize and Columbia to here...they all fell of on the way : )
