Wisdom Turns Folly (WTF). 1973/75/76/78/85/99 Mashup

[Comet]

Hello collective radiation addicted friends. I am about to embark on a glacial paced adventure into the 40 world. My range of ownership is now from 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 150 series. I say that not as a matter of pride or bragging rights but just to stress the fact that this journey is not entered into lightly or ignorantly (well maybe title gives that away).

I have chosen to begin assembling parts, bits, and pieces to put together a rig that Johnny Cash himself would be proud of. The end goal is to have a super comfortable vehicle with all the modern amenities. Now before you scoff or laugh, please understand my definition of and scope therein for modern. I want a drive train that is reliable, a seat that is comfortable, a screen of some sort to keep bugs out of my teeth, a less than bone jarring ride quality, something over my head to keep the sun off, and some capability off road so that I stop breaking all my other vehicles. Buster Brown (60 series) gave me a little insight into vacuum actuated switching and the simplicity of a carburetor but there is much more to absorb from this community.

Without further delay and because I too am a visual learner, here is the 12/1972 rolling frame that begins our journey.

 

[Comet]

The second specimen is a fine 1975 version deftly stripped of anything of resale value. I see it as a blank canvas that will remain as blank as a stare from the bar room drunk at last call. Ain’t she a beaut!!

 

[Comet]

The final piece to this puzzle is a bourbon induced tempest Craigslist search on the East Coast for a 40 series. It was an email flurry to get this museum piece into my stable. Man, I am one lucky dude! This 1976 sits seven hours north of me awaiting transport.

 

[Comet]

In addition to the decent 12/1972 frame, the 1975 tub and body (rolling frame to be sold off to fund the madness, and the remnants of a 1976 Land Cruiser I also have an assortment of axles. 1973 coarse spline, 1978 fine spline, and some 1985 FJ60 axles minus the spindles. Oh, and the rear 1976 axle Of unknown gearing That is still seven hours north of me. Those goodies along with a City Racer carb and six carb cooling fans. What could possibly go wrong? We will definitely find out. SO there’s a F engine and two 2F engines in the mix (one 2F will go with the rolling frame). And I know the 3 speed is here and possibly two four speeds if everything looks as planned. A lot of the bits and pieces I do not use are already spoken for so a for sale thread is not looking too promising for the masses.

Thoughts are to assemble this this with what pieces I have and horse trade for the rest. The 60 axles intrigue me because they are a bit wider. I like the idea of a 2.5” lift with 3” extra width on the axles. Only issue is to outboard the perch now or wait until later when the ‘78 axles give up the ghost. FJ80 master cylinder with a proportioning valve for 4 wheel disc brakes. Poser brackets with the Monte Carlo calipers.


Notes and unknown issues to date: [updated as of 08-21-2026]

60 series power steering is a bolt on option. Saginaw pump? [acquired two 60 series power steering]
“An Accidental Frame off” Mud Thread. start back on page 64
1985 FJ60 axles [rear installed by moving spring perch mounts on the axle-ruff stuff parts]
F 1.5 engine [soaking in atf and kerosene, have not tried to break it free yet]
City Racer Carb [two Asian carbs sitting on my shelf awaiting rebuild]
BMW 328i seats [1991 Isuzu Trooper front seats grafted into the 3/16 plate steel floor]
Stitch welding or boxing the frame [Ruff Stuff frame stiffening kit fully welded in]
Stretch the axle length? Frame length too? 90 now, go to 100”? [flipped springs front and rear]
York OBA on engine
No Radio. Use JBL kicker strapped down somewhere.
Steel: pickled and oiled, there is no mill scale on the metal that has to be removed prior to welding.

King Bearings online for internal engine stuff. http://www.kingbearings.com/performance.php Rust bullet (inhibitor and coating)
Eastwood Rust encapsulation and chassis black
Harbor Freight Butt Weld Clamps to hold metal before I weld it. [they work great for the sheet metal]
Eastwood Magnetic copper welding backer [5# hammer and scrap copper pipe work just as good]
VIM Products Magnetic Plug Weld Tool Magnetic Base W/Copper pad MPWT
Name: Willet Pass (Will it pass through your a$$ if you eat it?), Walter, other more fitting names as I build it out. [many expletives have been said at and around WTF but currently it is Folly]
E stopp electric emergency brake. [1999 100 JDM parking brake assembly to be grafted into the 3/16” floor.

Toyota Land Cruiser Model FJ40LV
VIN FJ40-141079 12/1972
Vehicle Type: MPV
GVWR (lb.) 4665
Front 2120 lb.
Rear 2545 lb.

ENGINE:
Model F-418843
Cylinder 6
Bore 3.54 inch
Stroke 4.00 inch
Piston Displacement 237 cubic inch

CARBURETOR:
HAS: Holley 2 barrel carb List 7448 made 06/70 Lot 2/6R (1919)B
AllState Carb (631)234-8360

WANT: Holley Sniper 23002 2 barrel EFI with rear mount Chevy s10 Blazer gas tank

TRANSMISSION:
3 speed floor ?J30?
TEQ212Z1
Offered from 1963 to 1973

TRANSFER CASE:
86569-2L3. The 8 is all bogeyed up, may be another number or letter.

STEERING: power steering upgrade using mini truck/4 runner box (most expensive part)

BRAKES: 1978 axle set up. Disk in front, drum in rear. Need 2 reservoir master (FJ80 non-ABS set up is the stout way to go)

REAR AXLE:

FRONT AXLE:

INTERIOR:
Chrysler Sebring convertible seats-incorporates seat belts



WEBSITE SUPPORT:


www.btbprod.com


www.jtoutfitters.com


www.tlcperformance.com Jim Chenowith is carb guru.


www.cruiseryard.com Jason is in Texas

WANTS:
Tuffy center console with radio slot
Gear reduction starter 28100-60070-84
Metric Overland bolt kit
Paint Code 414 Buffalo Brown for 1972
Paint Code Pueblo Brown
3 speed rebuild kit Man-A-Fre MCTC-1711 $199.00
Holley Sniper 23002 barrel EFI #550-849K $1200.00 Brett at Holley will honor 5%off.
79-85 4wd pickup or 4 runner steering box
60 series brake master cylinder to run disc/drum combo (drill hole above one on brake pedal to increase braking ratio. CityRacer65 also sells a good booster for disc/drum.

Falling Springs Falls near Covington, VA

Brakes: ability to lock front or rear brakes to move rig on the trail.

 

[Comet]

Trip up and back to get the grey Bondo Queen. This thing was a work of Bondo art probably ten years ago. Now, it is a sad sad little man that has slowly rotted away into nonexistence. Any sheet metal was long ago replaced with filler. I am taking any parts off this rust bucket that can be salvaged but so far it looks like I made the sellers wife very happy by getting this thing out of her way. Upside is that there are many bits and pieces on this rig I can use. It looks like it had factory air conditioning. Score!!

 

[Comet]

The tan one is trailered, dropped off, backed in, and hidden out of sight until I can get the grey one dismantled. THank you again @mwalls54 for the time you took to help.

 

[Comet]

The grey truck was Root Beer Brown on the last paint job (homage to Buster Brown) and originally blue. Dismantling this rust bucket has been pretty easy. Glad this sheet metal isn’t making it to the final product.

 

[Comet]

’76 is giving up its useable parts in between snapping bolts and wiping rust dust off my face.

 

[roadstr6]

Add to list:

1. Tetanus shot
2. 37" tires

 

[Comet]

Oh yes. Tetanus is up to date.

 

[SteveH]

Can't accuse you of busting up any cherry rigs to create one good one. I think you plan looks solid. Better one on the road than 3 lying in pieces.

 

[Pighead]

It all sounds perfectly normal to me
(try Kurt at Cruiser Outfitters for the 3 speed rebuild kit...)

 

[Comet]

Bryce has processed a lot of my payments through the years. Thank you guys.

 

[Hugh Heifer]

I built a frankencruiser from spare parts. Fetched a pretty penny at Mecum.
The Gazoo.

The Great Gazoo from 1972!

About 6 years ago I got the illness and bought my first Land Cruiser, an FJ40 - The Mule I called it and the folks over in the STLCA Clubhouse have had the pleasure if chiding me about how long it took me to get it trail worthy. It is still a work in progress but for good reason. As I had...

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[Comet]

@Hugh Heifer I am very impressed. The build thread is all I have been reading over the past few days. Thank you for that inspiration. Leaving tomorrow afternoon to pick up the tan body. @mwalls54 is graciously sacrificing his afternoon and evening for the cause.

 

[Comet]

Pressure wash, degrease, pressure wash, Coraseal, and blitz black for the frame. Any opinions why that would not be a good idea?

 

[Comet]

Engine in the ‘76 turns. How do I look up the Jasper rebuild number? The website is not helpful. Separating the back from the front was as simple as using the sawzall and eating more rust.

 

[Comet]

@1428Mike made this knife out of a file. It is one of my favorite tools in my arsenal now. Hoses are no match for a 20 degree blade angle. I know 25 degrees is more durable but this bad boy is amazing. Thank you my friend!

 

[Comet]

Cowl and body off. The ‘76 was the straw that broke the chinesium camels back. The 2 ton lift was able to get the ‘73 engine and transmission out with just breaking the front wheels. The ‘76 engine and transmission proved to be too much for the Lift. The center brace buckled and the lift is now listing to the left. Engines are out, I have one that turns over, the ‘75 will not give up the engine unless it looks in better shape when I get to it. I will rent the same 4 ton lift that I used to pull and insert the engine into my ‘97 And the chinesium lift will be relegated to moving the various axles into place. ‘73 frame has been power washed once. The steering box is now leaking due to all the caked on grease being blasted off. Gotta remove that assembly and drill out a few busted bolts. Coroseal is in the ‘73 frames future.

 

[4Cruisers]

Haven't seen that you've posted anything on ignition, but I have a fresh supply of new NipponDenso vacuum advancers that can be installed in the '76 distributor (if stock) in 10 minutes or so. I also have some FJ60 distributors ready for refurbishment. All you'd need for that is an FJ60 parts rig to get a donor dented side cover .