Your FJ40's Birthday??? (1 Viewer)

[DirtDauberGarage]

This August 1973 FJ40 VIN is still in the 15xxxx series.
View attachment 3751649

Yes, That is consitant with the production numbers in other months and for Aug 73. It would have probably been September 1st that they rest to 160001

What would be really interesting is if we found an Aug 1973 FJ40 with a VIN in the high 150000s like for example 159xxx. That would negate my theory of the "reset".

I'll crunch some numbers and let you know.

 

[BeerM3]

Intrigued! Knowing my luck, mine was probably assembled by a disgruntled and slightly inebriated crew working the late shift on Christmas eve in '75?

 

[Jonathan Hanson]

I came across something very puzzling in my research tonight. Either Toyota adjusted their VIN numbers between the months of August and September 1973 or they produced 7258 FJ40s in August which is about 5x more than any other month on record. Since 160001 seems like a "reset" type number that seems to make the most sense. The question is "Why?".

Anyone have any ideas???

View attachment 3751420

I wonder if it was because 1974 was a pretty big production upgrade/change. Look at all the changes that hit the production line in 9/73 (see below)

View attachment 3751434

Also, the longest production run started 9/73 (see below).


View attachment 3751431

My serial number (as I listed above) is FJ40153362, and my production month is August, just before the big changes. Although I do have an EGR and had an AM radio.

 

[aging fleet]

If you have a minute, curious what you'll come up with for FJ40196204. Thanks!

 

[DirtDauberGarage]

Hey guys I am heading out tomorrow to go camping and off-roading this weekend in North Georgia. I know there are several VIN requests. I will get on those when I get back next week.

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[Kayaker]

I'll stick mine in the queue: 123012. I've tried to determine this on my own for years and I have an educated guess but I'd love to see what your system comes up with. Thanks for creating an interesting thread!
Kayaker

 

[DirtDauberGarage]

Did a little offroading and camping this weekend in North Georgia with my Toyota friends... back to work on Monday!

 

[DirtDauberGarage]

Now I am curious, Vin# FJ40223789
This is a May 76 FJ40 that I have owned for nearly 30 years. I did find out it was imported through the port of Tacoma in the Summertime of 76, used as a hunting rig by the original owner and has spent the majority of its existence in Washington state. Thanks!

Your 40's mostly likely birthday is Friday May 7th, 1976

 

[DirtDauberGarage]

I'll stick mine in the queue: 123012. I've tried to determine this on my own for years and I have an educated guess but I'd love to see what your system comes up with. Thanks for creating an interesting thread!
Kayaker

According to my educated guess, I think your 40's most likely birthday is Monday Febuary 28th, 1972

 

[DirtDauberGarage]

136940

Most likely birthday was Friday Oct 6th, 1972

 

[DirtDauberGarage]

My serial number (as I listed above) is FJ40153362, and my production month is August, just before the big changes. Although I do have an EGR and had an AM radio.

Becasue of the VIN# "reset" that month I just looked at Toyota's average production numbers per day that year and it was around 76 FJ40's a day, so baised on that info, your most likely birthday is Monday August 13th, 1973

 

[SC-Cruiser]

Wonder about my FJ40: FJ40-91700

 

[Engineer8000]

Most likely birthday was Friday Oct 6th, 1972

Thank you!

 

[Jonathan Hanson]

Becasue of the VIN# "reset" that month I just looked at Toyota's average production numbers per day that year and it was around 76 FJ40's a day, so baised on that info, your most likely birthday is Monday August 13th, 1973

That's awesome to know, thanks!!

 

[Kayaker]

According to my educated guess, I think your 40's most likely birthday is Monday Febuary 28th, 1972

Mine seems to present an anomaly. Using my frame number as a reference, I have always assumed the numbers on the SOR frame chart were last number assigned during the month, not the beginning number. Consequently I thought mine was born in the middle of the month (of March). That was the only way I could reconcile my Manufacturer’s plate which is March 72 with the chart. Looking through posts from other that have given the month along with their frame number I see that their’s only work if you assume the number on the chart is the 1st frame at the beginning of the month. If thats the case, my plate and frame number violate the chart. Any theories.

 

[jblatz]

Mine seems to present an anomaly. Using my frame number as a reference, I have always assumed the numbers on the SOR frame chart were last number assigned during the month, not the beginning number. Consequently I thought mine was born in the middle of the month (of March). That was the only way I could reconcile my Manufacturer’s plate which is March 72 with the chart. Looking through posts from other that have given the month along with their frame number I see that their’s only work if you assume the number on the chart is the 1st frame at the beginning of the month. If thats the case, my plate and frame number violate the chart. Any theories.

View attachment 3757267

Yours is not the only anomaly. Some time back, I did a review of 298 FJ40 door pillar plates and compared them with the SOR frame table. For most of these (86%), the table value was consistent with the date on the plate assuming the table value was for the beginning of the month. For 12%, the table value was correct assuming it was for the end of the month. For 3% the table value didn't work as either beginning or end of the month.

Here's an example of one of those 3%. Frame number is 351648, which according to the table is either December of 81 or January of 82. But the plate is marked March 1982.

 

[DirtDauberGarage]

Kayaker

forum.ih8mud.com

and

jblatz

forum.ih8mud.com

This is intriguing and uncommon, however, I have come across it a few times, and it does not surprise me. I have a couple of theories (more on those later). In order to really understand we would need to know Toyota's stamping process and their method of plate installation. Did they create a batch of plates in advance, estimating the required quantity for the month? Did they produce and store them until all the 40s were completed and ready for installation of the plates? Alternatively, did they stamp the plates only after completing the 40 and promptly install them?

If anyone knows the answer to this, please share!!!

I suspect that Toyota would stamp the VIN plates with the VIN# in large batches, WITHOUT the month stamped. They knew that the VINs would be in sequential order and that even if they printed large batches at a time, they would all get used. Following the printing process, Toyota would proceed to install the VIN plates on the assembly line after the tubs were painted and installed onto the frame. They could verify the VIN number on the frame to ensure it matched before attaching each plate accordingly.

I also believe that Toyota might have waited to “manually stamp” the month on the tag after it was installed on the frame with a die and hammer once FJ40 was completed and ready to be taken off the assembly line or even after taken off the assembly line. This idea is reinforced by the irregularities in some of the month stamps. I have seen some which appear crooked, and some have varying locations of the stamping. I have also seen some that look almost as if they were double stamped. This is probably becase there are hammering sideways on the door piller, maybe even while the 40 is still moving on the assembly line or being driven off.

At the beginning of each month, they would have changed the die stamp to reflect the new month. This practice ensured that any units in progress that began in one month but were completed in the following month on the assembly line would receive the appropriate stamp for the month of completion.

I know… this doesn’t explain the 3% or the 12% abnormality. See my next post for my theory on those…

 

[DirtDauberGarage]

Kayaker

forum.ih8mud.com

I would love to see your research!! It might support my theory!!

If you notice both examples above have a VIN# that is earlier than the month that is stamped on the plate. This indicates that the 40 was complete in a previous month and then stamped "incorrectly" in a later month. This seems to be the case in most of the situations I have seen.

Hence, my theory suggests that the VIN plate was attached on the assembly line, with the month stamp probably applied either towards the end of the line or shortly after the FJ40 units were taken off the line during final inspection and/or readied for shipping. At times, a unit might have been finished on the line but held back for various reasons before moving on to the final inspection and preparation for shipping.

There are several plausible reasons why a FJ40 might have been held back on the assembly line or pulled during the process:

1. Waiting for Optional Equipment: The vehicle could have been completed and then held back or set aside to receive optional equipment such as an AM radio, snow tires, mud flaps, or locking hubs before being cleared for shipping.

2. Quality Control Issue: If there was a quality control concern, such as an incorrect installation that needed rectification, the FJ40 might have been pulled off the line waiting for necessary adjustments.

3. Damage or Cosmetic Defect: In the case of damage or a cosmetic defect observed during production, the unit could have been pulled or held back for repairs or refinishing.

It is plausible that a Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40 could have been retained in the factory for a month or longer while waiting for resolution of one or more of these issues. At the end of this period, the current month stamp, not consistant with the VIN# and actual date of completion, would have been applied as part of the final inspection and preparations for shipment once the concerns were addressed and the vehicle was ready to be dispatched. Therefore resulting in a VIN# that suggests a December or January completation date but a "March" stamp that represents the date of final inspection.

Through my research, I've discovered that this practice was somewhat common, particularly during the manufacturing processes of the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. Back then, record-keeping standards were not as stringent as they are today. Toyota had a reputation for depleting existing parts inventory before transitioning to newer components. In my observations of original FJ40s and FJ55s, I found some assembled in times of transition contained a mix of parts that didn't align with their designated production dates. Enthusiasts sometimes refer to this anomaly in options as "mid-year" transition vehicle, which could be a blend of older and newer components, creating a unique amalgamation of parts.

This is just my theory... It would be helpful to examine additional examples of inconsistent or abnormal stampings to further support this theory.

 

[jblatz]

Here's some additional examples that don't fit the SOR frame chart value (neither as begin or end value). Unlike the earlier example, for all of these, the month stamped on the data plate is 1 month earlier than what the chart indicates.

6904 - frame chart says May/June

7503 - frame chart says April/May

7503 - - frame chart says April/May

7503 - frame chart says April/May

7806 - frame chart says July/Aug

7806 - frame chart says July/Aug

 

[DirtDauberGarage]

Here's some additional examples that don't fit the SOR frame chart value (neither as begin or end value). Unlike the earlier example, for all of these, the month stamped on the data plate is 1 month earlier than what the chart indicates.

6904 - frame chart says May/June

7503 - frame chart says April/May
View attachment 3757407

7503 - - frame chart says April/May
View attachment 3757409

7503 - frame chart says April/May

7806 - frame chart says July/Aug

7806 - frame chart says July/Aug
View attachment 3757413

Thanks!

Most of those are March 1975 or June 1978 ... there has to be a clue in there somewhere!!! Need more data and research.

Did you find any patters like this in your research?