Topic: '71 FJ40 Summer Build

[MisfitDave]

I picked this up last Saturday from a wrecking yard here in salt lake.  I've loved FJs since as long as I can remember but never thought I could grab one or afford one, at least till I was out of school! Turns out it was just a matter of being on the right road at the right time... with the right amount of cash!    I have a lot of experience with the toy pickups and 4runners, but none with the FJs.  So right now I'm hurrying to come up with a game plan for it and a couple other projects I already had planned (link suspension in my soon to be trailered 85 blue pickup, and some upgrades/ fixes on my DD 87 4runner)! Here's my first build the 85 pickup http://board.marlincrawler.com/index.php?topic=29660.0
Anyway back to the FJ, the body is in pretty good shape. Rusted rocker panels, rear quarter panels and the tailgate doors are pretty eaten near the bottom.  Some on the doors, and a little on the gutter along the top.  The engine is in pieces, the yard told me the PO had rebuilt it for his kids and they overheated it soon after and had plans to rebuild it again before he got rid of it.  Looks like it has a lift on it, newer magnaflow exhaust, fairly new 33" duellers, and all the engine components look to be in good if not newer condition. 
Please info, experience, and opinions are all appreciated, so let me know what you think! Here's what I'm thinking so far!
Part out the 2f engine or keep it around for $hits and giggles, swap in a small block 350 and 350 turbo tranny, adapted to a toy transfercase.  Run a set of mini toy axles with 5" MC springs i already have.  Upgraded v6 rotors and calipers, and a disc conversion in the rear.  High steer and PS setup from a 2nd gen pickup adapted to the LC. Stock gearing all around, and my 35" Wrangler MTRs off old blue (its getting 40s and dual cases)! Clean out all the rust and patch the holes, or pickup new panels. Then a new paint job either in the yellow it has on now, or red.  Fix up the dash and run new gauges, stereo, and probably just rewire everything.  Fab up some rocker panel protection, a bumper and lights, and other minor mods or fixes. 
What I'm shooting for is a backup DD for the winter, and dd for the summer because of the convertible top, and lets face it, the looks, it is an FJ!  Mild weekend wheeling, trail runs just for camping and fun mostly, I have 2 other crawlers for that beat and brake your $hit stuff.  Enough rambling here are the pics!  Let me know ideas and opinions asap, I need to get movin! 

[Trunkz]

for sitting there with no valve cover that head looks pretty clean!
nice rig, go to ih8mud and read through thier tech section its a wealth of knowlege on them!

[Hammerhead]

I love the 350 engine in my 40.  I'm never short on power...

th350 tranny is pretty long - get out your measuring tape

If you are a fabricator you can build FJ/mini hybrid axles for the best of both worlds...   

[Hammerhead]

Oh, I forgot to mention that Kurt over at Cruiser outfitters should be able to help you get rid of the pieces you don't need. 

[gotrocks]

looking forward to the build

[MisfitDave [OP]]

I've seen a thread on the hybrid fj/mini axles, what are the best parts of both? FJ housing with the width of the minis? I'm pretty sure I could pull it off, but was just wondering if it was worth the time? 

[Hammerhead]

The rear hybrid is centered diff to match centered rear output T-cases like Toy-mini, D300, NP205, Atlas...

On the mini it is usually the ring gear or the carrier that fails so the FJ ring gear and carrier being larger and stronger are definite upgrades. 

The FJ has C-clips so using the mini drive axles eliminate the need for C-clips.

IFS rear drive axles can be used in a hybrid to achieve almost 58" of width compared to the stock 55".

On the front you can extend the short end of the housing to use the longer cruiser inner shaft to achieve a matching 58" WMS measurement...


If you were to pay someone else to do it the price would be prohibitive but if done yourself can be accomplished in a few evenings or weekends quite affordably. 

[71 Redwood]

nice rig..im also working on a 71..no pics up yet but soon as they let me.

[MisfitDave [OP]]

Hard times and I've decided to sell my FJ40, I never had the extra time to put into it to get it rolling    Asking $2000 obo PM me for my number if interested, thanks.  I hope it goes to someone who won't let it sit like I have, and has the time to make it into something fun.

[Dooner]

Man if you have the room, Id say hang on to it and fix it up when you get the time. If you need the dough (and all of us do) then do whatcha gotta. If not, keep the build simple, just get it running good and clean it up for when you want to get your Cruiz on!

[MisfitDave [OP]]

Yeah I think you're right.  It still makes me kinda sick thinking about selling it.  A couple guys I've sold parts to said the same thing and I think talked some sense into me.  Money is nice but I love that thing and I haven't even driven it yet. I'm gonna hold on to it, simple stuff then do the big stuff when I'm outta school.  Stay tuned, this will be a slow build but hopefully there will be progress.   

[Dooner]

Sounds good! Lookin forward to it. I think every one knows someone that sold an old favorite and regrets doing it. Mine was a 72 FJ55 - my first 4wheeler... sniff