My 1970 FJ40 restoration

[funky_monkey58]

Well I have been searching casually for awhile for just the right FJ40 and I finally found one.
The history of the vehicle is that a well off guy bought it new and used it around his cabin to get from building to building and misc chores, well he was getting old and really liked the FJ40 so he brought it to a body shop and had them start a full restoration on it due to all the abuse it had seen. After a bunch of work he realized that he is getting old and traded the vehicle in lieu of the labor done, the shop then traded it off on a mini truck and didn't finish it.
Then it sat in a garage for many years at a jeep enthusiasts place that isn't into toyotas as much as he is jeeps so it just sat, until I bought it today that is.
The truck has 23k original miles on it and has a rebuilt head with hardened seats so I can run regular gas. It also has a super neato PTO winch the foam dash and a hard top and the original 3 on the tree.
Here are some pics from tonight but it is dark out so I wont have good ones until tomorrow.
I do a ton of restoration work so this one should be pretty straight forward and I will post updates in here.

---------- Post added at 06:44 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:43 PM ----------

 

[buckshotglass]

That looks like a great start.
I have a 1970 Fj for sale on phily cl that I can't get rid of. I wish mine was that nice, I would keep it.
Looking forward to updates. 7M swap??

 

[funky_monkey58]

That looks like a great start.
I have a 1970 Fj for sale on phily cl that I can't get rid of. I wish mine was that nice, I would keep it.
Looking forward to updates. 7M swap??

No it only has 23k original miles and the top end has all been redone with hardened seats to run regular gas, so it is going 100% stock, well I will make some rocker guards but that is about all.

 

[buckshotglass]

No tasteful 2.5" lift with new springs and 33's just for fun?

 

[funky_monkey58]

With the value of these things in restored original condition, I am not sure how much I want to deviate.

 

[emiliorescigno]

With the value of these things in restored original condition, I am not sure how much I want to deviate.

+1 - finding an older car unmolested is hard come by!

 

[funky_monkey58]

Buckshot can I bother you for pictures of how all linkages and such go? And the sides of the tub, I want to see if there is supposed to be a visible body seam or not.

 

[buckshotglass]

My tub is bondo and rust. It did run when parked so I can get pics for you of the underside. There is a lot of hydraulics in the way in the engine bay for the plow.. what are you looking for?

 

[funky_monkey58]

The shifter linkage mainly, I bought the project and all the parts are in boxes.

 

[funky_monkey58]

So today I started out the day working in the art factory and got somewhat side tracked throughout most of the day.
Then tonight I was just getting so irritated that I got nothing done on my project that I went out to the shop for 3 hours and got some stuff done that was bothering my normally peaceful mind.
So I did some looking at other 1970 fj40s and found this to be a problem, so I fixed it.

Looks much better.
Then I focused some attention to replacing the points in the distributor and getting that installed, I hope I did it correctly.

Anyone know where that little black wire is supposed to connect to?

This ^ is annoying, I am hoping that the correct bracket is hiding among my piles of parts.

Anyone know whats up with this? it looks like the pad should be underneath, but I don't know.

This had me worried until I found this.

new master as well.

The factory welds look pathetic so tomorrow I am going to grind on them a bit and lay some nicer beads in there.
Here are the pics of the pto.

If anyone has any pointers I will be thankful.

 

[hvyman]

Thats a lot of orange.

Nice project.

 

[Poodles]

Neat!

Looks like you have the engine driven winch and the back seat heater in there. Those front axles are a bit of a pain to seal properly. Going by the pictures it looks like they were just spraybombed black, and that's not going to work. Also have the issues of the inner axle seal leaking and contaminating the grease causing a very large leak. Usually from a bent axle.

 

[funky_monkey58]

I sand blasted a bunch of little stuff and the factory jack (going to paint it old implement yellow), and stripped down the hood to get it ready for new fresh paint.
Going to prime the hood, fenders and such tomorrow. I am debating to do a single stage paint like factory or to do base/clear. Any thoughts?

Today I got some more little stuff done, I am likely still going to work on it more tonight after dinner, anyway pics are really what people want and to read my jibber jabber.

Rattle can primed these things.

Oh yeah I restored my factory jack.

 

[HIGHSPEEDDIRT]

I wish I could be there to help you out as I love projects like these.

 

[Chello]

Should be a good project, seems to coming up well

 

[suprarx7nut]

My ex-neighbor from just a few months ago had the nicest FJ40 I've ever seen. I may have to sneak some pics of it.

Definitely a VERY cool ride if you clean it up. His looked absolutely brand new. New upholstery everywhere, fresh paint, wheels, tires, lift, etc...

Very cool rebuild. Good luck!

 

[lewis15498]

Nice dude, I love these things! Theres a guy that has one in my town thats beautiful. I cant wait to see the finished product with yours.