Oh SNAP! New Project Vehicle!

[Leland Pate]

I needed to create an access panel to get to the tailgate latch. I also wanted to keep everything more/less "Toyota" where possible. buddy was parting out a FJ60 and let me cut the washer nozzle access panel off of the rear hatch for use on my tailgate:











The glovebox houses the ECU as well as a stand alone expansion fuse panel that I plan to use for an on-board air compressor and auxiliary tank switching valve.



...and of course, I need a rifle mount:


I tried to get all the metal bits re-chromed but the only shop in town that I could afford only plated ferrous metal.



An FJ40 has a lot of pot metal! So, I compromised and just had everything else powdercoated in "chrome":



Everything else I had re-zinc'ed:

[Leland Pate]

As much as I love the iconic FJ40 jump seats, they are not going to happen with a 2-1/2 year old. So, I went with a Bestop bench seat:



...complete with rear cupholders and heated seats:



Homemade speaker panels:








...note the 12v outlet:

[Leland Pate]

This more/less brings us to the present. What I haven't included is this:










This is maddening. I have learned to truly HATE bodywork. My life is now an alternating stream of primer, block sanding, guide coat, a string of cursing and then more primer. Everything looks pretty good until you put down some guide coat and start block sanding.

I hate it.

I keep telling myself not to get carried away. The guys in the local Landcruiser club have a saying: "There's straight; then there's 'cruiser straight."

I'm going for "'cruiser straight".

[vash]

Goodness. That is so cool.


Sent via Jedi mind trick.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Continued awesomeness. You just summarized why I don't try bodywork, patience isn't in my DNA.

[DonDavis]

Meh.....it's ok. I suppose.




















just kidding

That is certainly what I would call, an update of sizable proportions.
Nice work!!!

[Tim Hancock]

Great project... Love your attention to detail! I know what you mean about body work... I hate it too (except the last part of pulling off the masking tape/paper).

[Leland Pate]

Update:


I've been building a makeshift paint booth the last few days and wet sanding one last time with 400 grit.

[Leland Pate]

Got the color laid down. Had a lot of trouble with the reducer flashing off too quick (ambient temps got too high), leaving us with epic orange peel. So, we just put down 4 heavy coats and I'll color sand it out.


Lots of work. Now I know why paint jobs cost an arm and a leg.












YIKES!



Lots of this:



... and finally got it looking like this:

[Leland Pate]

A couple more as Gunner comes together...

[Leland Pate]

I took it for a quick jot and was grinning ear to ear. I've got lots of little bugs to sort out, but that will come with time. I'm just happy to have an assembled and [moderately] functional truck.

[Leland Pate]

The hard top was a PITA. The headliner was a pain and several of the holes for the side panels didn't want to line. ...but I managed to get it on.

[A930Rocket]

What a great job you've done. Congrats!

[onewhippedpuppy]

That just looks so right. Well done.

[MBAtarga]

Jealous!

[jwhcars]

Fantastic job !! Well done fine sir.

[fanaudical]

Great job! Well done.

[mark 74 carrera]

What a project. The thought of dis-assembling the whole truck for paint after it was put together was painful. Also, you re-purposed your garage work space several times during the project. The paint booth has me thinking about painting cars in my garage.

Anyway, great project. Thanks for sharing it with everyone. I hope you and the family enjoy the adventures to come.

Mark

[t-tom]

This is what's been going on with my 78 FJ40. https://youtu.be/LLWaEUeLVO8

First time it's moved under it's own power in over 30 years. Last time she was on the road was 1987.

[Leland Pate]

Sadly, this thread was utterly gutted by the great Photobucket F-U of 2017.

If you need a recap of the last 6+ years, I had a parallel build thread on IH8MUD. You can view it here since the photo links aren't broken: https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/1973-fj40-restoration.611256/


Here was the starting point in 2012:



By January of 2018, it was all but buttoned up and on the road:





One of the major compromises I made during the project was foregoing a legitimate Toyota diesel engine to power the truck because I just couldn't justify the expense for a 40+ y/o toy. But, as things go, the parameters of the project changed significantly over the 6 year build. What started off as a simple "get it on the road and spruce it up a bit" project turned into a full blown resto-mod.

My philosophy was pretty simple: imagine what Toyota may have done if they had continued the classic FJ40 production and run with it. With that in mind, I endeavored to modify and refine the truck with an emphasis on maintaining an allegiance to Toyota and Toyota parts from other Land Cruiser models.

Now, it has:

An [ongoing rebuild of a] '97 1HZ Turbo diesel engine
H55 5-speed transmission and split case with 4:1 gears
4" SOR lift
4+ Products U-bolt flip kit
33" BFG/KM2’s
Short Aisin locking hubs
1996 V6 4Runner front brake calipers
FJ62 front brake rotors
Mini truck knuckles and steering arms
BJ70 full float rear axle
'94 Fj80 master cylinder
'96 4Runner Brake Booster
Adjustable brake proportioning valve
Curt Triflex proportional trailer brake controller
7-pin trailer receptacle
Aux. trailer power with 30A breaker
70-series TRE/relay rod ends
FJ80 power steering box
Power steering cooler
Bare metal/Media Blasted and epoxy primed tub
'74+ Roll bar tub gussets added
Dynamat extreme soundproofing throughout tub and hard top
Tinted Rock-It lined tub
Body cavity wax added to sheet metal voids
Front and rear cup holders
Pneumatic hatch lift struts
Custom tailgate made from barn doors
Aux. 20 gal, Con-Ferr fuel tank with cab-switched Pollak valve
In-tank front and rear fuel pumps
Aluminum radiator'74+ factory roll bar
Three point seat belts
On-board 5lb ABC Fire extinguisher
FJ62 horns
Euro side mirrors


Dakota Digital HDX instrument panel with:
-GPS, ambient air temp, compass,
-altimeter, boost and EGT
Old Air Products Hurricane Air Conditioning system
4x4 indicator light
Brake vacuum warning light
fuel filter warning light
Air filter warning light
Charge indicator light

New ignition lock and matched keys
Late style front doors
Power locks and keyless entry
Power windows
LED headlight conversion (55/60W)
CREE LED fog lights
Dual AGM batteries with isolator and charge controller
Aux. air tank
600W Pure sine wave inverter
All Deutsch harness connectors
Hi/Lo headlight relays
FJ80 Throttle lock
Reupholstered front seats
Bestop Fold & Stow rear jump seat
Heated seats
Tuffy center console keyed to ignition key
12v and USB sockets in console
Kenwood DMP stereo receiver w/handsfree/ bluetooth capability
Discrete powered Kenwood 8" subwoofer
Front and rear Pioneer speakers
Rear 12v power outlet
Flaming River battery cut off switch
Aux. CREE LED rear backup/flood lights
Cobra CB with integrated loudspeaker
Integrated rechargeable Streamlight


Onboard ARB air compressor
In-cab air compressor controls
Warn 8274 winch
In-cab winch controls
4+ Products front winch bumper
Rear Jerry can holders
Dual swing out tire carrier and cooler basket
Cross bars and Con-ferr safari rack