1974 FJ40 Restore, Build, then Wheel?

1974 FJ40, goals for now are convert front axle to disk brakes and Aisin lockout hubs by swapping everything from the knuckle out. I will probably source these from a minitruck, and then the parts will be identical to my Tacoma.

1. Take the running F.5 drivetrain and 4 speed transmission from my friend @Ghost. and his FJ40.
2. Rust repair and prevention
3. Upgrade the steering to an FJ60 or FJ80 steering box
   
4. Maybe spring over axle (SOA) conversion to run 35-37" tires
5. Brake upgrade, (not verified these, stolen from ih8mud)

• 1990 V6 4Runner Front Calipers
• 79-85 Minitruck Knuckles, spindles, birfields (already have), Aisin Hubs
• 1981 FJ40 Rotors, or 4Runner Rotors?
• 1986-1995 IFS minitruck hub to widen 1.5" both sides, turned down on lathe
• Upgraded Master Cylinder to compensate for disk brakes

I've always wanted an Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser since I was 5 years old, my neighbor had one that I would always go drool over and dream about. His was the stock tan color with a spring over lift and probably 35's or 37's. One day he rolled it and I actually teared up lol.

Backstory:
Saw TWO FJ40's for sale for dirt cheap and although I still have a school left somehow I sweet talked my awesome wife into letting me pick this up. The blue one went to my good friend Raymond, @Ghost. which I will help him build which was a running driving off-roader until it got parts stolen and sat deserted. The guy we got them from left them rotting in a storage area.

I will focus on mine in this build but will put details of the other one in another thread. [LINK]
Blue one has Dana 60's F/R regeared to 5.13 the rear is a spool and the front is open with Warn Lockouts. I was told Dodge front axle and Chevy rear, but not sure. Motor is a F.5 (just a few months before the 2F was standard) and seems to run well although we have just heard it idling without revving or driving. Rear axle was 4 linked, but links were rotting wood 2x4's which broke on us at the storage lot picking them up so I quickly made both lower links out of angle iron to get it home before the storage lot locked us in. Also had to grind out the rims wider to fit over the massive hubs. So picking them up was a little hectic lol.

My black one was apparently running and driving until the guy before I got it from took the head off to do some engine work and never sealed it up, so rusted the pistons to the block. It is also missing the #5 piston, so there must have been something going on. The brakes supposedly worked but the master cylinder was removed to aid in removing the engine which was never removed... Previous owner didn't really work on them at all, just let them rust more.

 

A few suspension options...

Stock
Pro

• Easiest
• No driveline work
• Keep rear fender opening the same
• Stock spring hangers
• Stock shock mounts

Con

• Shortest wheelbase (negative for me)
• No lift (actually probably
• Tires limited to ~31's

Spring Rotate (180 degree, to gain wheelbase)
Pro

• Easy
• Better Wheelbase ~6 inch increase
• Stock Hangers (unless shackle flip)

Con

• No lift
• Adjust front & rear shock mounts
• Open up rear fender opening for wheelbase increase
• Caster being adjusted, cut and turn or shim?
• driveline work, extended only?

Spring Over Axle (SOA) and spring flip to gain wheelbase
Pro

• Harder, most work intensive
• Better wheelbase ~6 inch increase
• Better flex
• ~5-7 inch lift
  
• Fit ~38" tires
• High Steer

Con

• Most Work
• Cut and Turn knuckles on front axle
• New shock mounts?
• Open up rear fender opening for wheelbase increase
• High Steer needed

 

Some motivation, stolen from ih8mud.com

Copy this suspension setup, seems to flex aight.

Details of SOA in following pictures
Stock Hangers
-Flip front springs
---redrill Military Wrap (second leaf)
---longer than stock front shackle (looks like it from pictures)
-Stock FJ55 Springs in rear (if available)
---6" Shackle pin to pin

 

A few drivetrain options. I am favoring the F.5 with 4 speed trans

Stock F.5 with 4 speed trans & matched transfer case
Pro

• Easy
• Cheap
• Bolt in swap (friends drivetrain, mine is ruined)
• Torque at low RPM
• Tractor motor, too dumb to die

Con

• Very heavy block
• Parts getting harder to find
• Carburetor
• Original Points Ignition (convert to something better and more water resistant?)

3FE out of 1988-1990 FJ60/62
Pro

• Bolt to FJ40 4 speed transmission
• Newer motor, still I6 Toyota Land Cruiser Block (HP TQ increase?)
• Keep stock axles
• Easier starting than carburetor

Con

• Tons of work
• Wiring up the wazoo
• Cramped engine bay with everything
• Needs a computer

LS 5.3, 4L60E Auto, NP205
Pro

• Newest drivetrain
• Parts availability
• High Power and Torque (even at low end?)

Con

• Most work by far
• Most expensive
• Needs a computer and tons of wiring
• Become a long term project
• Even get finished?
• Lose motivation
• Would be better suited once I have a shop (~5+ years down the road)
• New rear axle that has centered diff necessary
• Might as well throw one tons in the mix
• Never ending money pit. Must wait until I have a shop...

 

reserved 4?

 

Reserved 5

 

I guess I can stop at 4 lol

 

From what I can tell this is the first year the roll cage was standard in the US. Rust is pretty bad on the back of the body by the passenger tail light (every FJ has issues here) and the passenger body will need a lot of work. Everywhere needs a little love and a lot of rust repair. Entire electrical system and all wires will be gutted and replaced.

 

Got rid of all the old seats. I kept the rear jump seats that were in decent condition though.

Also welded my tow bar up so I can tow it to my dad's for the winter.

 

Buttoning her up for the winter at my dad's house.

Scored a free set of 31 10.5 R15 tires, so I went on base to use the Auto shop to mount them up and throw away some of my old JC PENNY and old Trail Digger tires. Pretty funny the newer set I got were also Hercules Trail Diggers.

Sugar Babies wrapper, should this be an inspirstion for a build name? Hmm.

 

Sugar baby means something completely different these days

 

Anyone familiar with tow bars? She didn't really want to track when towed on the tight neighborhood corners so I had to ride in it across town while my friend towed it in his 5th gen T4R to make sure it tracked properly. At about 40mph (the speedometer works! About the only thing...) some mild death wobble started, went away at 50, but didn't go faster than that.

 

Sub'd! I've always had a soft spot for FJ40s

 

You should check out the last post in my truck build Probably going to trade the Tacoma...

 

Reserved a 2018 4Runner Trail Premium yesterday... Not looking like the trade for my truck and the other FJ40 is going to happen.

 

And she is up for sale. Going to focus on a long term truck once I have the next house (and hopefully shop) in a few years.

Toyota V8, 4 door, Dana 60s, 40-42" tires, 3 link +panhard front, 4 link rear

 

SOLD
Here she is being towed away.

 

At least the guy that bought it is using it to restore his, and part it out to help out some other guys that need parts.

He has a pretty cool setup. His rig is the blue one. 3.4 swapped already.