Nothing getting done...

It's too damn cold and too damn rainy to do anything. I'm watching TV. The top doesn't leak too much, and the whole interior is stripped anyway, so I'll just wait for good weather to sand it and put down some bedliner.

Meh.

Snow, hail and rain...

Since the gods have chosen this past weekend as a good day to start the downpour, I decided to start waterproofing the FJ40, new weatherstripping (bulk crap from NAPA)... and some tightening of bits... etc.

I spent about 2 hours going through the whole heater system and repair a dozen connections, cleaned the switch, knocked mud out of the blower and got the whole damn thing working.

Next up, replacement radiator fan, more cleaning, more water proofing, rust-removal, stripping and bedliner....

Went and took a look at a friend's 71 FJ40...

He's got a Downey 4" lift on stock everything else, etc...
Apparently he got regular 15" black wagon wheels from Summit. They fit. With 35" on a minor rear fender trim. I'll have to get some pictures up here...
I've got some coil springs that came from a Grand Cherokee, I'd like to do some 4-links and coils... maybe I'll do that. I guess it might be poor-handling on-road, but I think it should be fine.

More stuff later on.

Some pictures of the FJ in my garage...

I haven't really done much aside from more interior cleaning...
I went to the DMV and got it registered and legal, but I still need to do the CHP inspection (it's been "out of the DMV system" for 10 years) and add it to my insurance policy (YAY for 8 vehicles on insurance!)....

With my son only minutes or days away from being born, the FJ is going to be a part-time project concurrent with the fence that goes on - week after week - being built.

As a matter of fact, aside from the eBay parts, I should get my boat running and sell that thing. That would pay for wheels and tires quickly.

I think I have decided to do the "mini-truck swap" of taking the axles out of a 1987 (or older) Toyota Pickup and putting them under the FJ... not as strong, but, then again... I have friends running 40" Swampers with Marlin t-cases on rock-crawler rigs who have never broken an axle or Birfield.

Fun fun fun.

After these pics, the driver's seat was temporarily re-installed for ease of driving.

More cleaning of the FJ

I DROVE IT INTO MY GARAGE! I have never had a vehicle in the garage of my house. Mostly because it is unnecessary, but also because the first one to be driven in should be significant. The FJ40 is significant.

I removed the seats and reattached a few items that have been sitting in the back since I got it to my house. I've also cleaned up a bunch of random parts for selling on eBay. The roll-cage needs to be re-wrapped, the doors recessed (for the cage), the dash-pad narrowed and filled (cracks everywhere) and a whole bunch of wiring, brake bleeding, alignment adjustment and general repair.

Next up, cleaning the inside completely, pulling the top and cage and dash-pad off and using a gallon of bed-liner on the floors. And selling the extra parts.

Drove it home this weekend...

... after replacing the starter and the spark plugs (all fouled), repairing one plug wire, and installing the oil filler cap.

It was a hairy drive for the 3 miles from the shop to my house. Wandering, 40mph max, rattling, banging, shifty brakes, steering was marginal, but it ran and drove and got me from a to b. What a great little Landcruiser!

I've got it parked in my driveway next to the Mercedes, and I'm gonna sort out some more repairs and upgrades (like disc brakes) and get it registered. ;)

Next up, cleaning it out, pulling out the seats and anything else that bolts down on the inside - to get it ready for roll-on truck bed-liner and some sort of weather-stripping on every panel, seam, door, and window. Also, before it starts raining I have to remove and reinstall the moon-roof with a silicone strip so the water stays out. After that, I am going to start reattaching all the little bits and pieces that rattled off on the way down the hill and then I'll be able to figure out which extra bits I'm going to eBay. This little bugger might pay for itself...

Got it running...

It took about 8 hours of dicking-about, but it has barked and roared. The FJ40 lives.

All it took was:

Removal of moldy junk from inside vehicle.
Removal and Rebuilding of carburetor.
Replacing fuel filter and all fuel lines.
Installation of new/used electric universal Fuel Pump.
Repair/Replacement of a dozen small wires and the two battery cables.
Getting fuel to the pump (pouring it in the tank works best).
Two sandwiches (one for James, one for me).
8 cigarettes (James) 2 dips (me)
Oil Change.
New Radiator cap.
New battery.
More cleaning.
More wiring.
Cursing.
Brake fluid.
A hammer.
Starting fluid.
Distributor adjustment.

And she ran. Like a beast as well. It's hard to realize that a Toyota can roar, but it is a 4.2L Inline 6... and a blown muffler. She is loud and she sounds strong. The carb is snappy and tight (except for the throttle shaft which leaks a bit). We were going to drive it up a dirt road, except I wanted to replace the coil wire so I shut it down and then it wouldn't restart.

Next up:

New Starter and new oil filler cap (goodbye tinfoil!)...