In 1991 I purchased the front axle frame & body. The previous owner had a engine fire.
And so the journey began.
Yeap, that's me 24 years ago...
Wiren up dash. My friends David Adams & Galen Reed.
1967 SS 396 big block chevy.
It is now starting to look like a FJ40.
Going home.
It sat for awhile.
Then we moved again, back to the city.
Starting it for the first time 2 years into the project.
Converting from 6 lug to 8 lug. The 3/4 ton spindles are 1" wider than half ton.
My front axle was cut down 6 inches to fit & land on springs. The track was the same width as the body so it would be half tread on a 8" rim.
As you can see it had awesome articulation.
My first rear axle was a Dana 60-2 which came out a 1960's Ford van. We welded in the 5 lug & re-drilled it out to a 6 lug. Also we welded on a set of Cadillac Eldorado rear brake calipers & 1988 Chevy 4x4 front 6 lug disc brake rotors. They fit so well. My first outing the spring pads crushed. Later after welding the top of the axle several times the axle worped & was no longer strait. I had to junk it. I pick up a 70's Ford full float rear Dana 60 & put that in.
I rattle can spray painted the hood. It actually turned out OK...
Testing out flex for shock mounts.
Shaver Lake Bald Mountain run.
I sold it in 1997 for 7K.
What a mistake.
I found an add for it for sale in 2008.
Here it is below.
If any one has seen this cruiser or know where it might be, I would like to find it & buy it back.
For Sale: 1967 Toyota FJ40 LandCruiser
Rock Crawler and Urban Assault Vehicle
Picture taken high up in the Sierras.
1967 TOYOTA FJ40 LandCruiser.
It saddens me to sell my beloved FJ40 but married life, kids, relocating out of state and buying a new home has taken precedence. Over the years, this FJ40 has evolved from being a stock FJ to what it has become today. My motivation in building this Cruiser is to be able to drive it to where you want to wheel it, rock crawl all day, camp out for a few nights and then drive it home. It’s even great for a date night out and never fails to impress the dwellers at Starbucks.
This is a great vehicle for a family man who cannot afford the time or money to do a frame up restoration. I am selling and including EVERYTHING that is associated with this LandCruiser from all the spare parts, drive shafts, hardtop, to even the cases of ATF and engine oil. Everything goes!
VEHICLE
1967 (smog free) Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser
Loon Lake, CA
CHASSIS
Frame and body is FJ40. Body has very little rust and is in excellent condition. Coming from a desert like environment in Fresno CA, only some surface rust is evident. No repair of panels etc. What you see is what you get. Nothing is hidden. Always either parked in a garage or under a canopy.
I am including:
- WARN 8274 winch (fastest winch with 150ft cable length) and controller
- Kayline bikini top with BestTop half doors,
- Like new BestTop full soft top with full doors(used only 3 times)
- OEM hardtop(needs prep and paint)
- Spare wind shield(cracked) and frame and many, many more parts.
ENGINE
New carb with electronic choke.
This motor has got plenty of ponies. You have to drive it to believe it.
Chevy SS396 big block with 4-bolt mains. Headers were custom bent and all the goodies to make MASSIVE horsepower. 5 core radiator. Sorry I do not have the details as I bought the motor already built from a close friend. He assures me that it has tons of race parts and from the HP, I do not doubt it.
Look at the size of those custom bent headers. Very, very expensive.
TRANSFER CASE
My license plate does not read TRL HPY for nothing. Check out the two happy face golf balls. Twin stick shifter. Gauge is for monitoring transmission pressure.
NP205 with custom twin stick conversion. The steel casing NP205 is known for their strength. One of the strongest transfer case you could buy. I’ve not heard of anyone breaking one yet. Twin stick means you could shift to rear wheel drive only, front wheel drive only, rear low only, front low only, 4 high and 4 low. Safety lockout is still in place to prevent you from shifting to rear low and front high or rear high and front low.
TRANSMISSION
Modified transmission valve body showing electronic lockup wiring.
Custom Chevy Heavy Duty 700R4 with overdrive and electronic lockup(drive it like a stick if you wish). I paid a custom tranny builder over $2000 to put in race and heavy duty parts to handle the massive power of the big block motor. I can go on and on about the parts and some include Corvette Servo, Red Eagle HD clutch kit, HD Kevlar band, 10 vane rotor gear, HD sparg, HD sun shell etc, etc.
You can drive it at low rpm(save gas) on the freeway because of the overdrive and lockup converter yet still have a low first gear for rock crawling(this has a 21% lower 1st gear than a TH350). I cruised at 75++ MPH on the freeway going to the Rubicon.
The tranny valve body was modified so that you can shift through the gears like a stick shift using the B&M shifter or keep it in drive and drive it like an auto. The electronic lockup was custom built so you that could lockup the torque converter in ANY gear (yes, first gear included), or lock it just in overdrive, or not at all. Why go through all this trouble? Best of both worlds! Drive it like an auto but have the control of a stick. Have compression braking on ultra steep descends, keep it in one gear so that it does not shift on you in dicey situations, full power to the wheels without the torque converter robbing power. The electronics is also wired to release the lockup when you hit the brake so you won’t kill the engine. Release the brake and the lockup resumes.
AXLES
Dana 60 full floater rear
Full floating axle , 8 lug.
Front – Dana 44 with True Trac limited slip, 8 lug, 65” wide.
SUSPENSION
Check out the massive articulation.
Coyote Lake, CA
Top switch is for the hydraulic mico-lock E-Brake. Push the red button and the dedicated on-board air pump stiffens the Rancho RS9000 adjustable shocks. Hit the black buttons and they go soft. Independent adjustment for the front and the rear shocks. And yes, you can adjust it while driving.
Super extended slip yoke front drive shaft. This WILL NOT slip out on you.
Covered with shock boot to protect the splines.
Spring over with shackle reversal, Teflon tips, Rancho RS9000 in cab adjustable shocks. MASSIVE travel!! Yes, you can adjust the shocks while you are driving.
STEERING
Saginaw power steering with 2 drive belts. Fully adjustable steering. Steering wheel tilts up and down. Grant signature series steering wheel.
TIRES
Spare tire is brand new. No chance to get rotated out yet.
SPECIAL FEATURES
Custom front bumper with Warn winch mount
Custom rocker panel skid plates
Custom rear bumper and tire carrier
WARN 8274 winch
Simpson racing seat belts
Autometer gauges
Transmission temperature and clutch pressure meters.
22 gallon auxiliary tank with skid plate. 38 gallons total.
Massive power disk brakes in front
Hydraulic microlock emergency brake
Custom bent headers
Rear battery box
And so much more….Come see for yourself.
On the Rubicon trail, CA
If you are looking at this ad, you know how much time and money it takes to undertake a project like that. For those of you who don’t, ask your friends. There are plenty of FJ40’s out there but none with so much custom work and exotic drive train parts. At least not for sale at this price. So if you think the asking price is too steep, please ask yourself how much your time and owning such an exclusive machine cost. I put way, way more money and time into it than what I am asking.
Loon Lake, CA. Camping after running the Rubicon Trail.
No comments:
Post a Comment