Forty questions and 'bout fj40's
- Thread starter Sempertoy
- Start date
1911
Expedition Leader
I do.
Love it; driving it never fails to put a big smile on my face.
Ask and ye shall receive! 40 owners love to show-off their rigs. :smiley_drive:
Great for one person, getting crowded for a week's worth of camping equipment and supplies for two. I've done it, but with two people you can't bring all the junk you might in a larger rig. You need to plan your trip needs and pack carefully. 99% of them have no A/C, so you have to like being warm (or cold or dusty without the top on).
Read this article many times; commit it to memory before you start looking at them: http://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series-tech/132481-buying-land-cruiser.html
But the short story is (especially for a daily driver), buy a later year model in the best condition that you can afford. For U.S. models, '74 and up has a 4-speed transmission. '76 and up has front disc brakes. '78 and up has fine-splined axles and Birfields. '79 and up has 3.7 diffs, a 22-gallon gas tank, and factory options (though rare) for power steering and A/C. With money and time it is possible to upgrade an older one with most of these things, but again you will be money and time ahead to get them stock on a working/running truck in the first place.
You really need to be mechanically inclined, or at least very willing to learn and do your own work on these. In good condition they are stone reliable (I drive mine all over the country, wheel it, and drive it home) but like any 30+ year-old vehicle they need more maintenance than a new one, and many have suffered from hideous modifications and "repairs" by previous owners.
You may be a professional body man; if not however, then for most owners mechanical things are easier and cheaper to fix yourself than rusted-out body parts - so a rust-free truck is much to be desired over mechanical perfection. Again, buy the best one you can afford with the least rust. If you identify at purchase time some problems that you will need to address, then double or triple your original estimate of how much money and time it will take to fix them. Again, unless you are already experienced in all phases of vehicle restoration/fabrication, you will be way better off to save up and pay a premium for a good running, non-rusted truck than to take on a cheaper "project" truck.
Finally, join the IH8MUD.com forum and absorb all the knowledge, wisdom, and help that is there.
Good luck with your search, be patient, and don't fall in love with the first couple that you look at. There is always another one for sale, probably better than the one you are looking at currently.
SFROMAN
Adventurer
-Who on here DD's a 40?
I have been daily driving my 40 since January. The only time it let me down was when I did not make it to the gas station and ran out of gas. My 40 is a 1969 and it has spring over conversion as well as power steering and disc brake upgrade. I have lock right lockers front and back and 35" mud terrain tires.
-Do you like it? Can you post pictures of it?
I busted the rear pinion over almost 2 years ago and when I swapped out thirds I went with numericaly lower gears from 4.10 to 3.73s. Now it rides perfect. I have 35" tires with a SBC with an SM420 tranny so it is slow to pick up speed but my power range is perfect even going 70 on the interstate. The best part is that my kids love it when I take them or pick them up from school or when we ride out to the beach in "the big truck"
-How does it work as an "expo" platform? ( i just camp really)
I have gone camping in it by myself and it worked out for me but I have kids and wife so if they are coming along we have to take the f250. That is why I am now looking to get an 80 or 60 series.
-What should I look for when buying a 40?
I deploy alot and dont have as much free time as I would like to build a rig so I found one that was already built for the most part and was completley rust free. now I just upgrade little things as I go.
Here are some pics of mine.
no doors
with doors
no top
I have been daily driving my 40 since January. The only time it let me down was when I did not make it to the gas station and ran out of gas. My 40 is a 1969 and it has spring over conversion as well as power steering and disc brake upgrade. I have lock right lockers front and back and 35" mud terrain tires.
-Do you like it? Can you post pictures of it?
I busted the rear pinion over almost 2 years ago and when I swapped out thirds I went with numericaly lower gears from 4.10 to 3.73s. Now it rides perfect. I have 35" tires with a SBC with an SM420 tranny so it is slow to pick up speed but my power range is perfect even going 70 on the interstate. The best part is that my kids love it when I take them or pick them up from school or when we ride out to the beach in "the big truck"
-How does it work as an "expo" platform? ( i just camp really)
I have gone camping in it by myself and it worked out for me but I have kids and wife so if they are coming along we have to take the f250. That is why I am now looking to get an 80 or 60 series.
-What should I look for when buying a 40?
I deploy alot and dont have as much free time as I would like to build a rig so I found one that was already built for the most part and was completley rust free. now I just upgrade little things as I go.
Here are some pics of mine.
no doors
with doors
no top
Sempertoy
Explorer
Gents, thanks for the responses. I really appreciate them. I don't know how to explain my lust for a 40... I have an awesome tacoma that has never ever let me down, but for some reason I find myself constantly looking at 40's.
1911, I have seen your cruiser in my searches several times. It is beautiful
SFROMAN I have also seen yours, there is a pic posted of it somewhere with the doors off on a dirt road that totally captures the 40 dream for me.
I'll keep looking for a 40. I'm sure that there is someone out there that wants to trade..
Thanks again for the responses!
1911, I have seen your cruiser in my searches several times. It is beautiful
SFROMAN I have also seen yours, there is a pic posted of it somewhere with the doors off on a dirt road that totally captures the 40 dream for me.
I'll keep looking for a 40. I'm sure that there is someone out there that wants to trade..
Thanks again for the responses!
cruiseroutfit
Well-known member
I have DD'd mine over the years and I have zero issue hopping in it for a 1000+ trip. Some weeks I drive the 40 nearly everyday, other times it sits between trips. Lots of great advice above, don't have much to add other than I think 40's make a great 'project vehicle' and 'trail rig' but having one as your sole mode of transportation and DD can be a frustrating experience until you have really had a chance to baseline the entire truck which can be a long and expensive process. After that, drive away... I have a few customers hitting the 500k mark on their 40's 
My 72' FJ40
My 72' FJ40
1911
Expedition Leader
Thanks guys, I appreciate that.
33x10.5x15 BFG KM2
yohavos
Member
Sold my '78
I had a 1978, and as mentioned earlier, my 40 didn't have a rear mounted tank, that is one point I would absolutely second when looking at them for longer range travel and/or DD'ing. I loved the 2F and the simplicity, just hated the 100 highway mile range
Power steering is nice too.
I've seen a few neat sleeping setups that people concocted for their 40's, but my favorite was hanging my hammock off the rollbar to a tree. I wish I had a picture on my computer. Camping out of the 40 allows for the ultimate KISS type set up.
-Mike
I had a 1978, and as mentioned earlier, my 40 didn't have a rear mounted tank, that is one point I would absolutely second when looking at them for longer range travel and/or DD'ing. I loved the 2F and the simplicity, just hated the 100 highway mile range
Power steering is nice too.
I've seen a few neat sleeping setups that people concocted for their 40's, but my favorite was hanging my hammock off the rollbar to a tree. I wish I had a picture on my computer. Camping out of the 40 allows for the ultimate KISS type set up.
-Mike
roberto
Adventurer
I love mine, as I am sure all do
short wheelbase makes it a little ruffer
but as said before always puts a smile on the face and others as well
look for rust issues and get on I8hmud forum under 40's section
not much room for storage but put a roof rack on or pull a trailer if hauling alot.
Rob
short wheelbase makes it a little ruffer
but as said before always puts a smile on the face and others as well
look for rust issues and get on I8hmud forum under 40's section
not much room for storage but put a roof rack on or pull a trailer if hauling alot.
Rob
Attachments
Box Rocket
Well-known member
I have DD'd mine over the years and I have zero issue hopping in it for a 1000+ trip. Some weeks I drive the 40 nearly everyday, other times it sits between trips. Lots of great advice above, don't have much to add other than I think 40's make a great 'project vehicle' and 'trail rig' but having one as your sole mode of transportation and DD can be a frustrating experience until you have really had a chance to baseline the entire truck which can be a long and expensive process. After that, drive away... I have a few customers hitting the 500k mark on their 40's
My 72' FJ40
View attachment 74129
Good advice on the baseline suggestion. My 40 was my daily driver for almost 10 years commuting 60+ miles/day, and driving it to and from monthly trail rides. Overall I was pretty fortunate to have very few issues that interrupted my ability to drive it every day. During that 10 year span I did have the 2F rebuilt (about 1 mo of downtime) and had about a 6 month period for a major reskin/rebuild but that was almost entirely cosmetic. However, by the time I sold the truck I had completely rebuilt or replaced all the critical driveline bits including the motor, trans, t-case, axles, driveshafts, steering, charging system. Not to mention the bodywork that left me only using the fiberglass cap for the hardtop as the sole remaining original body panel.
But even with 5" of lift and 37's I'd happily still daily drive it if i still owned it.
Summertime DD mode
Wintertime DD mode
Sempertoy
Explorer
Thanks guys for all the input.. I posted a picture of the one I was looking at and the guys on mud tore it apart. So it looks like im sticking with 'ol reliable for a while longer. In the perfect world I would buy a 40 to play with on the weekends. Maybe when my wife graduates.. So I'll just be happy with what I have
yohavos
Member
Let me guess... diamond plate and an upside down bezel? Bondo? Those are like open wounds in shark infested water on mud :violent-smiley-031: