HodakaGuy's FJ40 Thread

[Hodakaguy]

Owning a FJ40 has been a bucket list item of mine for a Loooong time. Recently I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to purchase a 75 FJ40 from a family friend who restored it and was finally ready to sell it. It's mostly stock with an original power train. It has a few aftermarket items such as a Weber carb and aftermarket air cleaner.

I plan on swapping the current wheels out to OEM units/hub caps and Installing an original air cleaner unit as well. I'll post pics here as progress happens.

I found an adapter to install the factory air cleaner assy onto the Weber carb and my rig came with the factory air cleaner assy......but someone cut the intake piping off. Dang! I'll have to locate a replacement lower air cleaner unit.

I'll be relocating the fuel line away from the valve cover and Installing a metal fuel filter down low. The engine bay is equipped with a Weber carb and DUI high output ignition.

Hodakaguy

 

[Hodakaguy]

Hodaka Pops and I out running errands this weekend in the FJ.

Original 12v emergency work light that cane wirh the FJ. It plugs into a socket in the glove box and is long enough to reach under the rig and into the engine bay. Way cool!

Hodakaguy

 

[Hodakaguy]

FJ40 fuel & temp gauges stopped working.

Recently while driving around town my fuel & temp gauges would randomly quit working...both at the same time. They came back to life a couple times then just quit all together. With it raining today it's a good time to investigate.

I removed the batt cable (don't do this job with power on the harness, you can short and damage the cluster) then pulled the gauge cluster.

I checked for voltage on pin #3 on the cannon plug (ignition power) and it has good voltage. Scratch that one off the list.

49 years of use has tarnished the copper electrical connections on the cuircut board. I removed all of the electrical connections one by one as well as the ground connections and cleaned the contacts with a burnishing tool.

Re-installed the cluster back in the dash and....working again! Topped off the fuel tank and watched the gauge work its way right up to full. Temp gauge is up and running as well. Perfect!

Hodakaguy

 

[Hodakaguy]

Looking through the glove box I found a 12v light & bracket hanging loose by a single wire. I started poking around a bit and found it's actual home to be under the dash and above the lever for the heater unit. The bracket was black with some surface rust so time to clean it up.

Bracket with light removed.

A quick trip through the blast cabinet

Primed, painted & re-assembled.

Mounted back in place and working great! The wires were up under the dash and waiting to be plugged back in.

Hodakaguy

 

[Hodakaguy]

Time to tweak a OCD issue...Or should I say "CDO"...OCD alphabetized like it should be lol.

The rig drives straight and hands off but the wheel is slightly crooked and it drives me crazy. Linkage looks close to correct so I corrected the issue by pulling and turning the wheel.

Removing 3 small screws on the back side of the wheel releases the horn pad.

Using a puller to pop the wheel free from the steering shaft.

Wheel removed. Here you can see the turn signal mechanism. I cleaned the horn contact and gunk out of the mechanism before re-installing.

Cleaning up the horn contact on the back side of the steering wheel.

Out on a test drive and snagging a coffee. Wheel is much better now!

Drove up in the Horse Heaven Hills and locked in the hubs to circulate the front end.

Hodakaguy

 

[jgaz]

Congrats on your purchase.
So nice to have a vehicle where electrical issues can be repaired without dealing with module.

If you go back to stock wheels, will they be a split rim design?
You might find this article interesting

Time for split rims to roll into the sunset — Exploring Overland

I’m astonished at how often I still read posts on various forums from those who want to swap out their tubeless tires and wheels for split rims and tubed tires. The rationale is all about the romantic aura that still clings to split rims—often glued there by those who still sell them. They’re “Heavy

www.exploringoverland.com

 

[Hodakaguy]

Congrats on your purchase.
So nice to have a vehicle where electrical issues can be repaired without dealing with module.

If you go back to stock wheels, will they be a split rim design?
You might find this article interesting

Time for split rims to roll into the sunset — Exploring Overland

I’m astonished at how often I still read posts on various forums from those who want to swap out their tubeless tires and wheels for split rims and tubed tires. The rationale is all about the romantic aura that still clings to split rims—often glued there by those who still sell them. They’re “Heavy

www.exploringoverland.com

I'll go with new OEM but not split 👍.

Hodakaguy

 

[borison]

That’s a great example of a FJ, but it looks too good, it doesn’t look like there’s enough for you to do to it. I think everyone who enjoys your posts wants to see what you do with a broken down, rusted hulk!

 

[Zeep]

Congrat's on a sweet FJ.

 

[huntsonora]

100% sub’d.

 

[llamalander]

"DUI high output ignition"?
Sounds like a Coffman starter that uses a breathalyzer... I didn't think that would ever get invented!

 

[38snubby]

I am along for the ride.

🍿

 

[(none)]

Looks great! Now can we talk about that oil pressure gauge?

 

[Hodakaguy]

That’s a great example of a FJ, but it looks too good, it doesn’t look like there’s enough for you to do to it. I think everyone who enjoys your posts wants to see what you do with a broken down, rusted hulk!

Oh there is plenty to do on this one....more to come

Hodakaguy

 

[Hodakaguy]

Looks great! Now can we talk about that oil pressure gauge?

Yep....good timing. See below.