40 buying advice

[scheefdog]

Looking for some advice as I began to shop for a 40. I know there is a lot of knowledge on here and I appreciate any feedback you have.

First - I'm looking to to do a resto-mod build that gets driven on mild and moderate trails. I live in Gunnison now and driving the backroads to Utah is more my speed than pounding the interstate. I plan to keep everything Toyota and will likely do a engine swap to gain fuel injection. I'm thinking 1uz, 2uz, or maybe a 3rz turbo for something different (I already have a complete 3rz donor if I go this route).

40 vision - Plan is to stretch the 40 wheelbase and body 18" or so - right behind the doors. I would love to buy a 45 or a 43 to start, but I don't have that much $ up front. I have the space and feel confident in my welding skills to do the 18" stretch. Below are a few pics of rigs that I think are well done. There is a fab company that sells panels and frame plates - I'd probably go this route: to save time whiterhinofab.com/products/fj-40-landcruiser-18-stretch

My thought for tires and suspension is that 33" tires would be sufficient for what I want to drive over - and 35s might be an option, but no bigger. Do you think spring over or an OME kit rides better on bumpy roads and the highway?

There is a 76 FJ40 in Montrose that has been for sale for awhile that I have looked at. It is advertised on Proffitts website under their "vehicles for sale" and was on Craigslist, but the ad is expired now. It has been for sale for a two months now which might say something... Here is the link: www.resurrectionlandcruisers.com/vehicle/1976-fj40/

The 40 has some good and bad. The spring over and power steering that Proffitts did looks and handles great (it is on the tall side of what I would want). The transmission and transfer case are smooth and the current SBC does seem to run well. The 40 also seems to be fairly complete and comes with a nice bikini top on the Proffitts roll cage as well as the original hard top.

The hard top and doors have been sitting in the sellers yard for 10 years so they need to some love. The fiberglass top does have a big crack and the headliner is mostly separated. The owner supposedly has original rear jump seats along with all the emblems, lights, etc (but I didn't see any of that because it is "in a box at the shop").

The bad is that the owner decided to "fix the rust" before selling it and did a hack job of rust repair with lots of bondo - then followed it up with some cheap spray can bedliner type paint. I realize that the paint and bondo needs to be stripped in order for me to fix it right. Has anyone dealt with a paint and bondo combo like this? I did get the owner to show me pics of the cruiser before he did the work and it looked like it had the typical Colorado 40 rust that you see.

Sounds like the seller will move a little on price, but not much. What do you think? Is the good worth the bad? Or does anyone know a better cruiser to buy?

 

[gr8fulabe]

I hate to be one of those guys to answer this type of question with, "you should buy my truck" but for your stated goals I think you would be money ahead buying my BJ46. That partly assumes you aren't dead set on exactly 18inches, behind the front doors. I think the MWB trucks are like 14 inches or so, instead of 18. But you would already be pretty much there with the 46.

Now, if you were looking for a sprung over 40, with an SBC conversion, I think the truck you linked to would be a great deal. But hearing that you would likely undo those things, and then still have to do the work of extending it & then body work, it seems like a lot for very little at that point. I've heard (no first hand experience) that a spring over with flat springs is really plush, but if they have arch left in them it is like riding a buck-board wagon. And I think that it is vast overkill for 33's & might look odd with that stance. But it would likely be great if you went with 35s. Engine wise, if I'm not mistaken, that looks like an older, carbed engine, so you won't be able to sell that for much when you take it out. If it was a newer LS type & injected, etc... it would be pretty valuable. but most people going SBC these days opt to start with fuel injected engines if they don't already have one.

Anyway, beyond all of my statements above, I do think that 40 looks like a really good deal at 8,900 or a little less. I'm just not sure if it is the best choice for your plans & all that. But one nice thing about having the skills & space to do it yourself is that you can make pretty much anything into the thing you want.

Not sure if anything I said is helpful, but hopefully it might help you think through details & such some at any rate.....
Best,
Abe

 

[scheefdog]

I hate to be one of those guys to answer this type of question with, "you should buy my truck" but for your stated goals I think you would be money ahead buying my BJ46. That partly assumes you aren't dead set on exactly 18inches, behind the front doors. I think the MWB trucks are like 14 inches or so, instead of 18. But you would already be pretty much there with the 46.

Now, if you were looking for a sprung over 40, with an SBC conversion, I think the truck you linked to would be a great deal. But hearing that you would likely undo those things, and then still have to do the work of extending it & then body work, it seems like a lot for very little at that point. I've heard (no first hand experience) that a spring over with flat springs is really plush, but if they have arch left in them it is like riding a buck-board wagon. And I think that it is vast overkill for 33's & might look odd with that stance. But it would likely be great if you went with 35s. Engine wise, if I'm not mistaken, that looks like an older, carbed engine, so you won't be able to sell that for much when you take it out. If it was a newer LS type & injected, etc... it would be pretty valuable. but most people going SBC these days opt to start with fuel injected engines if they don't already have one.

Anyway, beyond all of my statements above, I do think that 40 looks like a really good deal at 8,900 or a little less. I'm just not sure if it is the best choice for your plans & all that. But one nice thing about having the skills & space to do it yourself is that you can make pretty much anything into the thing you want.

Not sure if anything I said is helpful, but hopefully it might help you think through details & such some at any rate.....
Best,
Abe

Thanks for the feedback Abe - I really appreciate it. You brought up some great points for me to think about. I see the cruisers you post up and drool over them. I did notice the BJ46 and it would definitely fit my need and vision. I wish it was within my budget because I would gladly take it off your hands. It is feasible for me to spend $10k or less on a rig and build it over time, but my piggy bank will not allow more than that right now. Keep bringing in nice diesel cruisers because I hope to buy one from you someday!

 

[Hulk]

Aqualu has FJ40 bodies stretched 10 inches and 18 inches. The also have quad cabs. Check them out here.

 

[White Stripe]

Looks like a good candidate to start with to me. The v8 will be nice n easy to upkeep. Spring over will ride nice, especially if u lengthen the wheelbase. If it has bedliner on the outside. That can be a pain to remove. His asking price is great. Your going to do body work to stretch it so the bondo is a moot point in my opinion. What would u do for a top after the stretch? Soft top?

 

[gr8fulabe]

Thanks for the feedback Abe - I really appreciate it. You brought up some great points for me to think about. I see the cruisers you post up and drool over them. I did notice the BJ46 and it would definitely fit my need and vision. I wish it was within my budget because I would gladly take it off your hands. It is feasible for me to spend $10k or less on a rig and build it over time, but my piggy bank will not allow more than that right now. Keep bringing in nice diesel cruisers because I hope to buy one from you someday!

Depending on your exact resto-mod plans, we could make a deal to get to 10k for the bj46. If you were planning to go aftermarket seats, roll cage, console, I’d happily take those parts home with me after delivering the truck. If we delivered the truck, I’d happily knock a bit off if you wanted to spend a day helping me learn to weld. You could drive it as-is until you were ready to do the engine swap & then give me back the 3b driveline. It would all just depend on exactly what your plans were.

Alternatively, I think we are going to list our 76 fj40 soon. No top, Needs body work & currently not running due to being part way through an 83 or 84 2f & h55f swap. It isn’t running, but we’ll sell it for $3k & you could recoup a lot of that by selling the engine/tranny combo. It would be a super cheap way to get started on your project. The head was rebuilt, but not the engine... of

 

[scheefdog]

Aqualu has FJ40 bodies stretched 10 inches and 18 inches. The also have quad cabs. Check them out here.

I have seen that Aqualu offers 18" stretched bodies. Seems like that would be the easy way to go if one had the cash. Does anyone from RS run an Aqualu body?

Looks like a good candidate to start with to me. The v8 will be nice n easy to upkeep. Spring over will ride nice, especially if u lengthen the wheelbase. If it has bedliner on the outside. That can be a pain to remove. His asking price is great. Your going to do body work to stretch it so the bondo is a moot point in my opinion. What would u do for a top after the stretch? Soft top?

Having always been a Toyota guy - I'm hesitant of the SBC. The good is that it is a running and driving "project". The bedliner on the outside is not real bedliner - just cheap spray paint with texture. I think it would be fairly easy to remove. I think a soft top on a nice roll bar setup would be great for the summer. Maybe eventually stretch a top for the cold weather months?

 

[scheefdog]

Depending on your exact resto-mod plans, we could make a deal to get to 10k for the bj46. If you were planning to go aftermarket seats, roll cage, console, I’d happily take those parts home with me after delivering the truck. If we delivered the truck, I’d happily knock a bit off if you wanted to spend a day helping me learn to weld. You could drive it as-is until you were ready to do the engine swap & then give me back the 3b driveline. It would all just depend on exactly what your plans were.

Alternatively, I think we are going to list our 76 fj40 soon. No top, Needs body work & currently not running due to being part way through an 83 or 84 2f & h55f swap. It isn’t running, but we’ll sell it for $3k & you could recoup a lot of that by selling the engine/tranny combo. It would be a super cheap way to get started on your project. The head was rebuilt, but not the engine... of

I'd love to talk. I'll send you a private message with my number and email right now.

 

[Rezarf]

I agree with what the guys have been saying. Consider what has to be undone to start your resto mod.

Removing bedliner is neither easy nor quick... that'd be a battle IMHO.

I think you'd be better off buying a stripped 40 with a good sheet metal "canvas" to start from. Try to find as complete a 40 as you can as all the little things add up if you have to track them down. However, a non-runner/no drive train seems like it could work for you. I'd be looking heavily in NM and Arizona for a rust free shell and chassis.

I agree that SOA and 33's will not look proportional. 33's and a SUA up to 4" looks and should handle great. SOA and 35-37's look great. If it is going to run more trails than street I wouldn't hesitate to build the truck for 35's. There's a jump in the hardware needed when you go from 33 to 35's for most trucks, beefier birfs, beefier P/S, gearing, brakes etc.

Sounds like an awesome project, looking forward to seeing it progress.

 

[White Stripe]

I have seen that Aqualu offers 18" stretched bodies. Seems like that would be the easy way to go if one had the cash. Does anyone from RS run an Aqualu body?



Having always been a Toyota guy - I'm hesitant of the SBC. The good is that it is a running and driving "project". The bedliner on the outside is not real bedliner - just cheap spray paint with texture. I think it would be fairly easy to remove. I think a soft top on a nice roll bar setup would be great for the summer. Maybe eventually stretch a top for the cold weather months?

I have a aqualu body on my fj40. I was sick of chasing rust. I think another member has a aqualu too. Can't remember who.

 

[Corbet]

I love your vision as I plan to do the same stretch to my 40 someday if money ever allows me to build it. I want to link mine, LS Swap, 80 Series axles, on 37’s.

I’d find the cleanest bodied FJ40 you can with a non-running or absent drivetrain. Minimize your bodywork from the start. Get your price down by finding one missing what you don’t want or need anyway.

 

[Hulk]

Does anyone from RS run an Aqualu body?

Sharkbait had a 40 with an Aqualu tub.

 

[scheefdog]

Thought I better post an update. I ended up getting Abe's 76 FJ40 and took delivery of it this past weekend. I officially own an FJ40 (project). It is currently in Salida because Monarch pass was too snowy this past weekend to tow it over to Gunnison. I will bring it over in the next week or two when the pass is dry.

I decided to go for it because it is a non-runner, yet complete (other than the 2f missing little bits). The 40 has its fair share of rust in the tub. From the front cowl forward it seems easily manageable. The Aqaulu stretched 3/4 tub might be the way to go even though is some serious $$.

I paid extra for the set of soft top bows because I knew they would make doing the stretch with a soft top much easier.

Undecided on the engine/drivetrain at this point. Still thinking 3rz with manual trans and dual cases would be great (and I have a 3rz 4runner donor). Or I could go 2uz from an early Tundra, but I would want to stay manual trans. The cruiser already has an H55 trans thanks to Abe. I think a 2UZ to H55 bell housing is available out of Austrailia for some $$.

I like the thought of a 3rz powered 40 tipping the scales at 3200 lbs (or less?) getting 20+ mpg. However the 2uz would be fun and very quick while still getting decent mileage. Or maybe I should be looking at an electric conversions because it is almost 2020?

A few pics.

 

[rover67]

Awesome! That radio is probably worth a bit of coin if you don't need it!

 

[gr8fulabe]

Awesome! That radio is probably worth a bit of coin if you don't need it!

The knobs & such are in the ash tray! Toyed with selling it years ago, as I wanted an actual stereo in there, but never got around to it.

 

[Cocarlisle]

Sweet
Another one of Abe’s rigs will ride again !

 

[Shark Bait]

Sharkbait had a 40 with an Aqualu tub.

I actually had a steel tub from a company in the same town as Aqualu. They went out of business years ago. These days pacolonline.com makes tubs. I know CCOT sells replacement parts. And I'm sure there are other places.