Build your dream FJ40 for me! 20K budget

shootmymime

shootmymime

New member
So, I dont really know where else to post this to get everyone attention.

At work, I am assigned to build a 70s FJ40 Toyota Land Cruiser.

The owner wants a beefed up truck, lifted, tires, bumpers, winch, chevy 350, tranny, xcase, new bucket seats. lights etc....

So what i want from you guys is help finding information about these trucks, links to web sites, pictures of things that will look good on this truck.

the budget is a "bucket of money" (20 grand ish the guy has tons of money and wants this thing to be beefy) so think wild. I still need to get a hold of the owner to see exactly what he is going to use it for (looks or use)

Here are some pictures of the truck the way it currently stands, PS. any of the parts I take off i will post up for sale on here. Pictures will tell how clean this truck is!!!











 
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Thats an FJ40.

But if he is wheeling 35s, regear, and ARB lockers front and rear.
 
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That's a 40 series, not an 80.

If I had that truck, I'd run an OME suspension, plate armor, motor swap to a 4BT in front of an R151 and 4.7 transfer case, and 35" MT tires on the stronger/wider 80 series axles and elockers.

I'd refer you to Cruiser Outfitters, but I suspect Kurt might pitch a fit at what your customer wants to do to that beautiful truck. You could check out builds on IH8mud.com, lots of cruiserheads over there.
 
That's a really clean example of an FJ40. I almost feel bad hearing that it will be altered.

Either way, why would you want a Chevy 350? I would swap in an FZJ80 engine and transmission combination. It makes more sense to me in a Toyota. You could even swap in a 2UZ. I doubt the 5VZ would be a dog in this either, considering that this doesn't seem like it would be heavier than a 3rd Gen.
 
zopperman said:
v8 swap!!!! :trophy:

I can't wait to see this :pop2:

other than that, nothing original here, armor, lockers, etc..
Click to expand...

Met a guy last weekend on the otherside of the divide at a gas station who had a FJ40 with a V8 from a Corvette ZR1 swapped in. Didn't see the engine bay but it was a nice sounding truck.

My dad and sister (occasionally me) are rebuilding a 1978 FJ40. Took it down to the frame, replaced the body, and building it back up now. That is such a clean one you're looking at it's a shame like everyone else said!

Nothing different from me for mods, but I would extend or get an aftermarket roll cage. The one we have came with it when we got it and it's a beast and bolts into the fire wall.
 
[MENTION=14772]shootmymime[/MENTION]

You can do a lot with $20k to that truck.... but he's still limited on how much he wants to build it. It's a sweet truck though.

Here's an FJ40 my truck is parked next to right now. It's got a 5.3 liter Vortec V8 in it, dana 60 front and dana 70 rear. FOA's front and rear. 3link/4link on 41's. There's A LOT of fab work done to this truck. The truck isn't even done and the guy has almost $30k into it and now he's selling it for $15k because he ran out of money. Since he's having you build it, he's limited on what he could do to it because of how much labor he's going to be paying for. If your customer wants all that and duals, etc... I dunno.. I just think it's going to go over $20k real fast haha. If you want some more pics of this truck, let me know and I'll take a bunch of pics tomorrow at the shop.

If he wants to actually use it you're gonna want to ditch those axles.. especially that rear axle. 10 bolts = no bueno.

IMG_20130313_135004_zpsbd0543a2.jpg~original


IMG_20130313_135611_zps9b37ff9c.jpg~original
 
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I would really keep this retro looking but at the same time I would want a more modern engine and drivetrain. I'm thinking a newer Toyota I6 or V8. Then, install more robust axles with disc brakes and air lockers. As for bumpers, I would keep it very minimalist yet providing solid recovery points and the ability to mount accessories. I personally prefer the skinny tires on these too. For seats, I would keep them manually adjustable with a waterproof fabric. If this guy is really going to use it hard, I would coat it in Monstaliner mixed with a factory paint color making it durable but retro. Lights could be updated to projectors and LED's of course. I would really focus on corrosion resistance if this thing will really be used.
 
so here is an update guys, we finally decided we want to keep everything toyota. so i was able to finally find a wrecked tacoma, 4wd, 3.4 V6, manual tranny for sale that is somewhat in my area. im going to get it here in about a week. then it will be almost time to start working on this project.
 
I like the decision to keep everything Toyota. I'm not sure the 3.4 v6 swap is going to be the best for the 40 though. The ULTIMATE tranny in those trucks is the Toyota H55, a Toyota 5 seed manual. That with the original transfer case that should be in that truck would make a great combo. A 2F Toyota motor with FI added or a 3FE would be my choice for motors in this truck coupled with the H55 5 speed.

Post up your ideas over here on IH8MUD, you will get tons of help and ideas.
40- & 55-Series Tech
 
F series motors are gas hogs for the limited power they make, I like the 3.4 for a swap much better.

80-series axles should go well with that motor, but any axle swap is going to be pushing his budget. See if you can get him to go 25k - do the drivetrain swap with a Tacobox (that's driver drop, right?). Throw 9" elocker axles underneath with links front and rear, slap some aftermarket armor on it, and call it good. Depending on what labor you guys charge, that should be just about $25,000.
 
 
I doubt the truck owner is too worried about the gas mileage he is going to get, if his first thought was a V8 motor in an early 70's FJ40. I do personally like the F series of motors because of the ease of working on them, and they just seem right for the trucks, but everyone has different tastes. Motors are largely subjective...it may be best to present a few options to the owner and let him decide what he likes best, based on cost, ease of maint., resale value, power needs...etc.

I think those axles under the 40 currently are still the coarse splines, which would be one thing I would want to get rid of, especially if I were considering 35" or larger tires, or any type of off road travel really. So the 80 axles would be a nice addition to the build, but the work to make them fit and function correctly may be a budget killer. If it were, I would look to swap out some axles from a later model 40, I think models made after 9/75 came with disc front brakes and the fine splines that are much more desirable. The swap is cheap, easy, and a great improvement over the coarse splines and drum brakes.
 
The 5VZ is a good choice. I don't think it would be very easy to get a manual that would mate to the 2UZ or 1FZ since these combos were never sold here anyway. If V8 power is needed, you could always supercharge.

80 series e-locker axles would be a nice idea too. I would get 255/85/16's to keep the old school pizza cutter look.
 
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