Why is this so hard?!?

The other night I was staring at my FJ40 project, drinking a beer and wondering what the hell I’m going to do with this thing… I’m really not looking for something that will replace my 80 series, but I really don’t want a trailer queen either. But where is that dividing line? How far is too far?

I know that I need to have a set of goals for this rig and stick to them to the best of my ability, but I also know that building a rig a nothing but a series of compromises and cheap opportunities! I would like it to be street legal. I want to be able to run a soft top with doors for the rain/snow. I want it to be geared down enough that I can run a manual without hating it. (I need to do this because of driveline length.) It needs to be fuel injected or propane fed for angles. I want it to be able to run the Crushers. I want it stable enough to drive it to Dairy Queen on a nice summer night. Dependability is a must. I’m sure there are other things, but I can’t think of them!

As for cheap opportunities, I can get a 1968 tub for $100. The problem is none of the body mounts will line up and I will loose the under-tub gas tank. This is not a huge deal if I decide to run propane. Speaking of which, I have a good used 2F bottom end (and a line on a rebuilt head) that I could set up for propane rather cheap, but I don’t know about the legality issues of making it pass DEQ and I would love to put a V8 in her! I can pick up well built 40 series axles for a good price, but would love to have the stability of a 60 series front axle and a full-floating 80 series axle in the rear. Another problem with that is I would need to run an off-set transfer case, where I really want a 3 speed Stak. I guess I could run a ToyBox, but it’s longer…

The fact of the matter is there is so many things that need to fall into place and I just flat want this thing on the road… I think I’m going to need your guys help to stay focused and not just throw it together just to start over again in a couple years! I’m finally getting the opportunity to build a rig from the ground up and I feel so overwhelmed I almost want to sell it (scrap it?!?).

The new project is home!

A good friend of mine (and fellow Cruiserhead) bought a 1979 FJ40 a while back for parts. The tub was shot, but it had some good parts on it and he did a great job at stripping the usable parts. One day I was talking to him about wanting to start a 40 project but not having the money to buy a base. At the end of the conversation, he ended up with more room in his shop and I ended up with a clean titled, stripped FJ40 to call my own!

Well, last night it finally made it to it's new home and was pushed back behind my shop. Now don't get me wrong, this is going to be a really slow build. And I'm not 100% sure how extreme I want to go with it since I'm not selling my FZJ80 when it's finished. However, I do know that it will live again!

As it sits now, I have a shot tub that will go to the scrappers, a solid frame, Saginaw power steering, SOA lift with shackle reversal and a bunch of miscellaneous parts... I think I will keep the front suspension as is, but I may 4-link the rear. I would like to run it with as much Toyota equipment as possible, so it will have a FJ60 front end and a FZJ80 rear (more than likely), 2F running on propane injection, SM465 tranny and a Dana 300 (Stak?) transfer case. I found a tub for an early 40 that I will try to make work...

All in all, I'm really excited for the project. I will try to keep you guys updated on what is going on with it in real time. (i.e. really slowly!) And now, some pics of it before it came to my place: