i am thinking of buying an fj40

jumper · Post by **jumper** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 2:01 am

i am thinking of buying an fj40 so i need to know the good and bad to look for when sizing one up. also who has got one and what have you done to it.

thanks
rob

Rangielux · Post by **Rangielux** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 8:40 am

Rust is the obvious. the 40's are a great truck (opps 4wd) and allmost becoming "iconic" in 4wd circles.

I've seen lately that a good example is worth more than a 70 series

. So maybe a 70 series (P/S & 5spd) could also be an option although you'll still have to check the rust problem

muddy · Post by **muddy** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 9:20 am

Look for rust - particularly around the rear lights & doors. Do a compression test - it'll have at least 200,000km on it, but the old 2F tractor engines seem to run forever. The manual says anything over 105psi is acceptabe, with no more than 15psi diff between cylinders. Even with good compression, it's likely to smoke a bit due to worn valve guides (not helped by unleaded petrol). Lots of them have LPG conversion - half the price of petrol - which is good cos they're a thirsty beast. Only prob with LPG is the tank is mounted under the arse behind the axle which makes it drag on the ground a bit, especially with saggy springs... Check both gearbox & transfer case are working OK, and won't easily slip out of gear - check under both power and enging braking. Things you are likely to have to replace are shocks, spring bushes, steering ball joints, knuckle seals, etc. If they all look god, it's probablybeen well looked after. Maybe worth popping the diff/gerabox/transfer case drain plugs & check the oil is clean - another indicator of maintenance...

Good things are a 4 spd gearbox, full floating rear axles, LSD.

It'll probably have a saggy arse - relatively cheap & simple to fix with longer shackles. Don't rush in with mods until you're sure you know what you want to end up with. SOA gives a good lift with great articulation, but is a LOT of work, and best with old saggy springs. Alternative lifts are spring kits, re-set springs, or putting in longer springs from a 45 or 60 series.

You can fit 33in tryes with no lift if you cut the rear guards.

There's a few others on the forum who know more than I do...

Great info on mods & maintenance at this site:
http://forum.ih8mud.com/forumdisplay.ph ... a70b0d&f=8

krawlr · Post by **krawlr** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 10:32 am

how much you wana spend ?and what about a half finished project?

and mate my advise would be 82-84 years .

good luck

MNC · Post by **MNC** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 8:41 pm

Go for it! They are mean wagons and tough as. :twisted:

I pick up an old rusty beast for a dedicated off-road project. It has been awesome fun and I`m learning more about how to work on and mod them all the time.

One thing I might have done differently with hind sight is buy a wagon that already has everything I want. It would have been a cheaper option that buying the truck and parts then doing it myself.

Things I`m currently looking to do: Disk brakes (most seam to have drums all around which aren`t so flash in the wet mud), PTO winch (wish it was on now as is currently out stuck on the farm), LSD or even lockers in the Diffs (pisses me off when one wheel is spinning in mud when the other is on good ground), some big rims to fit my swampers :twisted:

At the end of the day - so far I`ve enjoyed having the 40 as off-road only better then the mixed used Safari or Terrano cause you can throw them around, bash em up and still get to work the next day no problem.

jumper · Post by **jumper** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 3:41 am

thanks for the info on what to look out for. dont know what i want to spend yet looking at what you get for your money. what sort of half finished project have you got krawlr ? and why 82-84 ?

krawlr · Post by **krawlr** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 6:08 am

well tose years even 80 onwards say are the goddies got the full floater rear end ,4spd ,flush door handles etc its prob more personal pref more than anything ........

yes i do have a half finished project and yes more than one

but what are you planning on spending serriously ?,whats youre budget ?

hinsonberger · Post by **hinsonberger** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 9:58 pm

I'd stretch to a 70 series if you can.

They already have all the good stuff people track down & fit to 40 series wagons.

I ran an FJ70 for 3 years. Pretty decent wagon.

As previously mentioned, check for rust especially in firewall, roof gutters, above rear wheels, behind rear wheels.

If you manage to get a NZ wagon the springs are also unlikely to be sagging.

Cheers

jumper · Post by **jumper** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 1:40 am

i prefer the look of the 40 over the 70.

looking on trade me it seems like you have to spend $4k-$5k to get a decent one, half that to get a do'er up'er and $7.5k-$12.5k for a highly modded or v8 one.
i dont know exactly what i want to spend yet but i am thinking maybe something thats needs a bit of work. what sort of half done projects have you got krawlr

turoa · Post by **turoa** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 11:00 am

there was a nice v8 40 on trademe a couple of weeks ago for 6k. Not sure if its still there though.

doddzee · Post by **doddzee** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 11:04 am

This one looks ok if your are handy with a spanner

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 040924.htm

eatenfuller · Post by **eatenfuller** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 4:36 pm

ive seen it in person :oops:

SupraLux · Post by **SupraLux** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 4:44 pm

Still, not a bad price for a reasonable looking truck with a decent V8 powerplant...

I'm having the devils own time trying to find a decent 350 chev for my project... about to give up and try to find a 304 instead...

I think I'll do a 40-series next, they do have a certain look that I like.

Steve

rowinz · Post by **rowinz** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 9:46 pm

I had an FJ40 for 2 yrs & loved it - for a while. It went better than a lot of other mod'ed trucks when just standard, on 750x16 tyres. It was a great truck, but it was hard to drive - you finish a day out pretty knackered. Can only really do 80kph on open road without flogging it. I was gonna do the whole power steer/disc brake/5spd box thing, but I got a FJ70 instead, which is a dream compared to the old 40. I think it really depends on what you want it for. I love the 40 shape, but would not go back now - I can turn with one finger (try a 40pt turn with no power steer) and have a heater that actually works.
The 2F engine I had (on LPG) could not be stalled. They have HEAPS of torque, but lack in the rev dept. They are reasonably thirsty (I got 23-28l/100km on LPG - 10% worse than petrol). The external LPG tanks do scrape and could get damaged, but so could any other part of gear.
As someone said, there some of the 70s are cheaper than 40s. Depending on age they have more or less the same running gear, but the 3F in the 70 I think runs nicer - it can rev out better, though not the real low torque of the 2F.
My 2c anyway...
Cheers
Rowan

Rangielux · Post by **Rangielux** » Sat Apr 29, 2006 8:12 am

The great Landcruiser debate

All that's true. I too had a 40 as a daily driver for a year and it was ok but then I got a 70 and kept it for 8 yrs it was so good !! Changed oil/filters, tyres and shocks, tuned it twice - went perfect, on lpg too.

The 3F seems to be a much better engine than than 2F

If I was choosing again and had to drive it on the road etc I wouldn't have a 40,

But If you want a cool icon of offroad driving then 40s are it and as good or better off road than a 70 (if you've got the muscles)
Nice 70 on TM for 7.5k Diesel winch snorkle lift 35,s front&rear factory diff locks!! what more could you want!!

mikeey1 · Post by **mikeey1** » Sat Apr 29, 2006 1:54 pm

arr yes the wonderful bench mark 40..
Great truck, great heavy pig of a thing that you'll have to drive in serious anger to kill.
there is a saying, the only thing faster than a cruiser is the body rust and yep they're either growing or showing!
it all can be repaired without too much cost, the most expensive is the bottom of the door pillars / floor area.
The chassis are great, build like a battle ship really!
The engines, standard is a bore, 6cyl petrol seems to be the most common, alot of repowers have been done with V8's or 6cyl diesels..

The most modded one I know of is woopass's one, this is nothing short of a weapon of a FJ 40 that was designed to get you places. if it doesn't climb it it will either collapse under the rumbling of it's 36's or the sound of that big huge donk he's got in it, hell that's enough for it to shit itself and collapse when it sees him coming.

Most will admits the ride is a little hard on springs but in anger I know what I'd prefer to be on

If poss and the budget can stretch get one that has already been done up a bit if not it's like a boat you'll keep throwing money at it.

wopass · Post by **wopass** » Sun Apr 30, 2006 9:31 pm

my leaf sprung FJ40 is a softer ride than most coil sprung 4x4 vehicles,granted they are very old and saggy but thats why they flex so well.

thanks for the talk up mikee1 :wink:

ill fix you up for that later :lol:

as for my engine, its only the 2f which is only 4.2ltr, but yes its about two times heavier than a chev plant....but i cant kill it,i have tried :twisted:

but it just wont die :roll:

so it is a very reliable bush truck engine

mine still has all origanal steel panels which is doing well for a 1970 vehicle, has a bit of cancer in the front chassis cross member which is a common place for them to rust and in the rear cross member where the tow bar bolts to,catches a lot of mud up in there and it is a real hard place to clean properly....dont look at mine

over all if you want a good toy, get one that you like the look of and go from there 40's are a good strong 4x4 but so is a hilux or....i hate to say it...safari :shock:

depends on what you feel happy driving

GO THE 40's

i am thinking of buying an fj40

i am thinking of buying an fj40

;-p