so i finally got a fj40 ,well 2 actually .. dont know what the plans are for these yet , for sure .. but im heading in this direction...
the 63 will probably go back to a stockish look .. or as close to stock that i can afford .. with a lexus v8 and a manual tranny..
this one came in pieces , the owner had tried to restore it already and took it completely apart.. its missing the engine and tranny along with the hood and windshield .
all other body parts are there.pretty much just has some surface rust here and there but nothing major.
The 72 will be heading in the crawler direction with a lexus v8 and an auto to start. This one came complete, with some minor rust at the back wheel well.

Ive got a friend that does paint and body work.. he has a 1988 4runner that he wants the lexus v8 swap done to im trying to work out a deal with him for trading the labor work.. me doing the lexus v8 swap for him and him painting my cruisers.

for now im gonna get the 72 running and in working order.. ill be doing some reading on these trucks to see exactly what im gonna do or improve on, before they get the body work and paint done to them ..

im now thinking about selling my 1988 4runner .. mainly because of the space .. dont have much left.

but well see i guess.i do have the 72 stored at a friends right now ..

heres a couple pics of when i picked them up ..
ill get better ones later.

 

Say goodbye to your wallet

:wabbit2:

 

I know I'm barking up the wrong tree here, but I would go with the straight six. I have always had great luck with them, but never had one on a foreign vehicle. Anyways the Lexus v8 will probably get more power, better gas mileage, and pollute less. Don't think passing smog is a concern on those though.

 

Wallet ! Whats that ? I think i may have had one of those back when.
Matt ive never messed with these stock fj engines and honestly dont really want to .. im pretty sure this fj's are getting the 1uz's.. i have one here with a burnt valve its actually the first one that was in my 4runner .. i may just fix that one and throw it in the 63.. i also have a 2uz here that needs some head work also ,again just may fix it and use an aftermaket system to run it .. but not really sure yet..since it cost a lot more to rebulit one than just buy a 100,000 mile used one.. their $300-$400.
and pre smog is what i had been looking for for a while now ...
heres some more pics i took today while moving it around in the drive way and getting a better pic of whats going on with this 63.














My neighbor already came by and said " What piece of junk did you buy now "

I said "piece of junk ! Get out of my yard now sucker!"

 

Nice cruisers you got there, let us see your progress. Don't worry, a properly rebuilt F or 2F is at least $1500 so chuck in yer V8 if they are $300-400. I love my 2F but have more money into it than I'd like to add up.

 

Thanks !! Not really much to report yet , been spending some of my free time researching these fj40's over on ih8mud. I am trying to get the 72 running , i found the carb in the back of the fj and cleaned it up some,rear wheel cylinders are missing all 4 .. was surprised to find these had 2 wheel cylinders per tire.
Finding body parts and weather stripping is not easy .. im still trying to decide whether to keep all the correct body parts on the 63 or not .. not being able to finding the parts is pushing me to just throwing on any that fit.

and yea the lexus v8's are pretty cheap and there are tons of them around here.

within 20 miles of me there are 18 ls 400's
complete engine with all accessories flywheel forward costs $250
transmission is $129
they come with warranty also..so yea they are really cheap and abundant.

complete engine costs $250 fly wheel forward

transmission is $129


95% of these cars are wrecked pretty bad .. they even have a 3uz right now on a 2002 ls 430 i think, but im not even gonna mess with it .. its not to common and parts will have to be dealer only probably.


ill post pics of my progress when i have some ..

 

Lucky dog. A FJ40 is my next build. Already looking, but not finding much within any type of driving distance. And the ones that are around must have used solid gold as body filler, pricey. But when I do find one I think I'll go the 1uz route. Good luck

 

lexus v8, with some body work, spring over axle conversion, tires, gears and lockers! it'll be sweet!

 

Look like alot of fun! Would be sad to see the 4runner go though...do you think you'll have the one ready for wheeling by next summer?

 

Thanks man !! Good luck on your swap .


hope so .. probably willl be doing all those mods and more hopefully.

yea i really dont want to sell and as of right now its all good , but well see i guess.

I should have the 72 running here shortly , i hope .. ill be driving to santa rosa tomorrow to pick up a complete split hood with hindges and latches along with the chrome hood ornament along with some other parts im missing for the 63.
already pulled a 1uz out of the junk yard on sunday .. it came out of a 1995 ls 400 .. total out the door with engine tranny and all accessories including harness.. $310 .. they were having 50% off

 

There's a co. out of Cali./Tex.? someplace like that, that is making brand new FJ40s they are also selling complete resto kits/parts for these beasts including the rubber weather seals...
they've been mentioned here once or twice I think... a quick google should pull them up for you. try "New FJ40" or something like that...

 

ok so i picked up a different engine for the 63 its a 4.0 v6 out of a 2005 tacoma 4x4 .. 6 speed dont know if it will fit in there right now but i got a super deal on the parts and had to get it .. 35,000 miles .. im also gonna sell the 72 ,cant really deal with the 2 and my family and everything else so its going .. ..
poor little 2wd its been thru alot

 

so really havent done much to these 2 .. and i think im back to keeping both , i guess i was just having a bad week when i posted i was gonna sell the 72.
any way i made a shifter knob for the 6 speed and i am getting another dash ready to put on the 63 , the one that is on there now has a big huge hol;e in the center so its coming out .

 

Sweet! RMA I just love it when you so casually talk about throwing a Lexus engine into something, like it's a bolt in operation. HA! Keep up with the updates man I love to see stuff like this.

 

Glad to see your keeping both. I think a old FJ40 would be sweet to have. They are bad@$$ rigs. What tire size you going? Have seen a few of those Lexus swaps. You said you did one to your 4 Runner? Was it a pain? Think it might be a nice swap to my 86 truck. What years have you found to be easier swaps? I know the newer, after 2000 have alot of electrical and computer crap. Worked on a few in college

 

Thanks man !!
Thanks ! ive only used engines 90-93 and they were the same .. am working with a friend and gathering parts to put a 1995 (i think) ls 400 engine into his 80 4x4 pickup right now, its an obd2 engine .. the only thing different would be the wiring.. stick with the early 1uz for easier wiring . and the LS wiring is easier than the SC, but the SC does produce a little more power, good luck !

 

Those early dashes look so good! Can't wait to see more.

 

ill get more pics for you !