I’ve been tossing around the idea of picking up an FJ40 project for a couple of years now. With the kids getting older, I wanted to find a vehicle that was simple enough that they could learn basic mechanics on. I’ve looked at quite a few FJ40s, but it wasn’t until a few weeks ago that I found the right one.
It’s a 1972 FJ40 with a very low mileage Chevy 350 crate motor backed up by a Toyota 3spd tranny. The Cruiser came with some extra goodies like a brand new Aussie locker, (2) Toyota 4spd transmissions with an extra Toyota 4spd to Chevy 350 bell housing adapter, and an auxiliary fuel tank.
The plan is to do a frame off restore so that everything is mechanically and structurally sound. While I won't be restoring everything to original specs, it will still be a classic Cruiser when I'm done.