5 year lurker finally working on our '66

[FJ40alex]

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Acquired our '66 soft-top from a grainy 1 picture Craigslist post. Bought it that week and it has sat ever since. The PO had started to rewire it, redo the brakes (we guess) and removed/lost a few key parts in the process. (dash panel, master cylinder, brake lines, brake shoes). Did not know if the engine would turn over. After the harassment of a gearhead child, we decided to get it running and start crashing some of the vintage Landcruiser events we frequent.

I've already reached out to a few Patrol experts on this forum asking about part availability. Eager to get feedback, lessons learned, etc. from this forum.

Actively looking for the following:
- brake cylinders, shoes, brake adjuster (the small "shell" like internal adjuster), springs. Trying to source in the US, but will reach out to the Aussie sellers
- driver side dash panel and gauges
-rear tire swing. It came with an FJ40 swing out. Removed and given to a fellow Cruiser head

Already ordered (special thanks to this forum and the parts compatibility list)
-Winwood dual master cylinder and hardwire to build a new system
-Monroe shocks
-Rust converter to slather the frame and other rusty bits (body is pretty rust free though!)

[RiverPatrol]

I'd say "Welcome to 60Patrol! " but you've already been here a while. That actually looks like a pretty worthy project. It appears that most of the soft top frame is intact. That was the one or two year only soft top frame that had the center bow on the tub behind the rear seats.

I've got brake shoes, haven't looked for the springs yet. I'll respond to your message when I finish looking.

Thanks for the pics! We love pics. Keep us posted on the progress and definitely when you crash some Cruiser events.

[r1lark]

Welcome!! Good to see yet another Patrol in North Carolina.

[L60Boerne]

You do have a good starting place. I have a dash panel plate if you need it and I’m going to my parts barn next week. Gauges will be tough, you need to determine with help from others whether your Speedo needs to be an inny or outty. The 66 can go either way but you need to know which you are looking for. You can’t expect any of the gauges that surface to be working but the non working ones can be fixed for a high price. Even non working ones are better than a hole. Pull knobs will be tough too but not impossible with this forum. It just depends on how correct you want to make it.

Have you started it? If it runs and shifts pretty good you are on your way. This forum can direct you to most of the parts you will need.

Patrolling and rolling,
L60Boerne

[FJ40alex]

It starts! We got an aftermarket wiring harness hooked up and robbed a battery from our 40. Then did a quick carb rebuild (it was surprisingly clean). Poured some Marvel Mystery Oil on the value train since we had no idea when it last started. Lastly, we hooked up a small gas tank direct to the carb and it fired up. Throttle linkage is off because it races and won’t return to idle position. I see a spring on the throttle linkage (at a joint), but is there a return spring to “pull” the linkage back to idle? Something attached to the carb or pedal maybe?

Also, is there a consensus on preferred & affordable aftermarket fuel tanks & sending units? Still investigating if OEM tank is salvageable but a back up might be needed.

[Esteban]

Welcome to 60Patrol!

It starts! We got an aftermarket wiring harness hooked up and robbed a battery from our 40. Then did a quick carb rebuild (it was surprisingly clean). Poured some Marvel Mystery Oil on the value train since we had no idea when it last started. Lastly, we hooked up a small gas tank direct to the carb and it fired up. Throttle linkage is off because it races and won’t return to idle position. I see a spring on the throttle linkage (at a joint), but is there a return spring to “pull” the linkage back to idle? Something attached to the carb or pedal maybe?

Also, is there a consensus on preferred & affordable aftermarket fuel tanks & sending units? Still investigating if OEM tank is salvageable but a back up might be needed.

Glad to hear that it started right up. Regarding a spring for the throttle linkage, please see the following picture, showing 2 springs in the linkage.

#17 at the pivot sitting on the manifold near the carburetor.
#16 inside the cabin near the pedal

[L60Boerne]

You are making progress! The fuel sending units from Columbia work but they display the reading in reverse. Empty means full. As far as I know that is the only fuel sending unit that is plug and play.

The dash parts will be hard but be satisfied with anything OEM that fills the hole then later you can get them working. It is $2000 per gauge to get them rebuilt unless you can do it yourself. First things first, but you have a great starting position.

Rolling in my 66 today,
L60Boerne

[FJ40alex]

Transfer case is shifting ok (both levers), but transmission not budging into any gear. Only wants to stay in neutral. Can't rock it while the front is on jack stands but will try this weekend when Operation Rust Preventer Application starts. Transmission dipstick show signs of water or moisture in the case (PO did let truck sit outside). Will pull the top plate to see what is happening inside. Rebuilding a transmission is not on my 2022 Wish List, but with this forum I suspect we can figure it out. While poking around on the underside, confirmed the e-brake is there and working.

[FJ40alex]

Summit Racing order showed up today - new brake master cylinder, lines, and fittings. And shocks. Also, peeked into the transmission - no signs of oil, and 2 inches of water. Will drain, dry, oil, spin, drain, repeat in an effort to not tear it down. Any suggestions appreciated.

[RiverPatrol]

That doesn't look like a happy trans. Maybe soak it with some Marvel Mystery oil or SeaFoam, something that will penetrate.