Gnarvan has a new friend - Page 2

**BroncoHauler** · 07-08-2012, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ultrasport12

Also when we were in the LA area a few months back we saw a place near the coast that had at least a dozen for sale and others they were working on. Its all they had, I guess that shows how much I look for them....Just add it to the list of dream cars to own before I die I better get at it.

Was it the place on Lincoln Blvd, in Santa Monica?

(Thread hijack in full force.)

Herb

Tapatio · 07-08-2012, 05:46 PM

Hijack +2

These guys are taking Bronco's and FJ's to the next level. Unfortunately they make SMB's look like a bargain.

http://icon4x4.com/overview/br/models

**BroncoHauler** · 07-08-2012, 07:31 PM

Looking at your picture again, I can now see why you picked up the FJ. Clearly you like all your vehicles to have white roofs.

Herb

oldbonesclimber · 07-08-2012, 07:31 PM

I feel better about my BARGAIN already. However why do I feel the need to sink Another 15K in to a Bargain?

Paul

Gnarvan · 07-08-2012, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BroncoHauler

Looking at your picture again, I can now see why you picked up the FJ. Clearly you like all your vehicles to have white roofs.
Herb

I was actually going to have Gnarvans roof painted silver. That job will probably have to wait till my checkbook recovers from the work I have planned for the FJ. Since the previous owner did most of the heavy lifting on the expensive repairs I hope to keep the mods to less than 15K. The first test of my willpower will be when I talk to the shop about doing the rear diff repair. If I post that I ended up throwing a locker at it when they replace the leaking seal and bad bearing everyone will know I have no control.

I've had 2 Broncos, 2 Jeeps, 1-GMC, 1 Chevy, 1 Izuzu and 1 E350 4 wheel drive vehicles. I figured it was time for my first Toyota. A FJ40 has been on my dream vehicles list since the early 80's when I had a room mate who was driving one. I was in a CJ-5 at the time.

Anyone have any suggestions on a tow bar? I need a way to get this thing down the freeway behind the van. I drove it into Portland this morning and found out this vehicle gives a different meaning to the Sammy Hagar song "I can't drive 55".

Ultrasport12 · 07-09-2012, 01:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BroncoHauler

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ultrasport12

Also when we were in the LA area a few months back we saw a place near the coast that had at least a dozen for sale and others they were working on. Its all they had, I guess that shows how much I look for them....Just add it to the list of dream cars to own before I die I better get at it.

Was it the place on Lincoln Blvd, in Santa Monica?

(Thread hijack in full force.)

Herb

Nice highjack....
Yes thats the place, do you know it?

**BroncoHauler** · 07-09-2012, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ultrasport12

Quote:

Originally Posted by BroncoHauler

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ultrasport12

Also when we were in the LA area a few months back we saw a place near the coast that had at least a dozen for sale and others they were working on. Its all they had, I guess that shows how much I look for them....Just add it to the list of dream cars to own before I die I better get at it.

Was it the place on Lincoln Blvd, in Santa Monica?

(Thread hijack in full force.)

Herb

Nice highjack....
Yes thats the place, do you know it?

Only from driving past it a number of times. It's on the way home from LAX if I take the coast route.

Herb

Gnarvan · 08-26-2012, 06:12 PM

I finally got some parts for The 40. After waiting for a little over a month I got a rear swingarm spare tire carrier from Man-A-Fre. I had the option of having the tire on the right side or the left. Since the stock lisence plate mount was on the left side in '72 I decided to have the spare swing to the right. I probably would have had better visibility wheeling backwards if I put it on the left but I'd like to keep The 40 fairly stock. The swing arm is made of HEAVY steel but has a stout pivit point that should take a beating.

Link to swing arm spare tire carrier.
http://www.man-a-fre.com/parts_accessor ... AF1047.htm

I also got the custom made tow bar mounts from my fab guy. I spent most of yesterday stripping the old tow bar and re-painting it. I figured out a way to mount a high lift jack on the front bull bar. High Lift wants over $60 for their mounts. I spent $5 for a couple of u-bolts. Not as fancy or easy to remove but it's secure.

Link to the bull bar that's on the front of The 40. I ran the u-bolts through the triangle shaped supports and the jack rests on top of the plate the fairlead bolts to.
http://www.man-a-fre.com/parts_accessor ... series.htm

Progress is slowly being made on Gnarvans new friend. I'm starting to get used to the Detroit Locker I had put in the rear. Man those things are noisy. If I didn't know they needed to work the way they do I could swear my drive train is getting ready to gernade a u-joint.

Swing Arm tire carrier

View of the front end with tow bar, High Lift jack and a Superwinch fairlead I had laying around.

vandiesel · 08-26-2012, 06:18 PM

Gnarvan, I think I have your 40's grandpa.

Maybe a meetup sometime.

Brad

Jeffrey · 08-26-2012, 07:49 PM

Sweet! I do love those things. I owned a 1970 FJ-40 for 13 years from 1973 on. I have no digital images of it, maybe I can find a old photo and scan it. I see a lot of well restored units around. They can drive up a vertical wall.....