1976 FJ40 Restoration & Build Up

Decker’s did a Complete Body off Frame up Rebuild and Restoration on this Cruiser. All photo documented. New paint over original green. Absolutely zero rust. Show perfect and trail ready. Rubicon proven. California smog legal. Virtually everything was disassembled and refurbished, replaced or upgraded. This Cruiser is a pleasure to drive on the street and very capable on the trail.

INTERIOR: 



Factory seats restored to original.
Decker's locking console with optional speaker box.
AM-FM Cassette with 4 speakers 2 in doors and 2 in speaker box
Dash box
New 3 point seat belts plus 2 point belts for off road
All dash knobs restored to original
CB with external speaker
Heater restored and new defroster hoses
Glove box door and gage cluster nickel-plated
Grant GT steering wheel
Clutch and brake pedal assemblies removed, bead blasted and repainted.
New clutch and brake pedal pads
New kick vent seals
Gas pedal assembly replated to original
New rear view mirror
Flash light mount
Fire extinguisher
Wiring harness removed and reconditioned
New gear shifting instructions plate on glove box
Interior of tub, seat backs and ½ doors sprayed in black urethane Rhino Lining
Seats raised 2" and drivers seat moved back for legroom
New OEM and stainless nuts and bolts
New transfer case shift boot
All gages and electrics work
Cargo tie down brackets.

DRIVE TRAIN:


Front axle completely gone through with all new bearings, gaskets and seals and filled with Red Line oil
New mini truck birfields.
Front ARB locking differential actuated by an air switch rather than a solenoid.
New Aisin locking hubs.
Saginaw power steering.
All new ball joints.
New drop pitman arm.
New brake pads and calipers.
Butch Built front Pumpkin Hat for diff protection and recessed allen bolt drain plug.
Rear axle completely gone through with all new bearings, gaskets and seals, backlash and preload set to factory specs and filled with Red Line oil.
New brake shoes and cylinders.
Locking rear differential.
New clutch disk, pressure plate, throw out bearing and carrier, slave and master cylinders and pilot bearing, throw out arm and pivot and flywheel resurfaced.
Australian 4 speed transmission with granny low 4.95 : 1 with all new seals and gaskets and filled with Red line oil.
Warden’s billet transfer case with Marlin Crawler gears with all new seals, bushings and bearings, new output shaft, fork and Warden’s complete rebuild kit . Filled with Red Line oil.

ENGINE and UNDER HOOD:


Carb rebuilt by Jim Chenowith
Downey header
New 2 ½” exhaust and Flowmaster
New plug wires
Valve cover and thermostat cover bead blasted and clear coated
New windshield washer tank and motor.
New belts
New hoses as needed.
Separate wiring harness and fuse block for rock lights, fuel tank selector, BU lights, radio memory and CB
Battery tray bead blasted and Rhino lined
New fuel filters
New oil filter and Red line oil
New battery cables
Optima battery
New wiring grommets
Bolt on brackets replated to OEM

SUSPENSION:


Modified 4" lift springs does 1244 on a 23 degree ramp and 1440 on a 20 degree ramp
Shackle reversal
Rear drop shackles
Greasable shackle pins.
1 1/8” wheel spacers

BODY:

Body was completely removed and disassembled.
Rear body corners cut to same height as rear.
Underneath of tub undercoated using 3M rubberized undercoating.
All caulking removed from seams and recaulked.
Half doors made from early style doors with custom fabricated door strikers and brackets that attach to late style door opening limiters, new weatherstrip.
Kayline half door tops fit into half doors to make full doors.
New door hinge bushings

Repainted with Dupont Centari paint, color sanded and buffed out.
New OEM radio antenna
Fiberglass front fenders with ¾” cut from sides and 1 ½” cut from front for tire clearance
Fiberglass drop tailgate with new weatherstrip
New OEM windshield and weatherstrip
New OEM hood latches
New OEM windshield latches for when the windshield is down
New hood to core support rubbers
New hood to upper fender rubbers
New OEM windshield mount mirror arms and aftermarket mirrors.
New hood hinge rubber gaskets
New “Land Cruiser” emblems on front upper fender panels
“Land Cruiser” front head light bezel Gozzard
All bolt holes retapped
Hard top disassembled restored and repainted.
New headliner
Custom 1/2 rear ambulance doors close above tailgate.

EXTRAS:


Aluminum wheels with 35" mud tires and black Rock Crawler wheels with 35" mud tires.
ARB compressor plumbed to air tank in front bumper.
Decker front bumper with air tank, winch mount and 2 recovery D rings.
Decker brush guard.
Reconditioned Warn winch with new cable.
Decker rear bumper with tow receiver and recovery D ring. Has protection plates
for stock taillights and holes for recovery shackles on both sides.
Decker swing out tire carrier and cooler rack. Single latch operation, back up light and Hi Lift mount.
Bushwhacker flares
Rocker panel protection plates
Rear diamond plate. no rust underneath!
Under body Rock lights
Decker roof rack mounted behind main roll bar hoop.
New rear gas tank with Decker skid plate.
Decker traction bar

Front of rear wheel wells modified for tire clearance when wheel is in bump.
Specter Woodland Camo Bikini with shade screen.
Spectre Woodland Camo Spare Cover.
1 ½” body lift
All new poly body mounts and new bolts
Floor mats
Halogen headlamps
New front turn signal lamp assemblies

Car Tuning and Styling

The rule of effective car tuning and styling in my eyes "Subtly is the key".

Everyone has their own opinion but personally (and I know a lot of people think the same) the more brash the revamp, the more tacky it can look. I have personally witnessed fourteen year old cars having literally thousands of pounds spent on tacky body kits, loud exhaust systems, spoilers that can could slow down a jumbo jet, and I ask myself why?

Unless your car is on the TV show 'Pimp My Ride', chances are it will look the same way. What I am saying here is that obviously not all expensive modifications look tacky - not at all but there are people out there who could have transformed that car into literally a new car. Subtly is the best way, it presents class, style, and brings an air of professionalism to a car rather than someone who is trying to show off. Some one who applies subtle changes to their car often makes it look more stylish and aesthetically pleasing to them and anyone who comes into contact in it.

There are 2 types of car tuning - interior and exterior. By interior I mean engines, brakes, suspensions, and by exterior I'm talking body kits, headlights, spoilers, which could also be classed as styling.

Having a very subtle spoiler, slick sills, angel headlights, windows slightly tinted can literally transform a car and elevate to a new level and these are only minor changes. This is what I believe is the most effective type of car tuning and styling not just for the sake of cost but also appearance, so in a way less is more from that perspective.

On the engine front, well they can always do a remap - that way they can not only preserve the life the engine but enjoy noticeable power, torque, responsiveness and flexibility without it impacting on their fuel consumption which is a real plus point especially in this economy with sky high oil prices.

The latter could be a factor in why the demand of remapping has increased as people do not want to splash out on a new car thus tune it up to make it last longer and more enjoyable to drive.