Jack Adams has had the Toyota 4x4 bug for many years now. His first trail truck was a 1985 4Runner that he acquired in stock condition. As he tackled tougher trails, it evolved in many directions so that today only a few feet of stock framerail remain, and that is now surrounded by a serious V-8 rock buggy.
While that buggy sees a lot of use, Jack yearned for a simpler rig that was street-legal and could take him out camping and exploring milder desert trails. A chance find in a Craigslist ad sent him down the road on a new project with the acquisition of a basket-case 1964 FJ-40. Jack quickly purchased the pile of vintage Toyota parts and dragged them home on a trailer. More antiquated Toy pieces would follow, along with piles of other parts to revive this old Cruiser.
Modern hot-rodders use a term called "restomod" to denote a vintage car that has been partially restored or modified with newer-technology mechanical components. This was Jack's plan as well. He wanted the classic good looks of the FJ40 combined with a newer powerplant.
The frame and tub were both sandblasted to clear away all the old paint and rust, then the steel parts underwent body repair and upgrades. When it came time to lay down some new finishes on the body, much of it was covered with Toyota Rustic Green #621 paint. The interior of the tub and the underside were shot with Duplicolor bedliner material.
For smooth road power, Jack opted to drop in a late-model Chevy V-8, a tried-and-true TH350 automatic, and follow those with a Toyota truck transfer case. The stock front Cruiser axle was retained, but upgraded with some newer-vintage Toyota parts. The rear stock Cruiser axle was replaced with a more modern Toy mini-truck axle, which eliminated the internal C-clips, and the brakes were swapped to disc units. Both axles are mounted in spring-under configuration.
The end result is the cool rig you see on these pages: A classic 4x4 combined with thoughtful upgrades to bring this vehicle more than 40 years into the future. It's also a great example of a project many of us can do at home. Searching and collecting the parts you need can be done as the buildup progresses, and it can be done without breaking the bank. Jack's rig is a great example of breathing new life into an older vehicle.
The wheels are six-lug 15x8...
The wheels are six-lug 15x8 Mickey Thompson Classic IIs wrapped with 35-inch BFGoodrich KM2 tires. The rear quarter panels were skinned over with fresh 18-gauge steel sheet. This further strengthened the bed and yielded a smooth body. The factory rear ambulance doors were retained, and Jack sourced all new OEM lighting components and body emblems.
Jack Adams/Phoenix, Arizona
Vehicle/Model: 1964 Toyota FJ40
Estimated value: N/A
Engine
Type: Chevy 5.3L V-8
Aspiration: Factory EFI, Howell harness & ECU, custom 2 1/2-in dual exhaust with Flowmaster mufflers
Output, hp/torque (estimated): 300/335
Drivetrain
Transmission: TH350, Advance Adapters adapter, Lokar shifter
Transfer Case: Toyota mini gear-drive w/2.28:1 low-range
Suspension
Front: Toyota truck leaf springs, Bilstein 5100 shocks, U-bolt flip
Rear: Toyota truck leaf springs, Bilstein 5100 shocks, U-bolt flip
Axles/Differentials
Front: '69 FJ-40 housing/third member with mini-truck knuckles, late-model 4Runner calipers, FJ-60 vented rotors
Rear: Toyota mini truck w/Chevy disc brake conversion
Ring and pinion: 4.11:1
Wheels/Tires
Wheels: 15x8 Mickey Thompson Classic II
Tires: 35x12.50/15 BFGoodrich KM2
Jack stripped and painted...
Jack stripped and painted the original frame after adding custom leaf spring and shock mounts. Then he fabricated a custom front bumper to compliment the classic front grille of the FJ-40. The front suspension is simple and consists of Toyota truck leaf packs and Bilstein 5100-series shocks. A GM Saginaw power steering box sits just behind the bumper and delivers steering input to the front axle.
Toyota truck leaf packs and...
Toyota truck leaf packs and Bilsteins support the rear of the rig. A Toyota mini-truck axle spins the rear tires. The Chevy V-8 breathes out through a dual set of Flowmaster mufflers that exit under the rear bumper, and 4x4 power comes from a Toyota mini-truck transfer case tucked up between the framerails. Disc brakes and stainless brakelines are used all around.
The steering column is a stainless...
The steering column is a stainless hot-rod version from Speedway Motors. The dash had seen unsightly modifications over the years, so Jack welded in patch panels and started with a fresh surface. He turned to using Auto Meter Street Rod Series gauges. Two large round gauges display a speedometer, tachometer, and the usual engine vital readings.
The 2004 Chevy 5.3L V-8 sits...
The 2004 Chevy 5.3L V-8 sits in the engine bay as if it always belonged there, and makes the Cruiser get up and go. Cooling is handled with a Griffin aluminum radiator along with a custom-fabricated shroud that holds a Spal 16-inch electric fan. A Wilwood 11/16-inch-bore master cylinder mounted to the firewall now services front and rear disc brakes along with a Wilwood proportioning valve.
Jack provided us with this...
Jack provided us with this photo which shows the condition of this Cruiser when he purchased it a few years back.
Jack constructed a rollcage...
Jack constructed a rollcage from 1.5-inch DOM tubing and sized it to still allow the use of either a ragtop or a factory hardtop. The interior was modernized for creature comfort and safety. Mastercraft highback seats are mounted to the lower part of the cage, and a Tuffy console provides lockable storage between the two. Three-point seatbelts were also installed and tied to shoulder tabs on the B-pillar. Behind the Mastercrafts sit a RedTop Optima battery and a rear floor-mounted heater.