LSA-Powered 1972 Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser
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1972 Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser Driving

1972 Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser Drive By
Description
As a Japanese copy of the famed WWII era jeep and with origins dating to the Korean War era, Toyota launched the FJ40 series utility vehicle in 1960. Official importation to the U.S. began in 1963, and within two years the FJ40 Land Cruiser was hands down the best-selling Toyota in America.
Cosmetically, the FJ was essentially the same truck until it went out of production in 1983, barring minor trim tweaks; however, it saw a gradual progression of functional improvements and upgrades over the years, shifting from being a bare-bones rock hopper to a commensurately equipped modern SUV 30 years ahead of the curve. The FJ40 was available as an open-bodied or fully enclosed two-door wagon, or the longer wheelbase FJ45 could be had as a two-door or four-door wagon, in addition to a two-door pickup.
As FJ40s reached the secondary market, it became very common for owners to take on engine swaps, most notably by replacing the FJ’s stock six with a small-block Chevy V-8. This stunning 1972 model underwent a recent full “nuts and bolts” restoration that included a new GM Performance LS 6.2 Supercharged LSA V8 rated at 556 horsepower and multiple mechanical and cosmetic upgrades.
Highlights
This 1972 Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser underwent a full restoration (completed in 2020), which included:
Chassis stripped down to bare metal and restored to like-new condition
Belly pan stripped, undercoated, and refinished
All chassis gaps reset to meet factory spec and tolerances
Exterior masked, resealed, and covered with two wet coats of polyester primer
Vehicle color sanded and buffed to ensure best possible high-gloss paint finish before car was assembled
Undercarriage and floors received urethane coating
Engine compartment fully disassembled and refinished
Original engine swapped for new GM Performance LS 6.2 Supercharged LSA V8 rated at 556 horsepower
New ARB Air Locker differential
New ARB on-board air compressor
New custom wiring harness
New stainless-steel fuel/brake lines
New stainless steel engine accessories
New Fox 2.0 Performance air suspension with Eibach coils
New advanced power steering
New low temperature radiator and intercooler
New Momo Indy Black mahogany steering wheel
New LED Dakota Digital gauges (120 mph speedometer, odometer, oil pressure, fuel level, coolant temperature, and battery amps)
New Alpine infotainment system
New heated seats
New Currie Enterprises Ford 9-inch axles
New 17-inch Method Race Wheels
New BFGoodrich All-Terrain 34X10.5R17LT tires
New Warn M8274 Quadratec winch
New rear-mounted 4 Plus storage rack with Yeti Cooler
New black canvas top
Sport roll cage
Fuel tank removed, stripped, and refit
Replaced electrical connectors, wiring, battery straps, and grounds
New Milwaukee battery, vapor collection hoses, and fuel lines
Mounting hardware reconditioned and replaced
Relay boards, fuse blocks, and covers replaced
Chrome trim and moldings removed, repaired, and anodized to factory specs
Front and rear windshield moldings replaced with new parts
Features
Five-speed manual transmission
Dual range transfer case
Center-facing folding rear bench seats
Locking fuel door
Known Imperfections
Paint is scraped on luggage rack center latch
Light rust on the leaf springs
Included
Matching rear-mounted wheel and tire
Ownership History
This 1972 Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser was purchased by its current owner in July 2020.