LS3-Powered 1978 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40 6-Speed
This 1978 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40 was purchased by the current owner in 2015 and subsequently underwent a year-long refurbishment that was completed in 2019. A 6.2-liter LS3 V8 was installed along with a T-56 six-speed manual transmission, an Advance Adapters twin-stick transfer case, a 9″ rear axle, and front and rear limited-slip differentials. An aluminum tub and replacement panels were refinished in blue and mounted over a replacement frame, and the front bucket seats and inward-facing rear jump seats were replaced and re-trimmed in Old Cognac leather. The truck rides on 16″ Raceline wheels and an Old Man Emu lift kit, and additional equipment includes Warn locking front hubs, Wilwood rear disc brakes, a hydroboost brake system, a Warn winch, an ICON rear bumper, air conditioning, and a Fusion marine stereo linked to aftermarket speakers. This FJ40 is offered on dealer consignment with service records and Connecticut registration.
A replacement aluminum tub was installed along with replacement front doors, hood, an Aqualu tailgate, fenders, and windshield frame, all of which were refinished in blue and mounted over a replacement frame following rust repair and bodywork. The truck has a Warn winch, LED lighting, tubular doors, and an ICON rear bumper with a receiver hitch and dual swing-outs carrying a spare wheel and a jerry can.
Black 16″ Raceline wheels are mounted with 285/75 Falken Wildpeak A/T3W tires. The truck is equipped with Warn manually locking front hubs and power steering, which was added in 2019 as well as replacement suspension components, a hydroboost brake system, Wilwood rear disc brakes, and an Old Man Emu lift kit. The selling dealer reports an electronic parking brake has been installed and the front swivel hubs were resealed in 2024.
The replacement front bucket seats and inward-facing rear jump seats were re-trimmed in Old Cognac leather that extends to the transmission tunnel and Tuffy center console. A heater and an air conditioning system were also installed at that time along with sound-deadening material, and additional equipment includes a dash pad, a roll bar, a fire extinguisher, and a Fusion marine stereo linked to aftermarket speakers.
The wood-rimmed steering wheel is mounted to an aftermarket column and frames a Dakota Digital instrument cluster with a 120-mph speedometer as well as gauges for oil pressure, coolant temperature, voltage, and fuel level. The digital odometer shows 7k miles, which is said to represent the mileage accumulated since completion of the build.
The 6.2-liter LS3 V8 was installed in 2019 and rebuilt, which involved machining various components. It was fitted with an aluminum radiator, a Holley oil pan, and ceramic-coated tubular headers that flow through a stainless-steel exhaust system.
Power is routed to the rear or all four wheels through a Tremec T-56 six-speed manual transmission and an Advance Adapters Atlas twin-stick dual-range transfer case. The front and rear axles were rebuilt and fitted with limited-slip differentials and 4.11:1 gears, and a Moser Engineering Ford 9″ rear axle was installed according to the selling dealer. The clutch components were replaced, and various underside components were refinished. A Man-A-Fre 22-gallon auxiliary tank stores additional fuel.
Frame stamp “FJY0262404” is shown above and matches the VIN listed on the Connecticut registration.
The vehicle is being sold on its registration, which serves as an ownership document in Connecticut. It notes the registered usage as “Antique” and lists “4D” under the Style heading.
