[Awl_TEQ]

No more excuses. Three years this truck has been sitting in a heated garage waiting for me to start. I've planned, made lists, made drawings and planned some more. I have built this truck several times in my head - each time slightly different.

The basic plan....

Intended use
Daily driver and weekend softcore wheeling/camping over back roads and half decent trails. Also the occasional cross country expedition to the far corners of this continent.

Planned mods
1) Swap current 2F/4sd for Turbo 3B/ H55F - possible intercooler
2) Power steering
3) 4 wheel disc brakes
4) Dual lockers
5) Full bumper/ slider/ roll cage (internal)
6) Dual winch (rear removable)
7) On board air - crank driven compressor and a reservoir
8) Long range fuel tank
9) Bed drawers and canvas canopy
10) Dual spare tires
11) Roof rack and roof top tent (or maybe a trailer )
12) OME 2.5" lift suspension

Etc, etc, etc...

Resources...

I work at and have access to a CNC sheet metal shop, CNC machine shop, and full service welding shop. I am currently the shop foreman for the sheet metal shop. At home I have a Miler 180 MIG and very good hand and power tool selection.

This will be a budget build. I have material and time but limited dollars. The time frame for completion is 2 1/2 years - 30 months. I believe I can do it faster but I also have family and work to attend to.



My intention is to end up looking like this...... except for color and wheels.

[Awl_TEQ]

I am going to build a long range auxiliary fuel tank that will sit between the frame rails under the front section of the bed. Also I have a plan for a rear bumper and 2" receiver built into the rear most cross member. In order to gain access to build these I have removed the box. Two days of penetrating fluid did nothing. 30 min. with a drill and impact hammer removed the heads of the 10 bolts holding the box to the frame.


The I-beam and chain hoist worked like a charm.


The box will likely have to be set back in place to check clearances as I build the hitch and fuel tank but the wife doesn't like parking out in -25C weather sooooo

[Awl_TEQ]

I set it on end on a four wheeled furniture dolly and rolled it into the corner.

[Awl_TEQ]

The frame, as I previously knew, looks great with only surface rust....

[Awl_TEQ]

I might work a little on the tank layout tomorrow, or maybe not. Sunday is the last of 16 days off and I gotta work monday - up at 5:00am. I might just do nothing.





All day

[1979fj40]

Nice truck! would love to have a 45. 16 days off...must work for the schools , (christmas break).

[Mikesta]

Looks like your starting with a clean cruiser. Nice looking garage / shop!

[Awl_TEQ]

Originally Posted by 1979fj40

Nice truck! would love to have a 45. 16 days off...must work for the schools , (christmas break).

Not the schools. We shut down the shop through christmas and new years every year. Definitely a nice break.

[krzyabncanuck]

subscribing to this one.

[24HOURSOFNEVADA]

Sweet. I like your outline and plan and I also like the rig your modeling it after (Who doesn't), but what color are you going to go with?

[Awl_TEQ]

Can't decide yet. I quite like the dark grey metallic on the one above. It's a Toyota late model stock color. Looks really nice in person and makes the truck look "newer". I have always liked the stock tan color the most. Red is for Ferrari's. My brother loves his 71 40 in stock blue. Not too partial to the greens. From the beginning I have always planned on a canvas bed top, roll up sides etc. With the boxy body and a canvas topper it lends a very utility, almost military flavor to the truck. So the paint job will have to find that balance between cool expedition rig and full on military truck look. Here are a few photos off the intertnet for illistration of the look I like.

This one the truck is too green - a little too military


This TLC topper is nice in black but I don't like the truck in white.


This TLC topper is nice in grey but the truck is very light blue - not good IMO

[Awl_TEQ]

I like the more modern color combinations a bit better. I'm not doing a NOS restoration so I don't mind loosing the stock colors. These pics have good color combos. Although I admire the Defenders I am a J4 guy all the way.

Black and silver is classy


This is what I mean by roll up sides - mine will have three hoops and two roll up sections per side as well as a roll up rear with window.


Black on grey is okay

[Awl_TEQ]

Found a couple more pics online...

This is what I see in my minds eye for my topper



Rat rod FJ45


WTF

[a.greenspan]

Originally Posted by Awl_TEQ

Can't decide yet....
Red is for Ferrari's.

.....
....... & stock " old school" too
( stock save a lot $$$$ )
Cheers
Peter

[Awl_TEQ]

a.greenspan

If red is what you like then you should have red. I've just never really liked it much.

Now if you give me this GTO it's red baby red!!!

[a.greenspan]

Originally Posted by Awl_TEQ

a.greenspan

If red is what you like then you should have red. I've just never really liked it much.

Now if you give me this GTO it's red baby red!!!
Attachment 287634

sorry,
but don`t like this new Ferraris
sold my Healey
(pic is not mine)
my colour was british racing green



in July

Peter

[a.greenspan]

my favourite colour on 45`s is this


but mine was red (old fire truck)
so I stay
Cheers
Peter

[merbesfield]

Originally Posted by a.greenspan

my favourite colour on 45`s is this


but mine was red (old fire truck)
so I stay
Cheers
Peter

How does this Springgreen look on the 45LV? That was the orig. color of my rig.

[Awl_TEQ]

Does anyone have a picture of a 45 LPB in a fresh coat of Sahara Tan?

I am really liking these colors on the ICON trucks.

I've never really been a fan of the black wheels but they work with the flat dark grey's


These two are the same truck. I think the flat tan is a cool color - but I gotta have the white bezel and roof top. See what I mean - I can't decide on color yet...

[merbesfield]

I agree with you about the flat colors, just wondering if I would get tired of it and if it would be difficult to keep clean. I also love the black wheels and hope that my original black steelies will give a similar look/feeling.

[Awl_TEQ]

Originally Posted by merbesfield

I agree with you about the flat colors, just wondering if I would get tired of it and if it would be difficult to keep clean. I also love the black wheels and hope that my original black steelies will give a similar look/feeling.

That's my concern exactly with the flat colors. These stock Toyota colors are nice. They might look good with black canvas and white top/ bezel... oh black and white I dunno?












It's a damn good thing I'm not ready to paint yet





.

[24HOURSOFNEVADA]

I really dig that flat finish that TLC is putting on the ICON's.

Here are a few shots of my Dune Beige...(It's sporting a fresh repaint on the exterior) Is that what you meant by Sahara? or is there actually a color code "Sahara"? This is before the steel 70 series wheels were installed.







Here's another Beige or Tan (Just a little darker than mine) one from Burning Man.



And lastly one I think you will enjoy due to the topper on it. This one comes from one of your neighbors up in the great white north. It was built (The topper) using stainless steel hardware from Bimini tops in the boating world. It was tight and very high quality.






I hope those help.

[Awl_TEQ]

My first instinct was to go stock beige/tan. Now that is see this one it's easier to imagine. I'm not sure where I got Sahara from. I thought I saw it on the CCOT color page but I just checked and the only show beige and dune beige. Definitely my favorite color on a 40. Not much of a stretch to a 45.



I sure like this tan truck and topper combo. Very nice indeed.

[Awl_TEQ]

So as of this particular moment my favorite color combos are...

Tan and Tan canvas with white bezel and cab roof


Silver and Black canvas with white bezel and silver roof (I don't think white roof would look good with the balck canvas)




Basically - stock vs new school

[wesintl]

after seeing your winch rebuild this should be impressive. I think you should stick with a stock color. IMHO 40 just don't wear other colors as well as stock ones.

[a.greenspan]

[quote=Awl_TEQ;4023353] My first instinct was to go stock beige/tan. Now that is see this one it's easier to imagine. beige and dune beige.

I sure like this tan truck and topper combo. Very nice indeed.



Good choice

J4 colours:

[KT40]

[quote=a.greenspan;4023575]

Originally Posted by Awl_TEQ

My first instinct was to go stock beige/tan. Now that is see this one it's easier to imagine. beige and dune beige.

I sure like this tan truck and topper combo. Very nice indeed.



Good choice

J4 colours:

Why is there no colors between 60 and 68?

[Awl_TEQ]

Saw that too - maybe they were raw

My first thought was that a.greenspan is from Germany and perhaps they didn't import those years and the chart is a German color chart??

[wesintl]

The early years didn't have the paint code on the vin tag. The colors and their codes prior to 68 are not easily found and I'm not sure the concrete evidence as to exactly what colors were offered has been produced. Treeroot has the best info i've ever seen from old dealer info.

[24HOURSOFNEVADA]

Glad you liked the photo's. After hearing your idea for the top, I thought you might enjoy those shots.

That tan/tan combo with a white grill and top would be hard to beat.