Well, long story short, after owning my BJ60 for 6 years and building it up, and taking it up to the Yukon and Alaska, she is rusting out. Something needed to replace her and I have always wanted a 45 series but just never thought they were up here in BC in any great numbers (or in decent condition), so that idea went to a backburner. The plan was that if I found one, I would swap in my 3B and 5 speed and go from there. That was the plan at least, until I found this truck. At the beginning of January I picked up this thing, to slowly begin fixing up (very slowly, free time is not an ally of mine). The truck is located a ferry ride and a few hours’ drive away from where I live, so logistically getting things done will(is) be(ing) a pain. I am hoping to have the cruiser fixed up and on the road by June/July.
I found it here on Mud. It is a 1976 45 series originally from Switzerland, model # FJ45LP-KW. No clue when it came over here, or how many owners have had it in the past. Seller did not have too much info on it. Rust is there, but not all that bad. Frame is an 8.5/10. The tub is in relatively good shape, with the floor needing a few patches. The bottom of the doors will require attention. The bed has some pretty rough spots, but nothing lethal or beyond my abilities. The hood, left fender and stepping boards on tub have some small holes which will need to be dealt with. Other than that, surface rust is the next worst issue.
Recently the truck had a 3B and four speed swapped into it, to replace the original gasser. Not sure how many kilometers are on the engine, but it fires up more quickly than my BJ60, and smokes less. The 45 has a Wilson switch and manual kill cable for the engine, just what I was going to do eventually. Also has power steering, which is very tight, and very little slop. The knuckles have either been rebuilt, or are bone dry inside. I have not looked into that too deeply yet. Disk brakes are on the front and drums on the rear. Semi floater rear axle, not full floater, like most other 45’s.
So far a few things have required fixing to get it up to standard (as low as mine might be). Both rear corner glass gaskets have been replaced, and the rear window gasket needs to be replaced. I guess these things happen to rubber after 39 years. The fuel primer pump has been replaced with a Bosch one. The interior has mostly been gutted. My girlfriend and I are going to reupholster the bench seats, or at least see how much we can screw that up ahahhah. We both have zero experience doing something like that. Besides, what is one more job… A fair amount of rust has been ground out. In a few spots, new sheet metal has been welded in. Currently I am working on getting my signals and hazards working. The rats nest of wiring from the 3B swap is coming into play here. Oh well, that job might get sent to Steve at EBI Cruisers, if I run out of time.
In the future I plan on painting the rig, along with getting a spray-on bedliner done. Also I would like to turbo the 3B, just to wake it up a little bit. I have driven a naturally aspirated 3B for six years now, and am thinking that a turbo might do nicely.
Remember, where I said the 45 has a four speed? Well, turns out while rowing through the gears while sitting in the cab without seat in the warehouse (other people do this right? Right???), I found something interesting. The tranny is actually a five speed! The seller was unaware of this, and it is not something I usually would think to verify… Not all that bad eh?
Attached here are some pictures of the truck. They include: the truck the day I bought it, cab without seats and most of the rust ground out, engine bay, test fit of new sheet metal to patch holes in side of bed, and my girlfriend welding in said patches.
My apologies if I have bored you, and if updates to this thread do not happen often enough. This will be a slow build, but I have a solid idea of where I want to get with this on a timeline. All the above is subject to change and nothing is set in stone.
Cheers,
Matt
I found it here on Mud. It is a 1976 45 series originally from Switzerland, model # FJ45LP-KW. No clue when it came over here, or how many owners have had it in the past. Seller did not have too much info on it. Rust is there, but not all that bad. Frame is an 8.5/10. The tub is in relatively good shape, with the floor needing a few patches. The bottom of the doors will require attention. The bed has some pretty rough spots, but nothing lethal or beyond my abilities. The hood, left fender and stepping boards on tub have some small holes which will need to be dealt with. Other than that, surface rust is the next worst issue.
Recently the truck had a 3B and four speed swapped into it, to replace the original gasser. Not sure how many kilometers are on the engine, but it fires up more quickly than my BJ60, and smokes less. The 45 has a Wilson switch and manual kill cable for the engine, just what I was going to do eventually. Also has power steering, which is very tight, and very little slop. The knuckles have either been rebuilt, or are bone dry inside. I have not looked into that too deeply yet. Disk brakes are on the front and drums on the rear. Semi floater rear axle, not full floater, like most other 45’s.
So far a few things have required fixing to get it up to standard (as low as mine might be). Both rear corner glass gaskets have been replaced, and the rear window gasket needs to be replaced. I guess these things happen to rubber after 39 years. The fuel primer pump has been replaced with a Bosch one. The interior has mostly been gutted. My girlfriend and I are going to reupholster the bench seats, or at least see how much we can screw that up ahahhah. We both have zero experience doing something like that. Besides, what is one more job… A fair amount of rust has been ground out. In a few spots, new sheet metal has been welded in. Currently I am working on getting my signals and hazards working. The rats nest of wiring from the 3B swap is coming into play here. Oh well, that job might get sent to Steve at EBI Cruisers, if I run out of time.
In the future I plan on painting the rig, along with getting a spray-on bedliner done. Also I would like to turbo the 3B, just to wake it up a little bit. I have driven a naturally aspirated 3B for six years now, and am thinking that a turbo might do nicely.
Remember, where I said the 45 has a four speed? Well, turns out while rowing through the gears while sitting in the cab without seat in the warehouse (other people do this right? Right???), I found something interesting. The tranny is actually a five speed! The seller was unaware of this, and it is not something I usually would think to verify… Not all that bad eh?
Attached here are some pictures of the truck. They include: the truck the day I bought it, cab without seats and most of the rust ground out, engine bay, test fit of new sheet metal to patch holes in side of bed, and my girlfriend welding in said patches.
My apologies if I have bored you, and if updates to this thread do not happen often enough. This will be a slow build, but I have a solid idea of where I want to get with this on a timeline. All the above is subject to change and nothing is set in stone.
Cheers,
Matt
