Can a HJ47 Ute be Rebuilt on a $6K Budget? - Lets Find out. (1 Viewer)

[new45]

Ok so my build has been going for a while now, and I have been documenting it on another forum but I figure I should have it on here because I ask for so much help.

The aim of this build is to totally rebuid a HJ47 landcruiser with a 5 speed and PS for less then $6,000 AU all up. I have been tracking all my costs and Im nearly out of budget, but I just might make it.

So here are the photos and any relevant commentary I can think of.

The beginning

I picked this up from an old farmer for $700.





I pulled the tray and cleaned the chassis - The rails were full of dirt and sticks.

 

[new45]

The winder for the spare was destroyed and I doubt these shocks were doing much at all



I started pulling the cab apart.







I sprayed the chassis with rust converter to clean up the rust and leave a nice surface for the paint

 

[new45]

I Painted the chassis with Killrust black enamel - And it came up great







I found a bit of rust







And I sanded the roof for painting





I cleaned up the rear springs and painted them



I did brake a spring retainer.

 

[new45]

I pulled the diff and stripped it down







Cleaned the parts and painted everything







During the refit I repalced the 47 series backing plates with 60 series ones with the hamdbrake ready for the 5 speed.



And all new assemblies - New brakes, new bearings, new seals



Isnt it a thing of beauty





And fitted everyhting back together.

 

[whitey45]

Hey mate, to put it in perspective, We pay $7000 for a rusty wreck here in the states, so your initial $700 is a great start, and that ute is darn tidy, for $700!! Cheers, and look forward to the build!

 

[new45]

And the rear end is done

 

[78fj40mg]

It's doable as long as you provide all the labor.
It looks good so far!
I look forward to your build.

 

[DTSkyCop]

looking good... I am following this build for sure... Seeing what you get done for such a little investment...

 

[new45]

Cleaned out the insides - That little rattle gun is gold.





Seats are dead



but I found these





The floor was a little rusted.

 

[Indestructible 47]

great build mate, great to see another aussie 47 like mine. must be an 81 year right?

 

[BeeJii]

Very interesting reading!
I´m allways on tight budget as well, so i´m interested to see if i can learn new tricks from your build.
Have you used this rust converter before? I´d like to give it a try, but i´m a bit skeptical about will it work or not. I´m thinking will the rust be back as bad after a year or two or will it really stop it for good?

 

[cult45]

$6k is a cheap ute. Go, go, go!

 

[new45]

BeeJii, I had to find a good rust converter that leaves a good base for paint.

The stuff I like does a good job removing rust and enamel paint sticks really well to it without a primer, but this only works on light surface rust like I had on my chassis.

 

[new45]

So heres the tray before



The floor needed replacement - And I only got to here before my welder died





Im in the process of re-doing the headboard and the sides now to make it more usefull for me.

 

[new45]

Stripping the front end

I would really like to keep the bullbar but it needs a good cleanup.





I love rust free panels





After sitting for 5 years thats beautiful coolant

 

[new45]

Now I found some small rust spots and I decided toorder some new floorpans to repalce them but then I found a whole replacement vehicle - but more about this later.

 

[new45]

I pulled the wiring harness out




Crawled out from under the vehicle to hear the dog barking at something. Dog v. Lizard and the lizard won (dog was hiding)

 

[78fj40mg]

How big was that lizard the size you saddle and ride?

Good work and moving at a quick pace!

 

[whitey45]

Blue tongue skink!

 

[new45]

Thanks, Im not moving this fast. Im just uploading the pics from the last year or so as I find them on the computer.

Currently Im finishing the tray but its raining outside so no welding.