Here goes....66 LV Restore Thread

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ColoCruiserJeff

ColoCruiserJeff

Joined
Jun 5, 2004
Threads
99
Messages
1,371
Location
Lakewood, CO
I'm rather new to the IH8MUD forum, So I'll introduce myself. My name is Jeff Van Wyk, my wife Sophie and I live in Colorado Springs, CO. This whole restoration idea was sparked about a month ago when I saw that Proffitt's Cruisers in Delta, CO had 2-45LVs for sale. Well, I work for a trucking company, and I got a bid on a load from Colorado Springs, CO out to Montrose, CO. ( 'bout 6 hours away) After talking with Jeremiah Proffitt numerous times, and seeing a ton of pictures, I was hooked! My wife and I talked about it, (she wasn't too keen on the idea, given our past 2 crusier projects were kinda $$$ ) but I went ahead and took the load out to Montrose, CO the next week.

Arriving in Delta,CO late in the afternoon, my Dad and I met Jeremiah and took a tour of their shop. Its quite the shop! Tons of Cruisers of all years and models, EVERYWHERE! Totally cruiser-heaven!

I had a 53' Tractor/Trailer, so I knew the LV would fit easily!) It took me some time to realize to what level this LV had been preserved! The prior owner had started the restoration by sanding just about the entire exterior, but more importantly, he had collected a TON of extra parts!

To make a long story shorter, we loaded up the LV into the back of the semi, along with all of the extra parts, and we were off! It took another 7.5 hours to get home, but we made it!

The next morning, I got the usual "I can't believe you did that" from Sophie, which was to be expected, but she also knows the true potential of THIS project truck! She's O.K. with the project as long as I can manage my time with it, and get it done in a timely manner! She just dosen't want HER garage space taken for another year. hehe

I'll cut this short for now, and upload some pictures. I'm sure I'll be calling on a bunch of you all for advise and questions! Thanks for the amazing support I've already been given.

-Jeff
100_2042.webp
100_2052.webp
FJ45LVs_001.webp
 
Last edited:
Hey Jeff - it'll be fun watching your project.

Brian
 
is that a 45 back part of the cab in the last pic?
 
Nice find....and will also be watching for more pics.
 
Yeah....that last pic is the rear end of my 45LV. Thats the way it sat when I purchased it, with all the stuff inside and out! :) I had to turn the LV around in the street this week. WHAT A CHORE! My wife, Sophie drove the Tacoma, and pushed the LV right back up the driveway. It was quite cool how it worked out!

I made some real good progress this past week!! My Dad and a friend of mine helped to get the body off of the frame. Without a 'true' garage w/ a hoist...I made a poor-man's lift by using 4 -2x4x8' and 4 boat trailer winches. I routed the 2" winch straps up and over my garage roof's truss'. It worked out pretty well. Here's some pics of earlier this week's success.
hoist.webp
up she goes.webp
Up the driveway.webp
 
Still last Saturday...Now that we have the body off of the chassis, I was able to run to the E.R for some stiches :) Cut my finger really well in the morning, my wife (Registered Nurse) said I should go get it sutured up. Heck, I can't stop progress for some stupid stitches!!! Don't think I'll post pics of the wounded finger, but you can imagine it, I'm sure. Well, I'm all sewn up, ( 3 stitches) and worked on the truck, anyways :)

Monday, My wife operated the engine hoist, and I helped her take the running gear out of the frame. That was much easier with two people, and my wife was an awesome help! My Dad and I removed the axles off of the frame on Tuesday evening. I got the frame and axles cleaned up, and off to the sand blaster Wednesday, so hopefully they'll be done by mid-next week.
100_2071.webp
 
I wish my projects moved along that fast. transfer still has the PTO, sweet
 
I'm not sure if the PTO was original or not...I don't have the original transmission hump, so I dont know it there was a shifter or not. I don't have one in my pile o' parts, but who knows!
 
I worked my ass off finding parts for that 45 for 6+years. thanks to Rick D I had a good collection. you got a set of wind wing WS that rick & I had made. you have many sets of OME tail lights too. I also stripped 90% to bare metal. You better do this 45 right, she has waited for her time. it did not come with a PTO I found it and was going to use a Rhino pull knob to engage it. There is a hole in the dash for one. I like the cleaner front seat area. Good luck and when your done I want to drive it. Im somewhat close I live by Black Hawk CO.

Terry
 
this is great another lv build up. in your spare parts do you have and extra air vent? I just need the door itself as seen below
thanks jason
vent02[1].webp
 
Love the lift. I love these LV's! It will be nice to see another one done right. What are you plans for it? Stock-Purist or will you be throwing some upgrades in there?
 
Mikesta said:
What are you plans for it? Stock-Purist or will you be throwing some upgrades in there?
Click to expand...

That's what I was wondering. Congrats Jeff and good choice in picking it up. Be good to see another LV get back on the road.
 
Thanks again for the interest in my project! I've been tossing back and forth the purist idea, taking it completely back to stock form. OR...I do have a 2F motor and a 4spd transmission I could use. Think the power from the 2F is much more desired, but thats not what the truck came with. Plus, I'd have to change the lengths of the driveshafts.

I'd love to have it completely original, but I know that its going to be difficult either way. Some of the comforts like power steering, vacuum-assist braking, and air conditioning are really nice! Just don't know which way to go, to be completely honest.

My wife is wondering what colors to paint the LV in. Originally it was the blue/wht/blue. I'm a fan of the blue version....but the red/wht/red surely stands out. I think I'll put it up to a poll later in the thread, and see what ih8mud has to say :)

Right now my main focus is getting the chassis squared away. I didn't hear back from my sandblaster guy this weekend, so maybe today I'll get the "all-done" phone call. I've been asking around in regards to the paint that would perform best on the chassis, and even thats still up in the air. Can't you tell this is a 'figure-it-out-as-I-go' project? ? ? :)

I know that POR15 is a quality product, and I've considered using that. I found an industrial paint from PPG that dosen't require any priming, and its a gloss finish, and incredibly scratch resistant, so who knows. Guess I better figure it out ASAP! Recommendations anyone???

I'll throw some more in here as the week goes on. Please feel free to e-mail me some ideas that you guys might have. I'm seeking any advise on this, so critical or not, I wanna know!

Much thanks to everyone so far!

-Jeff
 
Congrats Jeff. I too wrestled with the keep it stock vs. mod. dilemma for a while, but power and comfort won out. I figured that if it were not a pleasure to drive, I would never drive it. What would all the work have been for, nothing? I will be sure to keep it stock looking though. I am using the drive train and engine from a 78 FJ55 I have with factory power steering. We added rear disc to the 55 set up and got it running well so I know what to expect when it is in the 45. I can tell you that if it were any slower, I would not want to drive it. This rig will see more pavement than dirt so it has perform well on the road. Let me know if you need any help. I will be looking to see what you do with the paint on your frame. My blaster will blast and powder coat for $300.00 including the axels so that is hard to beat. Of course only the frame gets PC'ed.
 
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