Builds “Big City”, 1981 FJ45 LPB (1 Viewer)

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

Joined
Dec 30, 2015
Threads
95
Messages
573
Location
Houston, TX
Well, now that baseball is over, time to let the adventures begin.

Big City after the Merle Haggard song, man I cant wait to let the city go and end up n the middle of Montana.

Yes, I had the truck built. Turned 50 this year and wanted a truck that wasn’t a project, one I could just enjoy. I have three others, only one real project, but wanted to stay as much original as possible. Spent a year looking at builders, did not see a couple of them, but choose FJCo and couldn’t be more pleased. Will explain the differences if asked. Here is what I have.

1981 FJ45 LPB, Cadet Blue (med blue originally), completely rebuilt 2F, H55 and TC, both new. 80 box with the 105 shaft upgrade. 33’s on an OME lift, 3.70’s for the road right now and Vintage Air. There is some really cool engineering on this truck to keep it as Toyota as possible.

It was built to drive and enjoy. Hope to keep this thread up to date with pictures and stories of the truck.

Marc

5E8CC50F-BEBC-4BC1-976C-973EAB79EBF3.jpeg

23D23B03-6F44-47B3-9F67-44E901EE8725.jpeg

6ACAF9D7-FC9C-4288-ADCD-D3F5A4546B22.jpeg


C931C345-B573-4025-8797-300DACC9B8C3.jpeg


0710EE56-404B-44C5-909F-AE11C646B4AD.jpeg
 
Few more pics. Next step is a skid plate for the 5 spd. Frame has production of late ‘79 as researched. Think I may start with a 82-84 5 spd plate if I can locate one. Can’t be that much difference between a 40 and 45 frame thru TC location.

3E36A8BB-FE78-44A8-9182-E0EDE270403B.jpeg

EB1F11FF-4E1F-4B2E-9AF4-F925E540EE07.jpeg

1BECB3D1-5454-4775-81E1-964E9B315C52.jpeg


D5553DF1-EC62-4611-AC55-CB339FD7B335.jpeg


9553C501-D945-4E54-B6F4-4BF380F6BF4F.jpeg
 
Absolutely gorgeous. Enjoy!

Been torn between cadet blue and 6h9 for a while (luckily theres no rush here lol) but that looks fantastic and such a great build for simply enjoying the drive. Congrats.
 
Absolutely gorgeous. Enjoy!

Been torn between cadet blue and 6h9 for a while (luckily theres no rush here lol) but that looks fantastic and such a great build for simply enjoying the drive. Congrats.

jfz80,

I really liked the Olive, it was one of the color chips I considered. Truck was originally Med Blue, to bright for me. Didn’t see a lot of blues, now I see it everywhere. I really like Ed’s 45 I see on Instagram. Think that is River Blue or something like that. Have a great weekend. Check out how the colors changed with light angle.



E86FB60F-9520-4C44-BBD5-9DC269ECDE69.jpeg

DAB36F7F-6A34-4DED-AB98-07F1298EE5AD.jpeg
 
Had the chance to put a little over 300 miles on “Big City” yesterday. A good friend @HemiAlex went along also in his 60. Great day exploring TX backroads and stopping at the Shiner brewery for a tasting.

2421ABF9-2B86-4BD8-8284-99121B4F2D68.jpeg

D519FA9A-A56A-4E1A-89EA-8BD226688C21.jpeg

97F00F6E-52EF-45D3-AD31-15A38EEA6743.png

5FC634D1-EB5C-4A85-963E-BA061B67BA3E.jpeg

07D4D52E-0AC6-49B6-A68B-B7BA0968154C.jpeg
 
outstanding!!!!!

I’ve been wanting to see them go to their roots with a more stock build like this.

Some of the ones lately have been a stretch for me. This one is the perfect truck.

Lets see some interior photos. These tin cans are hard to get comfortable. Want to see what y’all did.
 
On the skid plate, I had @nvrlose54 make me a simple metal one like a 4Runner that comes off the transmission crossmember.

Im sure you don’t have plans to go rock whomping in that beauty but at the same time you don’t want a magic rock to smash that split case.

I would not expect you to make one like this with the repurposed bumpstop (my idea since it’s the Warthog) but with a bit more support this would be all you need.

6AE09385-40AF-42A9-88CF-B657B1E5C8F5.jpeg
 
outstanding!!!!!

I’ve been wanting to see them go to their roots with a more stock build like this.

Some of the ones lately have been a stretch for me. This one is the perfect truck.

Lets see some interior photos. These tin cans are hard to get comfortable. Want to see what y’all did.

Nolan,

Looked for two years at 45 build. Love what @ClemsonCruiser did and a few others. Some I saw didn’t take the time to have correct hardware or was all mismatched. Almost went on the route of starting my own project, but this was my choice. Your number on Instagram is high.

As stock as you can get. Kept 2f, slightly bored with all new insides (maybe not quite your cop motor), new timing gears and full rebuild. One of the last new Toyota cams. H55 and new TC

Some pretty cool engineering on the drive shafts to include new Dana slip joints.

The 80 box with 105 upgrade is so nice. Steers as well as the 200 with 140 on the clock.

Interior is bone stock. I was waiting for a later model that has “better” seating. They kept the manual throttle control for me per request. I did mount kick panel type speakers but they kept the functionality of the kick vents. Just a grey vinyl, I think pretty stock looking. I did a vintage air in the “tin box”, kept it down below so what storage these have can still be used.

I know the color is not year correct. It was a med blue truck, I think Cadet Blue was a one year only color around 1970.

Having a couple other trucks, I am very happy with what they did. Everything was as correct to factory as possible, quality control and after sale support to top notch.

It will be driven. I appreciate the thoughts on skid plate. I have slowly collected all the splash plates I think the truck would of had and the skid plate is last thing. Won’t make CO this summer but she will be there.

6F984660-43B7-4AE2-B4CD-3E0A6616A1BD.jpeg
8522C529-6709-405E-9554-D92BDB43E7E2.jpeg
4D0E8CC0-A68F-4E80-B4F6-D0B06E0E0E8B.jpeg
2166108C-E534-4DE7-A9D1-4079BBD64481.jpeg
 
I truly did not know one could be had for less than 6 figures in any configuration, much less the best setup as you chose. That is exactly how I would do one if it was being built.

Is the AC able to keep up with the heat coming off the firewall and floor? That’s truiy the only way a 45 can be enjoyable with the top on in the south.

As for the color, I can’t imagine why you would worry if it’s not the OE for that truck. I think the fact that it is an OE color is the main thing. I can’t see investing a ton in a paint job and getting a goofball color that does not look like a Cruiser.

Keep posting photos. Want to see all the details please
 
Thank you.

Our thoughts are in line. The AC had a little trouble mid day as the “feels like” temp was 107. But worked very well.

Number was not “far” off. But very pleased. Still leaf sprung!

Trucks they are doing now have 1fz-fe or newer and many more items like traction control, coils and more. I am more than pleased with the build and FJCo in general. I believe it was one of the more stock builds they did and for someone who knows a little about the trucks. They enjoyed the process also, very interactive.
 
Certainly a beautiful rendition. Maybe not noticed by the general public, but I am wondering why the rear valence was modded to relocate hinges and tail lamps, since fabrication shouldn't have been a problem?
 
Certainly a beautiful rendition. Maybe not noticed by the general public, but I am wondering why the rear valence was modded to relocate hinges and tail lamps, since fabrication shouldn't have been a problem?

Bear,

Interesting. It looks like most of the later year LatAm 45’s I have seen. Yes, different from the early US Spec trucks. What do you see?

Marc
 
What's a 105 mod?
Is there a light for the license plate? Pic please.

It's an awesome looking truck and let us know if you get to MT. It might be worth a drive down to take a look see.
 
What's a 105 mod?
Is there a light for the license plate? Pic please.

It's an awesome looking truck and let us know if you get to MT. It might be worth a drive down to take a look see.

It’s steering shaft from a solid axle 100 series that can be added to a 80 series box. Complete overkill for this truck with 33” tires but smoking cool nonetheless
 
I assume this gizmo is vacuum actuated idle up for the AC? Appears to be a repurposed secondary actuator...

interesting to me that shop would custom fab this setup rather than just add stock actuator/linkage like fj60 (and I assume '82 fj4X with AC) carbs

idle up.JPG
 
I assume this gizmo is vacuum actuated idle up for the AC? Appears to be a repurposed secondary actuator...

interesting to me that shop would custom fab this setup rather than just add stock actuator/linkage like fj60 (and I assume '82 fj4X with AC) carbs

View attachment 2022751

erics

Good catch. Yes you are correct. Wish on the build was to use as much new, but keep it Toyota. I have a few carbs so yesterday I went back to a 60 idle up diaphragm. This worked well, I like the more period correct better, although it looks it’s age and a little out of place.

0B7D9D21-603F-4A4E-A17C-19DD6BE7F48F.jpeg
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top Bottom