Builds Build #2 - 45 Extended Cab, 80 Frame, iForce 5.7 3UR (2 Viewers)

[UZJ40]

Still working on the shop and doing projects getting it ready for some actual automotive work so a few more pics of the progress -

Scaffolding down and shop painted - Just before the stucco was done, I decided I wanted to add another door for a few different reasons. The biggest reason was airflow. With both doors open on the end, it still felt very hot in there with no airflow. It's a huge difference having the breeze in there now. I also wanted the two doors on the end to be for longer term parking, and the side door the working bay with the lift. Then I wouldn't have to move any other vehicles in/out for access. Lastly, as the sun sets and the two end doors open, it lets the sun in the shop. Now I can leave those doors mostly closed and have the side door open for natural light without the sun/heat coming straight into the shop.

A cool night shot with the lights on -

Decided it was time to stop using an extension cord and actually bury some 2-2-2-4 feeder wire into a sub panel in the shop. Took a few days to do everything but extremely glad to have it done. I now have 90 amps/240v of reliable power in the shop.

I had been looking for a lift for a while so finally decided on this Bendpak... its a 10k asymmetrical. I've wanted a lift for about 20 years... its very surreal seeing one in my back yard! Had to do some real heavy lifting for the trial run -

And last toy for the shop for now...

A Big Ass Fan (literally). This thing is awesome. 14' diameter and about 125,000 cfm. It is amazing and I'm very happy with it!

Next up on the list...

Finish wiring
Second story/loft/bathroom/stairs
Insulation
Drywall

The proposed layout of the second story and work area -

Still getting out once in a while and goofing off!

Thanks for following!

 

[dubyahard]

What boat is that?

 

[UZJ40]

What boat is that?

It's a Maxum. We got it about a year ago, mainly for a houseboat trip to Lake Powell. We don't use it much... I'd prefer to sell it but my wife likes it.

 

[TheHardWay]

I'd prefer to sell it but my wife likes it.

HaHa, yeah - usually it's the other way around

 

[Vandal FJ]

How's the shop coming along? Looking forward to the build! Hope all is well!

 

[UZJ40]

How's the shop coming along? Looking forward to the build! Hope all is well!

Hey there, thanks for checking in!

Shop is coming along great... in the process of wiring and plumbing for air and water before insulation and drywall. I did pick up a plasma table which I'm hoping will help with my future projects -

I did end up taking a new job (non-aviation this time). Its a consulting job, but there are a lot of side benefits because thankfully my new boss loves off roading and invites me along on all of his adventures. I've been on the new job for about 3 months so far and we hit Moab for 10 days, Johnson Valley for 3 days, Sand Hollow for 3 days, and Cortez CO to order a new trail buggy from Jimmys. It's been a blast so far... a few pics of his 4Runner with an LS, Dana 60's, and an exo-cage.

Moab (Poisen Spider) -

Johnson Valley -

Sand Hollow -

Visit to Jimmy's, which was awesome! -

Still having lots of fun camping and off road around Vegas too...

Wife having fun in the red truck! -

Camping on the Colorado River and goofing off with the RC car -

My poor wife getting it out of the mud -

 

[UZJ40]

Hmmm, pics aren't working for some reason. Let me work on that...

 

[Ol Yeller]

Hmmm, pics aren't working for some reason. Let me work on that...

Worked on refresh, looks like your doing it right

 

[UZJ40]

As for the FZJ45...

I'm either going to finish it as-is (1FZ, stock suspension) or go all out and make it more of a rock buggy with a Sequoia 5.7 3UR and King coilovers front/rear while retaining the 80 axles. I haven't decided exactly what I want to do with it yet so I've been putting it on hold. It's hard to give a build 100% when you're not sure what outcome you want. So, for now, I push the frame around the shop as it gets in my way when I'm organizing in there...

I am excited to use the new plasma table to do some custom work on the 45 though. I redid the dashboard and center console on the 4Runner since none of the gauges worked correctly and it came out pretty clean! I got to make some pretty cool gauge bezels and custom parts -

 

[Vandal FJ]

Looks things are going well! I need a job and a boss like that! Looking forward to whatever direction you take the 45, all the other little projects are fun, too!

 

[74fj40]

Came across this headlight switch on a Humvee build at work. Thought of your build.

 

[05CTD]

Nice shop I cant wait to see what your final decision on the 45.5 is.

Good luck

 

[FloridaPhillip]

I'm hoping you do the same sort of "data dump" on this build (and shop) that you did on the UZJ-40!

 

[UZJ40]

OK,, let's get this build back on track!

Still not positive what direction I'm headed, but I do know the 1FZ isn't for me. Out it goes....

 

[UZJ40]

Here's a peak at what's kept my occupied the past few months. We got it as a rolling chassis. No plumbing, electrical, steering, brakes, driveshafts, etc. Had 2 months to get it ready for Rubicon and made it just in time. It was a really fun project that kept me busy! It's a Honda J35 V6, TH350, Atlas 2.0, full hydro with rear steer, Portals on Trail Gear housings with Toyota diffs on 42" tires.

There will be a couple different crawlers in the fleet, so I'm much less likely to turn the 45 into a hard core crawler.

 

[mrboatman]

Looks like your putting that garage to good use

 

[UZJ40]

Got to work on the 3UR yesterday. It's amazingly tedious to disassemble a modern vehicle when you're trying to keep all wire harnesses in tact.

Even though the majority of what is needed for the 3UR swap in in the engine bay, there is one important piece that the swap is not doable without. Apparently Toyota did not want anyone to have easy access, so they put it on the firewall side of the main hvac unit. It's the key transponder ECU, and it's factory matched to the ignition key.

Also grabbed a few other things from the interior, like key cylinder with transponder, accelerator pedal, and a few other ECUs.

Hoping to pull the engine tomorrow and test fit in the 80 frame.

 

[UZJ40]

Lots more progress today... Used the skid steer to push the Sequoia into the shop, lifted it up, took out body mount bolts, lowered it down, lifted body, rolled frame out and lifted drivetrain off with skid steer, rolled frame back in and lowered the body on, just in time to have a metal scrapper come pick it up! What a day...

 

[Jdc1]

This is awesome, not a lot of people working with the 5.7(I love mine in my Sequoia). Did you mention what transmission you’ll be using?

 

[UZJ40]

This is awesome, not a lot of people working with the 5.7(I love mine in my Sequoia). Did you mention what transmission you’ll be using?

Thanks! I'll be using the 6 speed behind the 3UR, as well as the Sequoia transfer case. Main issue right now is front axle orientation. Trying to figure out the path of least resistance to get the diff to the driver's side...