1963 FJ45L FOUND! Restoration and Info Thread

[destin]

that photo is amazing!

 

[1tontoy]

Amen!

This has to be the neatest picture of all cruisers EVER. To see this photo means the world to me.

I remember wondering why there was a wire up to the A billar (see the spot light in the photo), and I had to weld-fill the screw holes in the bed from those non-oem hooks and the rear view mirrors.

What a wonderful picture!!!!! This just made my day - so happy to see this. As Japanese as these trucks are, looking at that picture can't help but make me feel proud to be an American, and proud to be involved with Land Cruisers. I know I can easily reach 1000 words with this photo.

Thank you SO much for posting!

-dallas

 

[dmaddox]

Here is another photo given to me by the Miller family (2nd owners of the truck).

circa 1968-1969?

 

[destin]

Here is another photo given to me by the Miller family (2nd owners of the truck).

circa 1968-1969?

haha totally rad

love the green motor to boot

Great photo!

 

[PabloCruise]

Here is another photo given to me by the Miller family (2nd owners of the truck).

circa 1968-1969?

That is gold Dallas!!!

For some reason that pic just reminded of a dream that I had where Clarence painted the 3FE in the Pig Nebula Green! Just remembered that now...

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Too cool

 

[Rhinoliner]

Those are some really cool pictures and your truck turned out beautiful.

I bet that guy in the first picture had to get really contorted to fit inside the cab and drive that truck around.

 

[jvincig01]

Yes, I am working on the 45, I have just hit a stumbling block here. Maybe you guys can help.

1. Brakes were ok until the master went out (the original one).
2. I took out the master and replaced it with a power setup from a 97 Geo Metro.
3. I adapted it to make sure the entire throw was there, set it, adjust it more, and installed it.
4. I ran lines EXACTLY as it were in the 97 Metro.
5. When I went to bleed it - the brake fluid drizzled out - there was hardly any pressure.
6. So.....I installed the proportioning valve that came with the Geo, thinking that was the problem.
7. It was not the problem, still hardly any pressure.
8. There is pressure if you pound the hell out of the pedal - in about 15 seconds it will build up pressure, but 5 seconds later, the pedal is back on the floor.

There are no leaks anywhere. I got the entire brake setup from the salvage yard, bad master??

Thanks - Dallas

dallas, i am experiencing the EXACT same issue with my conversion right now. any advice on what might have fixed the problem? I am going crazy trying to figure it out. just to be clear, you have disk on the front and drum on the back right? can u PM me? it would REALLY help.

 

[dmaddox]

Just a fun update.

I was watching SPEED TV the other day and the program "Car Crazy" came on. As I start watching it, the host mentioned a name - Adriel.....the guy that bought this FJ45 from me.

It's been on a few websites, links, and so forth - but if you watch the below program, you'll see it again, the front and back of it on SpeedTV!

If you click this link - you'll see the camera shoot the back end of it around 11:05ish:

Mild to Wild - YouTube

kinda fun to see the 45 on TV.

dallas

 

[jskfj45]

Robert's bug catcher weatherstripping....tell me more about this...where, who, how much....desparate need...for my 65

 

[keith88250]

Hello crew.

Many of you may have come across some of the FJ40 builds I have done in the past. In the back of my mind I always wanted to find an FJ45. Well, with the help of my good friend Steve Helmreich, we found one hidden in a shed here in Colorado Springs with an AMAZING history.

Meet Barney, purchased just today October 17, 2008.

One owner, 1963 all original FJ45 SWB. It even had the original 1963 plates on it.

I even have the full history on this! This FJ45 was purchased in 1963 by Mr. McKiernan. He was a volunteer for the San Bernandino Mountain Search and Rescue. It was lightly used, and then stored for the rest of it's life! Score!

I am a picture freak (hope you don't mind). I grabbed a burger today and went and picked up Barney. Arriving at my shop:

HORNETS!!!! My goodness HORNETS...! I bombed the interior with Raid, as there was a hornets nest in the dash!

Here are just a few of the victims:

My buddy Steve warned me of such residents, but I didn't know they were that bad. I also stopped by a friends house on the way home and they were not too bad then. The ride to the shop stirred up the population for sure!

The first thing I did was hose all the hinges with lubricant protectant. I also hit all the gaskets (window/etc.) with it as well.

Notice there are NO DENTS and NO RUST! This has been parked since 1998, and before that was stored in a barn in Norco, CA.

Original wheels and hubcaps!

The HUSKY hubs turn like a charm!

There are no signs of use in the entire bed!?

Engine bay - totally clean! (note there were 4 boxes of parts, which included the oil bath air cleaner, etc..)

As mentioned, this was purchased in 1963. I peeled off the "renew" stickers and check this out:

Jack and components, still in place:

Solid floors:

Eaton heater!

Into the shop!

I want to thank Steve Helmreich and Rob Grimes for helping me daily scan the nickel ads, craigslist, and our many other sources of finding things, and for putting up with my "I GOTTA HAVE A CRUISER" disease when I am cruiserless.

I can't wait to update you guys on more.

Thanks for checking this out. I will update soon with more pictures.

i know this is an old thread but I gotta say, this must go into the all time hall of fame for barn finds! incredible!

 

[dmaddox]

Blast from the past! This was a really fun project - and I indeed was undeserving of the truck. Thank you for the reminder!