1964 FJ45 LB “RB1” Project

[cult45]

Righty-o.

 

[miker]

Picture of all four.

 

[miker]

More painting this weekend.
Fenders
Aprons
Bib

 

[daniel.watters]

Very nice!

 

[1tontoy]

Looks fantastic! What paint products are you using?

 

[miker]

Looks fantastic! What paint products are you using?

Thanks. DTM epoxy sealer, surfacer, and final sealer are PPG ShopLine. Top coat is PPG DCC single stage.
Body filler was RAGE Gold and then some Upol Dolphin Putty for small imperfections.

 

[miker]

Shot the underside of front fenders and the front half of the trans cover with Montsaliner.
Already had to fix a leak - gear oil. Turned out to be no big deal, forgot to tighten the PTO cover on the transfercase.

 

[miker]

Bolting on front fenders.

 

[miker]

bolted on the front turn signal light and running lights.

 

[47coeman]

You are so close I can taste it...

 

[KT40]

Awfully quiet here!
Need an update Mike!

 

[miker]

Awfully quiet here!
Need an update Mike!

Not much progress over the Summer months but have just started to spend some time on it again. Mostly been concentrating on the wiring. Have had the wiring harness in, then out, then started over. I'm using an aftermarket harness from Summit. Didn't know it at the time, but I'm pretty sure its an EZ Wire harness. Would have not chosen this one if I had seen it first. Number of things I don't like, which is why I pulled it back out and have started over. Still using the same harness, but removed a number of circuits and modified the flasher pigtails, horn relay pigtail, ignition switch connectors, and added a main fuse instead of the supplied fusible link.

The documentation included with this harness leaves a lot to be desired. I'd rate it poor.

The quality of the wires themselves seem pretty good. They're color-coded and marked with their function although several of the wires are marked with the same thing so its not as simple as it seems from the start to identify the proper wires.
I'd never buy a harness again without the flashers integrated in the fuse block. And a 20 circuit harness is really too big for the needs of this vehicle. I've got it down to 9 circuits and I've removed the other 11 reducing the amount of wires at the fuse box and in the harness itself. I can add them back later if needed.

Also started to lay out the rear bumper. Its really just a piece of 2x6 rectangle tube but I'll make some cuts to taper it at the ends so its not just a big hunk of square tube. Plan to put the tail lights in the bumper. I've not been able to find lights that will work in the bed under the tailgate similar to the stock locations for the FJ45 Long Bed. My modified bed reduced the height in that area of the bed.

Really be nice to get the engine started soon. Wiring is really the only thing keeping me from doing that.

 

[miker]

Latest picture I've taken. Headlights are in, some badges are on. Most of the dash switches are in, and just about everything you see is "final" bolted in place.

Still left to paint is the hood, window frame, doors, door supports, rear upper cab wall and the roof. I'm not planning to do the remaining paint until after wiring is done and I've started the engine and taken it for a few laps around the block.

 

[KT40]

Looks great!
Nice shot of both rigs.
Looking forward to seeing it out in the open.
Thanks for the update!

 

[miker]

Snapped a few pics today while working on the 45. Here's the back of the gauge cluster wired up. Using weather pack connectors on most everything.

 

[miker]

Gauge cluster

 

[miker]

Fuse box mount. Then fuse box in place.

 

[miker]

All the wires I removed from the harness.

 

[miker]

Ready to install...

 

[miker]

Wiring is almost complete. All lights, starter, and gauges seem to be working although I have yet to start the engine.

Have the rear bumper built except for cutting some holes for the backup lights.

Now need to dump some gas in the tank, pour some water in the radiator, and then see if this thing will fire.