Build 1964 FJ45 Short Bed Fixed Top Pickup Restoration

[FJ60Cam]

This project has been upgraded to the Turtle 2 position on the throttle and is also shifting into high range in the tcase.

Rotunda has been kicked out of the operating room and is being moved to an active recovery suite for the remainder of her operation where she’ll undergo daily physical therapy until she’s doing unassisted burnouts.

Stay tuned…

 

[FJ60Cam]

Speaking of the transfer case….

… we need to reposition the tcase shifter to get it better situated in the boot, which really likes it’s current position on the transmission tunnel.

The height is fine, we just need to change the x,y coordinates to line it up…

Using some bar stock to get a relative position:

Using an extension, here’s where it ends up. 2H will line up with 1st & 3rd visually, since that is where it’ll probably spend most of its time.

 

[FJ60Cam]

$$$

 

[jomelo]

I think when Rotunda saw the engine leave for my other 45 there was a realization that it was now time to go home.

 

[WoodsTruck]

Brilliant work so far.

Is the rubber mount on the rear axle for the emergency cable a factory feature or DIY? I'm working on an old Bronco and am looking for a way to capture the e-brake cables where they pass under the leaf springs and this looks like a clean way to support the tube yet still allow movement.

 

[wngrog]

Brilliant work so far.

Is the rubber mount on the rear axle for the emergency cable a factory feature or DIY? I'm working on an old Bronco and am looking for a way to capture the e-brake cables where they pass under the leaf springs and this looks like a clean way to support the tube yet still allow movement.

That’s a stock Toyota cable for a 70 series rear axle.

 

[FJ60Cam]

A few rivnuts later and we are ready for action:

Not so fast…

We didn’t have the reverse light switch threaded into the top cover of the transmission. When we did, it hit the tunnel due to its height:

We’re in luck, because this truck doesn’t have reverse lights

A nice recessed allen plug later, and we are in business:

We put a strip of felt around the edge…

Finished product:

 

[jomelo]

Man. There is some satisfaction to seeing that.

Meanwhile I’m out driving down tunnels in my Mustard 40.

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

That’s a stock Toyota cable for a 70 series rear axle.

@wngrog, I recall you were trying to find a custom cable to tie in 70 series rear e-brakes to the 40/45 factory hand brake handle under the dash. Did you figure this out?

 

[wngrog]

@wngrog, I recall you were trying to find a custom cable to tie in 70 series rear e-brakes to the 40/45 factory hand brake handle under the dash. Did you figure this out?

I finally got that cable back from them but it’s at my shop and the truck is at Lockwood’s house. I plan on taking it down with the Seminole 45 or Rotunda and Checking fit

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

I finally got that cable back from them but it’s at my shop and the truck is at Lockwood’s house. I plan on taking it down with the Seminole 45 or Rotunda and Checking fit

Hope it works. Curious. Need similar for my son’s rig. Would appreciate if you could share final details.

 

[thatcabledude]

Been wondering the same thing.

 

[thatcabledude]

Man. There is some satisfaction to seeing that.

Meanwhile I’m out driving down tunnels in my Mustard 40.

View attachment 2981835

Shot through a tunnel earlier myself.

 

[FJ60Cam]

We are finalizing our electrical plans. We made a few last minute changes and have the new parts on the way. The goal here is for any new wiring to disappear as much as possible. We will chop up the Sniper wiring and move the fuse and relay out of the supplied harness and into our system for simplicity.

@DirtRoads drew up these schematics to work from:

We originally planned to utilize a Switch Pro, for things like the locker switches and winch in/out but it is a little much for just a few things.

We came across this tiny Amp Link power distribution module, which we are going to use for relays and to provide a good switched power bus bar.

 

[FJ60Cam]

As mentioned before, we’re running a tiny racecar battery that we are hiding under the truck. Our friends at Level 7 (hot rod shop) make a really nice 5/6th enclosed battery box that will protect from rocks, zombies, gators, or whatever else Florida throws at it.

The best place to put it was under the driver seat, which works great because the bolts are concealed inside the toolbox.

My initial concern was that it would be visible from the side, but it really disappears once you see it from a normal vantage point.

To triple ensure it’s not visible from 100’ away, we’re going to powdercoat it with a matte texture. Until then, we threw on some flat rattlecan :

 

[PAToyota]

We put a strip of felt around the edge…

Is felt going to absorb moisture and lead to rusting? Just thinking out loud...

 

[FJ60Cam]

Is felt going to absorb moisture and lead to rusting? Just thinking out loud...

As the Mythbusters would say: “PLAUSIBLE”

In this case, the benefits (quieter due to no metal-on-metal contact) outweigh the risk of water retention. This is going to be kept in climate controlled conditions and not daily driven. Even if it gets caught having to drive in the rain every once n a while, I think it will be fine.

 

[jomelo]

For anyone tuning in late, this truck has a pretty strong connection with @Tank5 - essentially living the vast majority of its life down the street from his house. Dennis recently sent me a thumb drive with some older pictures of the truck. These must have been right around the time it changed hands from the original owner.

 

[jomelo]

 

[jomelo]

@wngrog just pointed out to me that only 180 miles were put on the truck between these photos and the time it rolled into his shop - looking completely different after a mild restoration. Here is what the truck looked at when I flew down and looked at after my purchase.