Builds 1965 FJ45lv build up/resto thread

[Flyin_Ryan]

Whats up Matt,

I started pulling pics off here for the site finally, got to page 10 tonight, pulled off about 80, i'm hoping to hit it hard tomorrow, I want to get all the pics thus far on my comp tomorrow, I dont know about getting them on the site tomorrow but Crusty's been begging for an update for quite some time so I'm going to see how quickly I can move through this.

Anyway, lookin good, I don't think I'll be back in Roseau until thanksgiving but i'm definately checking it out in person.

Later

 

[buckroseau]

Whats up Matt,

I started pulling pics off here for the site finally, got to page 10 tonight, pulled off about 80, i'm hoping to hit it hard tomorrow, I want to get all the pics thus far on my comp tomorrow, I dont know about getting them on the site tomorrow but Crusty's been begging for an update for quite some time so I'm going to see how quickly I can move through this.

Anyway, lookin good, I don't think I'll be back in Roseau until thanksgiving but i'm definately checking it out in person.

Later

Your the man! I think I will be working at the store here Thanksgiving weekend, the LV will still be at Duane's though. If your home the weekend before or after or something you could head up there with me if you want? Probably put you to work though .


And, if any of you guys are wondering what this goober is talking about........He is the webmaster for my website, www.crustycruisers.com Unfortunetly he finds mid 90's chevy trucks cooler that Landcruisers, but nobody's perfect right Maybe someday he will come around, unitl then he types a series of #'s, :,;,>,<,/, and all other kinds of dots and dashes I don't understand?

Matt

 

[74fj40]

any update?

 

[treerootCO]

Did the parts arrive?

 

[gifu]

Hey Matt, I know your a long way off from this, but I thought I'd pass the idea along. On my 45LV, the wiper motor was shot, and rather then rebuild it (even a good working one is pretty slow) I modified the bracket a bit (and the arm) and was able to bolt up the motor from an FJ60. Additionally, I found the section of FJ60 wiring that had the delay box (under the dash) and the two speed resisitor (it's actually very close to the wiper motor on the 60, and looks like an inline resistor of sorts); so now my LV has fast, slow and intermittant wiper.

of course, you'll have to figure out the switch on the dash (i used the entire FJ60 column in my 45LV). I'm sure there's a way you could make it work without losing the stock look.

The other addition I made (since I had access to a wrecked FJ60), was incorporating a front sway-bar from an FJ60 (this was pretty easy since my LV is on FJ60 axles). Mine is SOA... so i was battling a high center of gravity, but still, the front sway bar did quite a bit to improving the handling. I've since added one to my FJ46 (on stock 40 series axles), and was able to cut a 3" section out of the sway bar (FJ60 axles are 3" wider) to make it fit. I wasn't sure if cutting and welding a sway bar would detract from it's strength, but then I figure... it's only a sway bar.

on a side-note... i work for my friend (another cruiserhead) at his Ace out here in Palo Alto, CA (i run the solar-electric div.). How long have you been in the business?

~Brian

 

[buckroseau]

Got about 3 hours in on the lv tonight, well 6 if you count both people.

Nothing to exciting, worked on both drivers side doors. These were the worst 2 doors out of the 4. The rear one was the one that was caved in about 3/4" and was full of bondo, the one we cut out the panel months ago, straighten and welded back in.

Had to stud gun for a little while on both doors to get them a little closer. Filler looks worse than it is, probably around a 1/16" at the thickest point. But, the doors are straight and that is why were doing all this.

Heading back up in the morning for more of the same. Should have both doors roughed out in primer along with the left rear quarter and possibly the tailgate by tomorrow night.

Matt

 

[buckroseau]

Did the parts arrive?

Yes they did, thanks Mike!! Actually, thanks Mike(s). Got the 6 new strikers from Foxfab also. I had to stop at home on the way out of town and pick them up at my mail box.

I'll let you know tomorrow night how they work. The tailgate will be off tomorrow and I should be installing them while I'm working on that before it goes back on.

Thanks, Matt

 

[buckroseau]

Hey Matt, I know your a long way off from this, but I thought I'd pass the idea along. On my 45LV, the wiper motor was shot, and rather then rebuild it (even a good working one is pretty slow) I modified the bracket a bit (and the arm) and was able to bolt up the motor from an FJ60. Additionally, I found the section of FJ60 wiring that had the delay box (under the dash) and the two speed resisitor (it's actually very close to the wiper motor on the 60, and looks like an inline resistor of sorts); so now my LV has fast, slow and intermittant wiper.

of course, you'll have to figure out the switch on the dash (i used the entire FJ60 column in my 45LV). I'm sure there's a way you could make it work without losing the stock look.

The other addition I made (since I had access to a wrecked FJ60), was incorporating a front sway-bar from an FJ60 (this was pretty easy since my LV is on FJ60 axles). Mine is SOA... so i was battling a high center of gravity, but still, the front sway bar did quite a bit to improving the handling. I've since added one to my FJ46 (on stock 40 series axles), and was able to cut a 3" section out of the sway bar (FJ60 axles are 3" wider) to make it fit. I wasn't sure if cutting and welding a sway bar would detract from it's strength, but then I figure... it's only a sway bar.

on a side-note... i work for my friend (another cruiserhead) at his Ace out here in Palo Alto, CA (i run the solar-electric div.). How long have you been in the business?

~Brian

Your right, still a ways off, but I like the idea of having fast and a slow speed. I have a 79 FJ40 I have been using parts out of, would that motor work? I used the axles out of that and plan on using the speedo and some misc. switches.

I plan on writing up a list of stuff I plan on doing and posting it very soon, in fact I have everything written down. Just thought I would throw it out there at everyone and see what kinda ideas come back.

Just a little bit of what I plan is: IDIDIT steering column w/ keyed iginition, tilt, cruise, dimmer and hazzard button in the column. Also plan on using the stock light switch out of the 79 and I had planned on using that wiper switch since it can't be in the column I am using. I plan on installing a vintage AC unit, so that will be my heat also and the temp knob along with fan speed is on that unit.

So actually my dash will look pretty sparse? 4 wd lever will be on the floor along with the automatic shift lever. I plan on using all Lokar stuff with there shift boots w/ there LED lighted rings for alll the gears.

I had planned on using the stock front bench seat, but I have changed my mind. I am now going to use the stock buckets out of the 79 FJ and them upolstered to match the interior. I either plan on buying a tuffy or making a custom center console with the stereo built into that.

So you see, not much on the dash, but more to come shortly and more specifics

Owned / managed this Ace for the last 8 years. Has been in operation since 1974.

Mattt

 

[buckroseau]

Full day on the lv today. Got to my buddy's place around 8:30 am this morning and got right to it.

Doesn't look like a ton of stuff, but were moving along pretty good. We both worked on the Driver side doors, he took the rear one and I worked on the front one. The rear one was the worst out of the bunch so that's why he did it. Same as ussual, skim coat of plastic and then sand it all off. Still pretty thin, the front door it's pretty much paper thin except for a couple small areas it got probably around a 1/16". The rear door isn't to bad, it is on average about a 1/16" thick. Considering how bad that door had been smashed in, it is a miracle that we are using it at all.

My buddy tackled the tailgate while I finished up the rear quarter. He had to put a skim coat in a couple areas and sand off to get it absolutely straight. Got everything primed before we called it a night.

Even got the wife up there today sanding primer, she helped a lot and did a real good job. Although I don't think she's coming back tomorrow

Plan is to head back up there in the morning and continue sanding and priming.

Matt

 

[buckroseau]

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[89s rule]

Great job man! It sure has come a long way since last week when I founf this thread Continue to keep us posted and give some of us who are broke something to dream about and look over Thanks again and AWESOME JOB!!

 

[74fj40]

have you started to work on the hood and fenders yet? how far away from paint do you think you are?

 

[buckroseau]

Another day on the lv again. More of the same...............

Sling plastic, sand, prime, sand, prime, sand, prime.......you get the idea.

Worked out most of the passenger side to 120 grit. Got the drivers side out to about 80 grit. Worked on the inside of the tailgate, not totally needed, but a skim coat of filler sanded out. Figure when the tailgate opens I want that like a baby's ass also on the inside

We both actually spent a good hour or so on the drip rail hammer and dollying that perfectly straight. Got the roof DA'd down with 80 ready for filler. I had to spend some time on the cowling. That area had been damaged at one time and someone had left it bent in about a 1/2" and filled it full of bondo. I used the stud gun and pulled it almost straight, shouldn't need much work now, probably a paper thin coat.

Got the side latches back in the gate for the moment. Tried out those FJ55 strikers that Treeroot sent me. Worked absolutley perfect, Thanks Mike!!! I owe you some FJ55 strikers now! So in the pics you see the rear tailgate is latched.

Hung the doors again. They have to come back off again, but we like to see our progress and also keeps them out of the way.

It will probably be Fri., Nov. 11th before I'm back up there again working on it. Minnesota whitetail deer opener is next weekend, so that is what I will be doing next weekend. ;p

Matt

 

[buckroseau]

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[buckroseau]

have you started to work on the hood and fenders yet? how far away from paint do you think you are?

No, haven't started working on the hood and fenders yet. Probaby won't work on those until the body is back on again for the last time. Remember, the body is coming back off again. That stuff is kinda easy stuff so I will probably wait until then.


I would say I'm probaby 3 to 5 months away from painting the bottom and jamming the inside of the body when it's back on the rottisseri. After that, I'm probaby a month or 2 away from back taping and painting the outside. So about 5 to 6 months from painting the outside. That's assuming I continue to work on it non stop like I have been.

Matt