1978 LPB Teardown and Rebuild

[Awl_TEQ]

No more excuses. Three years this truck has been sitting in a heated garage waiting for me to start. I've planned, made lists, made drawings and planned some more. I have built this truck several times in my head - each time slightly different.

The basic plan....

Intended use
Daily driver and weekend softcore wheeling/camping over back roads and half decent trails. Also the occasional cross country expedition to the far corners of this continent.

Planned mods
1) Swap current 2F/4sd for Turbo 3B/ H55F - possible intercooler
2) Power steering
3) 4 wheel disc brakes
4) Dual lockers
5) Full bumper/ slider/ roll cage (internal)
6) Dual winch (rear removable)
7) On board air - crank driven compressor and a reservoir
8) Long range fuel tank
9) Bed drawers and canvas canopy
10) Dual spare tires
11) Roof rack and roof top tent (or maybe a trailer )
12) OME 2.5" lift suspension

Etc, etc, etc...

Resources...

I work at and have access to a CNC sheet metal shop, CNC machine shop, and full service welding shop. I am currently the shop foreman for the sheet metal shop. At home I have a Miler 180 MIG and very good hand and power tool selection.

This will be a budget build. I have material and time but limited dollars. The time frame for completion is 2 1/2 years - 30 months. I believe I can do it faster but I also have family and work to attend to.



My intention is to end up looking like this...... except for color and wheels.

 

[Awl_TEQ]

Today's progress...

I am going to build a long range auxiliary fuel tank that will sit between the frame rails under the front section of the bed. Also I have a plan for a rear bumper and 2" receiver built into the rear most cross member. In order to gain access to build these I have removed the box. Two days of penetrating fluid did nothing. 30 min. with a drill and impact hammer removed the heads of the 10 bolts holding the box to the frame.


The I-beam and chain hoist worked like a charm.


The box will likely have to be set back in place to check clearances as I build the hitch and fuel tank but the wife doesn't like parking out in -25C weather sooooo

 

[Awl_TEQ]

I set it on end on a four wheeled furniture dolly and rolled it into the corner.

 

[Awl_TEQ]

Frame looks good

The frame, as I previously knew, looks great with only surface rust....

 

[Awl_TEQ]

More to come

I might work a little on the tank layout tomorrow, or maybe not. Sunday is the last of 16 days off and I gotta work monday - up at 5:00am. I might just do nothing.





All day

 

[1979fj40]

Nice truck! would love to have a 45. 16 days off...must work for the schools , (christmas break).

 

[Mikesta]

Looks like your starting with a clean cruiser. Nice looking garage / shop!

 

[Awl_TEQ]

Nice truck! would love to have a 45. 16 days off...must work for the schools , (christmas break).

Not the schools. We shut down the shop through christmas and new years every year. Definitely a nice break.

 

[krzyabncanuck]

subscribing to this one.

 

[24HOURSOFNEVADA]

Sweet. I like your outline and plan and I also like the rig your modeling it after (Who doesn't), but what color are you going to go with?

 

[Awl_TEQ]

Can't decide yet. I quite like the dark grey metallic on the one above. It's a Toyota late model stock color. Looks really nice in person and makes the truck look "newer". I have always liked the stock tan color the most. Red is for Ferrari's. My brother loves his 71 40 in stock blue. Not too partial to the greens. From the beginning I have always planned on a canvas bed top, roll up sides etc. With the boxy body and a canvas topper it lends a very utility, almost military flavor to the truck. So the paint job will have to find that balance between cool expedition rig and full on military truck look. Here are a few photos off the intertnet for illistration of the look I like.

This one the truck is too green - a little too military


This TLC topper is nice in black but I don't like the truck in white.


This TLC topper is nice in grey but the truck is very light blue - not good IMO

 

[Awl_TEQ]

I like the more modern color combinations a bit better. I'm not doing a NOS restoration so I don't mind loosing the stock colors. These pics have good color combos. Although I admire the Defenders I am a J4 guy all the way.

Black and silver is classy


This is what I mean by roll up sides - mine will have three hoops and two roll up sections per side as well as a roll up rear with window.


Black on grey is okay

 

[Awl_TEQ]

Found a couple more pics online...

This is what I see in my minds eye for my topper



Rat rod FJ45


WTF

 

[a.greenspan]

Can't decide yet....
Red is for Ferrari's.

.....
....... & stock " old school" too
( stock save a lot $$$$ )
Cheers
Peter

 

[Awl_TEQ]

No offense intended

a.greenspan

If red is what you like then you should have red. I've just never really liked it much.

Now if you give me this GTO it's red baby red!!!

 

[a.greenspan]

a.greenspan

If red is what you like then you should have red. I've just never really liked it much.

Now if you give me this GTO it's red baby red!!!
View attachment 287634

sorry,
but don`t like this new Ferraris
sold my Healey
(pic is not mine)
my colour was british racing green

in July

Peter

 

[a.greenspan]

my favourite colour on 45`s is this

but mine was red (old fire truck)
so I stay
Cheers
Peter

 

[merbesfield]

my favourite colour on 45`s is this

but mine was red (old fire truck)
so I stay
Cheers
Peter

How does this Springgreen look on the 45LV? That was the orig. color of my rig.

 

[Awl_TEQ]

Does anyone have a picture of a 45 LPB in a fresh coat of Sahara Tan?

I am really liking these colors on the ICON trucks.

I've never really been a fan of the black wheels but they work with the flat dark grey's


These two are the same truck. I think the flat tan is a cool color - but I gotta have the white bezel and roof top. See what I mean - I can't decide on color yet...

 

[merbesfield]

I agree with you about the flat colors, just wondering if I would get tired of it and if it would be difficult to keep clean. I also love the black wheels and hope that my original black steelies will give a similar look/feeling.