1980 FJ45 in Dubai - Saved From the Sands

[maxofarabia]

Don't see that anyone posted the paint code for the fiberglass top - it is Cygnus White, T-012.

Looking really good! Would love to add one of these to my fleet...

Thanks for the help! Perfect timing, hopefully they will paint the roof on Saturday if they can get the paint in time (Friday is our equivalent of Saturday, as we have a Friday Saturday weekend).

It's addictive, I don't have a fleet, but if I'm able to I'll build one

 

[maxofarabia]

It's always great to see the progress. Especially if it's 45 like yours. The shop is doing a great job on your build. Can't wait to se the final build.

Thanks for the kind words, it means a lot. Yesterday I was talking to the shop manager and told him how no matter what there's no way I'd sell the 45. I've seen it in every imaginable stage of existence so I kind of fee like I've watched it be born and grow.

 

[RodrigzCrzr]

Yeah reminds me when I did my Fj40 many years ago!
Piece by piece I painted parts transformation was pretty cool. I know how you feel once your at the shop. The anticipation of seeing progress!
Good job!

 

[maxofarabia]

Just a quick update- thugs are coming together nicely. I'm making replacement glass for the side and back windows as the originals were scratched pretty badly.

A few things have been fitted since last time just to see how everything will look. Still waiting on some parts to reach that have been ordered from Al Ain and Japan. Unfortunately I was unable to find replacement hinges for the tailgate. Apart from that most things are on the way.

A few pics to keep things interesting.
First later on the bottom of the bed.

bezel chromed with the old lights mounted (new JW speakers on the way)

 

[maxofarabia]

I got a small shipment from Al Ain with a few spare parts they ordered for me. Tailgate latches,

radio antenna

and rear view mirror

To be honest I'm not sure if the antenna is the correct one as it looks much different to the ones I've seen before (large curved rubber base), but it will have to do until I can either confirm it is the correct one, or find the one that is supposed to be fitted to the 1980. Same goes for the rest view mirror, it looks weird to me but I'll use it until I find something I prefer.

That being said the guys estimated there is about 2-3 weeks left in the build. Yesterday the tub went to paint

so until now all body panels are painted apart from the roof and the hood. And those are in the final stages of prep work. Apart from that I have had new glass made because the PO must have welded something close to the car and the Sparks kind of melted scratches into it. So far the windshield and rear glass are ready and have been installed

with the new rubbers. I will take a trip to the Al dhaid junk yards to source new glass for the curved rear windows to try and find the cleanest ones available, and for the side windows the glass company is remaking them as the original ones they made were slightly too thick. While I would have preferred to stick to the original glass all around, I'm very happy with the new glass. Seeing that I'll hopefully be using the car quite a lot it also makes sense from a safety perspective to have glass that is up to modern safety standards and will crack but not shatter.

I'm still waiting on a few parts from the U.S., and have some coming from Japan. But fingers crossed everything gets here soon. I'll try to go daily to the workshop to make sure I document all the changes that are happening as they're happening pretty fast and I don't want to miss them.

 

[Racer65]

Seriously? He got you the tail-gate latch that's discontinued? Wow.

 

[Bowling4$]

How is it that I can live vicariously through someone else's build? I'm not sure but I like it.

 

[maxofarabia]

Seriously? He got you the tail-gate latch that's discontinued? Wow.

He did if you want a pair tell me and I'm sure we can figure out a way to get them to you.

 

[maxofarabia]

How is it that I can live vicariously through someone else's build? I'm not sure but I like it.

Haha the same way I've been living vicariously through everyone else on Mud for a long time thanks for the kind words

 

[Arabian Cruiser]

Clear tint your front windscreen. Last thing you want is bits of glass on your lap if a rock comes flying your way.

Antenna looks standard.

 

[maxofarabia]

Clear tint your front windscreen. Last thing you want is bits of glass on your lap if a rock comes flying your way.

Antenna looks standard.

Yea the plan is to tint all windows with vcool or similar "zero zero" - so no color, but protection from UV rays to keep it cooler and protect the interior. The glad I got is the laminate kind though, so hopefully it will help. Come visit soon so when she's ready you test drive.

 

[maxofarabia]

Slightly off topic, was at the ras Al khor car market to pick something up and found this.

very clean body, but the interior looks to be done. Floor boards were solid with original looking rubber mat that I haven't seen in good condition in a long time. Unfortunately not for sale, but makes me want one.

 

[ezyman]

Hi guys,

Max , if you need any spare parts from Saudi Arabia just send me a private message.

 

[maxofarabia]

Hi guys,

Max , if you need any spare parts from Saudi Arabia just send me a private message.

Thanks a lot for the kind offer. I think I'm pretty good so far.

The things that I couldn't order new I am either restoring and reusing the original parts or sourcing them from friends and junk yards in the UAE.

 

[maxofarabia]

I had a meeting that was cancelled today so decided to take the time to go to Al Dhaid and see if I could get replacement windows for the rest curved glass + inside vent window latch. The following pictures set the scene of how slim the pickings were as I melted in the sun.

To get the latch I had to buy the full vent window assembly

Then I had my choice of the curved glass. Somehow 99% of the glass that I find here has weird almost burn marks on it, but I'm not sure of their origin.

safely thrown in the truck ready for the drive back to Dubai.

 

[RodrigzCrzr]

Slightly off topic, was at the ras Al khor car market to pick something up and found this.View attachment 1072793View attachment 1072794View attachment 1072795View attachment 1072796
View attachment 1072797 very clean body, but the interior looks to be done. Floor boards were solid with original looking rubber mat that I haven't seen in good condition in a long time. Unfortunately not for sale, but makes me want one.

Can you just slip that cruiser out the rear gate. And put it in the first ship to USA PLEASE!
That is nice!

 

[78fj40mg]

Slightly off topic, was at the ras Al khor car market to pick something up and found this.View attachment 1072793View attachment 1072794View attachment 1072795View attachment 1072796
View attachment 1072797 very clean body, but the interior looks to be done. Floor boards were solid with original looking rubber mat that I haven't seen in good condition in a long time. Unfortunately not for sale, but makes me want one.

Very cool cruiser! Excellent resto Max!

 

[maxofarabia]

Also,I'm happy to note the Antenna is the right one it seems.

 

[maxofarabia]

Can you just slip that cruiser out the rear gate. And put it in the first ship to USA PLEASE!
That is nice!

Haha if it was that easy it would be outside my house already

 

[Arabian Cruiser]

That shorty looks nice.