1982 FJ45 Troop Carrier Buildup!

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G'day HlTopper,

Looking good amigo! That's the great thing about that colour: very easy to match.

I think you will find that the bonnet catch on your rig only fits on the Aussie-spec grille. I bought a new grille from Toyota about 10 years ago, because my original one was rusting where yours is. When I put it on, I discovered that the bolt holes for the factory release catch are about 1" further apart than the US-spec captive nuts.:mad: So I wound up using the interior latch to shut off the EDIC when the relay burnt out and I was waiting for a new one from Australia. Now it is a useless curiosity- but I still like it!

There is a beautiful 1983 FJ45 petrol/gas pop-top troopie for sale here, fully restored, with full camper interior, air con (not working) and power steering. Let me know if you know of anyone interested in it, and I will forward photos.

Cheers,

Josh
 
Updates...finally!

Really, I've been working on the truck, its just at night...so pics are kinda off.

So,

Seats:

The Bestop Trailmax Pro seat on the driver's side started wearing where the metal bolster support was, which became kinda painful...getting a metal rod up my arse upon exiting...no good.

So, I picked up a set of FJ60 seats, in good condition, and installed them with a set of Specter Off Road covers. Excellent choice so far!

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Since the passenger side seat was the USDS seat, the foam is more collapsed, so a new SOR insert is ready to be installed this weekend.

The 2m/70cm Yeasu 7800 radio and Lowrance Baja480 GPS were both installed on the radio shelf, along with a set of Black Diamond headlamps to provide map lights for the driver and passenger. At $19 each, these LED lights work great, and are just velcroed to the radio shelf...simplicity at its finest.

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The antenna is a Comet SBB-5NMO which is 38" tall, and a small piece of 1/8" stock was bolted to the fender apron, providing a great ground and solid mount.

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The Lowrance antenna was mounted using the same idea, on the driver's (Right Hand) side. Works great in this location, and is low-key enought not to get hit by branches or make it look like the truck has some fancy electronics inside.

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Both the GPS and radio are not readily seen from the outside of the rig, and the radio shelf location keeps them out of the way.

Future projects!

Rebuilding the front and rear door hinges, and putting OEM weatherstripping on the front doors;

Paint! I just picked up five more matching cans of Sherwin Williams auto paint...so the rest of the truck will get some newness!

Rear Cargo Deck....

Rear Swing Away Tire carrier...I'm thinking OEM....

:grinpimp:

-H-
 
Nice to see the radio shelf. I have been thinking of making one for years now. Same question as Dan.
 
I just love your Troopy. I have a couple questions. Are your kids in car seats? If so, how hard is it to get them in and out? Any tips or suggestions? I have a 21 month old, and one of the first mods to my new troopy is going to be a rear seat.
 
I have a 2 year old daughter, who is in a carseat in the rear bench seat. I used a bestop jeep seat, for the folding back feature. It is bolted throught the floor using grade 8 bolts with spreader plates on each, as is the single lap belt seatbelt.

It works great for the carseat, and my daughter walks through the center section, between the front seats, to access the rear seat. I have found that the rear seat is a bit too far back, but the spacing on the seat bolts was just in the way of the body cross members, so I had to compromise a bit.

The rear lap belt is not good for adult passengers; however, as it rides on the abdomen, rather than the hips. I'm debating about putting the "old" front seat as a single bucket in the rear, with a shoulder 3pt. seatbelt.

-H-
 
I've found that since the rake of the lift has the rear end a bit higher, and the rear windows of the ambulance doors are up high, I can't see very well out the back. Not really that big of an issue, however; I'd sure like to see the front bumper of that Honda subcompact when I parallel park...so

The local Checker auto had a sale on a wireless rear view camera for $60, so I figured what the heck...

The camera bolts to the license plate, and is wired to the reverse lights, when the lights come on, it sends a video signal to the display, up on the radio shelf...

So far I really like it! We'll see how long it lasts....

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-H-
 
I came home Friday to a nice package!

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OZTent goodness...set up the body and let the kids play around in it a bit...so far my daughter loves it!

Then on to the project of the weekend; installing a factory Toyota spare tire carrier.

I went with the OEM carrier over the rear bumper for several reasons: 1. It's Toyota, and I like the design, 2. It will allow me to open the right hand rear door without worrying about the tire carrier, 3. I can still fit in the garage with a spare tire on it; I'd have to chop the front bumper into a smaller design to do this with a larger bumper, 4. It ran me $50 instead of $1,300....

The lower hinge bolt holes were in a crossmember, so drilling them out was a breeze. I then located the upper hinge, as well as the rubber bumper and latch, and drilled the holes; tapping the lower body panel for M8 grade 10.9 bolts.

The rear body crossmember, unlike those FJ40s which came from the factory with a rear carrier (a Troopy's carrier is underneath, which for me has a propane bottle in it's place), does not have a backing plate. To make up for the loss of strength, I welded the bumper and latch to the body. This should be plenty strong, as I'm only going to have the alloy wheel/tire combo on it. If it begins to stress the body, I'll bite the bullet and go with a rear bumper....

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Tonight I'll remove the carrier and paint everything the color of the body...it should look OEM.

Since the backspacing on my wheels is 4", I needed to make some spacers, and extend the lugs to fit....instead of tearing apart the rear carrier to do this, I just ordered an additional Spidertrax 1 1/2" spacer, like the ones used on the front. Cost is just under $50, and Spidertrax is great to work with. I figure this will be a clean, neat solution, while giving me a spare spacer...just in case.

-H-
 
Last edited:
my troopie came with bracing for the tire carrier though it was a factory spare gas can not a tire carrier.
 
You're luck Ken!

Just a couple quick shots from the weekend.

First...the new tire carrier, with the Spidertrax spacer, works great!

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Spent some time supporting an 80 mile mountain bike race on Saturday!

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Then took the family out to let the little one try out the new OZTent RV-5 with deluxe sidewalls and front panel! A solid thumbs up from the kiddo and wife, who both took naps in the new tent!

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Cheers,

-H-
 
Nice work with the troopy Hltoppr I reckon she's looking great!

Sorry I'm so behind, but ... what was the verdict on the standard height for FJ45s??:hhmm:

Mine's an HJ47 (so not sure if its going to be the same as an FJ45) from Australia ... I'm pretty sure its stock, but would love to know for certain! Its got 10 leaves on the rear, and 8 (thinner ones) on the front - and is a pretty harsh ride! (but doesn't sink very much when loaded up :D)

your original springs look like they have a fair bit more arch in them than mine:
rear spring.webp


centre of hub to middle of fender on the rear is 55cm (21.6")
height rear.webp

Centre of hub to middle of front fender is 56cm (22")
height front.webp

I'm running 235/85R16s (so ... 31.7" for you guys!) which means from the ground to the fender :

rear:

21.6 + (31.7/2) = 37.45"

front:

22 + (31.7/2) = 37.85"

phew!

So ... looks like yours had a lift when you got it. I'm assuming mine is stock??















(When is the U.S going to switch to the metric system?? :flipoff2:)
height rear.webp
height front.webp
rear spring.webp
 
Geez...mine is significantly higher with the old springs, even before I got the OME system installed.

I was 99 cm to the middle of the rear wheelwell and 95 cm to the middle of the front fender, with 285/75s...essentially 33" tires.

Pics of the measurements are on page one of the build up thread.

The OME system rides great, BTW. I can't recommend it enough!

-H-
 
Anyways, as usual, getting ready for Mexico always has the little things....

Put in a new motor mount last night....one was toast, and the night before I rewired all the accessories to run off the aux. battery, after doing a wiring diagram of the relay-based dual battery system...wishing I was installing a National Luna system...but I digress.

I also noticed that the clutch master cylinder was weeping....no bueno before a Mexico trip with the family....so....

A call CruiserDan at American Toyota in Albuquerque (800-432-6668) has a new OEM Master and slave cylinder being overnighted! Dan comes through once again!


-H-
 
Time flies when you're having fun...and the Troopy and I have been doing less mods and more traveling! So, I suppose I'll update ya'll...with the recent adventures of the "senior" Troopy on Expo...especially since the Aussies have the new "fancy" ones! :)

A cargo floor was added to the rear prior to the Expedition Trophy 2008, using Tuffy Cargo Rails from TRDParts4u. Look for an in-depth write up on Expeditions West's site soon!

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The Expedition Trophy was a blast! Since I didn't have solar, a bunch of folks were willing to take the Troopy around to "charge the batteries." In fact...I had quite a line...take that Disneyland!

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Spent some time with the ARB FJ Cruiser...sweet rig BTW...aux. tank, OME suspension....

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And explored some history with a few other Expo folks!

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Recently, I had the opportunity to take the Overland Training Comprehensive Course! Graham and Scott ordered up some wonderful weather for the training...and I found that the Troopy becomes quite the tank in snow with logging chains installed!

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...and got to help some kids who didn't quite figure out how to stunt drive in the sand....

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Does this FJ make my butt look thin?

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Did a bit of drooling over some rigs...what a view!

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And....power steering is on the boat from OZ...with a bracket being fabbed in CAD!

Muy Bueno!
 
I decided to go the mini truck route. Box is out of an 85 surf. MoGas and I are fabbing a reverse mini truck bracket for the RHD.

The RHD 60 series conversion would have been cheaper, but I don't want to mess with modding shock towers etc.

-H-
 
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