A new guy w/new (to me) 45LV, 1963

[mudge]

Permanent FJ45LV thread for FJ45LV, 1967, Mudge

Per "Rockcod's" suggestion I'm moving my thread from Tech to Owners. So....HI! Mike Mudge here. I live in Foresthill, CA, and buy a huge stroke of luck, stumbled across a very tasty FJ45 LV yesterday while purchasing a small travel trailer to drag around behind my '84 FJ60.

It's a runner but not a roller at this point. The rear diff is blown but if the FJ40 diff is compatible, a guy here in town has an older (I think) diff he'll sell and install for me.

My FJ60 has been my baby for years now and when the I-6 puked I decided to do the 350 conversion on it. I am all about originallity but finding someone to rebuild the motor was costly. I swapped in an '87 350 from a GMC 1500 Suburban and kept it smog compliant for Calif. 2 weeks ago I installed a rebuilt 4 speed from Specter with the compound low 1st gear.

I'm sure 'll be spending a lot of time on this forum and tech as I bring the luster back to this 45LV. I'll be looking for advice about minor to major stuff. Does a V8 detract from the value of the rig, etc. etc.

Meanwhile, here's a link to my cell phone pix from yesterday.

63 landcruiser FJ45 LV pictures by mikemudge - Photobucket

Thanks for the warm welcome,

Mike Mudge
My friends just call me Mudge

 

[taterhead]

Looks great, All the pieces seem to be there did you get a deal on it with both the camper and LV?

 

[mudge]

A deal?

HAH! Well, I paid more for the trailer, 950, then I did for the 45. I felt a twinge of guilt when the seller agreed to 650 for the truck.

It might cost me at least half of what I paid to get it home but it is a runner and with a replacement rear diff it should be driveable. After sitting idle for 4 years any number of small issues could be present. Time will tell.

Mudge

 

[whitey45]

Mike, You absolutely stole the lv,that thing is a cream puff! It looks to be a 66 or 67,not a 63.You will get a ton of input in the next few days.Very nice purchase,welcome to the club!! Also the rear axles will be coarse spline,so make sure the new diff has course spline spider gears...

 

[mudge]

Whitey, you're probably right about the model year. After I got a look at the truck and was going thru it, I asked questions but didn't hear the answers too well. Mostly white noise........go figure.

 

[taterhead]

I think I am going to be sick. I bought my 67 about 2 months ago... Its a driver and in excellent shape, only alittle surface rust here and there. New interior, original headliner is great everything works and I got alot of extra parts from the po. I wont tell you what I paid!!!! But hey its only money

 

[wesintl]

Sweet LV! I love the blue and white.

 

[Kief]

WOOHOO! nice..

 

[kellyo]

You should be ashamed of yourself for stealing that LV. I don't know how you can look at yourself in the mirror ..................................................................without a huge freeking grin. Great score. Are the other two LV's in the last pic's yours as well?

 

[rockcod]

Don't follow the adage of "Drive it like you stole it!!", because you definitely stole it.
I got this for $700.00....................................Whitey, we need to talk!!!!

 

[whitey45]

I thought it was 600?

 

[rockcod]

I thought it was 600?

You're right it was 600. I was blinded by rust and wasp nests.

 

[whitey45]

You cant put a price on that kind of patina! Kind of like an above ground reef for critters of all types, a sanctuary! Tony,maybe you should bring it to the 45 run and we can stick some dynamite under mr Klink and let everyone rummage through the parts after the big boom!! Brings new meaning to the words parting out!!

 

[rockcod]

You cant put a price on that kind of patina! Kind of like an above ground reef for critters of all types, a sanctuary! Tony,maybe you should bring it to the 45 run and we can stick some dynamite under mr Klink and let everyone rummage through the parts after the big boom!! Brings new meaning to the words parting out!!

I like it!!!!!!

 

[mudge]

You guys are too good. Now I gotta ask the dreaded questions.

See new post

 

[mudge]

No, the other two I snagged off the internet to show my wife how they look when finished out. She has only seen pictures but loves it already.

 

[ColoCruiserJeff]

Mudge-

Welcome to the forum! For some reason, your picture linky no worky.

I'm looking forward to seeing your LV.....sure miss having my blue/white one in the garage!

 

[mudge]

I'm gonna stick with this thread

Being new-ish to this forum I'm seeing how hard it is to follow spread out posts. It wasn't like this on my Fiat forum which is how I got screwed up. Apologies if needed. If not

I refit the rear seat today. The PO had removed it for a Joey tray but he kept that. Except for a 1" gouge in the upper left it's fine. I got out the 409 and wiped some of the patina off and found signs of paint!

I took a few more pix which I'll have posted in an hour os so. It's getting harder and harder to consider parting with it but it is still a 90% odds it'll be sold. The clincher will be my wife. She's uncomfortable with another project but she's only seen pix to this point.

Anyway.....pix within the hour.

 

[mudge]

19 new pix up at

67 Landcruiser FJ45 LV pictures by mikemudge - Photobucket

Enjoy.

 

[DanS HJ-45]

That's just such a beautiful truck. The condition is simply amazing--EXPECIALLY knowing what you paid for it. If I saw a deal like that, I'd have an LV yesterday.

Dan