A Zimbos Guide to building an FJ45... TAKE 2!!

[bikersmurf]

she not only approves but wants one too!! but she insists it must be a short wheel base 45. they dont exist here so i would have to make one

Why stop there, I bet she'd flip over a Fj43... With your supply of 45s there, it could be quite doable... Although a ton of work. But we've seen you're not afraid of that.

 

[Vossie]

Why stop there, I bet she'd flip over a Fj43... With your supply of 45s there, it could be quite doable... Although a ton of work. But we've seen you're not afraid of that.

never have been afraid of work. thats a really good idea and what i had originally planned for my current build. who knows what the future holds

 

[Vossie]

been a while since update, and i am truly rubbish with taking photos as i go, but heres where im at with the 12HT swap...

so, when i tried to crank the motor for the first time, nothing happened. she wouldnt even turn over... then we saw water leaking out the exhaust

so after an emergency evacuation of everything in the cylinders and much crying, i took the head off... found this...

as it turned out, the welsh plugs and the injector tubes had rusted through. this allowed water to leak from the jackets into the cylinders. thankfully no hydro lock happened and no further damage.

so i had the head redone by a local shop. skimmed it, cleaned it, new injector tubes, welsh plugs and valve stem seals.

 

[Vossie]

mean while i spent about 5 hours cleaning the block and polishing the surface of the head. cleaned out all of the jackets and galleries. cleaned out the sump. honed the cylinders. just in general made it look like an engine should

got the head back and installed. took some extra time to clean and paint some other things around the engine

looks alot more respectable now.

i also had the radiator modded a bit. added a 90 deg bend to the bottom to allow clearance with power steering pump pulley.

and swapped the top around so that the hose wont interfere with the AC pump when i eventually get one

 

[Vossie]

then i tried to fire her up.... nothing... starter turned really slow and just wouldnt start. charged the battery, same thing. had another running car hooked up, same thing. bled her.... well, same thing. was really starting to get to me. then i noticed on the VSV one little stamp.... "24V" ahh

as it turns out, the engine was a 24V. i had the 24v starter changed to a 12v solenoid. but it still turned slowly. put another battery in series and cranked her... fired first time....

so then i changed the starter to 12V, the alternator to 12V and everything else that needed to be. only thing im still waiting on is a 12v VSV. for now, i have a cable rigged to shut off the engine.

then i got the exhaust done...

was a good chance to check for leaks and there werent any which is great.

and thats where i am now. shes back to being my daily driver and already so much better on fuel. getting roughly 8.5kms/L which is right where i wanted it to be, so im happy

oh how good it is to be diesel again

 

[sadam_husain]

congrats mate

 

[Vossie]

congrats mate

thanks

 

[Zimmi]

Do you guys still have a government subsidy on paraffin ? We used to mix with diesel for running machines & vehicles because it was subsidised was cheap cheap

 

[Dagha Boy]

Nice one Vossie!

 

[Vossie]

Do you guys still have a government subsidy on paraffin ? We used to mix with diesel for running machines & vehicles because it was subsidised was cheap cheap

unfortunately not... paraffin is US$1/L vs diesel at US$1.21 so it is a bit cheaper but im not sure cheap enough to warrant mixing my own fuel.

Nice one Vossie!

danke dagha!

 

[tornio]

congrats mate

congrats Vossie very nice build !!!

12ht is my dream !! and probally the best engine under our old bonnet !!!

 

[Vossie]

congrats Vossie very nice build !!!

12ht is my dream !!

thank you! oddly enough it was mine too but one i thought would never in a million years happen as they are VERY rare here in Zimbabwe. this one just fell into my lap and i couldnt pass it up.

 

[tornio]

... oh yes... in italy are rare too , we can only found few hj61 that are very exspensive and it would be a pity to kill a beatifull hj only for the engine....

cheers

 

[Vossie]

... oh yes... in italy are rare too , we can only found few hj61 that are very exspensive and it would be a pity to kill a beatifull hj only for the engine....

cheers

or you can look for the coaster bus... thats where mine comes from...

i would hate to kill a 60 series too... in fact, this engine has me looking at every 60 i run into very closely

 

[tornio]

or you can look for the coaster bus... thats where mine comes from...

i would hate to kill a 60 series too... in fact, this engine has me looking at every 60 i run into very closely

NEVER SEEN ONE'S HERE IN ITALY ARGHHH

 

[Vossie]

NEVER SEEN ONE'S HERE IN ITALY ARGHHH

what about a japanese import?

 

[Tin basher]

This makes me jeolous of how litle rust yours had to start with
Came out very clean

 

[Vossie]

This makes me jeolous of how litle rust yours had to start with
Came out very clean

thanks for the kind words! its one of the many advantages of being in zimbabwe. mild/warm climate and land locked

 

[Dagha Boy]

Jaaa, Vossie.

I especially like all the gazillions of monies you got in Zim... and your young President. But then again, he can't dance and giggle like ours!

 

[Vossie]

Jaaa, Vossie.

I especially like all the gazillions of monies you got in Zim... and your young President. But then again, he can't dance and giggle like ours!

or count like yours

In reality we all just get on, make a plan and carry on