Common Issues to look for in a FJ45

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T

Tele Yota

10 Year 15 Year
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Hey guys,

I have been lurking here for a while now and thought I would introduce myself. I have been playing with toyota for about 15 years now and I am an addict!:D Ok thats out of the way.

But seriously, I have a 1990 Toyota Hilux that I am selling right now so I can buy a FJ 45.

1990 Toyota Hilux Crewcab Pickup - Alberta Cars For Sale - Kijiji Alberta Canada.

I have had calls on my truck and am confident it will sell by mid winter. But I don't really have the room for another truck until this one goes but I have started seriously looking for a 45.
I have found one about 10 blocks from my house that hasn't moved in over two years and might try put an offer on it.

What is the major issues to look out for when buying a 45?? Where are the frame issues? And other than the floor boards rotting out? What other spots should i be looking?

Thanks and look forward to chatting with everyone.

~J
 
Welcome to mud. Good luck in your search. Are you looking for a 45 pickuup? If so, I'd say that rust is the number one problem. And then, sourcing FJ45 specific parts is also an issue. I guess those also apply to the LV and probably every other 45.

Besides the floor boards which you mentioned, the lower rear cab corners and the rear cab support *box* or *shelf* traps moisture and tends to rust out. Under the gas tank is another spot for rust as well as between the windshield and cowl. The cab's roof corners are prone to rust as well. As I see it, all these areas tend to leak over time and/or trap moisture.

If its a LWB pickup, the bed (tray) tends to rust at the floor, front bed to side corners, and the front box panel all tend to rust more rapidly than other parts. The under bed supports also trap moisture between them and the bed floor.

Fj45 frames like other cruiser frames have access holes. Through these holes, debis will collect and attract and maintain moisture. My frame had the most rust where the rear spring's forward mount is riveted to the frame. The other place was where the rear spring's shackle mount was riveted to the frame. These areas have "layers" of steel and small gaps between them trap the elements that rust thrives on.

I'd suggest looking here on mud for build threads on the particular model you are looking to purchase. After viewing a few, I think you will see the common problem areas.
 
Last edited:
rockcod said:
Rust, dents and missing parts.
Click to expand...

65swb45 said:
x2 on the missing parts!
Click to expand...


So what are the most common missing parts on the Fj45LP-B?

Mine was the 4X4 emblem on the tailgate. The headache rack which I now have. The clamp for the jack which I aslo have. Missing one of the little rubber bumpers on the back of the bed for when the tailgate lays flat and one set of hold downs for the top which I now have. The rest of the stuff it was missing is the same as a FJ40 and pretty easy to find.


Picked up spare corner windows and all the weatherstripping for the top. Plus body mounts that are different than a FJ40. Some of this stuff is hit and miss now. The corner glass looks to be about three times as much as when I bought mine.

:cheers:
 
I think the hardest and least often seen item on a lwb is the rear licence plate bracket! Ive never seen one and I have had 9 lwb trucks! oh rear spare tire carriers get discarded and lost as well.
 
Forgot about the license plate bracket. With the old Confer style bumper I couldn't use one anyway. I don't believe the 45 pickups were imported to the US with the 45 bumperettes. If they were there would have been no use for those little rubber pads on the back. My had most of the spare tire carrier just the back part cut off. Never figured out how it worked. Were you suppose lift the handle up by hand? Plan on using the spare tire carrier from a FJ55 with the winch.
 
Thank you guys,
I think I have a pretty good idea of what I need to look for now. I will be taking this list in my mind and checking the one near my house.
I saw that a guy in Calgary, AB makes sides to the box. Has anyone replaced just the side panels or do you look for another box and piece it together. I know the box is in rough shape.

If the truck has all the common rust issues you spoke of what would you suggest the truck is worth? Assuming most of the parts are there.

Thanks again for the help
 
Living in the Past said:
Forgot about the license plate bracket. With the old Confer style bumper I couldn't use one anyway. I don't believe the 45 pickups were imported to the US with the 45 bumperettes. If they were there would have been no use for those little rubber pads on the back. My had most of the spare tire carrier just the back part cut off. Never figured out how it worked. Were you suppose lift the handle up by hand? Plan on using the spare tire carrier from a FJ55 with the winch.
Click to expand...

I need to see a pic of the license plate bracket on a LPB, can't say I've ever seen one.

the SWB trucks had bumperettes

the spare tire carrier on my LPB is a manual lift type, the part closest to the tailgate is "T" shaped
 
This is the spare tire carrier on my SWB, is it the same as the LWB rack?
1965 swb 052 (Medium).webp
1965 swb 001 (Medium).webp
 
rockcod said:
This is the spare tire carrier on my SWB, is it the same as the LWB rack?
Click to expand...

I took one off a lwb 45 before I resold the truck, intending to use it on my swb resto. Then Jim from Downey gave me his tire carrier from his swb, which I ended up using on my swb.

I actually had the chance to line the two of them up side by side. They were the same.;)

Best

Mark A.
 
I was wondering if the SWB and LWB had the same spare tire carrier. Good to know.

Every old 45 I've owned had the spare tire carrier with no tire. :doh:

Wonder why they would be a 'missing part'. Were they an option, or just a useless attempt at holding the spare? I.E. did they fail and end up dropping the spare and dragging on the ground?

One of my cruisers had the spare tire carrier held up with some rope.......
 
1tontoy said:
I was wondering if the SWB and LWB had the same spare tire carrier. Good to know.

Every old 45 I've owned had the spare tire carrier with no tire. :doh:

Wonder why they would be a 'missing part'. Were they an option, or just a useless attempt at holding the spare? I.E. did they fail and end up dropping the spare and dragging on the ground?

One of my cruisers had the spare tire carrier held up with some rope.......
Click to expand...

Well, we COULD start a separate thread to talk about tire carriers!;)
 
The question I have is does some one had a picture of how it is held up? Mine has the handles on the back cut off. Then some kind off long bolt holding it up that comes off the support for my after market rear bumper. I believe I know where I could find the complete shock tire carrier just wondering how it would work with my ConFer look-a-like bumper.

Thanks
John
 
I'll get pics of mine later today, but yes it's held up with a bolt, on a swivel type mount that comes off the back frame support, hangs down and the bolt goes thru the tire carrier, and held in place with a nut.
 
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