Build D'animal 1964 FJ45 SWB Finally

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I was very careful removing the plate and the sheet metal from the cab mount. It will be re-used.
FJ 45 Dec 16 028.webp
 
Those cab mount x-braces are a bugger to get off with out destroying them. Nice work.
 
Good job. Looks like all of us have had to do the same rear corner repairs. Im toying with a bolt in rear box brace. I think i have a small air tank that might just fit in the boxed area in the back.

Sent from my phone using IH8MUD
 
Gumby said:
It sure would be nice to have access to that boxed section. It'd be good to open it up and seal it and it'd be nice to access seat belt bolts or seat frame bolts if not stock.
Click to expand...

If you haven't seen how I changed that area on my 45 you might take a look. You may not want to do the same if you are keeping it mostly stock but who knows, it might give you some additional ideas. Starting at post #334: https://forum.ih8mud.com/fj45-owners-club/116839-1964-fj45-lb-rb1-project-17.html

I made these mods in order to have better support/mounting for a roll bar as well as remove that concealed area that traps water and other rust promoting gunk.
 
And I used the "miker method" on mine as well. Still in progress though.
 
I have been really thinking about what powertrain to use in my rig. This is really not a Poll, just more of a thinking out loud. I have to get this nailed down because I may have to modify my transmisison opening like MikeR did. I simply have too many options.

Furthermore, I am starting with a bare frame. No powertrain mounts are installed or installed correctly now so everything is coming out. Other than the enlargement of the transmission hole and tranny hump modifications, all options will require the same amount of work to install.

I'm building this for a daily driver and for the wife to use. I have a big bad rig to go deep into the mountains and get firewood. I really do not need another one.

Here are my options I have in my shop right now.

Cummins 4BTA, 4L80E bolted to a Toyota split case.
Missing $900 computer for 4L80e
No room for front driveshaft to go past the transmission.
Rear Transmission opening in the cab will need opened 2" additional inches. After measuring, a 2" body lift should allow the cab to clear the T-case

Chevy 350, Turbo 350, NP205
Already bolted together and ready to go.
After measuring, a 2" body lift should allow the cab to clear the T-case

2F, H42, 4sp T-case
1984 2F with a 1978 4sp and Tcase

Chevy 350, Marks Adaptor, H41, 4sp Tcase.
Engine was pulled for DOA
The H41 is like new inside, Marlin checked it out.

2F, H42, RockBox, Orion 3:1
1981 2F with low miles
Orion pops out of gear, like all of mine do.
Heard rumors of the Rock Box breaking shafts. It has not happened to mine.

I also have a 2F and a 3FE for the 2FE I was going to build as well as Automatic and T-case from a 1992 FJ80. I woudl need to get a cam ground and build this engine.


I'm really leaning towards this
Chevy 350, Marks Adaptor, H41, 4sp Tcase.
Engine was pulled for DOA
The H41 is like new inside, Marlin checked it out.

But, after traveling with Mark A and Rob T on the way to the FJ 45 run a few year back, I was very impressed with how thier F motors ran in the mountians.

Your opinions?
 
Are you getting rid of your other truck?

If not, I really enjoy my 45 as a good driver/ mild wheeler. My pig will go anywhere except down the road. That means I have a ton of fun with it at very specific venues with very specific company. Events with a lot of different kinds of rigs are boring and lame. The 45swb changed that immensely. I have a ton of fun wheeling light to medium trails again. I love bombing it down the road. I put almost no miles on my bike this summer.

2f/ manual or 350/auto. I greatly prefer autos, but I live in a crappy place for a manual. The 4bt would be really cool, but the wrong motor for that truck and you can sell it or build a cool 1940s F5/F6 tow rig with it. Skip the gears, especially with an auto unless you're going to build another wheeler.

Transgo has a manual shift valve body kit for the 4l80 for $360. No computer controls.

The 2FE/A440 would be really cool, but that trans is HUGE.
 
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Thanks Gumby

The other rig is staying in the fleet. This will be a Minny Me version of my big one but more correctly a true His and Hers version.

She is not a fan of shifting gears while off road. She is also very specific about the shifter in her automatics. I installed a B&M Ratchet shifter in her CJ-8 and she all but stopped driving it.

If I go with the auto, I will be installing an 18" Lokar shifter. She is a petite little woman and cannot be bothered with reaching down to the floor to reach the shifter.

The CJ-8 will be finding a new home once this one is on the road.
 
I love my lokar. I wish they made one for the A343 in the LV. I just called them yesterday to find out if they had anything that could be made to fit. That would eliminate your A440 as well.

I have no idea why I ever used anything else. Even the Art Carr in the pig is worthless compared to the Lokar.

If she's going to be following your truck I could see the case for gears. I like the stock gears in my 45 because it makes easy stuff more challenging. She may want to make the more challenging stuff easier. 350/th350/np203/205.
 
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