DickM
SILVER Star
I got back this weekend from the road trip to Houston to get our new (to us, anyway) 1984 FJ45. Before we get into all of that, here are a couple of pics.
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Congrats! Looks like a nice one.
DickM
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #3
After several weeks of WhatsApp discussions to determine that we were on the same page and looking at a bunch of pictures, the truck was found by @Meshal in southern Saudi Arabia near Yemen. It went to Riyadh, got loaded in a container with a 70 series truck for @wngrog , then to the port of Jeddah and on to the container ship. The ship was able to go through the Canal, missed all hurricanes and tropical storms, and was only slightly delayed by the short dockworkers strike. The total transit was 46 days.
In on the first page …. We got a picture here somewhere
All I got … only took 2 of em
This thing is CLEAN. So dry. Really an unreal vehicle for a 40 year old.
This thing is CLEAN. So dry. Really an unreal vehicle for a 40 year old.
Congrats!! A real beauty!! Here's my 1980 that started it's life in Saudi, ended up in Dubai and then with me here in Norcal.
Here's it's story: 1980 FJ45 in Dubai - Saved From the Sands - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/1980-fj45-in-dubai-saved-from-the-sands.829317/
Here's it's story: 1980 FJ45 in Dubai - Saved From the Sands - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/1980-fj45-in-dubai-saved-from-the-sands.829317/
@DickM I am glad this truck made it safely.
this truck got my attention because of the bed. i haven’t seen a stock bed like that in many many years.
This truck was owned by a man who grown up with and eventually became an old man who can’t drive it no more. And before selling it, they included the bed rack that was used.
Richard asked for specific things that were “must be or no” Rust-free and patina and man what a lucky guy I worked with haha
this truck got my attention because of the bed. i haven’t seen a stock bed like that in many many years.
This truck was owned by a man who grown up with and eventually became an old man who can’t drive it no more. And before selling it, they included the bed rack that was used.
Richard asked for specific things that were “must be or no” Rust-free and patina and man what a lucky guy I worked with haha
That bed is in perfect condition.
DickM
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #9
What a parts stash you had! Unfortunately the intervening years since you got yours have not been too kind to parts availability. Even with Meshal's help, we could not get nearly all the parts you did. But, as they say "hope springs eternal" , and the search goes on.
DickM
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #10
Before I get further along with this thread, I should give a shameless plug and big thanks to @Meshal for his hard work, patience, and understanding during this whole process. As I told him after seeing the truck in person, "everything you said was true". HIs attitude turned what could have been a stressful, uncertain process into an enjoyable treasure hunt. The communication through WhatsApp was outstanding- text, pictures, phone calls, voice recordings. If you are thinking about importing a Saudi truck, he is your guy to trust to take care of you.
Also big thanks to @wngrog who handled the export/import side . He too was awesome to deal with, and another guy you can trust to treat you right. It was great to meet him in Houston to pick up the truck , chat a bit, and put a face to his huge presence here on MUD.
To say I am thrilled with how this turned out is an understatement.
Also big thanks to @wngrog who handled the export/import side . He too was awesome to deal with, and another guy you can trust to treat you right. It was great to meet him in Houston to pick up the truck , chat a bit, and put a face to his huge presence here on MUD.
To say I am thrilled with how this turned out is an understatement.
That was the previous owner, he did the restoration, before it fell on my lap.
DickM
SILVER Star
the best thing ever is showing my mother those photos of cars that she witnessed at home. She likes seeing you all doing business with her boy who is still single. 
DickM
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #14
Nothing too exciting the last few days, mostly short test drives, and crawling around the truck getting a feel for it's general condition and trying to get organized to prioritizing parts ordering.
I stuck a used battery in , cleaned the post clamps and replaced the ground wire from negative post to frame. Truck starts very easily now.
The radiator overflow/windshield sprayer jars were cracked so they were replaced so that I could fill the radiator reservoir and trust the cooling system more.
PCV valve was a wad of grease/sand and the hose was harder than my head, so I grabbed a valve and hose that I had and installed them.
Checked compression numbers, and was reasonably happy. #'s1,3,5 -120, #2-110, #4-100, #6-130 with 297,867 km(185K miles). I thought all along I would probably have to do the motor build like I did on the 40 and 60 sooner rather than later, but with these numbers and the way the truck starts and runs, that has been moved down the priority list. A valve adjustment is next to see if anything changes with the compression numbers.
Re-gapped the plugs while they were out. Checked air filter element, it was brand new.
Picked some low hanging fruit-installed new windshield wipers, front hood bumpers, outside rear view mirror heads. All of which @Meshal sourced and put in the cab for the boat ride here. More on that stash later.
Removed the aftermarket stereo to make room to start the install of the new Vintage Air heater. The speakers were zip tied to the kick vents which are tack welded shut, so getting the vents working again is now on the list.
I have to say that the speaker install is the only sketchy work I have seen on the truck. The more I look, the more I am happy with the truck's overall condition and the evidence of how well the truck seems to have been cared for.
I stuck a used battery in , cleaned the post clamps and replaced the ground wire from negative post to frame. Truck starts very easily now.
The radiator overflow/windshield sprayer jars were cracked so they were replaced so that I could fill the radiator reservoir and trust the cooling system more.
PCV valve was a wad of grease/sand and the hose was harder than my head, so I grabbed a valve and hose that I had and installed them.
Checked compression numbers, and was reasonably happy. #'s1,3,5 -120, #2-110, #4-100, #6-130 with 297,867 km(185K miles). I thought all along I would probably have to do the motor build like I did on the 40 and 60 sooner rather than later, but with these numbers and the way the truck starts and runs, that has been moved down the priority list. A valve adjustment is next to see if anything changes with the compression numbers.
Re-gapped the plugs while they were out. Checked air filter element, it was brand new.
Picked some low hanging fruit-installed new windshield wipers, front hood bumpers, outside rear view mirror heads. All of which @Meshal sourced and put in the cab for the boat ride here. More on that stash later.
Removed the aftermarket stereo to make room to start the install of the new Vintage Air heater. The speakers were zip tied to the kick vents which are tack welded shut, so getting the vents working again is now on the list.
I have to say that the speaker install is the only sketchy work I have seen on the truck. The more I look, the more I am happy with the truck's overall condition and the evidence of how well the truck seems to have been cared for.
I bet it will drive just fine with those compression numbers.
DickM
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #16
During the heater install head scratching, I realized that the cowl vent hardware was in the way of getting the Vintage air unit high enough on the firewall for my liking, as well as having both plastic supports broken and missing pieces. So, just like that, I was faced with my first "retro-mod vs OEM" decision. To be clear, both my other trucks were built using OEM parts and pieces as much as possible, but with the purpose as the "driving" force. The 40 in particular is a Frankenstein- '76 frame, 78 running gear, modified ' 72 tub, H41, rear discs, etc. , with the 60 not far behind. So no purist here.
One of the reasons I got a Saudi truck was , besides US trucks being so hard to find, was that I knew that if I ended up with a rare US spec, I would fell obligated to do a true restoration in lieu of my usual program. So, on this build, I am going to keep the great patina exterior intact and mod for driveability.
In this instance, the interior broken cowl vent hardware will get deleted to get the clearance for a clean install on the wife's heater. A City Racer gasket will go on the OEM door and it will be permanently closed shut under the original patinaed louvered vent. The cowl vent drain tubes are in decent shape and are cleaned out and will remain.
One of the reasons I got a Saudi truck was , besides US trucks being so hard to find, was that I knew that if I ended up with a rare US spec, I would fell obligated to do a true restoration in lieu of my usual program. So, on this build, I am going to keep the great patina exterior intact and mod for driveability.
In this instance, the interior broken cowl vent hardware will get deleted to get the clearance for a clean install on the wife's heater. A City Racer gasket will go on the OEM door and it will be permanently closed shut under the original patinaed louvered vent. The cowl vent drain tubes are in decent shape and are cleaned out and will remain.
DickM
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #17
Next on the drivability assessment was a look at the spare wheel/tire setup that was in the stock under bed location on the stock hoist. As there were no jack/ tire hoist tools to be found, I cobbled together a hoist crank rod, and failed completely to get the hoist to lower. My makeshift crank spun the slotted actuator, but the hoist mechanism didn't budge.
So, with a jack stands supporting either side of the tire, I cut a link out of the hoist chain by reaching up through the tire center hole with a Dremel cut off wheel. The release was reasonably dramatic, as the spring on the hoist was fully compressed, and under pretty good pressure.
A quick search revealed a thread here detailing a 60 series spare tire hoist troubleshoot/rebuild. The one on the 45 was identical to the 60 series, so the light went on, and I got the spare tire tools out of my 60. They are no longer needed as I have a 38 gallon fuel tank under the truck and the spare on a TT rear bumper. The 60 series crank handle, rod and extension all fit like they were made for the hoist.
The spare wheel matched the other 16" split rims on the truck, but the tire was a loss as there were major dry rot cracks in the tread valleys. I haven't decided if new wheels and tires are a definite change yet, but I am leaning toward City racer wheels with 255x85x16's and hubcaps. Plenty of time for that decision as the existing tires , 225/95/16 were installed 11/04/23 according to the receipt in the glovebox, and are in good condition and have good tread. As winter is here, the truck will spend almost all of it's time in the shop, so tires/ wheels are a spring decision.
So, with a jack stands supporting either side of the tire, I cut a link out of the hoist chain by reaching up through the tire center hole with a Dremel cut off wheel. The release was reasonably dramatic, as the spring on the hoist was fully compressed, and under pretty good pressure.
A quick search revealed a thread here detailing a 60 series spare tire hoist troubleshoot/rebuild. The one on the 45 was identical to the 60 series, so the light went on, and I got the spare tire tools out of my 60. They are no longer needed as I have a 38 gallon fuel tank under the truck and the spare on a TT rear bumper. The 60 series crank handle, rod and extension all fit like they were made for the hoist.
The spare wheel matched the other 16" split rims on the truck, but the tire was a loss as there were major dry rot cracks in the tread valleys. I haven't decided if new wheels and tires are a definite change yet, but I am leaning toward City racer wheels with 255x85x16's and hubcaps. Plenty of time for that decision as the existing tires , 225/95/16 were installed 11/04/23 according to the receipt in the glovebox, and are in good condition and have good tread. As winter is here, the truck will spend almost all of it's time in the shop, so tires/ wheels are a spring decision.
WarDamnEagle
SILVER Star
Nice find @Meshal. My '83 Troopy came from the Khamis Mushait area near Abha in the southern mountains close to Yemen. It's a high and dry area but with quite a bit of farming. Guessing this 45 came from that area as well.
FWIW, you can use a tubeless type (radial) tire with those rims if you decide to keep them. You still have to use a tube obviously and it has to be a tube specifically for radial tires (pretty sure it's thicker than normal tubes as the radial sidewalls flex more) but the special tubes aren't difficult to find. Tube type tires, on the other hand, in that size are difficult to find stateside so that gives you additional options.
FWIW, you can use a tubeless type (radial) tire with those rims if you decide to keep them. You still have to use a tube obviously and it has to be a tube specifically for radial tires (pretty sure it's thicker than normal tubes as the radial sidewalls flex more) but the special tubes aren't difficult to find. Tube type tires, on the other hand, in that size are difficult to find stateside so that gives you additional options.
Funny
middlecalf
SILVER Star
Tall grass takes traction
