Builds Do I have your attention.... I call it VERA. (2 Viewers)

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2fpower

SILVER Star
Joined
Sep 5, 2007
Threads
455
Messages
12,391
Location
lenexa, ks
For years, I have tried to find the right FJ45. I have stalked many builds, reading and dreaming of what I would build. @Waggoner5 build changed my toyota dreams and sealed my fate. He was kind enough to give me thoughts and feedback on his epic build. From that point on, I wanted a 80 series frame and running gear with a fj45 look. Given the 80 series width, I planned to widen the vehicle by about 3 inches like several folks have. I was also planning on cutting out the 80 firewall and putting it in the rig, so I could have all the setup for A/C and all the other nice things from an 80.

I acquired parts cars over the years to do the project. A couple 80 series rigs and also had a fj40 tub to make the cab and with the lack of FJ45 cabs in America. I found BMW m series convertible seats with integrated seatbelts, so I did not need a roll bar. I knew that I wanted to stretch the frame, and had the experience of how best to do it when I build @7powernerd UTE. We stretched it 9" and I wanted this one about 7". I was planning on a GM crate motor to have all the power I could want. After years of planning and acquiring parts, I was just about ready to start the project.

Then came the posting that @Tank5 was going to sell his fj45 project rig. Builds - Scraps, My Slow 45/80 Build
He already took a great rust free 80 frame and stretched the frame 7".... in fact, I used his pictures as a guide when I did the UTE lengthening. He found a Central American 45 tub, with steering on the right, but grabbed a dash panel for a left hand drive rig. He already fit the tub and entire front panels including widened fenders. He also purchased a 2uz motor, tranny/transfer from 100 series and wiring harness from a stock tundra.
  • 2uzfe pulled from running driving 2003 4runner with 163k on it. I purchased the correct 100 series 2 piece oil pan and pickup to make it fit in a land cruiser.
  • 4 speed automatic transmission with t-case pulled from a 2000 100 series land cruiser with 161k, vehicle was wrecked after the owner slide off the road in a snow storm and side impacted a tree. I did not here this run. I have the floor shifters and trim pieces with this too.
  • Complete wiring harness from a 2002 2wd Tundra 2uz with 4 speed automatic. This includes body and engine harness, with ecu and all the extra modules attached. This truck was a base model no extra power doors or seats so the harness is simpler. No 4wd means you control the t-case manually and it does not create any wiring complications.
  • 2002 tundra steering column with key from same vehicle.

After talking with Tank5 and several discussions with my wife, we struck a deal to purchase his project car. I loaded up with @StucknKS and borrowed a 36' trailer to go play in Colorado for a few days, then roll down to New Mexico to pick it up.

Given that the tub is on the frame already, I am not sure about widening the rig now. Also not going to do the firewall swap. Since I am 6'2", I will need to stretch the tub.

other links to reference...

V8 40th . . . 2UZ content.



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For those that don't understand the title of this thread and name for this rig, you are not nearly the caliber of nerd that I am, nor a fan of the series Firefly and the legend that is Jane. Here is where the name comes from, go to 16:05 of this youtube link, in the "our Mrs. Reynolds episode"
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First time in New Mexico since going to Philmont years ago... absolutely beautiful. Only problem was going through Los Almos national laboratory area. I don’t think they liked the straight pipes on the diesel truck, so they made me take a bypass, that was straight up a mountain that caused the truck to overheat, then we went up to another mountain side hill full of switchbacks which was not fun with a 36 foot long trailer
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Assumptions were made, and you know what that does.... given all of that tank5 projects and posts in the past, I assumed he had a loader, He assumed I had a smaller trailer. Translation is that getting the engine off the ground and into the vehicle was quite a puzzle. We finally decided to strap it to the pallet and put it on the back of the 45 frame. Loaded up and started the long trip back to Kansas City..
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Drove straight through the night, and made it back to Kansas City to offload and back in the garage.
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Had to work on Foo, and finish the Volvo portal axle build, started a camping trailer build, and several other smaller projects they never got completed, then winter came.
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Somewhere along the way I decided it was time to pull the engine off and start working on this. Recall my original intention was to put a GM engine in, so still at this time I’m undecided about this 2uz. I plan to put it in, hook it up make sure electronics will let it run, then decide

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That catches you up to this week. First on my list was to get the engine mounts fabrication started. I pulled off the OEM mounts, and fabricated these plates. Next step is to pull the oil pan and filter and replace it with a different sample pattern, that works better for the 80 suspension parts. I bought some DOM sleeved bushings on eBay, so plan to get the engine setting in place, then fabricate the rest of the parts.
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Good to see this project living on.
 
I am going to use a bed from a 79 series.

Went with @tornadoalleycruiser and my good friend Rob who recently passed away to get beds in Canada a few years ago.
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Always liked this look.
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Here are some fat 40 pics I have been saving...
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Im not really a fan of the fat 40s personally. I just think the proportions look unusual, although I know people go through a lot of work to make them wider. Thats just my opinion though so not like their is a problem with it. Personally, I like them with standard width, standard fenders, and the tires sticking out past the body a bit. Plus it protects the body a lot on the trail when the tires stick out and scrape rather than the quarter panel. The only one I have ever seen that I like somewhat that was fat was Proffitts Mega cruiser with a fj44 body on it. It didn't look too bad. Its in the heritage museum now.
 
Im not really a fan of the fat 40s personally. I just think the proportions look unusual, although I know people go through a lot of work to make them wider. Thats just my opinion though so not like their is a problem with it. Personally, I like them with standard width, standard fenders, and the tires sticking out past the body a bit. Plus it protects the body a lot on the trail when the tires stick out and scrape rather than the quarter panel. The only one I have ever seen that I like somewhat that was fat was Proffitts Mega cruiser with a fj44 body on it. It didn't look too bad. Its in the heritage museum now.

I agree with this 100%! I also can appreciate the amount of work it takes to make a fat 40 and my hat is off to anyone willing do put themselves through that misery. LOL!
 
@StucknKS helped Pull the oil pan, so we could swap to the different sump pan.
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Here’s the 100 series oil pan that @Tank5 supplied. I could not find the dipstick in the parts he provided. I had to wait a day to have it warm enough to pressure wash outside

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Here’s the 100 series oil pan that @Tank5 supplied. I could not find the dipstick in the parts he provided. I had to wait a day to have it warm enough to pressure wash outside .

I am glad you are making progress. I did not get the dipstick from the 100 series the oil pan came from. I was hoping I could reuse the dipstick that was on that engine.

Keep up the work.
 
I needed a gasket for the oil pickup tube, so I started working on cleaning up the frame for the motor mounts. Once again @Tank5 had already started on this process and made it really easy with cuts better than I could do — not a single mark on the frame
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And took some pictures just to remember what it looks like with body panels on it
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This is going to be awesome, love the name.

I'm very sorry to hear about Rob, he was one of the good ones.

I'm not on her much anymore, the life aquatic takes most of my time. But I'll keep checking in on this one, it's going to be great.

If you need me...."I'll be in my bunk"
 

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