Field find 1965 FJ45 SWB restoration with BTB Products

[4WD Toyota Owner Magazine]

This 1965 FJ45 short bed Land Cruiser pickup was found on a hunting trip near Corona, New Mexico. It didn’t look like a driver as it was parked in a dirt field. After contacting the owner, BTB learned that the truck had belonged to her father, who had bought it new. It had been used on their ranch and for hunting trips over the years and had been parked since he passed away years earlier. When they talked to her she wasn’t ready to part with it.

Several months later BTB convinced her to part with the truck, as they would do a first class restoration to get it back on the road. They had the truck shipped to BTB Products (www.BTBProd.com, 702-568-1511) in Henderson, Nevada for a full restoration. Here's how it looked at the beginning.

First day! It was pulled into the shop at BTB to assess and disassemble. Most of the truck was stock with the original inline 6-cylinder. The bed section had a large homemade frame for hauling hay bales and farming tools. It was also very rusty and had lots of holes in it.

 

[4WD Toyota Owner Magazine]

Original engine, transmission, and transfer case removed.

 

[4WD Toyota Owner Magazine]

Interior cab area.

 

[4WD Toyota Owner Magazine]

Next up: frame-off work...

 

[TacoJonn]

Nice find!

 

[Varty Yo]

Gonna looks sweet!!!!

 

[skidplate]

 

[4WD Toyota Owner Magazine]

OEM motor and transmission mounts all removed and scab plates welded for new mount locations. Miscellaneous holes welded up and the frame metal finished.

 

[4WD Toyota Owner Magazine]

Lots of parts bead blasted and prepped for paint or powder coating.

 

[4WD Toyota Owner Magazine]

Body tub removed and initial firewall and interior wall holes not needed filled and metal finished.

 

[4WD Toyota Owner Magazine]

On the inside, a late model pedal assembly was set up to accept the OEM brake booster and master configuration.

 

[4WD Toyota Owner Magazine]

This view highlights the steering box plate and shackle reversal conversion setup on the front frame rail welded in place.

 

[4WD Toyota Owner Magazine]

Next up will be the Ramjet 350, 700R4 and Orion!

 

[whitey45]

Nice 45, but unfortunate to see a very rare shorty removable top, factory pto, not get restored, but go down the resto mod road like so many others.

 

[Landpimp]

does the BTB shackle reversal cover up the frame VIN?

 

[4Cruisers]

I don't know how many times I've been through Corona, but not too much time off the main highways. I'm always on the lookout for "abandoned" Land Cruisers.

 

[hobbes]

Brian at BTB relayed to me a couple years ago over lunch he does not deal with old F engines at this point in his life. I don't think he keeps any parts around for them. No doubt he can probably still tune them if someone stops by with issues. But he doesn't use them in his builds. Too bad that isn't a 2F. I'd try to grab it.

 

[mattv94]

My enthusiasm for this resto went 10 to 3 when I saw 350 and 700R4

 

[whitey45]

He didn't like them 20 years ago either! Two of my buddy's worked for him back in the day when he first opened bob here in Cali. Just wish they would start with a hacked 45 before raping this virgin!

 

[whitey45]

Or finding a 32 Ford 3 window coupe and yanking the flathead for a sbc and some Boyd wheels... another 45 lost... deep pockets and no appreciation for these rare and unique part of early cruiser history.