Finally started my new project. (1 Viewer)

[FJ40JOHN]

I have always wanted a 45. They are hard to find for a good price, and if I found one that was decent, I would feel bad about wheeling it. That is what inspired this project. My extended cab, tube bed, FJ45.

I am adding a few inches here and there, should end up with about 108" of wheelbase, and (if I can find a cheap hardtop, or a place to custom build a soft top) a nice big enclosed cab area. The back of the cab will be framed out with 1.5", .083 wall tubing, and skinned with (not sure what gauge) sheetmetal. After reading Woody's thread on his 4-link I may go to coils in the rear.

The link below is for the progress I made today. Hopefully there will be some good updates to that folder in the near future. The photoshop pics were shamelessly stolen from BoxRocket's posts on the PBB.

http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/fj40john/album?.dir=/cfb2&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/fj40john/my_photos

Anyone want the back end of the cruiser?? I don't need it anymore. It is nowhere near perfect. But if you need it, let me know and we can work something out.

 

[FJ40JOHN]

decided today to go ahead and 4 link the rear. It was going to end up WAAAAY long if I kept the leaves all the way around.

Woody, your suspension is pretty much my guide. great thread with a ton of good info. I will be using some 2nd gen. 4runner coils that I have laying around. I figure I can design around those and switch to a different coil with minimal work of those don't work out.

 

[atoyot]

Thanks for keeping us posted. Make sure you post some pics of the progress too.

 

[dylan]

i guy in town (nelson b.c canada) had a custom extra cab fj45 pick up. he took it across the line to the states and sold it for like $20,000. it was beautiful. looked very similar to your pictures

 

[FJ40JOHN]

only update (sadly) is that I now have my tubing (1 3/4", .250 wall DOM) for the 4 link in the rear. It will make chopping the frame/extending the wheelbase a LOT easier than building drop brackets for the leaf springs.

I also got the rear tub designed. The framing for it will actually be built out of 1 3/4", .120 DOM, and will be incorporated into the cage. Unfortunately its just a drawing right now.

I have been getting a lot of comments regarding the photos. I have to reiterate that they aren't mine. They were saved from a post regarding a similar project and I belive that the pics were created by Adam Tolman (Box Rocket on most of the boards).

My only goal for this project is to have the maiden voyage be to ICBM in the fall. I hope I can make it.

 

[G-Cat]

John,

You might look into Ehsan making (having made) a custom OEM-style soft top for your project. Chef had this done for his 45 and has pics, somewhere. That would give it a great final touch. Ehsan will just need all of the measurements and an idea of how you want it to look.

Luck.

 

[FJ60]

Chef's pics

 

[FJ60]

 

[FJ40JOHN]

those tops are sweet. Depending on how much the rest of the build-up ends up costing, I may have to look into one.

 

[bjowett]

John, sweeeeet project! Keep those updates coming.

 

[Box Rocket]

Hey, those are my photochops in your album! Nice! Excited to see it completed.

How much do you want for the tub? Remind me where you're located?

 

[FJ40JOHN]

I am in Houston/College Station, TX. Not sure if you would want the tub...The fenders have been trimmed out, and it is pretty rusty. I can try to get some more detailed info and some pics at some point if you want them. I am not looking for much for it because of the condition and the fact that it is just sitting.