First FJ 45

[sj86]

I’m sure a lot of repeat questions but I picked up my first fj today and I’m beyond excited. It’s fully stock and I will be lifting it and adding lockers. I need help on…
1) best disc breaks to add.
2) steel wheels and factory hub caps
3) tall pizza cutters (35/37 x 9.5)

 

[AussieHJCruza]

Welcome!
1) Best and easiest braking setup is 60 series knuckles and front brakes on the 40 series axle provided you don't have a ball and claw front axle. If you do, find an axle from a later 40. Get a 60 series master cylinder too and if you feel like a little firewall massaging, an 80 series dual diaphragm booster is a good upgrade.

2) City Racer does a 16" reproduction, 15" OEM may still be available.

3) harder to find these days but Kenda do a 35 12.5 17, and interco used to do 35x10.5 super swampers or TSLs

 

[3_puppies]

if what I suspect is true, adding disc to your rig will be fairly easy
looks like your rig is 79+
any large knuckle disc axle will work and only need a few parts, knuckles, spindles and hubs, everything else from your existing axle will work with the disc stuff
either take out the residual valve in the master or replace with a disc drum master

 

[charliemeyer007]

I think you should reading, there is a section for 45's here somewhere.

Your first move should be rust proofing it. You have salt in the air from the ocean and maybe on the roads due to snow removal.

 

[sj86]

Welcome!
1) Best and easiest braking setup is 60 series knuckles and front brakes on the 40 series axle provided you don't have a ball and claw front axle. If you do, find an axle from a later 40. Get a 60 series master cylinder too and if you feel like a little firewall massaging, an 80 series dual diaphragm booster is a good upgrade.

2) City Racer does a 16" reproduction, 15" OEM may still be available.

3) harder to find these days but Kenda do a 35 12.5 17, and interco used to do 35x10.5 super swampers or TSLs

Thanks for the reply, having a little trouble finding anything bigger than a 2" lift kit, am I going to tho go full custom if I want to go higher or does someone out there make a 5-6" kit.?

 

[bikersmurf]

Thanks for the reply, having a little trouble finding anything bigger than a 2" lift kit, am I going to tho go full custom if I want to go higher or does someone out there make a 5-6" kit.?

Perhaps a bit harder to find for a 45.

4” is usually about the highest for spring under.

For a 6” lift most go SOA (spring over axle), but they are much less common these days.

 

[65swb45]

What size tires are you thinking of using? I’m running 33x9.50s with 2” of spring lift, and 2” longer shackles.

 

[sj86]

Perhaps a bit harder to find for a 45.

4” is usually about the highest for spring under.

For a 6” lift most go SOA (spring over axle), but they are much less common these days.

do you know of a 4" kit? I'm not set on anything in particular, but I don't think 2" is enough

 

[sj86]

What size tires are you thinking of using? I’m running 33x9.50s with 2” of spring lift, and 2” longer shackles.
View attachment 3859004

 

[sj86]

love

What size tires are you thinking of using? I’m running 33x9.50s with 2” of spring lift, and 2” longer shackles.
View attachment 3859004

love to truck! hoping to go 35 or even 37" tires depending on what I can wrangle up for a lift

 

[Unimogguy]

@sj86 45 specific forum is here:

FJ45 Owners Club

Restoration and information for the FJ45LV and 45-series Land Cruiser

forum.ih8mud.com

Everything you could possibly want to know about disc brakes on a 40 series can be found here: Tech Talk: Ultimate 40/55 Series Disc Brake Conversion Parts Thread (Work in Progress) - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/tech-talk-ultimate-40-55-series-disc-brake-conversion-parts-thread-work-in-progress.1039423/

The 2F if that is what’s under the hood(?) based on body indications is going to struggle to pull 37” tires and give you the driving experience I’d want (off-road, merging into traffic, etc.). You’ll also likely be in the 11-11.5 range on tire width. I don’t know of many 37” tire options below 11.5. Which as you well know means more mass of the tire and friction and will likely require a larger wheel size.

My suggestion is to drive the truck as is for a couple months and get a feel for it first and then make the upgrades you desire.

These trucks are old and slow in stock configuration. Sure…can they go faster…absolutely but it’ll require drivetrain upgrades. Think Toyota V-8/H55F or LS/NV-4500. Which then becomes a domino effect as you have to upgrade more drivetrain components to handle the additional HP and torque produced by the engine swap and don’t forget about braking for the new speeds the truck is now capable of reaching.

What size tires are you thinking of using? I’m running 33x9.50s with 2” of spring lift, and 2” longer shackles.
View attachment 3859004

Mark @65swb45

What rear gas tank are you using?

 

[Mike Shull]

Thanks for the reply, having a little trouble finding anything bigger than a 2" lift kit, am I going to tho go full custom if I want to go higher or does someone out there make a 5-6" kit.?

If you are going this tall then I would recommend doing a custom setup based on your need.

I’ve since lowered my Cruiser and modified the body and suspension to fit large tires but I ran it for over 20 years with a custom 7” spring over axle lift using Alan leaf springs and it handled very well. I highly recommend Alcan Springs if you are considering a large lift. They ship to anywhere in the world and have amazing craftsmanship and customer service.

 

[JohnnyC]

the only true pizza cutters you'll be able to get in a 36" tire on the stock 16" steelies are 900r16 .... there are a few options out there ... michelin XL and XZL are the most popular. you can get them in 1100r16 as well (38.7" pizza cutters that also fit on stock rims)

Military 9.00x16 tires...new look

thanks guys for reading and posting your opinion, Sput i think tomorrow a few of the xtreme club plan to run in ocala,in that place just north on hard rock cycle,you know where is. On the tires 3 are tubeless and the 2 more new need tubes, i have a contact via ebay up north that he sells all...

forum.ih8mud.com

michelin xzl 900r16

 

[sj86]

the only true pizza cutters you'll be able to get in a 36" tire on the stock 16" steelies are 900r16 .... there are a few options out there ... michelin XL and XZL are the most popular. you can get them in 1100r16 as well (38.7" pizza cutters that also fit on stock rims)

Military 9.00x16 tires...new look

thanks guys for reading and posting your opinion, Sput i think tomorrow a few of the xtreme club plan to run in ocala,in that place just north on hard rock cycle,you know where is. On the tires 3 are tubeless and the 2 more new need tubes, i have a contact via ebay up north that he sells all...

forum.ih8mud.com

View attachment 3859070


michelin xzl 900r16
View attachment 3859072

View attachment 3859073

View attachment 3859074

exactly what I'm looking for thank you. are any of these trucks your? wanting to know the lift you have in these?

 

[JohnnyC]

none are mine... I´m a picture hoarder

 

[Unimogguy]

exactly what I'm looking for thank you. are any of these trucks your? wanting to know the lift you have in these?

The red truck has been SOA. Harder to tell with the green truck but I imagine it’s SOA too(?).

Here’s my ‘67 SOA w/ split rims on 37” NDT’s absolute crap tires. Great for rollers tho.

 

[dogfishlake]

Nice 45!
You will find that most lifts are called 2.5" because of lift height laws in AU (pretty sure that is correct). The change comes from doing light, medium, and heavy lifts. Those will change it a bit. The lift on my 45 is a Dobinsons heavy and I would say is is close to 4". Wheels are 16" steels I found here on MUD (no idea the manufacturer) with 255/85-16 tires, giving a true 33" tire.

Those Michelin pizza cutters would look sweet. I almost went with those. Still might for spares someday.

 

[65swb45]

@sj86 45 specific forum is here:

FJ45 Owners Club

Restoration and information for the FJ45LV and 45-series Land Cruiser

forum.ih8mud.com

Everything you could possibly want to know about disc brakes on a 40 series can be found here: Tech Talk: Ultimate 40/55 Series Disc Brake Conversion Parts Thread (Work in Progress) - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/tech-talk-ultimate-40-55-series-disc-brake-conversion-parts-thread-work-in-progress.1039423/

The 2F if that is what’s under the hood(?) based on body indications is going to struggle to pull 37” tires and give you the driving experience I’d want (off-road, merging into traffic, etc.). You’ll also likely be in the 11-11.5 range on tire width. I don’t know of many 37” tire options below 11.5. Which as you well know means more mass of the tire and friction and will likely require a larger wheel size.

My suggestion is to drive the truck as is for a couple months and get a feel for it first and then make the upgrades you desire.

These trucks are old and slow in stock configuration. Sure…can they go faster…absolutely but it’ll require drivetrain upgrades. Think Toyota V-8/H55F or LS/NV-4500. Which then becomes a domino effect as you have to upgrade more drivetrain components to handle the additional HP and torque produced by the engine swap and don’t forget about braking for the new speeds the truck is now capable of reaching.



Mark @65swb45

What rear gas tank are you using?

It’s an old Aero Tank that MAF used to sell back in the 70s and 80s.

 

[alberta mac]

IMO ... I would drive it first to get to know it since it's new. Do you have any other landcruiser's ?
As for 37's I think there would be much work involved in accommodating that size tire, Why 37's ?
I found my perfect situation was a 4'' lift ( BDS ) with 33'' BFG's unfortunately BFG no longer makes a 33-9.5''
I think if one is doing extreme off roading they those guys are usually going 35'' and 37'' tires and are locked fr and rr.
Will you be off roading with it and your ok with scratches and dents ?
In my case my 40 has what I need and looks totally right, great in town, still can get to highway speeds but a little slower with 33'' tires. Great off road and will not get caught up on very much with the height.
I have a 45 that will get 33'' or 34'' tires but no higher.

 

[jagota]

33x9.50 on fj 60 wheels. These are a nice fit, but hard to come by anymore.