FJ43 Restored - Road Test

[Honger]

The shop that is restoring my '77 FJ40 gave me a call earlier this week and asked a HUUUGGGGEEE favor of me. Would I be willing to take a recently complete FJ43 for a few days and do a road-test? Twist. My. Arm.

Restoration had just finished, the Abu Dhabi tags were complete, and it only had 23km on the new gauge cluster. They wanted someone to drive it and log issues.

So this is in my driveway.

It drives like a dream! I've seen several of their finished products before... and had a ride in one. But driving this thing has me so freakin' excited to get to drive mine!

I'll share some before photos and "in-progress" photos on this one in a bit. I just had to share!

 

[ginmtb]

WOW! Just wow.

 

[eman375]

Wow! What a rare and privileged opportunity. Enjoy every mile!

 

[FJ43 1980]

Please do share before and "in-progress" photos. Is the 23km original?

 

[N919HJ]

That is a Beautiful truck!

 

[Solace in Solitude]

I'm very sorry, Joel.

 

[Honger]

Please do share before and "in-progress" photos. Is the 23km original?

The 23km are not original. The gauge cluster is new and the reading reflects the kilometers since the rebuild. This has a matching engine however it did need a rebuild.

I'm very sorry, Joel.

Yeah, it's tough, but I'm making it. =)

And here's what it looked like before the rebuild.

1980 FJ43. 416 was the original color, this drab color was a respray. Under the drab the corners were beautifully sculpted "majoon" (Arabic for bondo). That was cleaned up and new metal was welded in. I've got some of those photos I'll put up as well. (I will get a thumb drive full of pictures of the whole process of the build on my truck once it's done)

 

[JohnnyC]

You understand they want it back right ?

If you don't return the truck ... Your committing a crime

The next closest crime is that it's not in my driveway





Great looking truck !

 

[Solace in Solitude]

The 23km are not original. The gauge cluster is new and the reading reflects the kilometers since the rebuild. This has a matching engine however it did need a rebuild.



Yeah, it's tough, but I'm making it. =)

And here's what it looked like before the rebuild.

1980 FJ43. 416 was the original color, this drab color was a respray. Under the drab the corners were beautifully sculpted "majoon" (Arabic for bondo). That was cleaned up and new metal was welded in. I've got some of those photos I'll put up as well. (I will get a thumb drive full of pictures of the whole process of the build on my truck once it's done)

Well, if you didn't know before, your restoration is definitely in good hands!!

 

[ClassicLCfan]

The shop that is restoring my '77 FJ40 gave me a call earlier this week and asked a HUUUGGGGEEE favor of me. Would I be willing to take a recently complete FJ43 for a few days and do a road-test? Twist. My. Arm.

Restoration had just finished, the Abu Dhabi tags were complete, and it only had 23km on the new gauge cluster. They wanted someone to drive it and log issues.

So this is in my driveway.

It drives like a dream! I've seen several of their finished products before... and had a ride in one. But driving this thing has me so freakin' excited to get to drive mine!

I'll share some before photos and "in-progress" photos on this one in a bit. I just had to share!

You are one lucky guy. I think this is the one he was test running the Engine when I had visited his shop.