FJ45 LWB truck project

[2manycruisers]

Good luck with it. I've been in that boat with my 45--have done almost nothing to it in 5 years, so now I've decided to sell it. I'm glad you got motivated to finish yours. It pains me not to try to finish it. I've owned it longer than any other vehicle I've ever bought (and I've probably had near 20 cruisers plus other DD rigs), about 10 years now, and it has NEVER run since I bought it!

Good luck with it, we'll be watching and supporting!

 

[Ironmanfj45]

Thanks, I can feel your pain, you need to just pull it in the shop and get back at it. It will be very rewarding once you start. I almost sold this one a while ago but the prices are so bad in this market that I decided to just finish what I started and enjoy the truck for years to come. You must have a special feeling for the old truck to keep her for so long. Don't sell her, after 10 years she is part of the family.

Cheers,

Jim

 

[2manycruisers]

That is exactly what I was hoping for. It sat under cover for the past 4 years while other Cruiser projects got in the way. When I got it into the garage this year, I knew i was going to be stoked to work on it. I was, but it didn't last long. I think just too much else going on with young kids, their activities, and lack of free time. And my wheeling is so limited anymore, that I'm not sure it makes sense for me. If it were a stock-ish driver, it might be different, but alas, I sold that 45 a few years ago.

Thanks, I can feel your pain, you need to just pull it in the shop and get back at it. It will be very rewarding once you start. I almost sold this one a while ago but the prices are so bad in this market that I decided to just finish what I started and enjoy the truck for years to come. You must have a special feeling for the old truck to keep her for so long. Don't sell her, after 10 years she is part of the family.

Cheers,

Jim

 

[DomSmith]

Jim-

Stick with the rams horns. You'll be glad you did.

 

[Ironmanfj45]

Dom,

After lots of fighting with the headers and not getting the fitment that I like I agree 100%. Ram Horns are staying.

I tried to get the tranny mounts to work but decided to remove them. There was less room so I could not use the porta-bandsaw and I did not want to use the torch so I cut them with a grinder and cutting wheel.



There was a lot more metal left so there was more grinding.



I spent an hour a day for about a week grinding on the old truck. I felt like an old man because sitting in one position for any longer makes the old joints stiffen right up. Ahh to be a young buck again...



Next week I plan on putting the motor, radiator and some body parts back on to do the final placement of the motor. Hopefully the grinding is done on this truck for now.

Cheers,

Jim

 

[65swb45]

It's a biatch that it sometimes takes SO MUCH WORK just to take one part of the truck back to square one.

But it looks like you made it, and there's nowhere to go from here but FORWARDS!