Fj45 shortbed LS build

[Builtbybudski]

Figured I’d do a build thread on my short bed build.

pick it up a month or so ago, doesn’t look like much but it was complete minus a drivetrain and front/rear glass.

Quickly put some real meats on and put all the sheet metal together to admire the purchase and my boys immediately hopped in.

Pretty straight and rust free. A lot of metal work has been done but a few things I want to try to change like the flat back of the cab.

another is the tailgate was two half’s welded into one, doesn’t look bad but seeing the bow bugs me.

It’s new heart ready to be torn down for mock-up.

So the plan is basically do the same drivetrain setup as my fj62 as is proven itself and is budget friendly. LM7 with a 4l60e and doing a fj62 splitcase converting it to manual twin sticks.

the frame is already setup for saginaw steering and reverse shackle so I’ll just clean it all up and do the metal work to make us clean before it goes powder coating. Got all my adapter bits ordered and hopefully soon I’ll be able to get this mounted in the truck

 

[archie73]

Figured I’d do a build thread on my short bed build. View attachment 2634868

pick it up a month or so ago, doesn’t look like much but it was complete minus a drivetrain and front/rear glass.
View attachment 2634869
Quickly put some real meats on and put all the sheet metal together to admire the purchase and my boys immediately hopped in.
View attachment 2634870
Pretty straight and rust free. A lot of metal work has been done but a few things I want to try to change like the flat back of the cab. View attachment 2634871
another is the tailgate was two half’s welded into one, doesn’t look bad but seeing the bow bugs me.
View attachment 2634872It’s new heart ready to be torn down for mock-up.

So the plan is basically do the same drivetrain setup as my fj62 as is proven itself and is budget friendly. LM7 with a 4l60e and doing a fj62 splitcase converting it to manual twin sticks.

the frame is already setup for saginaw steering and reverse shackle so I’ll just clean it all up and do the metal work to make us clean before it goes powder coating. Got all my adapter bits ordered and hopefully soon I’ll be able to get this mounted in the truck

Did this ever see the road again?

 

[Builtbybudski]

Did this ever see the road again?

Not yet, got buried in client builds and other personal projects. I am getting fully back into it in order to get it into paint this winter.

This past year was mostly metalworking the cab by grafting in a newer firewall section to run the brake system I like. Also used a section from a rolled FJ45LV to fill in the blower motor section so I could have a nice spot to run a vintage air system.

Probably the biggest headache and taking the most time was the vintage air unit. I completely hate the looks of the bolt in kit so the glovebox was removed and I tucked up. I’ll be running the floor vent through the fj40 blower duct into a gutted factory header box. I know it’s not correct for the year of the truck but helps maintain the vintage look inside that I want. I’m torn on what to do about dash vents. I could modify the heater box to allow AC to blow through too, but it won’t be directly in your face. The cabin being so small though it would have no problem cooling it down.

Another issue was there just isn’t enough room to run a clean bulkhead, it took me weeks of going through the vintage air catalog and trying different fittings to make the tight space work but in the end I just punched holes where the lines would got and ditched the whole bulkhead idea. Might revisit this again down the road because it just looks hacked.