FJ47 conversion - has anyone seen this before -help with inside seats

[soultourer]

Hi this is a FJ47 from 1983 in South Africa

This was originally a pick up and converted by a coach builder and looks different from the normal back views from the FJ47's

Has anyone seen anything like this before, it has the original 2F 6 cylinder petrol engine.

Have one more question, the back has a conversion where there is a bench or bed option, it is very badly done , who knows how I can build in normal seats and does anyone have an idea what they look like, pls post photos or photo links

thks
soultourer

 

[soultourer]

is this from australian factory or where they built in south africa?

 

[alkarich]

Lots of custom stuff like that in Australia, doubt that it is stock. Very cool rig!

 

[soultourer]

help someone with the back seat ideas.... need some inspiration here

 

[JohnnyC]

Its hard to give you an idea without knowing whats under the rear bed.

how is the floor constructed? do you know?

does the bed fold up? does it convert to a bench seat?

 

[soultourer]

back interior conversion

Hi Johnny

I have not seen vehicle yet, just bought it over the internet, as was so pleased I found one in such a good condirion, even so it is not an orginal FJ47 but a conversion.

The present owner sent this message, I shall post my picture I sent him.

The bed and seat (bench in the upright position) are just panels that fit into an angled-iron frame. That then creates a false floor with storage space between that and the actual floor. Seats in the longitudinal configuration as per the photo's you sent, would undoubtedly be the most practical, which would probably allow you to put about 7 people in the back. You will sacrifice storage space, but as you say, a trailer would solve that problem.

I really want to do some comfortable bench seats that look forward and are foldable, does anyone have any ideas

Charles

 

[71cruiser71]

Awsome! very cool man and the foldable seats is a cool idea. you might wanna look at an older style van seats. they are bench, are foldable into a bed and if you just put on seat covers or reupholstered them, they would look just fine.
are you looking to go more of a stock style or custom

 

[JohnnyC]

i kinda like the set-up thats there now...bench seat that folds to a bed...cool...just put some belts on that sucker and your good to go...well you may want to make sure its a secure bench 1st

looks like a very useable platform...like to see more when you get it

 

[Henzo]

Hi everyone, this is my first post on the forum.

Following on to this thread....I bought this very same vehicle in late 2018 from a classic car dealer in Paarl, South Africa. It had 134000kms on the clock, and still in very good condition.

The previous owners had done the seat conversions, as spoken about in this thread, and fitted a solid roll cage (as it has a fiberglass roof). There is now a row of three seats at the rear, and two in the middle with access space between them, the two individuals can’t however fold up/down.

I think the vehicle is a very unique conversion with the side entrance door and higher roof – there is so much space! Not sure who did it or when, but I’ve not seen another like it.

Since owning it I’ve just done a few cosmetics to make it look less like a UN ambulance. The rims, undercarriage and bumpers have been resprayed in satin black, I fitted supersprings at the rear to help lift her saggy bum, put some ‘smash and grab’ tints on the windows, and fitted a bad-ass sound system.

Unfortunately, I just get to use and enjoy the vehicle once or twice a year, but it’s certainly a highlight. I’m considering shipping her from SA to the UK, where I live now, so I can spend more time on tinkering/spending money on it.

On the to-do/wish list –
-Upgraded suspension (probably old man emu)
-Power steering
-Disc brakes

The seating set up is great for use as a party bus, but I find the back row of 3 is a pain and renders the back door obsolete. Plan is to remove the row of three and place the two individual seats on each side of the rear door. Then revamp the space more towards a touring/camping set up. The roof is very high compared to a stock FJ45, so I’m going to build a ‘double stretcher/hammok bed’ that can hang up in the roof within the frame of the roll cage. Attaching it at 4 corners with straps that I can lower and lift the bed with. (I can’t do this at the moment as the two middle seats don’t fold down).

Great vehicle, slow, thirsty, but she puts a smile on my face.

 

[Henzo]

A few more pics of how she stands now.

 

[FJnutcase]

Nice setup, Henzo.

 

[Henzo]

Hi Folks,

Since my last post there's been quite a few updates to my FJ, and it's covered quite a few miles around South Africa with me.

What's been done in no particular order..

- Body-off rebuild / restore / respray
- Chassis redone
- Old Man Emu suspension kit fitted all round, with heavy duty leaf springs
- Gremeltech air suspension on rear axles
- Disc brakes added to the front
- Custom built 110L long range fuel tank at rear under the body (with fuel pump)
- Adjustable power steering
- Removable solar power on the roof to feed aux battery (powering the 40L Snomaster Traveller fridge) with National Luna dc to dc charger
- Roof rack customised, added the old tractor lights/camp lights and put a sheet of checker plate on the roof rack so I can comfortably walk on it, but still strap extras down
- All the seats were removed and replaced with 4 single seats, covered in tan leather
- Custom made metal lockable centre console unit
- Custom built overhead console, loads of storage space for gadgets and to house speakers
- Engine rebuilt and running like a dream

Still to do..

- Put a winch back on (and fabricate its mounting plate)
- Aux lights on the front bumper and spots up top
- Fit bed that lowers from the ceiling (already fabricated, works on a pulley system around the roll cage)
- Fit 2x storage units left and right at rear (Bed lowers down and stabilises onto them)

Needless to say there's been some 'teething problems' along the way but nothing a few spanners and spares can't fix.

I hope you guys like her progress. She's quite a unique conversion and a great vehicle to tour with, but don't be in a rush and don't look at the fuel consumption.

Cheers,
H

 

[Henzo]

 

[Henzo]

 

[Henzo]