Builds 🦴Frame-Off Restoration of Low Miles Colombian FJ43 Olive 1982 (1 Viewer)

[FJ404345]

Well I purchased my FJ43 in 2008 in Colombia, yes years before the "FJ43 Exodus" started, and this thread will turn into an accidental frame-off build.

In the year 2007 in Cali, Colombia a group of 6 friends 60+ wanted to travel South America with their FJ43. They all prepared there trucks for that journey. When 1 of the 6 suddenly died the journey got cancelled, and so 3 of the 40's where offered for sale around and in Cali, some more build then the others

This FJ43 was 1 of them. Till that time 3 owners, of which 2 female owners in Bogota for 23 years and the last PO in Cali that made some changes.

The first picture I took

FJ43. year 1982, Color 653, New Warn winch, ARB copy bumper, 112.000 km (probably right, original front and rear seats etc are still in there in perfect shape) , disc brakes in the front, other rims with thicker 33" tires, actually PO had changed the front axle for a heavier FJ70 one, the original power steering was changed with a steering box of of a Chevrolet Impala 1963-1966, 3.5 fast turn, airconditioning, extra rear back up light.


It stayed in Colombia and it was a blast to use it there every year on holidays.

Till 2014 I brought it to the Dutch Antilles to join the herd.

 

[FJ404345]

The FJ43 was stored inside, but as we didn't use it the last years so it went dusty on the international transport

I wasn't there at this moment of loading, otherwise I would have used other or thicker wooden ramps

 

[FJ404345]

Some inside pictures

 

[FJ404345]

These pictures were made some time before the Frame-Off started

 

[JohnnyC]

Nice.... love those tops !

 

[FJ404345]

It went to the body shop because there was a dent on the passengers door and I also wanted the front of the chassis dressed up a little

It would soon be out of there and I could continue to drive it daily again

 

[FJ404345]

But as there was some little flaking of some repaint on some parts, I was advised maybe it's better to paint it all around, and have all little details on the steel part on the outside worked out nice and neat

 

[FJ404345]

They did a nice job, it would be glossy outside and under the hood semi gloss

 

[FJ404345]

As there was virtually no rust, it all went very fast and I got exited, let's paint the inside also

 

[FJ404345]

Nice.... love those tops !

Yes, these tops are very nice, there is even ventilation in between the fiber glass in and outsides

 

[cruiserkreutz]

Great looking rig! Not sure why the frame off, can barely wait for this story to unfold

Never heard of Dutch Antilles before, had to Google it. Wow, beautiful!!!

 

[FJ404345]

So the top went off and the inside of the tub was sanded down

 

[FJ404345]

Also this went reasonably fast, and after taken of the paint inside I decided to do a complete frame-off

 

[FJ404345]

The fiberglass roof had some damages, also there appeared a (fabrication ?) number on the top of at the roof

 

[FJ404345]

As also nothing was wrong with the chassis it was sandblasted and primed

 

[FJ404345]

After that it was painted black

 

[FJ404345]

The body and the frame were spotless, what a great climate in Colombia

 

[devo]

Great thread! Nice looking 43! It’s fun to see you going through the process. Something I hope I’ll never want or have to do.

Regarding your MPR top. I was able to get new replacement seals for it, which was kinda easy! I‘m having trouble sourcing seals for the windows. Do you have a line on seals for the rear door, rear door glass and curved glass and side sliding glass?

Thanks and I’ll be watching.



devo

 

[FJ404345]

@devo , the rubbers of the roof and windows of the top were in good shape so we reinstalled

The thick fiberglass roof and (sides) were painted

 

[FJ404345]

The engine and transmission with it's low mileage are in excellent shape, so the outside was pressure washed then sanded the surfaces down by hand and painted

Of the front and rear axles new packings were put in, unfortunately no pics of that. The knuckles were done.

Originally the axles weren't that shinny, but I liked to has them shinny