FZJ-45 Build

[bigtreads]

The quality is for sure there - thick fiberglass and pre drilled holes that line up with sturdy aluminum flanges etc. - Ya gotta pay to play these days and at least you know its not junk.

 

[Monstercowboy]

Haven't posted in a while so heres some more Toy porn…

Obviously moving forward with the LS-2 and 4L80e. Not without its hurdles… Working on proper engine placement now, then will modify oil pan, exhaust, pulleys, driveshaft, steering etc. At one point i had found a thread on here outlining the donor parts needed to simplify the process. If anyone knows of that feel free to pass on. I found a good donor FJ40 which will supply interior trim parts, grill, headlight buckets, wiper motor, windshield, glovebox door, hood and latches and some other small goodies. I ordered the LS motor mounts from Advance and will be tacking them in next week. Still sourcing transfer case but with all the other new parts I'm leaning more towards the Atlas 11 and eventually a new rear housing and axles from Diamond and or Ruffstuff. The build tab is quickly mounting but I'm committed now. I realize the Toyota purists will stone me for the lack of O.E. parts but after all its my build and my money pit It will be a completely new truck with a lot of aluminum thanks to AQUALU and the LS. If anyone has any tips, comments, insults or otherwise, feel free to pass them on. My schedule opens up in March and i hope to get some more pics and progress posted.

 

[Michael B]

Monster,
Thanks for the heads up on the fiberglass top. I understand about pricing. These things are almost as bad on pricing as the 65' Stingray I used to own.

Don't worry about the purists. They won't care on yours. Now if you had started with an all original 65' - 67' and took it apart... well you would get at least an earful over that. But building one from pieces won't get their pantys in wad.

Looking forward to the finished truck. Any ETA on completion yet?

Michael <><

 

[Gumby]

I used 97-8 corvette manifolds. They are sheet metal instead of cast, so you can cut the right one, turn it 90 degrees to go under the oil pan and then use a wye to join the two together on the left side or run duals side by side. A wye designed to split a single pipe run backwards is an easy way to join them. Make sure you have clearance to the pan before welding and have room to get the HO2S in. You can use the stock bung, but it will point at the block after its turned.
H3 oil pan, also marketed as a hot rod pan, is cheap and easy. About $130 on summit with a gasket. You will need it to clear the driveshaft.
A Spectre cold air intake for a Silverado turned just right puts the air filter up in the right rear corner by the hood lovers. The box it comes with is easily modified to block off the engine and draw through the vents. I don't have a blower motor in that corner on my pre-heater 64. YMMV
Steering is just regular old Saginaw steering. I use a hydro boost on the 64 to clear the support ribs, but an aqualu won't have that issue.
I would highly suggest a Lokar shifter for the 4L80. Works great. Looks right.

 

[Gumby]

Spectre air filter

 

[73fj]

cool beans man, thats an excellent project, that LS is gonna rip! I've got an LQ for my wagon project......someday it wil rip too.

 

[Monstercowboy]

I used 97-8 corvette manifolds. They are sheet metal instead of cast, so you can cut the right one, turn it 90 degrees to go under the oil pan and then use a wye to join the two together on the left side or run duals side by side. A wye designed to split a single pipe run backwards is an easy way to join them. Make sure you have clearance to the pan before welding and have room to get the HO2S in. You can use the stock bung, but it will point at the block after its turned.
H3 oil pan, also marketed as a hot rod pan, is cheap and easy. About $130 on summit with a gasket. You will need it to clear the driveshaft.
A Spectre cold air intake for a Silverado turned just right puts the air filter up in the right rear corner by the hood lovers. The box it comes with is easily modified to block off the engine and draw through the vents. I don't have a blower motor in that corner on my pre-heater 64. YMMV
Steering is just regular old Saginaw steering. I use a hydro boost on the 64 to clear the support ribs, but an aqualu won't have that issue.
I would highly suggest a Lokar shifter for the 4L80. Works great. Looks right.

Great info Gumby, much appreciated. The search is on for some Corvette manifolds!!

 

[2fpower]

Any updates?