Build Habba the Bedouin Truck Build Thread

[javelinadave]

My hunt for a FJZ-75 started here on the Mud and @anavant found me this awesome 1979 LX. His source in Dubai found it at a rural sheep herders farm and it had what I was looking for. Clean, rust free and with both heat and A/C. Here are a few pictures of what it looked like when found and pictures of the work done in the UAE
Here are a few photos from the farm and from the garage:

 

[javelinadave]

Port pictures and after pickup in NJ

 

[javelinadave]

First mod was a Tractor Supply stall mat bed liner:

Next up was installing a 9k Warn winch and a set of Stedi LED lights:

All was going great till the 27 year old radiator gave up. Not to worry, famous radiator builder Ron Davis is a short drive from the house. Should be up and running sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

 

[javelinadave]

Today was speaker pod day. My interior is tan but the pods were gray so I sprayed them with this magical paint.

I was so happy with it I also sprayed the armrest to match:

Before being remounted on the door. I also took the opportunity to clean the inside of the doors and apply sound deadening from Second Skin. Very nice product and super sticky when applied.

The finished product. I'm very happy with the results.

The biggest PITA was running the wire from the door to the interior. Next up installing the radio and the powered sub.

 

[Greek Cruiserhead]

Great truck purchased, congrats mate!
Great pics too, especially these at the farm, if you have more share with us please.
I gather that Habba didn't experience a climate shock in its new home: Scottsdale, AZ weather seems not that different than the Emirate of Ajman weather...

PS. If I may ask, what about a retrofit of these Middle East stripes (part of his original character)?

 

[javelinadave]

PS. If I may ask, what about a retrofit of these Middle East stripes, they give him his original character?

I have a new set of stripes. I figure it’s easier to put them on than to take them off so I’m still deciding which looks better.

 

[javelinadave]

I bought a rear take gauge cover from @Slotosea and installed it today. My old one was pretty distorted. Easy little project but be warned you have to pull the radio to get to the 2 nuts that hold the forward part of the pod. While I had it apart I also swapped out the incandescent bulb for an LED.

 

[Slotosea]

It looks great! Glad it worked out.

 

[javelinadave]

No photos but I replaced the radio antenna today. What a monumental PITA job. Here is what I did:
1) Unbolted the old antenna and pulled the cable so I could cut off the grommet
2) Taped the end of the cable on the new antenna to the old cable and pulled it thru the sidewall into the cab
3) Slid the new antenna into place and then pulled the cable slack into the cab
4) Unbolted the antenna and untwisted the cable
5) Pulled the slack again
6) Re-bolted everything together again

What an awful job but at lease it's done. If a person has giant hands or sausage fingers I don't think they could do it.
Next up, install the HAM radio, the new double DIN radio and the compact sub woofer.

 

[javelinadave]

Started the process of swapping out the 1990s Kenwood aftermarket radio w/ CD player for a modern double DIN radio with CarPlay. What should have been an easy job was nothing but. The previous owned butchered the harness and spliced in random pieces and colors of wires. Several hours later and the new harness is wired in. Next up I'll run the cable for the backup camera and all the wiring for the powered sub. A $10 harness adaptor sure would have made this project much easier for sure.

The chart below was a huge help. There was no trace of the wiring from the small plug. Since I installed new speakers in the door pods I ran new wiring for them and will use the 4" dash speakers for my HAM radio audio.

 

[WarDamnEagle]

Nice. Curious why you’re installing a backup camera on a vehicle that arguably affords the most peripheral visibility on the planet? Maybe you’re planning a camper top?

 

[javelinadave]

Nice. Curious why you’re installing a backup camera on a vehicle that arguably affords the most peripheral visibility on the planet? Maybe you’re planning a camper top?

It’s a $30 add on that’s easy to do now since I have everything apart so why not.

 

[Redline70]

It’s a $30 add on that’s easy to do now since I have everything apart so why not.

To avoid kittens, toddlers, turtles, and puppies.

 

[Greek Cruiserhead]

Any updates?

 

[javelinadave]

Any updates?

Sorry, life got in the way of posting. Installed a stainless steel tailgate inner cover and replaced a few dodads. The truck is averaging 11mpg so that’s my next project, figure the why and the fix.

 

[Greek Cruiserhead]

Good luck mate, thanks for sharing!

 

[LDowney]

Sorry, life got in the way of posting. Installed a stainless steel tailgate inner cover and replaced a few dodads. The truck is averaging 11mpg so that’s my next project, figure the why and the fix.

My bride's FZJ70 averages are low too (fairly consistent 13.7mpg). I am eyeing gearing as the source.

• My 1981 FJ40 averages +15mpg with a 2F with carb, but it has 3.73 axle ratios.
• My 1986 BJ70 averages +21mpg with a 15B-FT, but it has 3.73 axle ratios plus 10% OD in the transfer case
• Her FZJ70 has ample low end gearing, so I am confident that switching from 4.11 to 3.73 for a nominal 10% might be our first step, but I will need to research re-gearing the transfer case too.

Interested to see how your assessment and plan develops.
Your 70 looks like a great find. Kudos

 

[javelinadave]

Couple of projects wrapped up

Stainless steel tailgate liner

Escape Gear Seat Covers

Cup & Mic Holder

Pioneer Double DIN w/ Apple CarPlay

 

[javelinadave]

Yaesu Dual Band Ham Radio & On Boar Air brand Garage Door Opener Button (I have a proper one enroute)

 

[LDowney]

Couple of projects wrapped up

Stainless steel tailgate liner
View attachment 4092535

Equip Seat Covers
View attachment 4092536
View attachment 4092540

Cup & Mic Holder
View attachment 4092544

Pioneer Double DIN w/ Apple CarPlay
View attachment 4092545

How would you rate the fit and quality of the Equip Seat covers? My bride's '97 FZJ70 has the split bench seats like yours. Her seats are in great condition so it would be good to keep them that way. Thanks