Hey all,
I wanted to take a second to share my new (to me) 1980 FJ45 and ask a couple questions along the way as I restore it. The previous owner imported the truck from Venezuela a few years ago to Florida, and while I live in Dallas I’ve wanted a ‘45 for so long I figured this was my chance.
The truck is more or less rust free (just spots of surface rust), 2F with 5 speed transmission, power steering, and not much else. Pretty much every weatherstrip was missing (replaced most today), no a/c, missing clutch cable and a lot of dash buttons. Gauge cluster is present but few of them work.
(Interior photo is after some work like door panels)
On it’s shakedown cruise the alternator stopped charging the battery, and playing around with loose belts and wobbly pulley caused the water pump to give out. Alternator and pump are out, waiting on replacements.
A few problems I’m having which I’d love some help with:
1. The fan clutch has a completely stripped nut on it, any suggestions on how to get it off? I’ve tried PB blaster and heat but it’s more or less completely rounded after trying to force it off. I took the pump and clutch off together so it’s not in the way, but I’d prefer to not have to buy a new fan clutch since this one works
2. The door handles have been rigged with homemade parts to connect to the door regulators, I’d prefer to not buy new door handles if I don’t have to but does anyone know where I can find the connector bit from the handle to the regulator? Or some crappy looking handles to cannibalize?
3. This question seems silly but the PO’s English wasn’t the best. How do I confirm if the transmission is the H55f? Is that the only 5 speed available even if it was built in Venezuela? I’m not super familiar with the non-US specs.
4. The wiring harness is hard to follow and the headlights gave out on me randomly so I’d like to just start from scratch, does anyone have a good recommendation for a wiring harness? Universal vs specific application?
Thanks in advance! I’ll keep posting as I get the truck sorted out.
I wanted to take a second to share my new (to me) 1980 FJ45 and ask a couple questions along the way as I restore it. The previous owner imported the truck from Venezuela a few years ago to Florida, and while I live in Dallas I’ve wanted a ‘45 for so long I figured this was my chance.
The truck is more or less rust free (just spots of surface rust), 2F with 5 speed transmission, power steering, and not much else. Pretty much every weatherstrip was missing (replaced most today), no a/c, missing clutch cable and a lot of dash buttons. Gauge cluster is present but few of them work.
(Interior photo is after some work like door panels)
On it’s shakedown cruise the alternator stopped charging the battery, and playing around with loose belts and wobbly pulley caused the water pump to give out. Alternator and pump are out, waiting on replacements.
A few problems I’m having which I’d love some help with:
1. The fan clutch has a completely stripped nut on it, any suggestions on how to get it off? I’ve tried PB blaster and heat but it’s more or less completely rounded after trying to force it off. I took the pump and clutch off together so it’s not in the way, but I’d prefer to not have to buy a new fan clutch since this one works
2. The door handles have been rigged with homemade parts to connect to the door regulators, I’d prefer to not buy new door handles if I don’t have to but does anyone know where I can find the connector bit from the handle to the regulator? Or some crappy looking handles to cannibalize?
3. This question seems silly but the PO’s English wasn’t the best. How do I confirm if the transmission is the H55f? Is that the only 5 speed available even if it was built in Venezuela? I’m not super familiar with the non-US specs.
4. The wiring harness is hard to follow and the headlights gave out on me randomly so I’d like to just start from scratch, does anyone have a good recommendation for a wiring harness? Universal vs specific application?
Thanks in advance! I’ll keep posting as I get the truck sorted out.