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jaymundy

jaymundy

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
May 8, 2007
Threads
30
Messages
148
Location
Nairobi
Website
www.bushwings.org
Just a couple words to introduce myself, being new on the forum. I'm in Nairobi, Kenya, a pilot/aircraft mechanic for a Christian mission orgranization here. Our flights are in support of relief work across east Africa and to support education and other church ministries.

But, to the point for this website...:) I have 2 Landcruisers. The newer one (the one my wife drives) is an 1999 HDJ-81 turbodiesel. It's all stock (haven't had time to do anything to it yet, but have some plans...aux fuel tank, full time --> part time 4wd, front diff auto locker, snorkel, shelf system, cargo barrier). We've not been in Kenya long, and haven't had much chance to go 4wheeling, but that's only a matter of time.

The other, affectionately dubbed Mr Zebra is a 1983 BJ-45 with a 3b engine in it. It was modified somewhat (safari roof, additional passenger doors, and seats) for use as a tour vehicle before I bought it. It's also had a rather hard life and is up for some major maintenance, when I have time and can find the parts. The engine needs to be overhauled, and I have hopes of putting in power steering. There's some body work to do, and I plan to completely rewire the truck...the electrics are in terrible condition.
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The rust is all hidden...there's an awful lot of bondo on the body. Under the lining inside you can see what's really up.

The plan for the rebuild is: mechanically sound first (engine, then steering, with some miscellaneous other things along the way), then electrical, and once everything is reliable, then the body.

The challenge, aside from money, will be parts, I suspect. Parts are very hard to find here, and when you can find them they tend to be expensive. I'm not in a huge rush, though. Though once I tear the engine out I will be. This (as I hinted in another post) is a daily driver...to/from work every day. If I don't have it available I get to walk 4 miles each way.

Anyway, I'll post here for the engine stuff and in the 45 section for the rest. And pictures, of course.

Cheers!
JM
 
Welcome to Mud,

I don't remember seeing many 40 series in Kenya, but there are a lot of 70 and 80 series there.

Good luck with the rebuild.

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Thanks, all for the welcome! No, not many 40s here in Kenya, but lots of 80s and 70s (and now 100s). Still, there are some 40s. My main concern with the rebuild is parts. I'm having a hard time getting basic parts for my 80 series, a 1999 model (I had to special order battery clamps and a window seal, for crying out loud!) Still, parts seem to be available, so I think i'll be ok. It may just take some time.

Yeah, the 4wheeling is good here. There is some gov't regulation, but not much. Unfortunately what there is precludes the firearm (drat) but that's a subject for somewhere else. But if you want a look at some of the places I mean to go, check out www.kws.org. LOTS of game parks here, and I wouldn't dream of tackling them without 4wd. Just in the nairobi game park, only about 2 miles from Nairobi, you really need 4wd to get through some of the tracks.

Anyway, thanks again for the welcome! I'll definitely put pictures up as the rebuild goes on. And yes, Mr Zebra has character. Here's to improving it but not losing it!

Cheers!
JM
 
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