My FJ45 finishing Touch

[cppilot]

Well it's been just over a year since my 1965 FJ45 went under the knife. It should be finished in just a few weeks. I will most certainly post up some pictures then. We are just finishing up a few items and making sure everything is working including the Factory PTO Winch with new cable.

Here is my 45 "Finishing Touch" I had a very good friend hand paint this original stamped bezel. I know it's not original to my FJ45 but I think it's way cool. I have held onto this for some time waiting for just the right Cruiser to attach it to. Just thought I'd share this cool bezel.

 

[whitey45]

Very cool, bought a 63 fj40 circa 1994, saved the original stamped bezel, and its been with me ever since, and adorned many rigs, and is now on my troopy!

 

[DomSmith]

Looks great Mark. Can't wait to see some pics of the final product.

 

[cppilot]

Thanks Dom & Whitey. It's been a long wait.

 

[catskinner]

As a big fan of stamped bezels, job well done looks like the correct shade of red

Im also an owner of a original stamped bezel (63 fixedtop), would you mind telling the shade of red you used ?

 

[HENDOG]

Red! That is all!

 

[cppilot]

Catskinner, I looked long and hard for the correct color of the letters. Searching here on MUD and other sites, I was able to find the paint name " Spanish Maroon".This is not confirmed however. I was not able to find paint code. I checked with my paint person at PPG with no luck.

A good friend told me about a paint that a lot of the lettering guys use called " Sign Painters 1 Shot" lettering enamel (108-L Maroon). I had a close friend do the hand lettering for me and he said the paint was fantastic. It flowed really well and did not leave brush stokes. It takes a long time to dry though. The color is a very close match to the originals I have seen.

Here's a photo of the paint can, I hope this helps you.

Regards,
Mark

 

[KT40]

Looks Awesome Mark!
I have a re-pop stamped bezel and just used some red from the local hobby shop.
It's a tough thing to make look right. With my shaky hands it came out OK.
Yours looks great! Cant wait to see the finished pics.

 

[cppilot]

Thanks Ken, one of my friends at the Fire House is a bit of an artist. He hand painted an original leather fire helmet for me when I retired. Is work is fantastic.

 

[whitey45]

Never did paint mine , was afraid to mess it up! Bet my buddy who is a tattoo artist could knock it out!

 

[Living in the Past]

I like the old stamped bezel. Took a number of years before getting my first. It just showed up in the mail one day for free. My sister's husband had a 61 FJ40 FHT he was planning on restoring but gave up the idea. Never got a chance to buy the cruiser but did think of me and sent be the bezel. Second was found at a junkyard for cheap. Third is the only one I picked up with the vehicle and still original paint. Today repos keep showing up devaluing the originals. Never seen one to compare quality to the originals. I used my first one on my 68 FJ40 for years. If I do it again will replace the expanded metal grill with earlier non emblem style and use a repo oval Toyota emblem on the hood. Collected all the parts just can't seem to find the time to work on them. At least get to enjoy the pictures of those doing these great restores.

 

[cppilot]

Agreed, I still think this is one of the coolest original parts for the FJ40/45. Hard to find originals but worth every penny when you do. I believe that this one came off of an original Oregon FJ40.

 

[Rustic76]

Mark,
Did you keep the truck lily white? Can't wait to see the finished product. Based on your other trucks, I'm sure this is going to be a museum worthy piece!

 

[daniel.watters]

I bought my stamped bezel from some dude in CA... I hand painted mine and love it. I guessed with a maroon paint and think I got it pretty close!

 

[cppilot]

Looks great to me Daniel. I think any shade of red works to capture the look.

 

[cppilot]

Rustic76, no I did not go with the original white. I went with Fashion Green. I thought about white, but I plan keeping this one and wanted to be happy with the color and not just keeping it white for originality sake.

Mark

 

[cppilot]

Just gathering all my trinkets and not sure I even want to put this original one on. I sure wish Toyota still had these in stock. There really is not any replacement that come close. All repo's are Mylar and not thick like the original.

 

[whitey45]

How long are you going to tease us?

 

[cppilot]

Hopefully next week. The 45 is 50 minutes away from me. Scheduled pick up a week from Friday. I will post up pictures when I get it home.

 

[47coeman]

Please bring us up to date on your project.