Hi all, new to the board, but definitely not new to wrenching or wheeling. Got started on classic cars in high school with a 67 bug, and I've been hooked since. I've got another 66 Bug right now that I use as a daily, and my baby here. She's not a lot to look at right now, as I spun the #2 rod bearing and she's been sitting since, waiting for some love. She's a '67 FJ45 longbed, I've had her maybe 12 years now and I bought her basically as she sits (though running of course.) The PO had converted the original F w/1bbl to a 2bbl Weber but otherwise she's stock, I think. (dunno about those turn signals, or the door mirrors, and I know the stock paint color was light blue.) There's a quite a bit of rotting bondo on the driver door, but the rest of the sheet metal's pretty good. She's in AZ, and is pretty rust free. The only bad spots are the tailgate hinges and a quarter sized hole in the driver's side floor pan. All the original glass is still there, some of it needs to be replaced, but the quarter windows in the top are more or less perfect (thank goodness) She has the 3 on the tree and the vaccuum 4wd unit with the pull knob for 4 hi and the big lever for 4 lo, and (I think) factory heater in the cab. A/C is provided by those awesome crotch coolers. 
I'm starting to plan her rebirth, as I miss driving her terribly. I'm looking at a resto-custom rebuild from the frame rails up on her. the original body lines are the thing about her I love the most, so I want to keep the sheet metal as stock as possible. I want to be able to have her split time with my '66 bug as my daily, as well as light duty towing and wheeling when she's done. I'm debating powerplants, the v8 swap is more or less old hat in an older FJ, but I've been pondering staying with an I-6 and a moderately boosted turbo setup, just to be different ( I'm thinking I can get more torque out of the I-6 than a mild small block, and comparable horses. I need to do some research on what will really be a better choice considering I do want to tow with her as well as be able to cruise on the highway at highway speeds.) Suspension, electrical, safety, and braking upgrades are also in the works, because I want to be able to take my kids out in her and they need to be safe I'll probably also add in A/C, it's a brave soul who goes without in the summers here in the desert, and I'm too old and fat to be brave anymore. ;p
I'm figuring it's a 2-3 year nights and weekends kind of effort at this point before she's ready to be back on the road, but I'd rather take it slow and do it right than rush though and make a critical mistake somewhere.
That's about it for now, Glad to see there's a 45 specific forum around. I was getting a little discouraged by all the late model LC boards out there
I'm starting to plan her rebirth, as I miss driving her terribly. I'm looking at a resto-custom rebuild from the frame rails up on her. the original body lines are the thing about her I love the most, so I want to keep the sheet metal as stock as possible. I want to be able to have her split time with my '66 bug as my daily, as well as light duty towing and wheeling when she's done. I'm debating powerplants, the v8 swap is more or less old hat in an older FJ, but I've been pondering staying with an I-6 and a moderately boosted turbo setup, just to be different ( I'm thinking I can get more torque out of the I-6 than a mild small block, and comparable horses. I need to do some research on what will really be a better choice considering I do want to tow with her as well as be able to cruise on the highway at highway speeds.) Suspension, electrical, safety, and braking upgrades are also in the works, because I want to be able to take my kids out in her and they need to be safe
I'll probably also add in A/C, it's a brave soul who goes without in the summers here in the desert, and I'm too old and fat to be brave anymore. ;p I'm figuring it's a 2-3 year nights and weekends kind of effort at this point before she's ready to be back on the road, but I'd rather take it slow and do it right than rush though and make a critical mistake somewhere.
That's about it for now, Glad to see there's a 45 specific forum around. I was getting a little discouraged by all the late model LC boards out there
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