New to me 79 FJ45 (1 Viewer)

[nicholas]

Just picked up my first FJ45. It’s been on my bucket list for decades and I finally found a decent price on one. It’s a 1979 originally from Saudi Arabia. I’ve owned three 80 series (still have one), a 100, and a 40. I have four kids, and they used to fight about who got to ride in the FJ 40 last summer, so I jumped on this one so I can put some seat belts in the back for summer cruising with the whole family. I’ve read through the roll cage threads and it looks like there’s not a lot of real estate in there, but it’s about the only way I can get shoulder belts in there with the factory seats. I think I’ll take out the factory Bows and put a roll Cage back there as well to help somewhat protect the kids in the event of a crash or rollover. Just need to get a tube bender from Rogue and start the steep learning curve/art of tube bending.

 

[fjc-man]

Nice! Those bench seats look like they’re out of a FJ45 troopy.

 

[Michael B]

Nice 45. There are factory options for shoulder harnesses in the cab.

 

[nicholas]

Nice 45. There are factory options for shoulder harnesses in the cab.

Oh really where did they mount the upper point? Seems like you would have to go through the top sheet metal and then wouldn’t be able to remove the top without losing the seatbelt.

 

[WarDamnEagle]

Nice! Those bench seats look like they’re out of a FJ45 troopy.

Maybe. They definitely didn't come with the pickup from the factory. The Troopy seats have a solid backrest and the seats are split into two sections on each side. Could have come out of a Troopy and are just modified.

The rear seatbelts in my Troopy are mounted just behind the seat bottoms but you won't have the shelf running down each side on the pickup. Really not sure how you would install seatbelts in this setup.

Regardless, looks like a nice pickup.

 

[WarDamnEagle]

Oh really where did they mount the upper point? Seems like you would have to go through the top sheet metal and then wouldn’t be able to remove the top without losing the seatbelt.

There should be a captive nut at the top of the B pillar (at least I think that would be the B pillar). It wouldn't go through the top. Parts diagrams are absolutely showing two options, lap belts and 3-point harnesses. The 3-point harnesses are manual adjustment and non retracting. Basically a lap belt with an adjustable shoulder harness attached.

I bought some for my Troopy that will work for your pickup. I can try to find the details if you are interested. I assume you have the split bench seat in the front?

 

[nicholas]

There should be a captive nut at the top of the B pillar (at least I think that would be the B pillar). It wouldn't go through the top. Parts diagrams are absolutely showing two options, lap belts and 3-point harnesses. The 3-point harnesses are manual adjustment and non retracting. Basically a lap belt with an adjustable shoulder harness attached.

I bought some for my Troopy that will work for your pickup. I can try to find the details if you are interested. I assume you have the split bench seat in the front?

That would be awesome if you could find that information. I do have the split bench upfront. I’ll go look for a captive nut. Thanks!

 

[nicholas]

Maybe. They definitely didn't come with the pickup from the factory. The Troopy seats have a solid backrest and the seats are split into two sections on each side. Could have come out of a Troopy and are just modified.

The rear seatbelts in my Troopy are mounted just behind the seat bottoms but you won't have the shelf running down each side on the pickup. Really not sure how you would install seatbelts in this setup.

Regardless, looks like a nice pickup.

Thanks it’s a pretty nice truck overall it does have a little bit of rust here and there even though the seller claimed it did not. Definitely better than a stateside rust bucket like I’ve owned before.

I think I could mount seatbelts in the back at least lap belts pretty easily. But if I built a cage in the back, I could mount shoulder belts and a bar with some headrest pads back there as well. I probably have to figure out a way to mount the cage through the bed and onto the frame because the bed looks rather flimsy.

I didn’t think these trucks came factory with the Troy seats either but I’m seeing a lot of them coming out from the Middle East with this option. Maybe it was a port installed option? Idk.

 

[WarDamnEagle]

That would be awesome if you could find that information. I do have the split bench upfront. I’ll go look for a captive nut. Thanks!

I sent you a PM.

 

[WarDamnEagle]

In reference to your question in our conversation. If I was guessing, I would think that the threaded hole that I have circled would be where the upper seatbelt harness would anchor but I am not certain. I don't see any other possibilities though.

 

[nicholas]

In reference to your question in our conversation. If I was guessing, I would think that the threaded hole that I have circled would be where the upper seatbelt harness would anchor but I am not certain. I don't see any other possibilities though.

View attachment 3898060

Yes, I think you’re correct. I would like to remove the top if possible, though.

 

[Michael B]

You are correct in placement and in the fact that you would lose your shoulder harness with the top removed.

 

[nicholas]

View attachment 3898389
You are correct in placement and in the fact that you would lose your shoulder harness with the top removed.

Awesome thanks for the picture. Did you get yours at seatbelt planet as well? I didn’t know there was room for a retractor back there.

 

[Michael B]

Those are Toyota originals I had re-webbed.

 

[Terrax]

Beautiful 45, you also have the bed posts for the canopy frames. Here's my 1980 Saudi spec. Congrats and welcome to the addiction.

 

[KT40]

Just picked up my first FJ45. It’s been on my bucket list for decades and I finally found a decent price on one. It’s a 1979 originally from Saudi Arabia. I’ve owned three 80 series (still have one), a 100, and a 40. I have four kids, and they used to fight about who got to ride in the FJ 40 last summer, so I jumped on this one so I can put some seat belts in the back for summer cruising with the whole family. I’ve read through the roll cage threads and it looks like there’s not a lot of real estate in there, but it’s about the only way I can get shoulder belts in there with the factory seats. I think I’ll take out the factory Bows and put a roll Cage back there as well to help somewhat protect the kids in the event of a crash or rollover. Just need to get a tube bender from Rogue and start the steep learning curve/art of tube bending.

View attachment 3897720View attachment 3897721View attachment 3897722View attachment 3897720

There has been talk about these mounting brackets for a while. They are hard to come by.

Shoulder Belt Top Mount Pics Needed....

If you have pics of the upper shoulder belt mounts in you 45 LWB... I would love to see them so I can duplicate the mount in my hardtop. Cheers!

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[Terrax]

Maybe. They definitely didn't come with the pickup from the factory. The Troopy seats have a solid backrest and the seats are split into two sections on each side. Could have come out of a Troopy and are just modified.

The rear seatbelts in my Troopy are mounted just behind the seat bottoms but you won't have the shelf running down each side on the pickup. Really not sure how you would install seatbelts in this setup.

Regardless, looks like a nice pickup.

These photo shows a few with your setup, they were used as film rigs.

 

[nicholas]

Beautiful 45, you also have the bed posts for the canopy frames. Here's my 1980 Saudi spec. Congrats and welcome to the addiction.

View attachment 3898642

View attachment 3898643

View attachment 3898644

Thanks! Gorgeous 45, yours appears to better shape than mine. I love the previously discontinued full catcher mask arb. I read that Arb still has the tooling and releases some on occasion. I like it better than the arb I had on my 40. I kept the winch to swap over to the 45. I spent too much $$ and many hours and cuss words rebuilding that beast.

 

[Terrax]

Thanks! Gorgeous 45, yours appears to better shape than mine. I love the previously discontinued full catcher mask arb. I read that Arb still has the tooling and releases some on occasion. I like it better than the arb I had on my 40. I kept the winch to swap over to the 45. I spent too much $$ and many hours and cuss words rebuilding that beast.View attachment 3898667

 

[Terrax]

Restoration was done by the previous owner in Abu Dhabi/Dubai. There is a link to a mud thread with the whole story. Georg at Valley Hybrids installed a H55F 5 speed tranny and split case, I replaced the suspension and had the engine rebuilt, swapped wheels and sand tires.