Okay, I tried to get out of this by switching to a later month, but nobody let me. So here goes with my not yet completed build… the typical old story of an 18 month build that is just now hitting the 3 yr mark. But, ready for paint this month!
Background on me:
I have had a few fj-40s over the last 20 years, and as such have tinkered with them (brakes, fuel pumps and the likes), but am not a motor-head and have never done a lot of the things I was about to do. For example, I had never repacked a bearing, let alone rebuilt an axle. I had never welded, I had never done bodywork of any kind, I had never painted. That was all about to change.
The Truck:
I gave up my old 40s a few years back in favor of a more civilized 80 series. I had had enough of the special joys that come with an old 40 (drum brake failure, having your arms ripped off by the steering, having your spine crushed by the worn out seats and stiff springs, sweating your tail off; etc.). I love the 80 and it’s a great truck, but I missed the styling of the old-school cruisers. After a trip to Moab in 2005 where I saw an awesome fj45 SWB, I decided I needed one, but with most of the comforts of the 80 series added. So my requirements going in were:
FJ45
Power Steering
Disc Brakes on all 4 wheels
Lockers front and rear
Comfy seats
Air conditioning
Automatic transmission
And, while I was at it, a more powerful engine than the 80 so that I could actually tow something!
Over the next few months I looked around and thought about it (including watching the auction for the truck that last months ride of the month was built from; only his is done and on the road, and mine is still sitting in the garage… ARGH!!!). Finally I was ready to start accumulating parts. I say “parts” because that is all it was. I got a 45 short wheel base frame and a 45 long wheel base body from Jonathan at TLC in CA as a start. Good deal, and compared to much of what I have seen on mud, not much rust at all. The only rust-through was a little in the floor, and rockers; a bit in the corners of the roof, and just one spot in the bed.
Background on me:
I have had a few fj-40s over the last 20 years, and as such have tinkered with them (brakes, fuel pumps and the likes), but am not a motor-head and have never done a lot of the things I was about to do. For example, I had never repacked a bearing, let alone rebuilt an axle. I had never welded, I had never done bodywork of any kind, I had never painted. That was all about to change.
The Truck:
I gave up my old 40s a few years back in favor of a more civilized 80 series. I had had enough of the special joys that come with an old 40 (drum brake failure, having your arms ripped off by the steering, having your spine crushed by the worn out seats and stiff springs, sweating your tail off; etc.). I love the 80 and it’s a great truck, but I missed the styling of the old-school cruisers. After a trip to Moab in 2005 where I saw an awesome fj45 SWB, I decided I needed one, but with most of the comforts of the 80 series added. So my requirements going in were:
FJ45
Power Steering
Disc Brakes on all 4 wheels
Lockers front and rear
Comfy seats
Air conditioning
Automatic transmission
And, while I was at it, a more powerful engine than the 80 so that I could actually tow something!
Over the next few months I looked around and thought about it (including watching the auction for the truck that last months ride of the month was built from; only his is done and on the road, and mine is still sitting in the garage… ARGH!!!). Finally I was ready to start accumulating parts. I say “parts” because that is all it was. I got a 45 short wheel base frame and a 45 long wheel base body from Jonathan at TLC in CA as a start. Good deal, and compared to much of what I have seen on mud, not much rust at all. The only rust-through was a little in the floor, and rockers; a bit in the corners of the roof, and just one spot in the bed.
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