'Nuther FJ45LV resto thread, '67 Central American model!

[cruiser_guy]

Here's the engine and tranny on the shop floor about to be joined together. The engine mounts are swapped out to mounts scavanged off a BJ40 as is the bellhousing and it's mount. I hope to get the engine in the chassis next week some time and then we'll modify the driveshafts to fit the new longer tranny (had the 3 speed before that is about 2" shorter).

 

[cruiser_guy]

Here we have the engine and tranny mated together and we're readying the frame for the diesel engine by knocking or grinding off the "F" engine mounts.

 

[cruiser_guy]

Here's the frame with the diesel mounts getting installed. We welded the engine mounts on and bolted the tranny mounts (to facilitate clutch replacement). I painted all the welds and mounts with RustBullit to try to keep rust down.

If you look REALLY carefully at the location of the axle vs. the bump stop, that the springs are OBVIOUSLY incorrect.

btw. Thanks Georg for parting with your spare LV springs, you can see they will be put to good use! I should be putting them in in about 3 weeks or so.

 

[Chef]

Hey, neat work, thanks for posting it!

 

[treerootCO]

Just wanted to thank you for the pics and text you added to root45.

I sent you a PM....

 

[cruiser_guy]

On to the body!

We pushed the chassis out of the shop and carried the body in. I don't have the luxurious shop that Matt has so the body is laying on it's side now. We'll clean up the floorboards and underside completely and then paint the underside and mount it on the chassis for the remainder of the work. If in the process I decide that other areas can better be done while the body is on the side then we'll do those areas as well.

 

[cruiser_guy]

A few more photos of the issues we'll be dealing with.

 

[Mikesta]

Those floors are beautiful! What percentage of them will you be replacing? Great thread... have enjoyed every post!

 

[cruiser_guy]

Those floors are beautiful! What percentage of them will you be replacing? Great thread... have enjoyed every post!

I'd guess less than 20% but at this point it's still hard to say as the entire bottom has not been cleaned off. Anyone have any ideas to clean it off manually other than an angle grinder and wire wheel? Apparently nobody here in Guatemala does sandblasting or bead blasting and this stuff doesn't come off easily.

 

[Owyhee Jackass]

I cut up that dash/firewall assembly this past weekend. I cut out the heater-blower intake off the outside and the firewall section for the blower ducts. I also cut out the defrost 'nozzles' on the window frame. My DSL box was fried by a power surge last week, so I can't post any pictures for a few days. Let me know if you want this stuff. I can't see how you could get by without at least the defroster, once you're in Kanuckia.

Dan

 

[cruiser_guy]

Dan, here's a couple of pictures of the firewall of the FJ45LV. You can see that there never was a blower in the truck or a heater but the window vents are there.

 

[cruiser_guy]

Cleaning off the underside of the FJ45LV. As I was saying, sandblasting either doesn't exist here or I'm terrible at explaining and no one understands what I mean, so we need to take off the undercoat manually. It seems that the torch and then wire wheel to finish up is the best way to do it. The floor is looking pretty good with the exception of joints and areas where the body mounts or other areas that collect dirt are located.

I'll have some of the kids knocking out the dents in the cargo floor and cutting and patching the rear sill area while others will work around the seat mounts and wheel wells.

 

[Owyhee Jackass]

I hope the kid in shorts isn't wearing sandals too...

 

[cruiser_guy]

I hope the kid in shorts isn't wearing sandals too...

Do you actually think it's possible to tell a high school senior ANYTHING? They've got overalls hanging on the wall, freshly washed, all they need to do is put them on.
Here in Guatemala it's all about PERSONAL responsibility. If he gets himself burned any reasonable person (even lawyers) knows he should have worn overalls. They throw those sorts of cases out of court because the plaintiff is too stupid!

 

[89s rule]

Do you actually think it's possible to tell a high school senior ANYTHING? They've got overalls hanging on the wall, freshly washed, all they need to do is put them on.
Here in Guatemala it's all about PERSONAL responsibility. If he gets himself burned any reasonable person (even lawyers) knows he should have worn overalls. They throw those sorts of cases out of court because the plaintiff is too stupid!

Wish they would do that here!

Looking good!

 

[cruiser_guy]

Wish they would do that here!

Looking good!

It certainly puts the responsibility where it belongs!

 

[cruiser_guy]

Attention Mike (treeroot) or other LV experts

What is the hole for in the rear floor area (the one just above the yellow writing)? I need to replace that area on one side and there is some large 1/4" thick plate in the support under the truck. It's not a body mount or anything. I'm thinking maybe a seatbelt anchor? My truck didn't have any seatbelts in it so I have nothing else to go on.

Also, does anyone have the jack tray or whatever it is that is spotwelded to the floor under the front seat? Mine is gone, literally ripped off!!

Lastly, what is the small trapezoidal peices on the floor where it steps up under the rear seat? Anyone have a picture of all of them. I think one is missing but I don't know its function. I assume a strengthening item. If there is a spare I'll take it!

We are into the body work right now. As with Matt and his truck, this is likely the longest time. I'll be doing alot of it myself after hours though or it would need to be autobody class!

One of the classes will also be installing the springs I got from Georg. They finally made it down here. The "U" bolts and spring plates for the old springs were downright scary, torn, "U" bolts stripped and bent etc. etc. Anyone have a definite way to determine front and rear of each spring (I know the long ones are the rear springs just need to know which end of each spring is front or rear)?

 

[treerootCO]

The seat belt anchors look like these and they aren't evenly spaced. The step up has three of those supports and they aren't equally spaced either. I don't have an extra jack cradle at the moment but I'll keep my eyes open. Does the Idaho LV have one? The one Dan was parting? The floor pic below was missing the one as well but I sent one to Paul and he can probably make reproductions of it.

 

[Owyhee Jackass]

Dan, here's a couple of pictures of the firewall of the FJ45LV. You can see that there never was a blower in the truck or a heater but the window vents are there.

Is this what you need? for the heater?

I don't have the jack-mount, the one I had was rusted all the way through.

 

[cruiser_guy]

Is this what you need? for the heater?

It's a start. I need to see a heater equipped LV to know for sure as I imagine the glovebox is a little different too.