Build Old Landy: An HJ45 Story/Build Thread

[waiting for time]

As we bite our nails awaiting each weekend to hit the barn, we are thinking through how we will make decisions on Old Landy. @Cowboy45 and I chatted about this about some key things we would like not to deviate from as we encounter issues and detours that require decisions. We jotted down a few guiding principles for us to reorient us when in doubt. At a bigger picture, I am trying to instill in @Cowboy45 how to think through design in general.

Gladly get your additional thoughts on this.

2 days and counting....View attachment 1874486

How far will you go down the rabbi’s hole when things are worse then expected?
If you want to drive it in all conditions and just store when wet you need to tackle the seams even with minor rust.
If you go there it is easy to take the next step and make it nicer than planned because you already did this and that.

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

How far will you go down the rabbi’s hole when things are worse then expected?
If you want to drive it in all conditions and just store when wet you need to tackle the seams even with minor rust.
If you go there it is easy to take the next step and make it nicer than planned because you already did this and that.

It does not appear there are body rabbit holes. Perhaps mechanical and mods. Reliability and safety will trump in most cases.

Sorry I meant wet like in TX wet not Nedherlands or Canadian Salty Wet. We will most likely encounter wet periodically, not sustained. . We are going to blow the body apart and have it sandblasted/rust proofed/primered and painted. Frame, suspension, and axles are galvanized and solid. Andre did this in Switzerland and it is stout. A little bit of surface rust here and there.

Is it good to paint over galvanized coating? @dogfishlake??

 

[Michael B]

If properly prepared paint on galvanized is another layer of protection. That is what I did to Samson’s frame.

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

Read your thread. I see. Weathered galvanized coating I hear needs to be re-etched. Some use vinegar prior to paint. Good tech stuff Michael in your thread. Will be tapping into the mediclurins I felt.

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

@Cowboy45, I connected with @Dagha Boy in South Africa who is doing an amazing SA hj45 build identical to Old Landy. We connected on finding a SA tailgate. @Dagha Boy will be shipping his truck to Houston late this year and we should plan on meeting him. He might be able to ship a tailgate in his truck. He also found a campershell similar to Old Landy that he is considering adding to his truck!!

I think you should read his build thread and soak it in as you have done with @76 FJ40 thread. There many great things here.

@daja boy’s thread will also give you an idea of my life in Africa where I spent 19 years in Kenya. Find petrolhead in his thread. A 30 ft tall giraffe that likes HJ45 s. I love the Chinaman he developed a close relationship with. @Dagha Boy is you in a different continent.

Someone summarized with a couple of cool quotes @Dagha Boy had mentioned

I think the best lines ever on mud are contained in this thread
1) I hate it when zebras ruin my paintjob
2) Our giraffe is a petrolhead

you sir, have won at life

good luck with your build!

I found @Dagha Boy while reading @76 FJ40 thread to find out what he did to paint a galvanized frame.

The force is strong with both @76 FJ40 and at @Dagha Boy. Worthy Yodas to look up to and call on as you journey with respect to HJ45 tricks.

I always remind you to surround yourself with people that are better than you. These are some in addition to the brethren of Mud.

What I like about @76 FJ40 and @Dagha Boy ‘s thread is that it shows it does not matter where you are in the world, these trucks can be rebuilt with the simplest of resources even after they have taken a beating.

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

@Cowboy45, I connected with @Dagha Boy in South Africa who is doing an amazing SA hj45 build identical to Old Landy. We connected on finding a SA tailgate. @Dagha Boy will be shipping his truck to Houston late this year and we should plan on meeting him. He might be able to ship a tailgate in his truck. He also found a campershell similar to Old Landy that he is considering adding to his truck!!

I think you should read his build thread and soak it in as you have done with @76 FJ40 thread. There many great things here.

@daja boy’s thread will also give you an idea of my life in Africa where I spent 19 years in Kenya. Find petrolhead in his thread. A 30 ft tall giraffe that likes HJ45 s. I love the Chinaman he developed a close relationship with. @Dagha Boy is you in a different continent. Some pics from @Dagha Boy thread that remind me where I grew up at your age.

Someone summarized with a couple of cool quotes @Dagha Boy had mentioned

I think the best lines ever on mud are contained in this thread
1) I hate it when zebras ruin my paintjob
2) Our giraffe is a petrolhead

you sir, have won at life

good luck with your build!

I found @Dagha Boy while reading @76 FJ40 thread to find out what he did to paint a galvanized frame. Something we will face.

The force is strong with both @76 FJ40 and at @Dagha Boy. Worthy Yodas to look up to and call on as you journey with respect to HJ45 tricks. I always remind you to surround yourself with people that are better than you. These are some you should in addition to the brothers of Mud.

What I like about @76 FJ40 and @Dagha Boy ‘s thread is that it shows it does not matter where you are in the world, these trucks can be rebuilt with the simplest of resources despite the beatings they have gone through. Amazing.

 

[FJBen]

As we bite our nails awaiting each weekend to hit the barn, we are thinking through how we will make decisions on Old Landy. @Cowboy45 and I chatted about this about some key things we would like not to deviate from as we encounter issues and detours that require decisions. We jotted down a few guiding principles for us to reorient us when in doubt. At a bigger picture, I am trying to instill in @Cowboy45 how to think through design in general.

Gladly get your additional thoughts on this.

2 days and counting....View attachment 1874486

I think those are good guiding principles.

I think Enjoy the Build and learn is a big one for a guiding principle....even though thats more of an attitude rather than physical build.


There will be step-backs, unforeseen costs and some dog-days along with a lot of waiting. I spent 20 minutes this morning before work cleaning fuel injection hard lines with 0000 steel wool and brake cleaner. Not what I would call fun at 5:30am in 17 degrees and not worth turning the heat on for....but work that has to be done nonetheless.

UPGRADE: I would say upgrade when a new OEM part exists that is better. If that makes sense...kind of how you are running 70 series rear axle, new disc front...things like that. They don't take away from the Toyota/Land Cruiser Heritage, but make it more reliable, OEM still, potentially safer and easier to swap out IF failure occur down the line. Even if you have a NOS part, sometimes it might make more sense to upgrade as there may be no availability after that part.

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

I think those are good guiding principles.

I think Enjoy the Build and learn is a big one for a guiding principle....even though thats more of an attitude rather than physical build.


There will be step-backs, unforeseen costs and some dog-days along with a lot of waiting. I spent 20 minutes this morning before work cleaning fuel injection hard lines with 0000 steel wool and brake cleaner. Not what I would call fun at 5:30am in 17 degrees and not worth turning the heat on for....but work that has to be done nonetheless.

UPGRADE: I would say upgrade when a new OEM part exists that is better. If that makes sense...kind of how you are running 70 series rear axle, new disc front...things like that. They don't take away from the Toyota/Land Cruiser Heritage, but make it more reliable, OEM still, potentially safer and easier to swap out IF failure occur down the line. Even if you have a NOS part, sometimes it might make more sense to upgrade as there may be no availability after that part.

We are thinking a lot alike!!! Good advice my friend.

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

@beno thanks for the 2H full gasket kit for Old Landy plus other juicy bits. @Cowboy45 will be happy with OEM.

 

[OGBeno]

On its way!!

 

[FJBen]

Slight Hijack.

Not sure if you are familiar with @Box Rocket and what he does with helping members and their ideas/computer rendering, but that would be a great idea to see what he could do with Old Landy. Does some really awesome work, color changes, lifts, lights etc.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/box-rocket-designs.1089181/

 

[Box Rocket]

Slight Hijack.

Not sure if you are familiar with @Box Rocket and what he does with helping members and their ideas/computer rendering, but that would be a great idea to see what he could do with Old Landy. Does some really awesome work, color changes, lifts, lights etc.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/box-rocket-designs.1089181/

Thanks for the kind words.

 

[4Cruisers]

UPGRADE: I would say upgrade when a new OEM part exists that is better. If that makes sense...kind of how you are running 70 series rear axle, new disc front...things like that. They don't take away from the Toyota/Land Cruiser Heritage, but make it more reliable, OEM still, potentially safer and easier to swap out IF failure occur down the line. Even if you have a NOS part, sometimes it might make more sense to upgrade as there may be no availability after that part.

Very good advice.

Along these same lines, a few things I've done on my FJ40s.

Power steering: Because I'm not running large tires, I decided to go the mini-truck route on both FJ40s - '84 4WD Tercel hatchback PS pumps, '84 Cressida adjusting brackets, and '84 and '85 PS gearboxes.

Disc brakes: '84 mini-truck Birfields/knuckles/locking hubs, FJ60 vented rotors, and 4-Runner IFS calipers.

And on my FJ60: 3FE, H55f, FJ62 transfer case, FJ62 axles, 70-Series wheels, power windows/door locks/mirrors, and 4-Runner wipers - I built the FJ60 that Toyota should have made available him this market.

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

Slight Hijack.

Not sure if you are familiar with @Box Rocket and what he does with helping members and their ideas/computer rendering, but that would be a great idea to see what he could do with Old Landy. Does some really awesome work, color changes, lifts, lights etc.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/box-rocket-designs.1089181/

Amazing indeed. Wow. You have major talent.

Beats the hand sketching the family did together at the dinner table in a couple of posts back where my boys learned the basics of technical drawing in perspective with protractor and 45/60 deg triangles. Way old school. It met our needs to get moving on this.

 

[FJBen]

Amazing indeed. Wow. You have major talent.

Beats the hand sketching the family did together at the dinner table in a couple of posts back where my boys learned the basics of technical drawing in perspective with protractor and 45/60 deg triangles. Way old school. It met our needs to get moving on this.

Yeah his artwork it pretty amazing. He worked for Disney and now Warner brothers but thought it might be cool to see if he could model out Old Landy. Great job on technical perspective teaching...thats becoming a lost........art

 

[Cowboy45]

Oh man!! I am gone for a day and I miss all this! This is so great everyone all this advice is super helpful! Thanks to all who have helped on this journey.

 

[Cowboy45]

Slight Hijack.

Not sure if you are familiar with @Box Rocket and what he does with helping members and their ideas/computer rendering, but that would be a great idea to see what he could do with Old Landy. Does some really awesome work, color changes, lifts, lights etc.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/box-rocket-designs.1089181/

If we actually get a rendering of Old Landy’s final product that would br so cool! I know someone is going to cop me on this and say “it’s about the journey not the final product” and yes that’s completely right but come on.

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

Very good advice.

Along these same lines, a few things I've done on my FJ40s.

Power steering: Because I'm not running large tires, I decided to go the mini-truck route on both FJ40s - '84 4WD Tercel hatchback PS pumps, '84 Cressida adjusting brackets, and '84 and '85 PS gearboxes.

Disc brakes: '84 mini-truck Birfields/knuckles/locking hubs, FJ60 vented rotors, and 4-Runner IFS calipers.

And on my FJ60: 3FE, H55f, FJ62 transfer case, FJ62 axles, 70-Series wheels, power windows/door locks/mirrors, and 4-Runner wipers - I built the FJ60 that Toyota should have made available him this market.

@4Cruisers, your upgrades and truck are cool and was great to see in person at SAS3.

1) I think we are good on disc brakes/hubs similar to what you mention. They are stout and 70s rear drum. Truck came with 3rds equipped with ARB lockers, a gift from Andre. Need to confirm they are 4:11. If not we have sourced them.

2) @Cowboy45 and I need to think through PS. 4WD Mini truck PS box is a good option. Need to sync it with diesel PS pump which should be doable and which we have on the engine we are rebuilding.

3) Tires will not be large. Ones that are on it (30”??x 7.5” 14 ply) got it through Africa. It should work unless drivability with 5spd needs to get us to 32”+.

 

[Cowboy45]

We are heading to the barn tomorrow night, so plan is to take off the head and check bore sizes and all those fancy measurements. I want to ask you @76 FJ40 in your thread your engine detailing is pretty awesome so I was wondering how you got your engine to that state? Pics below...

I finally completed the detailing of the engine. Now it's ready for installation. If only.........................

View attachment 1319632 View attachment 1319633 View attachment 1319634 View attachment 1319635 View attachment 1319639

 

[Michael B]

Cowboy the engine had already been rebuilt when I purchased it so all it really needed was a good detailing. I spent several hours cleaning and painting (sometimes with a small detail brush) to get the engine where you see it in my thread.