Project fj23l

[Land Cruiser Junky]

Hey guys,
Well, years ago I bought a '60 FJ25 FST body and a '61 FJ40 FST tub from Marv Specter thinking that they would be good to have for a project someday. Last week I was looking at them sitting next to my LV frame and got an idea. Throw the 25 body on the LV frame and use the '61 tub to stretch the bed and make myself the first 20 Series Troopy. I grabbed a pen and paper and pulled out the blue prints found in the back of the "50th Anniversary" book and started to draw.

This will be a slow project at the beginning as I am currently working on getting my '75 FJ40 ready to sell, and still working on my '65 LV. However, I need to learn to weld to fix the body on the LV, and stretching the bed on the 25 is much easier and more forgiving, so I think I'll get a little early welding practice done on this project. I'm psyched that I'll still own 2 Cruisers after I sell my 40, and my wife is excited at how clean the back yard got just from me bolting Land Cruiser body parts together for a couple hours last Saturday.

I'm planning on using both the 25 and LV factory gas tanks, and running a 2F and the FJ40 4 spd. I was gonna keep this project kind of secret, but after exchanging info with Phil today, I realized that I'd be a fool not to tap into all of the FJ25 knowledge here on the Board. Here's a few pics of my drawings and the start of this project after about 4 hours work.

 

[Land Cruiser Junky]

Gonna make a bed section behind the midseam to put the wheel cut out over the rear axle, and then cut the back of the tub off and make another section to move the tailgate to the end of the LV frame.

 

[My wife said no FJ!]

Cool project!

 

[67azcruizr]

sounds cool

 

[a.greenspan]

nice idea .....
.... would think about a woodie

WW2 era Jeep modified by the French firm, Duriez.
The company was known for its utilitarian wooden conversions of cars and trucks
during the metal-scarce years following the war.
more woodies ( ideas included )
Woodie Cars & Trucks - Old Woodies
Cheers
Peter

 

[pardion]

Hey Gene, where did that right hand fender apron with the air intake come from? I have only seen them on the left side. Cool project! John Pardi

 

[Land Cruiser Junky]

John, I added the air intake when I put the aprons on my 40 along with the V8. I got an extra intake ring from Jim. I'm pulling all of the 25 body parts off my 40 and swapping the original body parts back on. Even though this will definately be a Frankencruiser, all of the 25 parts are from the same rig and I hope to do a clean job and make it look like it was made in the factory that way.

Thanks guys. Gene

 

[Cruiser_Nerd]

I like it Gene! I've daydreamed about a project like that but my issue is not having a 45 frame.

The soft top will end up costing as much as the rig.

 

[Land Cruiser Junky]

The soft top will end up costing as much as the rig.

Yeah it will. Not to mention custom made bows.

 

[Living in the Past]

Like jim finding a LV frame would be the problem. I have a FJ45LPB frame but I have the reas of the 45 to go with it. The bows are not that big of a deal. The canvas would.

I think it would look better with two sets of jump seats side by side. Even if you had to trim them down a little it would fill the space better. Switch the seats so you have arms on front as well as back. The 25 has arm rest at both ends that are at the same height as the back. Just a thought.

There was a FJ43 soft top with hard door for sale in Canada a few years back. Not sure where in the in the 25 forum it was. I dont think there was any pictures in the tread.

Lets see some pictures of the FJ40 soft top tub your using does it have barn doors or a tailgate?

 

[Land Cruiser Junky]

I originally did the sketch with 2 jump seats on each side. It looked cool, but one would have to be cut down. I also need room for a small roll bar behind the front seat, and an air tank in the back passenger corner of the bed. Plus, I don't know how often I'd really be hauling around 8 people in the back. Got an adjustable LV seat going in the front, so I'll be making a base that can be unlatched to get to the battery/toolbox.

 

[Living in the Past]

I understand about the dual rear jumps. I guess there won't be to many times your are going to need room for eleven.

Here's link to a tread about a 63 FJ43. Lucky JohnnyC save some pictures. The first post just has boxes with red Xs

https://forum.ih8mud.com/fj25-owners-group/192737-1963-rhd-fj43-vancouver-craigslist.html

 

[Land Cruiser Junky]

Thanks for posting that FJ43 link John, that's the coolest folding rear bench seat I've ever seen.

I'm pretty excited about this project. The FJ43 and FJ28 both shared the same wheel base of 2,430, where the LV has 2, 650. I think I'm really gonna like the extra room. I'll probably work out of this rig.

 

[treerootCO]

Cool project Gene!

I like it Gene! I've daydreamed about a project like that but my issue is not having a 45 frame...

All you have to do is ask....4 to choose from

 

[Living in the Past]

Cool project Gene!



All you have to do is ask....4 to choose from

So are you down to four or you still have to get rid of four?

If you still have thes after I move three or four of my newer cruisers I might just talk to you about a LV frame. I've get plenty of early tubs to work with just don't have any extra longer frames

 

[treerootCO]

So are you down to four or you still have to get rid of four?

If you still have thes after I move three or four of my newer cruisers I might just talk to you about a LV frame. I've get plenty of early tubs to work with just don't have any extra longer frames

Eleven more rigs to find new homes for. Four FJ45lv aka FJ43 frames left...

 

[Cruiser_Nerd]

Gene, what are you going to do with the midsection floor? Keep it at the front floor height, or the midsection height? If you keep it at the front floor height it will make a nice footwell and be a natural for a rear bench seat.

Also the bench would be right over that silly drop in the rear floor.

 

[Land Cruiser Junky]

First I'm gonna get the sides done and then plan the floors, but I was thinking it would be better having the front lower level floors go back as far as I can. Thanks for the question. And to all of you, even though I have an idea of what I want to build, I am completely open to all of your ideas and suggestions.

 

[My wife said no FJ!]

Gene, what are you going to do with the midsection floor? Keep it at the front floor height, or the midsection height? If you keep it at the front floor height it will make a nice footwell and be a natural for a rear bench seat.

Also the bench would be right over that silly drop in the rear floor.

I like this idea.

I've dreamed about such a rig myself...especially lately as my wife and I ponder a troopy or LV week-end getaway type rig. One thing I was always worried about was the drive train, we would take this thing on long trips, and getting something that I could just stop at almost any shop or Toyota dealer would make sense, and for this I though of a V8 4Runner...this make any sense?

While we did find a decent troopy, the price was a little too high for all the work involved (including switching it to LHD), and the LV we found was just too nice to cut like this...I guess my best bet would be to find a decent defunct LV, and start from there. We'll see...I need to finish and clear up some things first.

Edit: Sorry...I seem to have gotten side tracked in my thoughts

Looking forward to seeing your progress Gene

 

[Land Cruiser Junky]

Hey, can one of you with a FST 25 take a pic of the front bow connection to the body at what would be the B pillar? I know what this looks like on an early 40, but have never seen a 25 up close. While you're at it, could you shoot a pic of the back one too? Thanks.