Project Patina 1964 FJ45 (Australia)

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i discovered where the chassis had been extended about 4 inches behind the cab

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you can see the welded frame and tailshaft join above where i have chalked them for the photo. i met an old family friend who worked in the original western australian toyota dealership. he told me that he remembered cutting the chassis on the new landcruisers and welding in the extension. unfortunately he died unexpectedly not long after and i regret not asking him a lot more about the early days in the dealership. including my own i have seen 7 examples of this 62-64 fj45 chassis type in western australia and every one has this extension. i have badgered on about this before but would love to know how this compares with other parts of australia. if anydody with an old aussie 45 wishes to chime in that would be great
 
if you study the picture you can also see where the cab mount has been removed from the chassis and welded directly to the extension.

thanks to everybody for your kind comments. this story is far from over; but i need to scan some more old photos to continue
 
thanks for that ozcruiser. pretty hard to judge from those photos. if you ever get back to it would love a closer look. i didnt pay any attention to mine until the old fellow mentioned it and then i went for a look. perhaps it is west aust. specific? i wonder why? something to do with state requirements regards overhang at the rear of the tray. why not change tray? i presume they were locally made but don't really know. as i already mentioned all 7 fixed cabs i have seen in wa are the same. love the old wooden tray sides sitting on the roof of the one you found. she is not far removed from the condition i found mine in after a hard life and a long time sitting. pretty different looking country though!
 
I will call in when I'm in the area and get a few snaps if the truck is still there. I take it you want side shots to get a idea on wheel base the the early eastern 45's.
Cheers
 
you havent picked that old tojo up yet? if you see my post #42 above i have chalked the welds and you can see where the cab mount has been moved forward and welded to the chassis. a close up shot of the area in front of the front rear spring hanger would be great. thanks!
 
To many projects in the shed now but its yours if you want to get it carted to the west coast. Still got another week left of holidays but been very busy building a 110 meter colorbond fence to go around my property. The fence is up but still lots of work requied filling in the japs under it to keep the dogs in. Soon as its done I will try and get those photos for you.
 
Hey Rob, Maybe we should plan a Coast to Coast Down in OZ​
,:grinpimp:

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you guys planning a coast to coast so you can drive that old 45 over to the west coast for me haha. ozcruiser if it was a 1962 column shift fj45 i reckon i would be over there already!
 
Great yarn WA.
 
thats a great old toyota; just how i like them!

about this far through project patine really slowed down for a couple of years. pretty much went from slow to stop. what bugged me was the rust in the front crossmember. i have found this problem a lot in old frames over here; i believe the result of a lifetime of overheating and leaky radiators. mine had the overflow pipe broken off at the filler spout so that wouldn't have helped things. i pondered my options and patina got buried deeper under assorted treasure. i considered replacing the crossmember and probably would have attempted this but couldn't bring myself to damage a perfect old 45 donor chassis; particularly after reading on mud the trouble guys in the states have finding decent 45 frames. a couple of non landcruiser projects floated through so i was never short of a reason to turn a spanner and give the beercan bin a bit of love. here a shot of the front crossmember.

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a shot of the shot front crossmember i should have said! basically the project needed a kick in the pants. that was coming.
 
been meaning to get back to this thread; it is a bit retrospective and i'm at the point where i need to scan a few old photos to continue the story.

in other news my mate sent a pic through yesterday of another old 64 sitting in a coastal town rubbish dump 4 hrs away that i think i better save. lots not to like; rusty, no doors or carby and the tip managers want 350 for it based on 35 cents a kilo so we all know how this ends, might try and get over there this week, take a trailer and pile of tools and see what i decide. be good to have had more pictures. at the very least i really want the seat frames, steering wheel and an endless multitude of small parts but.... i just hate them being scrapped. perhaps i can talk the price down.
 
ok i retrieved that old 45 from a certain fate. i hate paying but we settled on 200 for the wreck, a motorbike tyre and other sundry including a set of early suzuki 4wd buzzbox lenses for my mate in that game.

i got this. doors, carby, radiator and steering wheel been freshly pulled.

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there was lots to like also. set of original seats that need a trim. unseized f motor of unknown ability. mostly original wiring harness with the generator and regulator still connected up. one master cylinder reservoir. and etc

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