So about 5 years ago a god friend told me of an FJ45 pickup sitting in the desert out in northern California near Susanville. We talked and talked about going up there on one of our offroad trips and talking to the farmer. Well we finally did, I purchased the 45 and brought it back to my shop, where it sat for another year. I finally have had time to work on it a little and wanted to share my plans for Rusty the 1963 FJ45 pickup!
The vehicle came with a cab bed and frame so I needed some parts to go along with it. Over time I have acquired a 71 FJ40 parts donor vehicle that came with some good bits. Because Rusty has been sitting in the high desert there is quite a lot of surface rust but nothing is terribly rusted except of course the bed!
The Plan:
To rebuild into a wheeler driver with V8 engine and modern suspension
Drivetrain:
Chevy 350
Toyota Trans, T case (probably going to go with a turbo 400/D300 at some point)
Chevy D44 front narrowed to 60WSM
Wagoneer D44 rear offset
Warn 8274 in a custom bumper
Suspension 4-link rear with 14" radflo coil overs
3-link front with panhard and 14" radflo coil overs
37"BFG KM2 on black racelines.
Frame off restoration has begun, I pulled the body off the frame and started prepping the frame for sandblasting and powdercoating.
The Rear crossmember was completely rotten so I replaced it
The vehicle came with a cab bed and frame so I needed some parts to go along with it. Over time I have acquired a 71 FJ40 parts donor vehicle that came with some good bits. Because Rusty has been sitting in the high desert there is quite a lot of surface rust but nothing is terribly rusted except of course the bed!
The Plan:
To rebuild into a wheeler driver with V8 engine and modern suspension
Drivetrain:
Chevy 350
Toyota Trans, T case (probably going to go with a turbo 400/D300 at some point)
Chevy D44 front narrowed to 60WSM
Wagoneer D44 rear offset
Warn 8274 in a custom bumper
Suspension 4-link rear with 14" radflo coil overs
3-link front with panhard and 14" radflo coil overs
37"BFG KM2 on black racelines.
Frame off restoration has begun, I pulled the body off the frame and started prepping the frame for sandblasting and powdercoating.
