Builds Saudi 93 VX build-Tilda Bogue Service Station

[wngrog]

A few months ago @navydivedoc made the mistake of telling me he “might” want to purchase a Saudi 80.

Within a couple of days my friend @Meshal had found one that he had sold to a friend a few years back that he was willing to part with.

A few back and forth PMs and some What’s App messages later Steve is the proud new owner of this fantastic 80

 

[wngrog]

This one went through a nice baseline a couple of years ago and it has some really cool features Steve likes such as the VX package with cold box and dual AC. As with all of these GCC trucks this one has dual tanks and no sunroof.

The interior is in fantastic shape.

 

[wngrog]

Steve went back and forth with just doing some basic maintenance in Saudi to where we are today with the entire driveline out for a full rebuild. I’ll let him fill in the details on what is happening

 

[navydivedoc]

Thanks for starting this Nolen.

I've been without a cruiser since 2021. I purged a few after moving north when the cost to build a storage barn quadrupled during the covid era.

I kept up on Mud, watching various threads. All the Tilda Bogue builds. @jomelo builds. I developed a small land ROVER problem but that's a topic for another day. I missed having any cruiser in my life.

@fireball is my new england neighbor. I saw The Vermont Troopy thread pop up as the next Tilda Bogue thread. I've been in on Nolen's builds since The weenie three OG patina thread. @fireball was the buyer of that build.

I sent a quick message to Ben asking if the green weenie might be up for sale as the troopy was inbound. It was. I then messaged Nolen to talk about sending the 40 back to Mississippi for a second round refresh. He was on board. I told Ben I needed to see the old green 40.

I made the trip across the river and into Vermont. There was the green fj40 sitting in Ben's garage. I'd seen it a few years ago after making the trip up north. It looked the same, a piece of Mud history. I drove it. It's everything a patina rig should be. But I found out I'm just not a leaf sprung old 40 guy anymore. Ben and I had a nice hang out, I got to see his other cool vehicles and catch up. But I went home empty handed.

I messaged Nolen and told him I just couldn't see myself doing a patina 40 at this point. That's when I said "but, I've seen Your Saudi 80 build. If one of those pops up, let me know."

That's how we got here.

 

[wngrog]

 

[wngrog]

 

[wngrog]

 

[navydivedoc]

Nolen sends me most of the pics, and the videos above. I live in the land of salt and rust. I hate rust. The underside of this truck is pristine. I've never seen anything like it. The specs are right. Everyone wants a GX. Poverty pack. I'll admit it, I'm not ashamed. I like flares. This is a sort of stripper VX. Flares and a cool box, but cloth interior, no sunroof, barn doors. And 3 pedals. I like it. @Meshal Had done the underside. Bushings, hoses, it has a light dobinsons lift already. Original paint and new set of saudi stripes. Dash isnt cracked, its been kept under cover.

But, 320k km. Unknown maintenance history. It's clean and runs great. It had some seals done, it looked like a great driver. A great driver on the other side of the world. Houthis are bombing stuff, shipping is a mess. I start to think maybe this isn't the best idea I've ever had. I have impulse bought a fair number of trucks. So I wait a couple of days. A few back and forth with @wngrog about just what this thing needs for a baseline mechanically. @Meshal is here in the states for the 70 series get together. I wait a couple more days.

 

[navydivedoc]

A few more back and forth. I waffle but damn I really like this thing. I had just bought a 1957 series 1 land rover that I definitely didn't need.

Timing wasn't great. I didn't have any space. I waffle some more. Nolen tolerates a bunch of messages. He finally tells me it's time to buy. Decision time, I buy.

What's next I ask?

"No problem, you just need to wire [sizable amount of US$] to this [random dude] in Riyadh". I ask how exactly that works. I buy, truck eventually gets loaded in a container, lands in Houston or Gulfport or somewhere down south a few months later, in Nolen's name. He registers and titles in MS. Then sells it to me.

It is a testament to the community here on IH8Mud, and the power of extensive posting and network effects that this wasn't immediately dismissed as totally nuts. I've never met Nolen in person. I have never met Meshal and had not even spoken to him at this point. And yet, there is enough trust to let this happen.

I send a wire request through Navy Federal Credit Union. A day passes. 2. Then I have to call. Interesting discussion ensues. "Have you ever seen this truck?" No it's in Saudi Arabia. "Have you discussed the vehicle with and know the seller." Well, not exactly. "Are you sure this truck exists?" Yes. I can see where this is headed, but eventually I am simply made to acknowledge that this transfer is a one way movement of cash. I acknowledge and send it. The 80 is mine.

 

[navydivedoc]

I wait a few days, since Meshal is still in the US. I start trying to decide how much refresh to do in Saudi vs at Tilda Bogue. And just how deep to go.

Eventually Meshal gets home and then goes to grab my truck.



We set up a 3 way what's app discussion and start talking. @Meshal is extremely responsive and very into cruisers. We started out with a minimum of a radiator, fan clutch, shroud and water pump. He got busy finding parts.

 

[WarDamnEagle]

My one regret when I left Riyadh was not buying a GCC 80. I chased several over the years but never managed to get a deal done. Good luck with this one; I think you will be very happy.

 

[wngrog]

My one regret when I left Riyadh was not buying a GCC 80. I chased several over the years but never managed to get a deal done. Good luck with this one; I think you will be very happy.

They did not stop selling them you know.

 

[WarDamnEagle]

They did not stop selling them you know.

Yes, clearly.

 

[Meshal]

dang this threat grows pretty fast!
I restored this truck with little mechanical works and a lot of body work. When I got it it has light damage in the front

and in saudi we do not like to paint over metal that the great japaneses sent us so we like to put new body parts like weather strips, rubbers, plastics headlights etc, etc. So we decided to replace all the front with new parts from grill to rear bumper

 

[Meshal]

The bumper with its new chromey mustache

Beautiful golden glasses

 

[Meshal]

Then we restored the frame with painting over faded paint the galvanized punch of bolts

Walk around video:

New video by Meshal M

photos.app.goo.gl

 

[Meshal]

Well, the engine was pretty solid, and everyone here got mad about unplugging the whole thing. And yeah, it was satisfying to see clean coolant routes.

The oil areas were not burnt and all you see is clean aluminum

Today we should get a response from the machining shop to determine what rings and bearings we should go with.

 

[navydivedoc]

Quick fast forward overnight!

Let's take a step back. What did I want out of this project?

My goal is to have the 80 series that I wish had been imported to the US.
- 1FZ, 5 speed manual, part time 4wd with locking hubs, no sunroof, barn doors and cloth interior. This truck had all of that.
- coolbox. This seemed gimmicky when I got a 200, but it's really nice to have. Plus, it's my wife's favorite part of the 200. A bonus on this truck.
- the GCC Spec stickers are just odd enough and it works for a vintage truck. They stay. I actually prefer some of the other year patterns, but the 1993 vintage is the funkiest of all. All in on this truck, so why not.
- Lockers? I don't need them, but "triple locked" is such a staple for an 80 that this truck might get them.
- tire upsize stateside. 33s.
- hidden winch? Offered OEM, so appropriate. TBD
- upgrade the seats? I like cloth and these are in great shape. At a minimum we're rebuilding the bottom cushion on the driver's seat. But a set of brown scheel-manns is tempting. TBD
- updated stereo and electronics.

With such good bones on this truck, and the cosmetic and suspension refresh it had, decisions had to be made on mechanicals.

Before we got to the tear down point you've seen above, we had a lot of discussion back and forth about what to do. Meshal and his trusted mechanic did not want to disturb the known good engine. He told me there, that decreases the value of a vehicle. I made my case that here there is a lot of concern about head gaskets failing after 200k Miles and 30+ years. That taking care of that would add, not subtract, value to the truck in the states.

Then mission creep set in. If we were pulling the drivetrain to do a head gasket anyway, why not do the rest? OEM parts won't be available forever.

So we've gone from a cooling system and overall light refresh to a full mechanical rebuild.
- engine rebuild with new OEM pistons, rings, bearings, valves, etc.
- transmission and transfer case rebuild, new bearings and synchros
- full cooling system Refresh
- AC refresh
- new power steering pump, brake MC, clutch MC and slave, clutch, etc.
- diffs are on hold for right now. If I retrofit lockers, Nolen will do them stateside with eatons.

I'm amazed that all of this is available as NOS OEM.

Meshal working his part finding magic

And we've gotten here in a hurry. I think the decision was made 3 days ago and here we are. No turning back now.

 

[Meshal]

Great news: all things are going to be STD

Machining shops are crowded and yes not clean at all. i keep screwing my fancy Carhartts

We found new valve set for cheaper than the main dealer so we are going to do full head

 

[Meshal]

more into cleaning before painting

More shiny aluminum showed up

a new crank pulley