Build Saudi Arabia: 1982 FJ45 Troopy

[boozewz]

That is one beautiful fj. Saw my first troopy on the net a couple days ago, and now i want one. I love my 62 but your 45 is awesome.

Very nice & clean rig

Thanks guys!

Some goodies came in. The lights are courtesy of Amazon.com, (Hella H4 upgraded bulbs + wiring harness), while the rest of the stuff in the 2nd pic are from CCOT. The OME bushings came from Kurt, and are needed in order to fit the shocks as the size of the bushings that came with the shocks were too big to fit the shock mounts.

Stay tuned for updates.

 

[lulo]

Congrats mate

...great rebuild project

 

[boozewz]

Update

A few updates here.

Got the new Hella H4 lights mounted. Sweet!

Got the cab light installed courtesy of CCOT.

And the floor insulators as well came from CCOT.

Had trouble sorting out the spare tire issue under the truck, as its rubbing against the shackle grease nipples. I decided I'll need a tire carrier as the original one was fabbed by the PO to fit a jerry can. Made a quick run to the junk yard, and after a few stops here and there and a few unsuccessful searches, I stumbled on a yard that had a couple of FJ40s rusting in the heat.

I haggled with the guy for the carrier, and eventually a reasonable price was agreed. It was missing one tire bolt, and had a small crack on the base. Nothing a little touch up welding cant fix, plus a paint job and we're on our way to having a tire carrier, (and a back up carrier for the jerry can)

Onto the headliner.

Its an expensive piece of cloth from SOR, and screwing it up is not worth the price nor the effort of bringing it all the way from Cali. If I toasted it, I'd have to chuck it away and so I bit the bullet and brought in a pro to do it. He's been doing car interiors for 30+ years, and said gravity didnt phase him

Its definitely a two man job.

I'm just glad I didnt do it myself!

I've been driving the rig mostly at nights while the weather is cooler. What a joy it is to drive. Lots of people stop and ask about it. I've yet to take it wheeling, but that should be coming soon. We noticed that the cooling system has been losing a bit of water, and cant seem to trace the leak. We'll keep chasing, and hopefully get to the bottom of it.

 

[crushers]

we might need to talk about you locating me one of these beasts ...
1HZ+T+IC+PI H55F would be the cats ass in a troopy ...

love your thread.

 

[ramofj40]

very nice rig , have fun with that

 

[boozewz]

Update

Here's a little update on the carrier. Got the broken bolt removed and a new one was welded in. Sanded and grinded down, painted, and voila!

Next to the original carrier that came with the truck.

Tire mounted on. (that tire was faarkin heavy)

 

[boozewz]

Trip

And then yesterday a buddy and I went for a little trip to the desert. It wasnt but a 20mins drive out of town. This gave me a chance to stretch its legs and put the truck in its element. I can say I was more than delighted at how it performed.

This is my buddy's 2006 FZJ74. Pretty awesome rig, and he goes by the name safir on mud. He rolled this rig a year ago, and the fiberglass top survived. Search his posts and you'll find the story.

I did get into a spot of bother by entering a bowl, and with not enough grunt in that 2F, I wasnt able to power out. Oh well, still managed to get a little tow and be on my way out.

Till then...

 

[Cruzer_89]

Awesome troopy...

 

[My71FJ40]

If per chance you don't want that old ugly Jerry can and mount I would be glad to take it off your hands...

 

[lostmarbles]

Nice job with the carrier and I'm enjoying the great scenery pics.

That sand looks pretty dry and there appears to be lots of potential there for getting stuck with those big drifts and drop-offs.

 

[boozewz]

Awesome troopy...

Cheers

If per chance you don't want that old ugly Jerry can and mount I would be glad to take it off your hands...

Thanks but I think I'll hold onto it...You never know perhaps when the weather is really cool and we want to do a longer trip I'll swap the jerry can in and stick the tire back under the truck. Out here fuel is more important than a spare...or should it be the other way around

Nice job with the carrier and I'm enjoying the great scenery pics.

That sand looks pretty dry and there appears to be lots of potential there for getting stuck with those big drifts and drop-offs.

Thanks marbles! Ya if you're not careful its really easy to catch an edge and tip over. The troopy has better stability going over those drop-offs than the shorter wheelbased rigs. The only difference is most of the shorties have much better power than I do, hence they tend to power out of trouble. I've got to take my time and choose my lines carefully. Fun either way

 

[lastrada]

This is a great picture! Love the troopy.

 

[scrapdaddy]

Thank you for the great pictures, they should be framed.

 

[Sno Dawg]

fantastic truck and wonderful pics

your truck looks fantastic and totally at home in the dunes
love the big Mud Terrrains on the steelies
you have excellent taste

thanks for sharing the pics and info - I really enjoy reading your thread

BTW I have dreams about junkyards like the one where you got your tire carrier. I remember when I first started working on FJ40s back in the 80s and 90s there where a few junkyards in my area that had FJs in good shape with blown engines. They are now totally picked over and a waste of time.

Teeth to the wind,
Sno Dawg
Jeff

74 FJ40
07 BMW 650 XChallenge
09 BMW G450X

 

[Spike Strip]

This one should be in a TLCA Calender ...

 

[mailking]

Next to the original carrier that came with the truck.

I don't know that there was a original carrier for the troopie? As I didn't see any reinforcement in the corners when I installed my carrier on the door? I had to reinforce the corner!

Adventurous greetings,
Coen

 

[Bull22]

awesome pictures...

 

[juanchogaviria]

I want to see more, awesome rig, a keeper indeed!

Juan
1970fj40
1978fj40
1994fzj80

 

[markieboy1]

Beautiful Troopy.

 

[boozewz]

Thanks for the kind replies fellas! I'm on a quest to get every inch of this rig as perfect as I can, and your encouragments are pushing me on.

I don't know that there was a original carrier for the troopie? As I didn't see any reinforcement in the corners when I installed my carrier on the door? I had to reinforce the corner!

Adventurous greetings,
Coen

I thought the same too, until I looked inside when I first got the truck and noticed that there was reinforcments in place. I am just wondering if the factory actually made jerry can holders for the FJ4* series' or this one was simply modded by the PO.

Love your troopy and the way you travel in it!