So starting from a blank slate, Aqualu build ground up, advice from builders sought. (1 Viewer)
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- #22
This build will be a classic adventure truck with the company logo on the door, as much about marketing and the image of adventure as it is about a new truck. I should have been clearer on the towing requirements, my second job is outfitting and my territory is a thousand miles from home.
Have to regularly tow an 8500lb boat and trailer plus gear back and forth. I avoided mentioning this as it was liable to result in a discussion about that being too much and the wrong truck for the job rather than the FJ45 build. I have no qualms about towing really slow, have moved this load with a Ford 300 straight six and used to it. However I'd be towing absurdly slow with the 2.8 or asking too much of it if cranked up, we have proper mountains to get through up here and don't want to pin the R2.8s RPM and EGTs to the roof for hours even though it likely wouldn't care. 4BT while uncivilized has no issues with commercial duty work, and sky's the limit on power, parts are cheap, motor is cheap (relatively speaking compared to R2.8s and 1HDTs). Lotta justification in this post but you get the idea.
Have to regularly tow an 8500lb boat and trailer plus gear back and forth. I avoided mentioning this as it was liable to result in a discussion about that being too much and the wrong truck for the job rather than the FJ45 build. I have no qualms about towing really slow, have moved this load with a Ford 300 straight six and used to it. However I'd be towing absurdly slow with the 2.8 or asking too much of it if cranked up, we have proper mountains to get through up here and don't want to pin the R2.8s RPM and EGTs to the roof for hours even though it likely wouldn't care. 4BT while uncivilized has no issues with commercial duty work, and sky's the limit on power, parts are cheap, motor is cheap (relatively speaking compared to R2.8s and 1HDTs). Lotta justification in this post but you get the idea.
Since you're building from scratch, I don't think you'll get a lot of grief about towing with this truck. You'll have the opportunity to beef up the frame, select the proper wheel base length, do axle upgrades, put in big brakes, trailer brake controller, and of course select the right drive train.
I think curb weight and wheel base length will be the hardest factors for you to overcome. The '45 pickups have a pretty big overhang between the rear axle and rear cross member. Aqualu has a lot of box options, but i would bias towards those which limit that overhang. Have you considered going with their four-door cab to add cab space and wheel base?
I think curb weight and wheel base length will be the hardest factors for you to overcome. The '45 pickups have a pretty big overhang between the rear axle and rear cross member. Aqualu has a lot of box options, but i would bias towards those which limit that overhang. Have you considered going with their four-door cab to add cab space and wheel base?
Auqualu makes wicked stuff. Unfortunately they can not replicate stock lines on their hoods. Looks like you are dropping some thick coin on this build, for myself I would source a stock steel hood to keep more of the classic look.
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- #26
My thoughts too on drivetrain. The alternative I just asked Aqualu about is getting their HJ47 troopy frame and body and sticking the same 6” stretch FJ45 fibreglass cab on it for now modified for the troopy. Can always stick my FJ40 cab on it then too if I want to grow down the road. This would get me a 116” wheelbase, truck will still be light but the Cummins will help. Basically I’m anticipating sinking a new Ford worth into this, know I’ll still be caught off guard by the end of the build on how much goes in. Will be sure to total it up for interest’s sake.
I have built a very similar Cruiser to what you are considering.
If you haven’t already been over to 4BTswaps.com it’s going to be a better place to get some real world answers to your questions. You are going to hear a lot of nonsense like “They're loud and shake no matter how you try and tame it” here on MUDD but I daily drive a 4BT in a Landcruiser and it’s not significantly different than any of the 12 valve Dodge trucks I’ve driven and only marginally noisier than my common rail 6BT’s. I’m not saying that a LS or the new Cummins R2.8 isn’t a good option you’re just going to want to broaden your search to get informed input on your 4BT specific questions.
The BT diesel engines with direct injection high-pressure fuel pumps by default are noisier than their petrol counterparts but with some sound deading (I studied my Dodge trucks and mirrored their setup) the in cab engine noise is no better or worse than what you would expect from a 40+ year old vehicle (it’s not modern luxury car quiet but yes you can carry on a normal conversations with your passengers and listen to the radio at a moderate volume).
So to answer your transmission question I like the NV4500 for a 4BT Landcruiser swap, they are strong and adaptors are readily available to mate to the Toyota Split case. I’m using the Marks 4X4 Landcruiser 60 series 44% low range gears with 8% high range over-drive, I drive my Cruiser on extended road trips @ 80MPH and this is a great combination for what we do.
I have a bit over 30K miles on this build so far and have detailed most of the particulars here. Target carrier
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- #28
Thank you Jmack, I’ll dig into your thread there, lurk on 4BTswaps time to start posting there. Appreciate been the there done that opinion. At one point was considering the Optimizer 6500 (fixed 6.5 GM diesel) with a Ranger OD as it’s such an easy switch from my SBC setup I have now. Couldn’t warm up to it, had a couple Cummins over the years and they’re my idea of a proper workhorse diesel.
You are welcome!
The wife and I love our 4BT powered Landcruiser, the engine is unique enough but still feels appropriate for our build. The Landcruiser is not only my daily but our camping/expedition rig and the dumb reliable Cummins BT definitely adds something to the party that would be sorely missed had I went with my original plan of sticking a LS engine it there.
Looking forward to your build, post lot of pictures..
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- #30
Updates will be slow but things are coming together. Bought a NOS NV4500 after all, so ditching the SM420 & Ranger OD.
Chassis and body order has been updated to the HJ47 troopy and I’ll do a stretched FJ45 cab adapted onto it for now. Love the look of FJ45s but wanted room to grow.
Chassis and body order has been updated to the HJ47 troopy and I’ll do a stretched FJ45 cab adapted onto it for now. Love the look of FJ45s but wanted room to grow.
pbgbottle
Forum Lifer
Here’s one built in maple ridge BC. I think. 6bt. Been awhile since I saw it.
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- #33
Owe the thread an apology, been highly absent and unfortunately have no exciting news. Chickened on my Aqualu order three years ago at the last second, but finally grew the stones and paid the money. Pick up the frame and every panel they make from the factory on Weds.
For now, I’m taking this in stages and doing the chicken way, keeping my old drivetrain in the new chassis to get rolling faster, so it’s still the old 350. But the NOS NV4500 is still here on the garage floor and will be renovated into the build in stage 2, driveline. I just hope that post isn’t 3 years from now!
Will put some pics up of what I get from Aqualu, hope is to have the roller together this winter and body mounted, controls plumbed and connected, wire it by late spring. I do my vehicle work in camp up north, only time I have free evenings with 3 kids at home. I just finished a 68 mustang that was a full cut and weld redo, only the roof, trunk lid, and doors were left original. Swore I was done with vehicle projects. But that was spring... and now it’s fall. How fast you forget.
For now, I’m taking this in stages and doing the chicken way, keeping my old drivetrain in the new chassis to get rolling faster, so it’s still the old 350. But the NOS NV4500 is still here on the garage floor and will be renovated into the build in stage 2, driveline. I just hope that post isn’t 3 years from now!
Will put some pics up of what I get from Aqualu, hope is to have the roller together this winter and body mounted, controls plumbed and connected, wire it by late spring. I do my vehicle work in camp up north, only time I have free evenings with 3 kids at home. I just finished a 68 mustang that was a full cut and weld redo, only the roof, trunk lid, and doors were left original. Swore I was done with vehicle projects. But that was spring... and now it’s fall. How fast you forget.
Would love to see how this build is progressing!
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