Builds The dusty bus

[sloanstavern]

Howdy, I’m guessing this belongs in the FJ45 forum.

I am just getting started on my new to me 1982FJ 45 troppy. In it’s past life is served as a school bus in Saudi Arabia. So far all I’ve done is run it and take short little trips to see what’s up. Now I’m just tearing into the fluid replacements and any safety requirements to make it so more drivable. I’ve already learned a lot about sourcing parts for this critter since it was built to the general/ European/worldwide specs .

So far I have drained the last of the middle Eastern gas, more like cool aid, and the gear lube. The good news is everything pulls strong and feels tight, and as a school bus I am Magine they change the fluids pretty regularly. However every fill plug and drain plug is totally buggered up, I imagine the tool of choice was a crescent wrench or channel locks

It looks like the Russian sourced fuel filter has reached end of life. I also found one nugget in the rear axel

 

[cult45]

Nice! A LHD troopy is pretty rare! Have fun! Jealous!

 

[Ambrew]

Nice Cruiser! what a find, rare indeed....

 

[3_puppies]

nice ride. I'm guessing it's not in Montana anymore.
a side note before draining any fluid to make sure the fill plug is loose.

 

[sloanstavern]

Thanks x 3

We’re in AZ but it feels like Montana, 50F for the afternoon high temp....

I have not been wrenching on old rigs for a while and completely forgot to loosen the filler plug first...... dodged a bullet on this one. juat Ordered a complete set of plugs front to back.

 

[jfz80]

Beautiful Bus ya got there ! Congrats.

Enjoy the process and keep us posted along the way.

 

[sloanstavern]

Thanks, really looking forward to tearing into it. First odd part discovery was the window regulators, I had to order these from down under. The US spec has a different unit, this one matches the BJ’s
The control arm has a single roller unlike the US model that has articulating arms attached

 

[3_puppies]

View attachment 1869169 Thanks, really looking forward to tearing into it. First odd part discovery was the window regulators, I had to order these from down under. The US spec has a different unit, this one matches the BJ’s
The control arm has a single roller unlike the US model that has articulating arms attached

it must be different because of the vent window???
@beno would know for sure

 

[Hilux safari]

Nice rig! I would not assume that fluids were changed regularly just because it was a school bus. This part of the world, they could care less about safety and regular maintenance on public vehicles. The good thing about these cruisers that they can run on anything. Mine came from the Kenyan countryside over 300km without rear shocks. As we say in Africa: as long as the motor works, everything works!

 

[FJ404345]

Congrats ! nice troopy !

Could you place more sexy pictures of it ?

 

[a.greenspan]

Nice rig! I would not assume that fluids were changed regularly just because it was a school bus. This part of the world, they could care less about safety and regular maintenance on public vehicles. The good thing about these cruisers that they can run on anything. Mine came from the Kenyan countryside over 300km without rear shocks. As we say in Africa: as long as the motor works, everything works!

We have had an inland flight from Mombasa to Nairobi with Kenya Airways...... holy s*** could see from my seat into the cargo area...
.... holy s***
From Nairobi we had a flight to the Seychelles with another airline.
Cheers

Our car in the Seychelles a Mini Moke ..fun..fun...fun a yellow one.

 

[sloanstavern]

Thanks, Believe me there are plenty of other buggered up components of this rig I’ll send a sample later. All I know is she pulls strong and shifts well through all the gears which is what matters here’s a few more shots of what I’m finding

 

[sloanstavern]

Having boxes come in the mail is exciting when they are stamped with Toyota it’s even better! Got some shiny stuff in the mail today with more to follow. Now is as good a time as any to share the sad truth I just can’t put chrome parts on the troopy, I have always loved that OEM pewter look so the chrome has got to go.

 

[sloanstavern]

When Preforming restorative surgery, always fix the smile first! Some past damage caused a slight misalignment a little bit of hydraulic persuasion solve the problem

 

[73fj]

What school did the kids go to?

 

[sloanstavern]

Sorry, I do not know.
I believe it was rather remote

 

[sloanstavern]

I’m pretty sure the last time this was painted, it went through a paint car wash with the windows open. Everything got shot with the same Sahara tan color. Slowly stripping some off and returning to a better color combination. I found a poor man’s pewter spray paint that’s a pretty good match

 

[sloanstavern]

Congrats ! nice troopy !

Could you place more sexy pictures of it ?

Sorry for the delay. Gave the girl a bath a little armorall , then took her to the mall for some glamour shots. Hope you like them

 

[sloanstavern]

Installed some aftermarket side mirrors, two new window regulators from Australia and even with $80 in shipping cost it was cheaper than buying in the US.
I did a non-specification white paint job on the roof to break up the monochromatic finish
Took her on her first trip to the gas station

 

[daniel.watters]

Some new turn signals or lenses front and back and this beast is back!