Hey folks -
Finally getting this project off the ground after a summer of other projects. But the snow has fallen in Alaska and it's time to move indoors.
By way of introduction, this vehicle was born in Japan in 1980 or 1982 as a 3B-equipped BJ45, meant for the European market. It made its way to Iceland where it lived until the late 90's when it was imported to Alaska. The Alaskan title has it listed as a 1982 model, but the VIN suggests 1980 (the year of my own birth). As far as I know the distinction is immaterial - like me it's in rough shape.
Most of the unverifiable information ^^^ I have on the vehicle was related to me by the PO, whose memory on certain topics and the location of certain parts was often hazy (understandably so). Essentially the story goes that he acquired it for his collection (he has many, many 40-series LCs in various states of disrepair on his property) but never made much headway with it. He stripped it down to the chassis and tub 10-15 years ago and stored away most of the component pieces alongside others of their kind around his property - garage, field, shack, brushpile. The chassis and tub sat outside in the weather.
I made a handshake agreement with the PO for a "complete vehicle" which meant spending spring and summer weekends of 2025 at his place, picking through bins of parts to find one of each, hopefully diesel-specific, and hauling them home. This was good for me. Although this wasn't my first LC, I didn't know much about them (still don't!) and learned a lot through this process. The PO offered me either a 2F or 2H engine with an H42 tranny, as he wanted to keep the 3B and original H41. I opted for the 2H.
I still don't have a "complete" vehicle, but I've got enough to get started.
Finally getting this project off the ground after a summer of other projects. But the snow has fallen in Alaska and it's time to move indoors.
By way of introduction, this vehicle was born in Japan in 1980 or 1982 as a 3B-equipped BJ45, meant for the European market. It made its way to Iceland where it lived until the late 90's when it was imported to Alaska. The Alaskan title has it listed as a 1982 model, but the VIN suggests 1980 (the year of my own birth). As far as I know the distinction is immaterial - like me it's in rough shape.
Most of the unverifiable information ^^^ I have on the vehicle was related to me by the PO, whose memory on certain topics and the location of certain parts was often hazy (understandably so). Essentially the story goes that he acquired it for his collection (he has many, many 40-series LCs in various states of disrepair on his property) but never made much headway with it. He stripped it down to the chassis and tub 10-15 years ago and stored away most of the component pieces alongside others of their kind around his property - garage, field, shack, brushpile. The chassis and tub sat outside in the weather.
I made a handshake agreement with the PO for a "complete vehicle" which meant spending spring and summer weekends of 2025 at his place, picking through bins of parts to find one of each, hopefully diesel-specific, and hauling them home. This was good for me. Although this wasn't my first LC, I didn't know much about them (still don't!) and learned a lot through this process. The PO offered me either a 2F or 2H engine with an H42 tranny, as he wanted to keep the 3B and original H41. I opted for the 2H.
I still don't have a "complete" vehicle, but I've got enough to get started.
