"Undertow" - Twisty's FJ45V Landcruiser Restomod

[Twisty]

I'll answer the above replies later today, but for now.......

Bolted the 315/70R17 (35") MTZs and 17x8 Trailready rims (O offset) onto the V for a look yesterday. Loving the look!

 

[Michael B]

Twisty is "Under Tow" going to be the name of the rig? As in dangerous current!

 

[JackA]

After seeing those last couple pix, it makes me want to get some new tires and wheels. Looks killer but I can hear them rubbing from here.

 

[cult45]

Loving it. Keen to see more mate!

 

[Pauciflora]

G'day Twisty, I'm going to enjoy watching this relic return from the dead. I've also been following along on the 'Cruiser Solutions' website as they do a restoration/restomod of LV45. If you haven't already tuned in it might be worth having a look. Cheers, Ben

 

[Twisty]

Sounds like a cool project. Subscribed. Lots of work ahead of you!
The vins you posted in the list do not really line up with the build years?

Yep, i thought that too when comparing it to the other Vins. Neither truck has a compliance plate fitted and the green ones build plate doesn't mention a year. So years are just going off what the previous owner told me.

I did notice the roof above the windscreen is different between them so not sure what year that changed ??

Looking good, Twisty! If you end up with an early front bib left over, I'd be interested

No worries. I probably will have 1 spare down the track. I have the two currently fitted to the 45Vs and a spare rust free one too.

Very jealous and will look forward to seeing it all come together. Lots of work ahead but looks like a good starting point.

Have you considered a 90's Surf chassis? Dimensions look a little closer to the V's and a similar suspension setup to the FJ/Prado, and I seem to recall you have experience with v8 surf's.

I'd be interested in some of the front sheet metal ( headlight panel, sides and bonnet) off the green one if they aren't too cactus.

WB and WT off the 90's surfs/4runners would probably match up well, but I was never a fan of the 7.5" front diff and torsion bar suspension on my old 4runner.

As posted above, spare panels will be available in time. Just need to work out what are the best ones for me to use for my build.

Twisty is "Under Tow" going to be the name of the rig? As in dangerous current!

Yeah, a mate seen that written on the tailgate of the white one and said that would be a cool name for the project, and I agreed. Am sure it's going to feel like I am stuck in one at times during the build.

After seeing those last couple pix, it makes me want to get some new tires and wheels. Looks killer but I can hear them rubbing from here.

Yep, the rear tyre is wedged in hard!!! Can't beat the look of yours at the moment but! Love seeing all your pics of it out and being used!

G'day Twisty, I'm going to enjoy watching this relic return from the dead. I've also been following along on the 'Cruiser Solutions' website as they do a restoration/restomod of LV45. If you haven't already tuned in it might be worth having a look. Cheers, Ben

I hadn't seen that yet, thanks for the heads up.

 

[Twisty]

So after a pressure wash and a light sand to remove some of the rust stains and flaking paint the 1966 FJ45V is looking pretty bloody good. (Also fitted up some headlights and the bezel).

 

[sneaky]

Looking good.

Some CLR and a green pot scouring pad works well on old paint and rust too.

 

[hdjtachtig]

So years are just going off what the previous owner told me

The figure before the FJ45in the VIN is the build year. So 3FJ45***** would be 1963.

 

[Twisty]

The figure before the FJ45in the VIN is the build year. So 3FJ45***** would be 1963.

Hmmmm, neither of these V's have any numbers before the FJ******

66 - Blue/White One

63 - Green One

 

[chappohj47]

I have never seen a vin start with a number then fj or hj always letter first

 

[hdjtachtig]

In the early years the vin started with a number that indicated the build year. Don't know when that stopped but it was somewhere in the 60's. this is my plate:

 

[cult45]

Stopped in '64. So I'd say Twist ya got '65 onwards rigs. Can you run the VIN on SOR?

 

[Twisty]

Stopped in '64. So I'd say Twist ya got '65 onwards rigs. Can you run the VIN on SOR?

Good idea....

So Green FJ45-20261 on SOR is around Aug/Sept 1964

White/Blue FJ45-28838 on SOR is around Nov/Dec 1966

 

[Twisty]

Well it looks like the Green 45V will get back on the road again now too! A fellow Classic Landcruiser Club of QLD member made me an offer too good to refuse last night. It'll also be a restomod but orientated more towards offroad work and touring duties. Stoked to see that both will end up being saved.

This also means I now have the cash to get mine sandblasted and etch primed. Hopefully I'll get it stripped over the next couple weeks and get it done.

 

[Twisty]

Couple pics from when Wardys45V picked up the green 45V last weekend. He's already assembled it a little more and cleaned it up. Starting to looking really good. Hopefully he gets a build thread started up on here soon.

 

[Twisty]

I decided to hold off sandblasting my 45V and instead sort some decent storage and organisation in my shed. So I purchased some used pallet racking. Out of this I will get a 5.7m x 2m mezzanine/top shelf at approx 2.4m high, some 5.7m x 850mm shelves below this, and a 2.7m x 850mm work bench on one side (roller cab and welders on the other side). Also plan to paint the concrete floor and sort some better lighting.

 

[cult45]

Still going the 80 frame, Twist?

 

[Twisty]

Yeah, 80 series chassis swap is still the current plan for the moment. It's just such a easy way to get coil suspension with factory ride and handling, power steering, and disc brakes. The two things I hate about it is all the extra width from the 80 axles (4" rear flares and 4" wider front guards needed). And it will end up registered as a 80 series landcruiser.

The new owner of the green 45V is also heading down the same path.

 

[cult45]

Yeah the extra width is a bit of a fail. I did some measuring and a pair of 70 series axles on 80 arms and buckets fits a 45 frame. It's just that the riveted chassis is dinosaur technology.