What to look for when buying 1965 FJ45

[Fedtime]

I’ve restored later model 40s, 60s and 70s. Never a 45, or anything this old.

What is your top 5 things to look for? Hardest parts to find? Biggest challenge?

Thanks for any tips you can offer!

 

[SteveH]

Tailgate and headache rack were/are hard to find (but may now be reproduced). Frame bent or badly cracked? As old as that truck is, don't expect it to be arrow-straight. Cab metal parts are hard to find, of course. Beyond that, it's like any other ancient vehicle resto.

 

[Fedtime]

Tailgate and headache rack were/are hard to find (but may now be reproduced). Frame bent or badly cracked? As old as that truck is, don't expect it to be arrow-straight. Cab metal parts are hard to find, of course. Beyond that, it's like any other ancient vehicle resto.

Thanks Steve, for taking the time to reply. I’m told the frame is good, except for the rear cross member. Fenders are bad, and the windshield frame looks iffy. I know the fenders are not hard to find, but what about the windshield frame? It looks like it has a vent at the bottom of the frame? I confess I’ve never seen that before on a Land Cruiser, so I assume a later model windshield frame won’t work.

 

[SteveH]

Early WS frames have the screw-open bottom vent and individual non-linked wiper motors at the top, and the defroster bits are metal. The glass size is also very slightly different from later models. I'm pretty sure you could retrofit a later model frame, but it would come with the usual cautions. I should note another 'hard to find' part is the OEM under-the-truck spare tire carrier. I gave up and used a slab carrier from an F250 and just drilled it and made it work. If you study it and had the brackets, you could likely buy a piece of 1" steel rod and bend it into an FJ45 tire carrier.

You may kill me for this, but I got a headache rack and correct tailgate from a good-hearted Canadian who not only sold them to me at a very reasonable price, he drove 75 miles to the border and shipped them from within the US to avoid tariffs, etc. What a standup guy! No, I don't recall his name/Mud handle and Mud doesn't have history that old.

 

[Unimogguy]

Which model are you restoring? SWB, LPB, LV?
This will help us determine what are the hard to find parts.

 

[Fedtime]

Which model are you restoring? SWB, LPB, LV?
This will help us determine what are the hard to find parts.

It is a LWB model, removable top.

 

[Unimogguy]

I guess it depends how accurate you want to be?

Besides what’s already been mentioned…

Elephant horns high and low

-J-hooks and latches for removable hard top front side above windshield

-J-hooks and latches for the removable hardtop back of the cab

-Under bed spare tire holder/carrier

-TNK wiper arms and wiper blades

-‘65-‘67 FJ-45 tailgate

-‘65-‘67 FJ-45 tailgate hinges (4 qty)

-Red seat belts

-Seat belt eye bolts

-Inspection Lamp outlet cover

-Battery hold down rabbit ear wing nuts

-Battery cables/terminals with the little triangle and wing nuts

-Woven grounding strap with little triangle

-Locking gas cap and keys

-wiring harness

Here is a reference for the tailgate and headache rack and several other parts:

Awl_TEQ Metal Parts etc.

Edit October 28, 2020 Hello all! If you are interested in any of the 40 series parts I make please contact Dan at 4WheelAuto and he will help you out. 4WheelAuto is now handling all of my parts essentially as a distributor. I make them and he ships them! Dan is trying to decide what and how...

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[Fedtime]

I guess it depends how accurate you want to be?

Besides what’s already been mentioned…

Elephant horns high and low

-J-hooks and latches for removable hard top front side above windshield

-J-hooks and latches for the removable hardtop back of the cab

-Under bed spare tire holder/carrier

-TNK wiper arms and wiper blades

-‘65-‘67 FJ-45 tailgate

-‘65-‘67 FJ-45 tailgate hinges (4 qty)

-Red seat belts

-Seat belt eye bolts

-Inspection Lamp outlet cover

-Battery hold down rabbit ear wing nuts

-Battery cables/terminals with the little triangle and wing nuts

-Woven grounding strap with little triangle

-Locking gas cap and keys

-wiring harness

Here is a reference for the tailgate and headache rack and several other parts:

Awl_TEQ Metal Parts etc.

Edit October 28, 2020 Hello all! If you are interested in any of the 40 series parts I make please contact Dan at 4WheelAuto and he will help you out. 4WheelAuto is now handling all of my parts essentially as a distributor. I make them and he ships them! Dan is trying to decide what and how...

forum.ih8mud.com

Excellent information. Thank you very much.

 

[Living in the Past]

Only three tailgate hinges on the early FJ45 pickups. Different hinges between the SWB and LWB but both have three. Corner glass is smaller and NLA. Believe aftermarket tailgate and headache racks are available. Believe the racks come in pieces and need to be welded together. Not sure if any high quality tailgates are currently being made. The top of the windshield has four hooks similar to the bottom just smaller. The latch pieces are attached to a rail on the cap. Body mounts for the cab to the frame are different across the back than the FJ40 and believe NLA. The spare tire carriers on these early trucks is usually MIA. Personally think they are junk. My original plan was to use a spare tire winch from an FJ45. I happened into one from a 84 troopy that main section has brackets riveted on the ends that fit the early 45 draw perfectly. Believe the cab to top weatherstripping is NLA. Not sure about the top cap but a FJ40 I'm sure could be trimmed and made to work. The defrost vents are single piece. To lower the windshield they need to be removed. This is a pain to do. These were not designed with the idea lower. The early non removable SWB trucks did not have the pads or hooks on the hood. Same with the FJ40 hard top models. Once you remove the windshield you just have holes with the defrost vents pass thru the top of the dash. Vents are a single piece. Hose connects to the bottom and attaches to the windshield above the vent opening.

 

[65swb45]

The 45 windshield frame is it’s own animal because of the J hooks. Extremely rare. The last time I let one go was about a decade ago, and I got a grand for it then.

 

[Fedtime]

Only three tailgate hinges on the early FJ45 pickups. Different hinges between the SWB and LWB but both have three. Corner glass is smaller and NLA. Believe aftermarket tailgate and headache racks are available. Believe the racks come in pieces and need to be welded together. Not sure if any high quality tailgates are currently being made. The top of the windshield has four hooks similar to the bottom just smaller. The latch pieces are attached to a rail on the cap. Body mounts for the cab to the frame are different across the back than the FJ40 and believe NLA. The spare tire carriers on these early trucks is usually MIA. Personally think they are junk. My original plan was to use a spare tire winch from an FJ45. I happened into one from a 84 troopy that main section has brackets riveted on the ends that fit the early 45 draw perfectly. Believe the cab to top weatherstripping is NLA. Not sure about the top cap but a FJ40 I'm sure could be trimmed and made to work. The defrost vents are single piece. To lower the windshield they need to be removed. This is a pain to do. These were not designed with the idea lower. The early non removable SWB trucks did not have the pads or hooks on the hood. Same with the FJ40 hard top models. Once you remove the windshield you just have holes with the defrost vents pass thru the top of the dash. Vents are a single piece. Hose connects to the bottom and attaches to the windshield above the vent opening.

The 45 windshield frame is it’s own animal because of the J hooks. Extremely rare. The last time I let one go was about a decade ago, and I got a grand for it then.

Excellent info, thank you both. I’m going to look at it tomorrow morning.

Mark: the frame is there, but looks rough. I guess if I buy it I’ll have to repair it. The vent across the bottom of the windshield looks really cool, but I imagine it is tricky to repair.

 

[middlecalf]

Inside mirror

 

[65swb45]

We expect an update.

 

[Fedtime]

We expect an update.
View attachment 3668737

Well, it would be a massive project. It was described as an original, low rust truck. But it looks to me like someone who knew what they were doing pulled the best bits and pieces from the truck at some point. Nearly all of the hard to find stuff is gone. It has had at least 2 different transmissions in its life, besides the original. It is a long list of problems and needs. Frame repair/fab alone would be many days, if not weeks, of work. There are some positives, but not many and certainly enough not for the asking price. I may circle back if the price comes more in line with what it is worth.

I will say this: the knowledge you folks shared was critical in me being able to assess this truck. It made me an educated buyer. Thank you, again, for taking the time to reply.

 

[cruisermatt]

We expect an update.
View attachment 3668737

Well, it would be a massive project. It was described as an original, low rust truck. But it looks to me like someone who knew what they were doing pulled the best bits and pieces from the truck at some point. Nearly all of the hard to find stuff is gone. It has had at least 2 different transmissions in its life, besides the original. It is a long list of problems and needs. Frame repair/fab alone would be many days, if not weeks, of work. There are some positives, but not many and certainly enough not for the asking price. I may circle back if the price comes more in line with what it is worth.

I will say this: the knowledge you folks shared was critical in me being able to assess this truck. It made me an educated buyer. Thank you, again, for taking the time to reply.

Thank you for taking to time to provide a followup. Letting the people that helped you know that it made a difference goes a very long way towards them contributing again in the future.