Make believe this FJ45 is yours, and you have most all the components to do the required mods, with little out of pocket dollars http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=80863
Would you
A Put it back original
B Later model Toyota running gear (2F 4 spd Disc front etc.)
C Fuel Inj 350 SM420/Auto etc.
D other
Butch

Let's face it, non-removable hardtop FJ45's aren't the most comfortable Land Cruisers, so I don't foresee daily driving this beast or even doing much wheeling with it (too rare to hack it and turn it into a wheeling rig). That leaves two options: stock drivetrain, or newer FJ40 drivetrain. Personally, I'd go with a newer drivetrain to make it a little more driveable and keep the expenses under check. Just my $0.02, I cannot justify *ANY* Land Cruiser that doesn't get driven on the street at least on a semi-regular basis.

I say keep it looking original... but add/replace any parts that
would make it run better or easier to drive...

Get a wrecked Tundra V8, and swap the driveline(engine and transmission) from that. A little spendy, but would be different.:)

I say keep it stock. Its value over time will increase as it is in the all original stock form. Beside it is the cool facter to have a true stock 1965 (ish) rig. You just can't find them anymore. I would build it up as a driving billboard rig for your shop, you know something that drives in the local parades. I don't believe in putting on a pedestal, I would still use it for parts runs, driving to Lone Star meetings etc. If you did the "modernizing" of the drive train, then stuff a 100 series V8 and automatic into it. I say stock right down to the bench seats, and vacuum shift TC is the way to go.

BTW great looking rig!

Mark

make it your shop truck, showcasing your abilities and strengths of your shop!

Kinda like Wardens would do!

Make sure you plug Shiner Bock somwhere on it!

The air flaps are great places for bottle openers!

:D ;)

it looks like a great resto rig but I would swap a tbi 350/sm420 to a toy 3-speed t/case, then you've kept it mostly original but have the reliabilty and stength of a chevy.

Personally I would keep it stock.
I know you can adjust the drum brakes well enough to make it stop well. And I believe that the motor would take a mild rebuild very easily (turn the crank and replace the bearings)
I guess it really depends on what condition the motor is in.
if it is truly hashed, then get a 2F for it. And put the older valve cover on it. I bet no one would know..

Leave it as stock as possible. It is too pretty to make into a hardcore rig. Besides, you have like 14 other rigs in your backyard that would take to being modified well. And Henry is right. I do not think that there is any way to make that thing comfortable to drive around in for any length of time.

If a part is too worn and difficult to replace then upgrade.

Steering is a big issue. I hate sloppy steering..

being a non removeable hard top and all, you could sell the rig to me and get a removeable top one to build:p

My vote for that rig is as stock as possible. Stock = $$$.

Upgrade with later Toyota stuff.

Screw driving around with non-syncronized 3 speeds and drum brakes.

Folks, Butch sells NOTHING!

Since this will be yours forever, make it fun/easy to drive.

Long way to club meetings....

I'll have you know I have sold 3 THREE FJ40's since Dec 2001
Harloe, Justin, C. and Jason Harsch one each.
Butch

Value of an FJ45 non-removable hardtop SWB is relative. They are *NOT* a particularly desirable Land Cruiser model, so they don't bring in the cash that their LWB bring in. Second, that truck's already been re-painted with a non-stock color, which drops the original value. If Butch wanted to sell it as "fully original", he'd have to repaint it back to a stock color. And finally, early Land Cruisers do NOT necessarily appreciate in value, original or not. Look at FJ25's, they're often some of the cheapest Cruisers you can get, where FJ40's that are 20+ years newer are bringing in many times the price.

I've been looking at the Land Cruiser market for YEARS and I don't attempt to explain it anymore; Rick D. and I have spent hours on the phone arguing about it, trying to come up with a scale, hoping to publish a buyer's guide, but we threw in the towel. What I CAN say is that early, non-removable top FJ45's just don't bring in the same amount as the LWB ones, and that trying to keep it stock in an attempt to capitalize on an "all stock" appeal is a losing proposition. Might as well enjoy that great Cruiser, do with it as you see fit, and damn the consequences. How many of us are REALLY worried about the resale value of our Land Cruiser, anyway?

Like I said before, and following Butch's instructions at the top, if that was MY FJ45 I would find a later-model donor vehicle, swap out the drivetrain, do a small lift of sort, run 33x9.5 BFG AT's on stock wheels, paint in an original color, and then drive it around on nice days....

Hows this for a wrench in your arguement Henry?
click here (http://www.outbacklandcruisers.com/fj45/45pickups.html). Even though it says asking $19 something, it actually went for $23,000! :eek:

But at the same time strangely it backs up exactly what you are saying :rasta:

Is this the truck that was on display this year at CM.02 ??
Sweet but it was updated to later drivetrain.
Butch

Yup, that's the one. It actually had the original drive train, just the 3 speed floor shifter conversion kit. So I guess what others had said (and what I was gonna say too), make it more easily driveable but keep it somewhat stockish too. Sorry I didn't get to meet you this year at CM2002 Butch (though I did get to meet BigPoppaRock :rasta: :beer: & a coupla PBRs) , you invited me to your ranch years ago when I was a much more foolish person. But then I criticized your use of appostophie's and I think I blew it :D Whatever happened to that "sick" site anyways?

Man you ar gonna have to PM me and refresh my memory on our previous encounter............
I could have sworn this truck had an Alum. valve cover.....maybe I'm wrong, saw a lot of rigs out there.
Butch

Originally posted by texican
I could have sworn this truck had an Alum. valve cover.
Butch

Nope, 1963 steel ribbed cover, just like what's in yours. Did have Mitsubishi seats though:barf: but they were more functional than what comes in there (as you'll probably find out:bounce:

Nice rig though, IIRC had about 200 miles on the resto before we were instructed to drive it Moab and back:question:

Funny how some people will spend years restoring something to have it in immacualte shape (like the PO, who did almost all the work, did), just to put it on the auction block as soon as it's done. Leaves me scratchin' my head for sure....

STOCK body...make it look new from the showroom with a non-stock color (i hate stock colors)

BUT put in a LT1 or Vortec and 700r4 or turbo 400 if you didnt want od....and keep the axles just do a mini-conversion.

dude it could be sweet...but i really dont like toyota drivetrain...

my .005 cents.

-MAx

That could be one sharp rig!!! I'd keep her looking stock with something a little more modern under the hood. I agree, it would be nice to have that to where it would be more comfortable to drive. Good luck Texican, thats a sweet rig, and looks pretty straight!

hey butch, swap in a disc front end, and a FF rear end, a late model 2F w/4 speed, a pair of OME HD rear leaves, a spray in bed liner, and walla! it's your gopher truck :D

sounds like a future "stock mod" ass kicker:D

keep it fairlt stock, exept for the GEARS that is:rolleyes:

Andre, why is that a wrench in my theory?

The fact that some idiot actually forked up $23,000 for that overpriced truck doesn't make all of them worth that. In fact, it's this mentality that's hurt the average enthusiast like myself, who can't afford a decent FJ40 because every yahoo out there with a rusty truck and an internet connection thinks he can charge the same as Jonathan Ward for his POS.

I stand fast by my *personal* opinion, which is based on observations of the *AVERAGE* Land Cruiser market. Aberrations like this may throw the curve off, but the sad fact is that very early 40/45 Series Land Cruisers are just not as valuable as newer ones. Don't like it? Take it with a grain of salt then....

Street rod. It's too purdy to tear it up on the trails but the running gear is too outdated. If it were mine and I had the money I'd go all Chevy running gear. V8, auto, A/C, tilt column, bucket seats, power steering, discs x 4, etc. Keep the outside original except the wheels and paint. No chrome. Forest green and paint the top white like it should be. Mild lift with 33s. It would be a real daily driver with class.

Dan

If I owned such truck a fj45, I would:

- Later 2F, H55F tranny, slit case.
- 2.5 OME lift springs, 33x12.5 MTR on widen stock wheels.
- Mini truck or cruiser PS.
- Front cruiser disk brake with rear Aussie FF axle.
- Customed front and rear bumpers, no cutting of body, keep
it look as close to stock as possible. And keep it all Toyota.
- Very nice paint job with stock color.

It would be nice to drive around and be sold easily for big bucks!

/td

I would make it a sleeper that is comfortable to drive. Update the interior so that you are not hurting when you are driving it. Install a sleek AC system since you live in Texas. After living there for 18 years, I would never own a vehicle down there without AC. Drop in a LT1 or LS1 and mate either a 4L60E or NV4500 to it, depending on what you like to drive. Use a LC split case and update the axles so that they have disc brakes all around. Put a set of 33's on it with a slight lift, and clean up the body. Finish out the package with a decent set of alloy rims. Nothing too showy, just some classy alloy that give it a clean look. Install a decent sound system that is stealth on the install end. When you are all said and done, you have a very classy and functional daily driver. Just my two cents. Hope they help some.

Originally posted by 60seriesguy
Andre, why is that a wrench in my theory?

The fact that some idiot actually forked up $23,000 for that overpriced truck doesn't make all of them worth that. In fact, it's this mentality that's hurt the average enthusiast like myself, who can't afford a decent FJ40 because every yahoo out there with a rusty truck and an internet connection thinks he can charge the same as Jonathan Ward for his POS.

I stand fast by my *personal* opinion, which is based on observations of the *AVERAGE* Land Cruiser market. Aberrations like this may throw the curve off, but the sad fact is that very early 40/45 Series Land Cruisers are just not as valuable as newer ones. Don't like it? Take it with a grain of salt then....

Sorry Henry I didn't get to checking out what's been added to this thread 'till now...

I was saying it was a wrench in your theory because it's an earlier non removable top that still fetched $23,000. Granted you're right but my point was even an early FJ45 can still fetch that amount of money, though I agree with your statements about the general Land Cruiser market (which I don't particularly pretent to completely understand myself either) but I think it shows what some people are willing to pay just to have a Land Cruiser that's in pickup truck form.

Andre, two COMPLETELY DIFFERENT points. I know how much people are willing to fork for some trucks, but that doesn't drag the value of the entire vehicle class up. That's why I don't understand your comment; you said "a wrench in your theory". My theory WASN'T about what some people are willing to pay for an FJ45 or about how overpriced some of them are. MY point was that of all FJ45's, SWB with a non-removable top are the LEAST desirable.

That said, I'd love to have one, I just couldn't see myself paying what some idiots do, whether I had the money or not.

definitely upgrade, but stay stock, which is probably what will happen with my 45, although i am comtemplating how cool a blower sticking out of the hood would look. as for them being uncomfortable :flipoff2: i have no problem, sometimes being 5' tall has it's advantages.

When I see an old cruiser (especially a pickup- like that ever happens up here) at a gas station that looks pretty stock, I am always dissapointed if I find out it has a 350/nv4500/np205...blah,blah,blah.
The pickup is rare enough to warrant keeping it all toyota, but I agree with the fact the the originality of it may not help the resale of a non removeable.
Mini disks, 4speed, 2F with carb and ignition upgrades, mild lift and 33's. Keep the original parts somewhere.
Still restoreable if someone wants to do it later, unlike if everything had been hacked apart to fit chevy gear.

Guess it all depends on your plans for it. If you are wheeling it, and it will get all banged up anyways- drop in the chev stuff, SOA, and spank it....:D

rebuild the orginal, throw in a Hei and call it quits.

Polling is closed, thanks for all the input,
It has begun, the F is swinging, an 85 2F coupled to a 76 4spd and case are going to be installed.
I'm doing no non-resersable mods, and keeping all the original stuff, just in case.
Found out the PTO is a Ramsey, I'll try and post pix..... it bolts to the rear of the Tcase and has fr & rear outputs....... later tonite.
Butch

As an owner of a 1964 FJ45 SWB, that was already modified by the PO, I would say do to it whatever you want and :flipoff2: everbody else. Mine has a SO, 327 chey, toy 4 sp tranny and x-case. :D

Hi Butch

Beautiful score with the FJ45
I bought a short box FJ45 a few weeks ago myself.
I thought about the drive train possibilities and was partial with staying bone stock. We can get collector plates up here that cost about a 1/3 of normal insurance and you have fewer problems with replacement value if something was to go wrong.
I had thought about the chev, updated 2F set up, and even a 3B diesel with a 5 speed, but after reading your post I've decided with bone stock.
My newest toy has 76,??? original documented miles on a 1965 removeable hardtop, almost complete, and it’s missing the stock bumperettes, rims, and exhaust manifold.
An aftermarket header is on it right now, wide chevy rims with ancient 1970's mud tires. I have a lot of Cruiser parts in inventory including the parts I need to put my FJ45 back to stock.
The bench seat is original with zero damage.
However, my box is quite rusty and the wheel well openings are modified. Your box looks bone stock and in great shape.
Could you take a few digital pics of the side view of the box for me? This way I can ensure that I get the dimensions correct when restoring the box.
I still haven't got off my ass I got my red star yet but I can send you pictures of the PTO parts etc if you require any info on what it should look like.

I just put a F250 master and disk brake front end into a customers 1966 FJ45 this weekend. His FJ45 is beautiful and fully restored but he couldn't stand the stock braking system and was always afraid of the single line brake system.
He loves his new brakes, thanks Sixguns for your added info!
I totally recommend this swap
One problem with doing it, the older FJ45's have the clutch and brake pedal brackets welded to the firewall, I made an adapter plate to bolt to the stock firewall then tapped it to except the F250 master, no mods were made to the FJ45 and everything can be removed and put back to bone stock if he wishes.
I'll be doing the same swap to mine later this year.


Steven.