Formiga Rosa (Old School FJ45 Desert Racer Find)

[Suhaib Kiani]

Well firstly, I nearly fell out of my chair when I read the title of the thread! Its a truly wonderful find and personally for me I know this is gonna be inspirational to say the least......

Whether you decide to build it for the desert or just the trails, that is upto you, but my strong recommendation would be to try and keep things simple and go for a Lexus 1UZ-FE V8 out of an LS400/Soarer. There is just something about the way that light weight engine sits in an FJ40! I am not sure how commonly available that thing is in the US but its probably not that uncommon...

Anyways, all the best for the build, and yes, some more inspiration posts please on stuff like long travel front for this

[RustyNailJustin]

Originally Posted by Flatty

So what are you going ot do with the other Baja 45? I like teh idea of updating it. Will you plan to run the desert in this, or build it for crawling? If you want to run the desert, then why not link the rear with some 3 way byass Fox setup. Then do a long travel front that can handle the whoops of the desert.

Wilson, I don't know if 550hp is enough for this thing. You may want to turn that up... just a bit.

I am going to keep both of them. The Baja 45 is just going to be what I started out to have... Clean, reliable, Steers, stops and you could drive it to La Paz and back. Drive it to Moab and run most of the trails up to about the Pritchett Canyon level.

Fominga Rosa is in the works. But it will not be a trail rig. Mostly keep the petina it has gathered through it's years. I want to make it fun to drive though. GenIII, Unknown trans/transfer, FJ60 steering, FJ40 disc brakes and just some 31's. Keeping it leaf sprung.

[RustyNailJustin]

Originally Posted by Suhaib Kiani

Well firstly, I nearly fell out of my chair when I read the title of the thread! Its a truly wonderful find and personally for me I know this is gonna be inspirational to say the least......

Whether you decide to build it for the desert or just the trails, that is upto you, but my strong recommendation would be to try and keep things simple and go for a Lexus 1UZ-FE V8 out of an LS400/Soarer. There is just something about the way that light weight engine sits in an FJ40! I am not sure how commonly available that thing is in the US but its probably not that uncommon...

Anyways, all the best for the build, and yes, some more inspiration posts please on stuff like long travel front for this

Thanks for the comments and I hope I can make it inspirational. I think it will be a really cool rig in the end, hell it's really cool now!

[2CAN]

Awesome find! i will be looking forward to seeing what you decide to do with it>

For what its worth I also wanted to keep the original title for my 71 FJ40 and said as much to the DMV here in Oregon, who sent it back stamped souviner along with new title.

Good Luck!

[FJFOOL]

Very cool find ! Amazing what a diference a pair of wheels and tires makes, looking forward to this one !

[incogrhino]

So cool. I'd be sleeping in the back of the damn thing I'd be so happy.

[RustyNailJustin]

Donner vehicle is now in my possession. 81 FJ60. I will be using the Discs, the 3rd's (I have a set of mid 70's bare housings) tcase and steering box. As soon as I start making some progress I will update.

[dog walker]

What happened to the baja 45 build?

[RustyNailJustin]

Originally Posted by dog walker

What happened to the baja 45 build?

Still trudging away on it. I am slow with body work and detailed stuff. With the baja 45 I want everything just right. I spent hours messing with dash layout and execution. Hours!

[RustyNailJustin]

Digging around trying to learn more history on this 45 I stumbled across this video. It was a tribute put together by his son in law to Gordon Hevern after his passing. There are a few clips of the 45 in it around the :56 mark and the 1:16 mark. The first clip looks like the high Sierra some where and the second I cant really tell. Maybe a beach?
Gordon G. Hevern 1927-2009 on Vimeo

[dog walker]

Thats really cool. Kinda sad watching it though, felt like i was at the memorial serice.

[Toploader]

Thats cool. Right on.

[rugburn]

Looks like Gordon definatley lived a good life enjoying the outdoors....

Thanks Justin

[ChevotaSS]

such a cool find. you make my " fastest sluice run" cruiser rebuild look like a red headed stepchild now.

[RustyNailJustin]

It was the find of a lifetime. I got lucky and IMO the Cruiser got lucky too. It's sitting in a shop and getting loved. I want to pay Gordon, his family and the Cruiser the proper respect.

[wheelinjp]

very cool find. I love rigs with history. I swear Ive seen this rig sitting next to a cj5 in a magazine Ive recently bought. Im trying to find it. nice.

[RustyNailJustin]

Originally Posted by wheelinjp

very cool find. I love rigs with history. I swear Ive seen this rig sitting next to a cj5 in a magazine Ive recently bought. Im trying to find it. nice.

I hope you find it. It could have been a story about some event in the 70s. This thing has been sitting for about 30 years.

[wheelinjp]

yes Ive been scouring my magazines today. it was sitting next to a jeep in a desert looking climate. there was an fj40 and I think this rig too. I may be mistaken. the rear cage is what looks familiar. It is in a mag from the last month or so. I thought it was from the last 60's. I will find it damnit haha.

[RustyNailJustin]

Originally Posted by wheelinjp

yes Ive been scouring my magazines today. it was sitting next to a jeep in a desert looking climate. there was an fj40 and I think this rig too. I may be mistaken. the rear cage is what looks familiar. It is in a mag from the last month or so. I thought it was from the last 60's. I will find it damnit haha.

Please do. That would be a great addition to the history of this thing.

[mayday]

Too freakin cool! Nice find Justin, i love the story as well. That is the beauty of that area, nothing really rust a way just ages. Looks like you found it in the depths of Bly.

[RustyNailJustin]

Originally Posted by mayday

Too freakin cool! Nice find Justin, i love the story as well. That is the beauty of that area, nothing really rust a way just ages. Looks like you found it in the depths of Bly.

Brian it was buried on the back 40 of a ranch. I would not be even a little be surprise if there are more out there.
Good to see you posting

[RockTactics]

I am very excited to see this thing through!

[RustyNailJustin]

Originally Posted by RockTactics

I am very excited to see this thing through!

Cody,
Thanks for the parts! I am looking forward to getting them on this ol rig. We will be intouch as things develop with this project and future projects.
Speaking of which... Do you make of have you though about making motor mounts? Looking for a set for the 6.0 I picked up for Rosa

[RockTactics]

Originally Posted by RustyNailJustin

Cody,
Thanks for the parts! I am looking forward to getting them on this ol rig. We will be intouch as things develop with this project and future projects.
Speaking of which... Do you make of have you though about making motor mounts? Looking for a set for the 6.0 I picked up for Rosa

Glad too help! I will look into the motor mounts for you. We havent done any of the mounts yet but it is an idea in the works. I will work on it a little this weekend.

[Gravel Maker]

We make some too Justin, give us a call and we can get a set out to you... I wish I could say my 45 is done but its getting there and I'm with you on MUD...Personally I need to be able to merge in traffic so always V8 power for me too...