The Turtle Mobile

[Turtle59]

G'day blokes and blokettes,

Well the day has finally arrived. I have just purchased a 2007 FG649 Canter Dual Cab from the auctions here in Brisbane. Looks like a nice bit of kit with a single rear wheel conversion already done. I will be picking it up on Friday so will get some photos of it over the weekend and try to post them up here.

I am looking forward to making it more of a family truck as it will be my daily drive. There are several things I would like to add to it but I need to get it first and assess what needs to be done as opposed to what I would like to do. At the moment it has a 3.4m tipper on the back, but I would like to put a pan on the back to convert into a camper.

Anyone have any idea about what length pan I could put on??

I know the exhaust needs repairs... If I were to just have a new one made... what diameter pipe is recommended as a good upgrade??? What have others done that has enhanced performance or fuel economy etc???

I will get the windows tinted as the billy lids need to sit in the back, then look at insulation / sound deadening possibilities.

Man the jobs are endless. I'm sure I will have many more questions as time goes by.

By the way does anyone have a workshop manual and / or wiring schematic for this vehicle.

Will post more later.

Now to offload the Patrol.

Warm Regards
Turtle

 

[Overland Hadley]

as it will be my daily drive

You are my hero!

 

[mog]

G'day blokes and blokettes,
Anyone have any idea about what length pan I could put on??
You are limited to 60% of the vehicle's wheelbase as the maximum rear overhang according to regulations (I guess I spend too much time in the Fuso section when I start to know the Aussie regulations)
I know the exhaust needs repairs... If I were to just have a new one made... what diameter pipe is recommended as a good upgrade??? What have others done that has enhanced performance or fuel economy etc???
Your exhaust brake is about 3 inches, so unless you change that, not a whole lot of gain by going larger then that. I'm looking into water/methanol or propane injection to help me on the 6% grades
By the way does anyone have a workshop manual and / or wiring schematic for this vehicle.
I have an electronic workshop manual for 1996 to 2001 so not the latest and greatest for your year, but if you need it, let me know via PM.

See above

 

[SkiFreak]

Your exhaust brake is about 3 inches, so unless you change that, not a whole lot of gain by going larger then that.

Actually, the standard Fuso exhaust is 2 1/4", as is the butterfly in the retarder. I upped my exhaust to 3" and used an Isuzu 3" butterfly assembly, so I could run 3" all the way from just behind the manifold. In hindsight, I should have made a custom rear manifold section, so that there was no restriction prior to the 3" exhaust.

 

[Turtle59]

I got it.

Ok, so I picked up the FG yesterday afternoon and drove it home. What an adventure that was.

Anyway I did a quick appraisal today of what needs to be done for a roadworthy. The list starts with 2 new batteries, a windscreen and a seat recover or replace. I think everything else will pass.

Here are a few surprises about the truck.
265/70/19.5 wheels and tyres
200 litre fuel tank
No wheel tools or jack
Filthy inside and out.

So I have a lot of cleaning to do, the windscreen is booked for Monday, got the new batteries and fitted them today.

So here are a few questions for you FG aficionados.
I would like to change the front seat to a two seater... What model car seats will bolt straight in or with minimal mods?
Where do I buy Dynamat to line the inside of the truck and how much do I need?
What is the best way to clean the roof lining inside the truck?
How do I get at the alternator? I want to change the belts but can't see the adjuster.

This will do for now.

Warm Regards
Turtle

 

[graynomad]

200 litre fuel tank

More would be good, are you going to add another? I like to aim for about 2000k range.

 

[PKDreamers]

Ok, so I picked up the FG yesterday afternoon and drove it home. What an adventure that was.

Anyway I did a quick appraisal today of what needs to be done for a roadworthy. The list starts with 2 new batteries, a windscreen and a seat recover or replace. I think everything else will pass.

Here are a few surprises about the truck.
265/70/19.5 wheels and tyres
200 litre fuel tank
No wheel tools or jack
Filthy inside and out.

So I have a lot of cleaning to do, the windscreen is booked for Monday, got the new batteries and fitted them today.

So here are a few questions for you FG aficionados.
I would like to change the front seat to a two seater... What model car seats will bolt straight in or with minimal mods?
Where do I buy Dynamat to line the inside of the truck and how much do I need?
What is the best way to clean the roof lining inside the truck?
How do I get at the alternator? I want to change the belts but can't see the adjuster.

This will do for now.

Warm Regards
Turtle

Hi welcome ,

The jack if you didn't know is under the rear seat.
Dynamat you will buy it online or most auto shops,I can't remember how many packs we used to do our floor.
Lift passengers seat up and you should be able to do most of it from inside the cab and I think you lossen the lower bolt from underneath. Il have a look tomorrow on ours.


So who did you get to do your windscreen and cost because we are up for after getting a rock hit on the way back from Cape York.?
Regards
Pete and Kel

 

[SkiFreak]

Where do I buy Dynamat to line the inside of the truck and how much do I need?

eBay is your friend...

When I did my FG84, I used two of the 9 sheet Dynamat Xtreme packs. That was barely enough to do the floor (from the firewall to the back wall), the roof and around my pass-thru. I still need to do inside the doors, but have not got around to that yet.
If you want to make it nice and neat, I would recommend the addition of some adhesive aluminium tape for the joins. A good place for getting that is Jaycar, as the stuff they sell is a decent quality.

I would like to change the front seat to a two seater... What model car seats will bolt straight in or with minimal mods?

Any decent quality bucket seat should work. No matter which seats you go with, the challenge is mounting the passenger's seat. You will need to build custom seat mounts for each side and it is most likely that you will render the engine access hatch useless by putting a bucket on the passenger's side.
Be aware that you will probably have to get an engineer to sign off on the seats/mounts in order for them to be considered legal.
I also found that the engine hatch itself was very flimsy and bent easily if any weight was put on it. To that end, I also strengthened mine, primarily because I have a pass-thru.
Here is a link to how I did my install...

 

[Turtle59]

Hi welcome ,

So who did you get to do your windscreen and cost because we are up for after getting a rock hit on the way back from Cape York.?
Regards
Pete and Kel

Windscreen World here in Brisbane is looking after the screen for $295 fitted, which I thought was quite reasonable.

Warm Regards
Turtle

 

[PKDreamers]

Windscreen World here in Brisbane is looking after the screen for $295 fitted, which I thought was quite reasonable.

Warm Regards
Turtle

Thanks let us know if you are happy with the workmanship ,the price does sound like a good deal.

Regards
Pete and Kel

 

[Turtle59]

Thanks let us know if you are happy with the workmanship ,the price does sound like a good deal.

Regards
Pete and Kel

What part of Brisbane are you in??

I am in Victoria Point.

Warm Regards
Turtle

 

[pugslyyy]

Windscreen World here in Brisbane is looking after the screen for $295 fitted, which I thought was quite reasonable.

Warm Regards
Turtle

That's comparable to the US price of around $260 installed. I have to get mine replaced after a huge passenger side hit yesterday (rock was big enough to shower the inside of the cab with glass - thank goodness for safety glass.

 

[mog]

How do I get at the alternator? I want to change the belts but can't see the adjuster.

Bottom bolt, 17mm - loosen, top bolt 14mm - loosen, on the outboard slde of the alternator mount there will be a 12 mm bolt (the adjuster), turn it counterclockwise to loosen, use a socket on a long extention so you can ********** the extention with your hand every so often to push the alternator in towards the center line of the engine. Move it in as far as possible so you can get your new (and tight) belts on. Tighter new belts until you have about 1/2 in (12-16mm) of 'play' and the center of the top span with 22 pounds (100N) of pressure applied at that point. DO NOT over tighten.
BTW if you have A/C, that belt will have to come off to remove and install the alternator belts.
(Disclaimer - directions for a 2002 US model FG, yours might be different)

 

[PKDreamers]

What part of Brisbane are you in??

I am in Victoria Point.

Warm Regards
Turtle

Hi,
We are in Ipswich.
Your kids will love the truck,Kels 2 boys love it cos there is so much room in the back for them.

Regards
Pete and Kel

 

[Turtle59]

Bottom bolt, 17mm - loosen, top bolt 14mm - loosen, on the outboard slde of the alternator mount there will be a 12 mm bolt (the adjuster), turn it counterclockwise to loosen, use a socket on a long extention so you can ********** the extention with your hand every so often to push the alternator in towards the center line of the engine. Move it in as far as possible so you can get your new (and tight) belts on. Tighter new belts until you have about 1/2 in (12-16mm) of 'play' and the center of the top span with 22 pounds (100N) of pressure applied at that point. DO NOT over tighten.
BTW if you have A/C, that belt will have to come off to remove and install the alternator belts.
(Disclaimer - directions for a 2002 US model FG, yours might be different)

Thanks for that Mog. I will look at it tomorrow.

Warm Regards
Turtle