FJ45 Troopie build up for Africa

[ianfotheringham]

Hey guys...

I've been running a build up thread on ih8mud.com, but thought it slightly more suitable to continue it over here as my interests are more toward the expedition side, rather than the technical toyota side...

right then - heres a breakdown:

My wife and I came to Oman, in the middle east, to work at a university with the intention of putting together a suitable vehicle for an overland trip to South Africa, and either back to Oman, or on to Argentina and up to Canada...

So we put our Arab hommies to the task of finding us an appropriately funky ride in which to complete this little task. A week or so later and we had managed to pry this piece of crap [condition only] 1981 FJ45 LV Troopie from some random bedouin school bus driver in the middle of a sand dune-type desert - very random....

anywho, i took it to a shop in the middle of nowhere with a reputation for doing good work with landcruisers [of which they abound here in Oman, facilitating the farming and fishing industries]. They took a glance at it and realized it was a fairly significant amount of work required, but that they would try their darnedest to restore it...it took them a while to get their heads around my plans for it, what with the whole 'why don't you just fly to Africa?' mentality...

I'll keep this blog running as i don't expect it to be actually completed until about September when i return from Canada with some essential bits that are just not available here....

So far I have:

repaired pretty much every body panel, replaced the floors and door frames, all hinges, tears in the hood, issues in the interior, rebuilt brakes [drums], new clutch, all new hosing, fluids, frame off painting, tie rods and all that junk, a rebuilt 2F engine out of a lesser molested cruiser and as of just the other day, paint and whatnot...and probably a bunch of other things i've forgotten...

and the plans for the near future include:

re-wiring with an EZ wiring harness
new dolphin gauges
external roll cage and sliders
roof rack
crazy *** lights
six bfg all terrains [285/75/16]
custom brushguard
winch
rear auzzie locker
awning
OME heavy duty 2.5" lift and shocks
second fuel tank
air conditioning
new exhaust
100amp alternator
dual batteries
fridge
new seats
drawer system
all weather stripping
keyless start, and hidden kill switches etc...
and a ton of other stuff....

here are the pics to date...

 

[ianfotheringham]

more pics!

 

[MoGas]

Very nice.


:safari-rig:
Dave

 

[Jacket]

Beautiful rig.....but the wheels don't match

 

[Arivalsend]

Good stuff I will be watching this build! Good luck and keep the pics coming:elkgrin:

 

[Hltoppr]

Welcome to ExPo Ian! I think you'll find a lot of good info here!

Good to have another Troopy in the bunch!

:wavey:

-H-

 

[targa88]

Great pix - always had a soft spot for Troopies....
Keep us informed on the progress

 

[24HOURSOFNEVADA]

I've been watching the build on mud. I laughed when the guy posted the school kids had to walk due to the fact that you bought their bus.

Im enjoying the build.

 

[ianfotheringham]

what the? another another troopie build?

Hey there team - I just realized that I had totally forgotten that I had started this blog here...anyway, please forgive me...

So, it’s been a while since the last installment...mostly due to the fact that I have recently taken a vacation from pretty much everything, but fear not, we're back in business and with a deadline intact.

The plan is still a little fuzzy, but come March 1st, hell or high water like, we'll be heading out of Oman, destined for South Africa in the least direct possible fashion. From there it has yet to be decided whether or not to turn round and head up West Africa, or ship on the Argentina...your thoughts are welcome...

But let’s stick with things vehicular…As I had known for some time that I would be spending the summer in Canada, I took the opportunity and shipping benefit to have some gear sent to my place there, with the plan to bring it back with me on the plane to Oman. I just got back last week with pretty much the maximum amount of crap they would let me bring…the EZ wiring harness, gauges, snorkel tip [just the tip, cyclone style], a rear aussie locker, front and back ring and pinion gears [of the 3:73 variety to replace my 4:11’s], pop out side windows, locking lug nuts, various locks for the roof rack, locks for soon-to-be inner cabinets and a number of other odds and ends including a katadyn water filter, pelican torches, new north face tent and some other outdoor gear less than easy to find here in the ********** desert…

My OME heavy kit is theoretically due to be delivered as soon as tomorrow, and the diffs and locker are in as of a few minutes ago. Since I last posted, ive been working on the interior a bit, laying down two layers of cotton insulation [it was all that could be gotten here] covered with black carpeting. This has reduced engine and road noise significantly, as well as saving my tootsies from a toasting…who’s idea was it to put the exhaust right under the drivers floor, separated only by a sheet of metal flooring?

I’ve also pretty much reassembled all the bits post painting, and working out the kinks. I got hold of a real cheap full weather stripping [all doors] from CCOT which is technically weather stripping, just real krappy…but in combination with a little third world ingenuity, adding on bits from other cars, its now very decent. All the other window rubber, window cranks, locks and cylinders, regulators, and that kind of stuff were cannibalized, or bought new from Toyota here in Oman.

The original engine which I had intended to keep [2F] was pulled out and checked, with some wear found in nearly all cylinders, so instead of re-boring it, only to have it crack on me in deepest darkest Africa, we simply looked in the other direction and found a nearly perfect condition one sitting right there…woop woop!

So that, combined with nearly all brand new bearings, gaskets, fluids, hoses, electrics, and even a brand new factory carb, I think it might just make it…

Next on the agenda is to finish the roof rack which I plan on fitting three sheet metal boxes [one for camping gear, one for parts and tools, and one for tables and chairs and the like] and an awning of the passenger side. Then on to the long ranger tank to be mounted above the prop shaft, and a water tank at the rear where the spare should be. Then on to the interior where I’ll be building a square tubed skeleton to be finished up with plywood…should work ok – let me know your thoughts tho guys as I’ve got so many things on my mind that I’ll probably forget that thing that should be done now, rather than later….

Here's some pics....oops - ex.portal wont let me upload - sorry for you!
will try later

 

[UK4X4]

Ian,

your 6 months ahead of me......I have similar plans and just arrived in Muscat

I sent you a PM I'd be interesting in learning more about your project.

get in touch

Cheers

Paul

 

[UK4X4]

We met up at the weekend, his ride is comming along well and is now drivable....

if you count no AC and no dials to look at....:bike_rider:

He's doing a good job concidering the local situation, ie standard of local workers/ garages and parts availability.

No internet shopping here...you can only browse and dream.

Looks like we'll be keeping in touch over the coming months as his build develop's

 

[ianfotheringham]

so it seems i can once again load pics - so here she is...as of a few days ago - before i got the OME kit in - and before the spare tire carrier got on - i think i need to take some new pics - also, the rear storage area will be finished by the end of the day today, as well as the roof rack...ugh....

 

[Wohni]

Very cool rig, I love Troopies ... keep it coming

All the best
Tommy