Nick Sabrazat
Active Member
Right, I'm back after a long hiatus from this fine community. I have been silent and not been posting for a few years now. This wasn't by choice, but due to life getting in the wayand lack of spare time to spend time on the internet and typing uninteresting post 
As the title suggests, I am now the proud owner a a 40-series, a HJ45 to be precise. So in line with my thread on my other favourite vehicle A journey into a 60-series ownership, and because I clearly lack novelty when it comes to thread titles, I am starting another build/restoration thread on this newly acquired 1978 HJ45 pickup (or as my wife likes to call it: my "latest piece of junk").
Before I go on to the HJ45, I wanted to say that the HJ60 is still very much used and loved. In fact, lots of work has gone into it since my last post on the dedicated thread, so I will need to update that one as well at some point.
Okay, onto the HJ45.
I have purchased this on a pure impulse, on New Year eve, less than 24 hours after first seeing it listed on eBay. I was on my way back from a family outing and we had stopped at McDonalds for a healthy dinner. As wife and daughter nose dived into their phones, I did the usual eBay saved searches review and saw the HJ45 listing. Within 10mins of mulling over, I told my wife I wanted to go and see it over the weekend. Some will say this was an expensive Happy meal stop but so goes life.
But why an HJ45? Well I saw Tony's red one at Lincomb a few years back and loved the basicness (for any better words) and the utility side of it. I convinced myself then and there that I needed one too.
Enough of that, here are some pictures, because we all like pictures:
It's obviously been well used during it's previous life in Queensland but is is fairly rust free and running well. Long term plan will be to restore it. However short term is to use it as is whilst correcting the few issues it has. This also means that I can complete the restoration of the HJ60 which has been used as a bit of a workhorse until now.
First job was the mandatory first wash. Unlike my dear wife, the daughter has some interest in Land Cuisers and was keen to help out! (cue the cute picture, aww)
Jobs to do then? Well, I won't lie, there're a few:
That's it, will keep you posted!
Oh and more pictures, because we can never have enough eye candy!
Thanks for reading this through,
Nick.
PS: give me a shout if you have a spare heater system for one of those!
As the title suggests, I am now the proud owner a a 40-series, a HJ45 to be precise. So in line with my thread on my other favourite vehicle A journey into a 60-series ownership, and because I clearly lack novelty when it comes to thread titles, I am starting another build/restoration thread on this newly acquired 1978 HJ45 pickup (or as my wife likes to call it: my "latest piece of junk").
Before I go on to the HJ45, I wanted to say that the HJ60 is still very much used and loved. In fact, lots of work has gone into it since my last post on the dedicated thread, so I will need to update that one as well at some point.
Okay, onto the HJ45.
I have purchased this on a pure impulse, on New Year eve, less than 24 hours after first seeing it listed on eBay. I was on my way back from a family outing and we had stopped at McDonalds for a healthy dinner. As wife and daughter nose dived into their phones, I did the usual eBay saved searches review and saw the HJ45 listing. Within 10mins of mulling over, I told my wife I wanted to go and see it over the weekend. Some will say this was an expensive Happy meal stop but so goes life.
But why an HJ45? Well I saw Tony's red one at Lincomb a few years back and loved the basicness (for any better words) and the utility side of it. I convinced myself then and there that I needed one too.
Enough of that, here are some pictures, because we all like pictures:
It's obviously been well used during it's previous life in Queensland but is is fairly rust free and running well. Long term plan will be to restore it. However short term is to use it as is whilst correcting the few issues it has. This also means that I can complete the restoration of the HJ60 which has been used as a bit of a workhorse until now.
First job was the mandatory first wash. Unlike my dear wife, the daughter has some interest in Land Cuisers and was keen to help out! (cue the cute picture, aww)
Jobs to do then? Well, I won't lie, there're a few:
- First and foremost, I need a heater. The heater matrix and associated ducting and water pipes were removed at some. I'm guessing a heater isn't an absolute requirement in Queensland. However when it's -6 in the UK and you want to go to work at 5am, it is a bit tricky to defrost the screen and stop it from steaming up on the way with out said heater.
- Take it to Krown for rust proofing
- I also need to replace the driver door handle. The truck came with a set so that should be an easy one. But I'll take the opportunity to straighten the dent on the door
- Do a full service as gear changes and 4H and 4L are a bit of a pain.
- Fix the awful electrical harness bodges
- Tidy the interior trim and seats
- I also like to install a winch as the bumper is clearly suitable for one. I do intend to take this off road a bit. As I get stuck all the time, mostly due to lack of driving skills, at least I will have something to fold back onto.
That's it, will keep you posted!
Oh and more pictures, because we can never have enough eye candy!
Thanks for reading this through,
Nick.
PS: give me a shout if you have a spare heater system for one of those!
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