Next project ?

Kris · Post by **Kris** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 11:43 pm

thanks man

Mpenzi , dunno if you've seen this yet on the other site, but it's exactly what you're looking for.
http://www.sor.com/sor/result2.tam?rlk=9074574

Mpenzi · Post by **Mpenzi** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 12:16 pm

Thanks again cris
Chassy works and body works is underway and I ill see if that can be powder coated
Heat,noise carperting will be done in Musafah and wont be thatexpensive
I have a stock real bumper but i will be looking for the tire hanger
A/C Ducts may be from old Land Rover and i will chech for others ducts like the old Mitsubishi or evem G wagon.Any idea when can i buys such thing in UAE . The engines it comes with all A/C bits i only need the ducts and fans

The cost for this project is estimated to be 30k without the funcy stuff like Lift kits, wheels and spotlights.

Kris wont you do the same for the Half price of the new one. What you want is a good chassy and body.and Make youir mark.
Pictures of the deveoplement Tomorrow

Kris · Post by **Kris** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 7:32 pm

no worries.

before powder coating , DeeSee mentioned in the other thread that u should pre-treat the metal.
i didnt know that , i thought sand blasting , primer and then powder coating was fine.

Rear carrier , i'd suggest make your own. Think of a cool design you want & have it made.
I'd just make a replica of the kaymar bumper with the swing out tyre and jerry can carrier.
Robbie's in dubai makes good quality fabrication work.takes a while now since they've gotten really popular , but they do a perfect job.

for the A/C vents , thought about using the under dash ducts from a YJ ?
there's a guy that sells the kit , but costs around 700-850$ !!! (copy paste - Slimline heat and air unit w/ all necessary mounting hardware, compressor, compressor mount for 2F engine, superflow condenser, drier, hose kit, belt and binary switchKit requires to remove the old heater system)
http://www.nostalgicairparts.com/getcategory.php?cat=8
try writing them to see if u can just get the vents/duct.i think that'll cost around 150-200$.
did u make sure you have all the bits and pieces for the A/C system ?
quick checklist here : http://www.familycar.com/ac1.htm

i think specter offroad sells parts too - but prob not in stock.

for a project like this , i'd budget around 30K as well.
since you've gone the FJ40 way , that leaves the bushanab-FJ45 way for me , but maybe someday when i can have it as a second car & work out registration issues with it being a pickup and all..

For old A/C vents , i'd just hunt around the scrap yards for something you can use , if you dont want to order an original replica from the states.
Think about possibly using a Jeep Wrangler YJ one , since that's a separate under-dash unit as well.
Check with Patrol-Head ( Seb ) on the dxb4x4 site , maybe he'll want to sell/give you his duct-unit , if he still has it lying around , since he took the complete a/c system out of his rally-YJ.
i still have a spare vent-piece for that lying around too.but they're pretty small compared to the ones for the FJ40 judging from the pics.maybe 2 of them next to each other ?

sorry if i'm bombarding you with questions and stuff here , but its jst really nice and refreshing to see someone doing one of the many things i still want to do!been planning a build like this for an FJ40 & FJ45 since i was a kid...and a rally patrol...and a monster patrol...and a suzuki samurai..and a pajero evolution...and a defender pickup with rear coils and 4.6 high output V8...

so many toys..so little time...and money...

Mpenzi · Post by **Mpenzi** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 3:57 pm

Kris this is my second project as well.
I did a Land rover V8 defender couple of years ago and sold it emmidiatelt after build..... after an offer that i could not receist.

Back to this project my second option for the A/C ducts is wrangler which i have in mind. The problem here is the fit-up that would not give you that look. Planning to go for the simple air ducts with nostalgic look like shown below.
As the chassy is in good shape i think sand blasting and a primer plus a good finish coat will do about 300 micron DFT.(Dry Film Thickness) I dont think i will Rust proof it.
I will Zinc coat all the body panel fittings ( Door Hinges and things) to improve the look.

Probably the Dash board will look like this one with the similar instrument cluster either fabricated here.
Due to the bigger size gear box the bottom plates will be cut for cater for gear knobs.
A fix the rear door You know to give the body more riggidity. And supringly all body fiittings like bushes and washers are localy available.....in Al Dhaid.

Mpenzi · Post by **Mpenzi** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 4:01 pm

Being to the Garage today and Body works and denting is in progress

Kris · Post by **Kris** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 8:18 pm

thats so sexy.

yeah that pic with the ac vents was the one i was comparing sizes of the YJ ducts to.

i'll def have to come down to abu dhabi in aug/sept and have a look at the details & take some notes for the future project

welding the rear doors together is so common on all the fj40's u find lying around here in the uae...i dont know why.

what u can do is instead of the barn door style that it has (also known as ambulance style doors) , u can change it so it opens as a pickup bed style tail gate ( 1 piece hinges at bottom ) .this would give it more rigidity , u can use a tailgate off a fj45 bushanab and make it fit.and it would look cool...is that what u meant ?

Mpenzi · Post by **Mpenzi** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 9:05 pm

At the moment I have some ideas what the final product would look like. but there are so many options here.

By the way the Engine mountaing on the chaissy are not welded. It is bolt on fittings that is so cool man .Just un bolt and move them where you want them.

Today I saw one in the same garage with Oman number plate and he fitted an V8 Toyota lexus engine on it. It is a monster But no off road capabilities as he did not fit a tranfer case.

Kris the car is in one of the garages in Al Dhaid. So give it another month or two and we can meet at Dhaid and show you the car and development.

Mpenzi · Post by **Mpenzi** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 4:57 pm

The project will be called ''Sting-Ray" as from now on. :woo:

Kris · Post by **Kris** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 2:23 am

thought this might help...well...ok i'm just bored...

admin feel free to delete following picture..being better than porn and all...

found another cool site for parts : ironpigoffroad.com .. its not complete and still under construction but is alright for general info regarding ideas and prices.
body panels - made in original gauge thickness , but holes and stuff arent cut out - hence the name economy line.http://www.ironpigoffroad.com/fab/bodyhe.shtml eg-136$ for a front bumper
also have a different more high quality ( $$$) line eg FJ40 soft top frame with brackets - $583.59
FJ40 repro drop down tailgate $583.59

also has some r&p overhaul kits...etc etc...enjoy surfing that.

another real good one : coolcruisers.com
very good info , also nice bestop soft tops , you can get all the decals and badges and stuff there too.
alright...still bored..

Mpenzi · Post by **Mpenzi** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 11:43 am

Hey man
now that is a seriour good look
By the way thanks for the web sites.ng FJ40. Macho looking with thos wheels.
Now ...where is card. let do some more shopping.

Mpenzi · Post by **Mpenzi** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 11:53 am

I have bought most of the parts from this web site. Check it out
http://www.btbprod.com/index1.html

abdalla · Post by **abdalla** » Fri May 04, 2007 1:16 pm

some of the parts are very expensive 8O

So any updates Mpenzi ? pics ?

Mpenzi · Post by **Mpenzi** » Sat May 05, 2007 5:28 pm

The parts are not too expensive depends on what you are buying.
To cut the shipping costs . I Joined ARAMEX post mail facilities. Basically you open up a maillimg post in USA and UK and all you goods are sent to this mailbox and they shipped them to Abu Dhabi and you pay then here locally in dirhams

I haven't been to the garage recently but awaiting some brake conversion kit from original to all Discs brakes form USA and planning to visit the garage next week.

I will post the updates soon.

iremy · Post by **iremy** » Tue May 08, 2007 10:21 pm

Mpenzi:

Parts for that model are manufacture in Brazil, very very cheap, the model is still manufacture there.

Sorry I din't write earlier but I been busy at work lately

Hope my 5 cents help

Mpenzi · Post by **Mpenzi** » Thu May 10, 2007 8:58 pm

Suprisingly most parts are similar to the toyota pick-ups down to the bolts and nuts.

UPDATES

Work started on the chasy- cleaning blasting and painting. The whole body is lifted and dismantle from the chasy.
bickjars will be posted soon when i visit the shop next week.