Project history

The Story

The HJ47 as found in Bridgetown — matte black with roof rack, bullbar and spotlights

Fig. 1 — HJ47 as found, Bridgetown WA

I found the ute in Bridgetown. It had spent its recent life as a bush-bashing, camping, 4WDing rig — a proper working 40 Series that had been ridden hard and modified with whatever was on the shelf.

How it was

The ute wore a very rough home-done matte black paint job — brush and roller in places — with a homemade roof cage, bullbar, spotlights, and all manner of gear drilled and bolted straight through the panels. Every corner of the body had something screwed to it. The chassis was straight and the drivetrain was there, but the cosmetics were done.

The HJ47 as found in Bridgetown — matte black bush rig — Fig. 1.1 — As found in Bridgetown — rough home-done black paint, roof rack, bullbar and spotlights

Fig. 1.2 — Side profile before teardown — bush-bashed and bolted up all over

Rear tray of the black HJ47 — Fig. 1.3 — Rear tray — flat black, roof cage and ladder rack from its 4WDing days

Cab and bare chassis after tray removal — Fig. 1.4 — Tray off — cab on the bare rails, ready for the strip

The teardown

The plan was to strip it back and repaint properly. Tray off, cab off, wiring out, interior gutted — every panel unbolted so the body could be straightened and the holes from all the bolted-on gear could be filled. Forty years of dust, dirt and patched-in repairs came out with it.

Engine bay during teardown showing the rebuilt blue 2H — Fig. 2.1 — Engine bay stripped back — the rebuilt 2H in its blue coat

Close-up of the rebuilt blue 2H diesel — Fig. 2.2 — The 2H after the rebuild — the only splash of blue on the whole ute

Cab and chassis with drivetrain exposed — Fig. 2.3 — Cab up, panels off — down to bones

Bare chassis with drivetrain and blue engine — Fig. 2.4 — Rolling chassis — 2H, gearbox and transfer case back on the rails

Cab lifted showing interior and floor pans — Fig. 2.5 — Cab off — floor pans, wiring and forty years of dust exposed

Interior stripped for restoration — Fig. 2.6 — Interior stripped — carpet, trim and sound-deadening pulled out

Bare dash and floor during teardown — Fig. 2.7 — Bare dash and pedals — every wire traced and re-run

Rear leaf spring and axle detail — Fig. 2.8 — Rear leaves and shock — pre-lift, before the 3" Superior kit went in

The engine

The 2H diesel was rebuilt by the previous owner down in Bridgetown — it hasn't been touched since. It sits in the bay wearing a coat of blue, which ended up being the only piece of blue on the whole ute. Everything else on the outside is 1F7 Pearl Silver and gloss black; lift the bonnet and there's the one splash of colour.

Fig. 3.1 — Rebuilt 2H diesel, blue finish

The colours

The body went back on in Toyota 1F7 Pearl Silver — a colour that shifts between cool silver and pale blue depending on the light. The tray was straightened, sealed and finished in gloss black.

Where it's at now

The cruiser has a long way to go. The end goal is a daily driver, but for now the shops and back is about as far as it goes. Brakes, steering, interior, and the hundred small jobs are still on the list — but every weekend it's a bit closer than it was.