twoturtlesracing
Slowwly but surely...
Hello fellow Cruiserheads!
I decided to start my buildup thread so I can document as I go. It's probably going to be a little slow, but hopefully it'll be steady!
I've been a fan of 'Cruisers since I rode in one when I was three or four years old as my Dad and Mom test drove one. I distinctly remember thinking that the jump seats were cool because they faced towards the center- unlike all the heeps my folks had owned. As I grew up, I never lost interest and looked at them every chance I got, but when I was ready to buy a daily driver, I didn't have one in my sights and decided on a Mini Truck instead, that, especially as a carpenter, made more sense. The truck served me well and I had a lot of fun wheeling it, but I eventually needed to get something I could tow with, so I bought a Dodge cummins and eventually had to sell the mini. I still loved 'Cruisers though, and everytime I saw one sitting in a field, I stopped and asked if it was for sale. They never panned out, usually because the owner had bought it new and just couldn't bear to part with it.
Eventually, summer of '09, I started my search in earnest for a clean, fairly rust free, fairly stock 'Cruiser. Craigslist was my friend and I searched all over Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona. I finally found one that seemed to match the bill in Payson, AZ. I drove down to look at it, pretty sure that I was going to buy it after talking to the guy on the phone. It was supposed to be a '76, ran but needed a little work to run smooth, a little rust but not to bad, and pretty darn stock. I got down there to find that it was actually a '75 so it didn't have front discs, but the rest of it seemed to be in pretty good shape and I didn't want to drive down 8 hours and turn around without a 'Cruiser. So I bought it... I was now the proud owner of my first 'Cruiser.
It had been repainted a gosh-aweful brown, over the factory Mustard yellow but it didn't seem to be hiding any bondo, so I was glad of that. There is some rust in the rear sill, both rocker panels have a little, and a little in between the support channel under the body and the floor, as well as the normal spots on the front fenders. I'd seen much worse though, and was pretty pleased with my purchase overall.
It took me a couple of days to get it running good. It would start run a minute or two then die. So I went through the carb, only to eventually find that the problem was a cracked fuel line before the pump. replaced that, and Voila!
It was running!
My plan is to build my 'Cruiser as I drive it. I eventually want to do a frame off and paint it Dune Beige, but want pretty much all but the paint to be done when I get to that point. That will include all body work that can be done while on the frame, all chassis repairs, (Brakes, front diff is questionable, any wiring that needs to be done/repaired, and etc) and any mods that I want in the near future. I want to keep everything Toyota, but do plan on a few upgrades. Those include:
1. Mini truck power steering. (I have all the components off of an old parts Mini that I had except brackets- which I will probably fab.)
2. Eventually I want to build a bored, balanced, decked 2FE, as my compression numbers are lousy. (Found the center stud for the carb down the intake when I pulled the carb off. I have to wonder what else might've wound up down there...
)
3. Eventually I'll probably go with a Mini truck disc brake swap, but for now I'm just going to fix the drums till I can afford the parts... (Or parts mini/FJ60 if I can..) Although I think I know where a whole disc-equipped, 40 axle is that I could probably pick up cheap; so I may go that route as I think my front diff may be on the way out.
4. Someday I want to get an H41 w/3speed transfercase or maybe just an orion. Depending on what the budget looks like at the time.
5. Approximately a 4" SUA lift. I'd like either Alcan or Hell Creek. Although I may go with lifted 60 springs if I find the right deal.
6. Lockers. I really would like ARB's front and back, but I may go with an Aussie in the back, and save for an ARB for the front after that.
I decided to start my buildup thread so I can document as I go. It's probably going to be a little slow, but hopefully it'll be steady!
I've been a fan of 'Cruisers since I rode in one when I was three or four years old as my Dad and Mom test drove one. I distinctly remember thinking that the jump seats were cool because they faced towards the center- unlike all the heeps my folks had owned. As I grew up, I never lost interest and looked at them every chance I got, but when I was ready to buy a daily driver, I didn't have one in my sights and decided on a Mini Truck instead, that, especially as a carpenter, made more sense. The truck served me well and I had a lot of fun wheeling it, but I eventually needed to get something I could tow with, so I bought a Dodge cummins and eventually had to sell the mini. I still loved 'Cruisers though, and everytime I saw one sitting in a field, I stopped and asked if it was for sale. They never panned out, usually because the owner had bought it new and just couldn't bear to part with it.
Eventually, summer of '09, I started my search in earnest for a clean, fairly rust free, fairly stock 'Cruiser. Craigslist was my friend and I searched all over Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona. I finally found one that seemed to match the bill in Payson, AZ. I drove down to look at it, pretty sure that I was going to buy it after talking to the guy on the phone. It was supposed to be a '76, ran but needed a little work to run smooth, a little rust but not to bad, and pretty darn stock. I got down there to find that it was actually a '75 so it didn't have front discs, but the rest of it seemed to be in pretty good shape and I didn't want to drive down 8 hours and turn around without a 'Cruiser. So I bought it... I was now the proud owner of my first 'Cruiser.
It had been repainted a gosh-aweful brown, over the factory Mustard yellow but it didn't seem to be hiding any bondo, so I was glad of that. There is some rust in the rear sill, both rocker panels have a little, and a little in between the support channel under the body and the floor, as well as the normal spots on the front fenders. I'd seen much worse though, and was pretty pleased with my purchase overall.
It took me a couple of days to get it running good. It would start run a minute or two then die. So I went through the carb, only to eventually find that the problem was a cracked fuel line before the pump. replaced that, and Voila!
It was running!Started wheeling it the first real test drive!
My plan is to build my 'Cruiser as I drive it. I eventually want to do a frame off and paint it Dune Beige, but want pretty much all but the paint to be done when I get to that point. That will include all body work that can be done while on the frame, all chassis repairs, (Brakes, front diff is questionable, any wiring that needs to be done/repaired, and etc) and any mods that I want in the near future. I want to keep everything Toyota, but do plan on a few upgrades. Those include:
1. Mini truck power steering. (I have all the components off of an old parts Mini that I had except brackets- which I will probably fab.)
2. Eventually I want to build a bored, balanced, decked 2FE, as my compression numbers are lousy. (Found the center stud for the carb down the intake when I pulled the carb off. I have to wonder what else might've wound up down there...
)3. Eventually I'll probably go with a Mini truck disc brake swap, but for now I'm just going to fix the drums till I can afford the parts... (Or parts mini/FJ60 if I can..
) Although I think I know where a whole disc-equipped, 40 axle is that I could probably pick up cheap; so I may go that route as I think my front diff may be on the way out.4. Someday I want to get an H41 w/3speed transfercase or maybe just an orion. Depending on what the budget looks like at the time.
5. Approximately a 4" SUA lift. I'd like either Alcan or Hell Creek. Although I may go with lifted 60 springs if I find the right deal.
6. Lockers. I really would like ARB's front and back, but I may go with an Aussie in the back, and save for an ARB for the front after that.
The end goal is a rig that will do 70-75 as effortlessly as possible to get to the trail, and then be quite capable off road.
Another Pose Shot
I'm sure I'll have lots of questions along the way, but this forum is a wonderful resource and I know that I can find the answers or the help that I need on here, and am proud to be a part of it! A big Thank You to Woody for this awesome resource, as well as the all the experienced 'Cruiserheads that contribute.
(And so you know, the buildups name was my 
's idea and is in reference to the color of my 'Cruiser and is from the movie "The Big Country". I like it though)
's idea and is in reference to the color of my 'Cruiser and is from the movie "The Big Country". I like it though)
