ROTW: redcorn's TURD

redcorn · 08-13-07, 04:59 AM

My 1985 FJ60 was purchased sight unseen via EBay in October of 2004.
I had been looking for a wagon for quite some time and looked at many, but none in my price range or mechanical state EVER. The intent for the 60 was to build a reliable, sprung over wheeling/fishing rig that could go anywhere and haul muddy dogs, kids and friends in and out of some of my favorite inaccessible spots.

I surfed EBay religiously and one afternoon, up popped this one owner, New Mexico wagon. It was, at the time, in Slidell, La and growing mossier by the day in the hot and humid air of Lake Pontchartrain.

The original owner was moving off shore to some tropical island for his underwater photography business and he and his wife did not need two vehicles……..the 60 had to go.

I won the auction with a high bid of $1,875.00 and it was mine.

For some reason, there was very little bidding action on this rig which looked pretty meek in the auction pictures.

I shipped the tired rig back to Indianapolis, IN and to my surprise despite it being very mossy, dirty and second hand smoky, it was in SUPERB condition.

On the drive home from where I had the truck dropped off, the front right caliper seized requiring a tow truck drive home to get it to my garage. What a way to say hello huh?

My oldest daughter Anna and I started cleaning out the inside of 19 years of second hand smoke clad interior pieces, carpeting and headliner……YUCK.
It had been in Louisiana for about 3 years or so and never really was driven, so it sat in the owner’s driveway.
To our surprise, as we were cleaning, two chameleons crawled out from under the passenger seat. A true bonus!!!!

I had been collecting parts for my FJ40 for a few years and knew they would wind up on this rig as soon as I got her cleaned up and rolling.

The front axle was stripped down, sent to Badlands Off Road Machine Shop for a cut and turn.

4x4labs supplied the High Steer kit and I buttoned up the spring over fabrication at Indy Custom Machine.

I scored a set of new 37x12.5x16.5 GoodYear MT2A Military OZ tires and Hummer wheels for my FJ40 build up and realized that they were perfect FJ60 tires, so I contacted MRW for a set of custom 16.5” x 8” bead locks with the Toyota 6”x 5.5” pattern.
I primed and painted the beadlock rings brown and assembled the combo which really complimented the stance and ride of the wagon.
I am very impressed with the ride quality and wear characteristics of these tires and would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone needing a solid tire for all around use.

In September of 2005, I accepted a “temporary” position in Portland, Or and had the rig shipped out there without logging any real mileage on it. This proved to be a true test for the recently completed spring over and just what a daily driver 60 is all about. I packed the rear of the wagon with my trail toolbag, two locked third members and a set of unused Longfields and away it went……

Without rear shocks yet mounted and 3.73’s still in the unlocked thirds, the rig arrived unscathed and so began my love affair with this FJ60 I call “The Turd”.

Being out in the Pacific Northwest with a sprung over FJ60 is, IMHO, as close to Nirvana as a Cruiser Head can get.
I hooked up with the Cascade Cruisers and Mark Hawley of MetalTech to get to know the right people with the same mindset. What a great group of families to wheel, wrench and hang out with!!!!

I attended the Cascade Cruisers Bearing packing party and wound up flushing and replacing all lubricants, swapping out the 3.73’s for the Detroited and ARB’ed 4.11’s and the Longfields all in one afternoon. What a wrenchfest! Thanks Duane!!!!

W and James of Over the Hill 4x4 whipped a great tune up on the rig as well as some Rancho RS9000’s shocks and a new clutch for me and it was closer than ever to being the way I wanted it.

I wheeled quite a bit up and down the Oregon Coast, the Cascade Range, the Tillamook State Forest, Mt Hood Wilderness area but never got down to the Bend area and I regret it to this day.

Mark and LT from Metal Tech Cage used my gutted 60 as a guinea pig for a new cage for FJ60’s and I am very impressed with the design, install and fabrication of this tight unit and have had many compliments from the folks who have seen it.
I added the Safari Snorkel to the rig on my most recent trip out to Oregon and wheeled the Coast from Astoria to Neskowin as a last Oregon trip for the Turd.

I shipped the rig back to Indiana in June and just recently got her back as my daily driver.

Immediate plans are rear disc brakes and a fresh exhaust.
The Scion headunit swap out is in the works.

I love my FJ60!!!!

Pics to follow

john

Ducks · 08-13-07, 11:40 AM

Excellent... Pics! Pictures of wheelin' in Oregon would be cool too.

redcorn · 08-13-07, 11:54 AM

pics are slow to come......work comes first......

lowtideride · 08-13-07, 12:10 PM

Very awesome man, Just got back from OR....That place is amazing.

Very cool rig, nice low spring over...Hope to wheel with you in the future, over on the left coast

redcorn · 08-13-07, 03:03 PM

redcorn · 08-13-07, 03:05 PM

redcorn · 08-13-07, 03:06 PM

redcorn · 08-13-07, 03:07 PM

redcorn · 08-13-07, 03:11 PM

These two shots are pre Oregon condition.

redcorn · 08-13-07, 03:28 PM

Cage shots from a previous post

hks3sgte · 08-13-07, 04:00 PM

Nice! So how are you planning the Scion head unit?

redcorn · 08-13-07, 05:01 PM

Thanks for the props.

I scored a wiring harness for an FJ62 and plan on modifying the dash cut out to fit accordingly.

Should be a clean install.

Ducks · 08-13-07, 05:27 PM

Most excellent! Looks great.

Do you have stock springs with your SOA?

redcorn · 08-13-07, 05:34 PM

Thanks Ducks!!!!

Springs are the stockers.
I thrashed the spring over together with spare parts and the stock parts to come up with pretty low yet flexxy ride.
The quality of the ride is awesome.

I removed the swaybars and don't mind the roll I get into corners.
I have turned the RS9000's to the firmest setting.

The door seals are perfect and the noise level is really not that bad despite ZERO interior.

redcorn · 08-13-07, 05:36 PM

The West is the best Al.

We need to rendezvous @ Tellico or somewhere closer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowtideride

Very awesome man, Just got back from OR....That place is amazing.

Very cool rig, nice low spring over...Hope to wheel with you in the future, over on the left coast

philos1 · 08-13-07, 08:45 PM

LOVE the cage and the mild SO too... looking forward to the scion head swap- If I didn't already drop a bunch on my stereo already, I would've done this instead...

Great wheeling pics too!

PAFJ · 08-13-07, 08:53 PM

Nice rig, nice wheeling pics! Same color as mine, you gotta love the bronze!

precious cargo · 08-14-07, 01:04 AM

Great pics, man. Bring that awesome rig back to Ory-gun!! There's unfinished crawling to be done.

redcorn · 08-14-07, 04:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by precious cargo

Great pics, man. Bring that awesome rig back to Ory-gun!! There's unfinished crawling to be done.

Thanks A dub

I agree on bringing it back to Oregon.
Indiana is pretty lame......

john

beaufort-fj60 · 08-14-07, 05:31 AM

Sweet Rig..

is that rust on the rear seat back? I have not taken the carpet off of the back of the rear seats yet... just wondering if that's a common rusty spot.

Tofudebeest · 08-14-07, 06:25 AM

Those seat backs are rusty from new.

brokenparts · 08-14-07, 08:51 AM

Love the rig man, hope to see it back here in Oregon soon!

redcorn · 08-14-07, 09:11 AM

Other modifications to the rig:
Mean Green 140 amp alternator.
K&N airfilter.
Safari Snorkel and relocated air inlet horn.
Replaced fusible link.
New cap and rotor.
Tore down distributor and lubricated EVERY part with Kroil.
Contemplating a desmog.

PAFJ · 08-14-07, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MyHJ60Sheila

Those seat backs are rusty from new.

I agree, that's pretty common. Both my seat backs were rusty, the 60 and 62.

Dynosoar · 08-14-07, 10:25 AM

I really like your truck. Everything is well executed. The Cage rocks. I am 100% jealous.

Dynosoar

sandcruiser · 08-14-07, 11:04 AM

like the pictures. Great cage. I'm surprised that the lack of headliner doesn't make the rig super-loud.

redcorn · 08-14-07, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandcruiser

like the pictures. Great cage. I'm surprised that the lack of headliner doesn't make the rig super-loud.

I can't hear you, there is no interior!!!!!!!

LT · 08-14-07, 11:42 AM

Is your junk pile still here in Oregon? Any plans on coming back to the good 'ol NW? We have a beer festival coming up with over a 100 different micro breweries. Should be good times

redcorn · 08-14-07, 01:46 PM

Nah, I shipped it in June.

I am in Indiana working for an Orthopaedic company designing and machining titanium spinal inserts.

Pretty sweet gig.

www.paragonmedical.com

Missin' the good beer like a damn heroin addiction.

john

precious cargo · 08-14-07, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redcorn

Nah, I shipped it in June.

I am in Indiana working for an Orthopaedic company designing and machining titanium spinal inserts.

Pretty sweet gig.

www.paragonmedical.com

Missin' the good beer like a damn heroin addiction.

john

I understand that you've got a good thing going on there but.... there's beer here! Awesomely good beer and it's calling your name.