What the bleep have I gotten myself into?!

[$hifty]

Hey everyone, I'm brand new around here and to Land Cruisers.

Last week I picked up a 1990 FJ62 from a guy on Craigs List. I had been looking for a while by recommendation from a friend who has owned them in the past..."they'll never leave ya walking" he said.

Anyhow, I rolled the bones on it for 4 grand without a pre-purchase inspection (yikes) because there was a mile long line of people looking at the rig and my mechanic couldn't get it in...so, needless to say, I just went ahead and picked it up.

I was nervous today when I got a call from the shop since I had noticed a bit of oil on the lower end of the motor (btw, it has 200k miles on it). Fortunately, Tom said that it checked out wonderfully with a very minor rear engine gasket/seal leak that was really not worth worrying about at this time. He thinks I got a great deal and frankly so do I!

Anyhow, enough about that, I've been trolling around here looking for resources for Land Cruisers and I have to say a big thanks to everyone for providing so much information. But I was wondering if anyone had some tips for a newbie like myself, sort of like a, "if I could go back to when I first got mine" kind of thing, so I will just post the question as that:

If you could go back to the first days of your rig, what would you do different?

Thanks in advance for the input!!!!!

O, and one last question. I could probably see better at night if I held a candle out the window...is there a way to increase the brightness of my headlamps???


(pics to come btw)

[AGreekBoy]

buy the sylvania white headlights i have them on my 40and 60 and is a huge difference. i wouldnt do anything different just drive it . keep in mind they were not built for speed. good lluck with it and welcome to mud.

[gaylon]

welcome to the group. Cheers. Lots of info here. You should put your location, someone might offer to have you over for a beer and a look over on the truck!

[Bryan062087]

Get a big auxiliary tranny cooler if you don't have one!!!

[Front Range 4x4]

yeah, if I had done that I wouldn't be getting the 5 speed that I am now.

[me_tu05]

that oil leak could just be the oil pan gasket. you should suggest that to your mechanic. congrats on the purchase and have fun with it.

[Corbet]

If your mechanic has not already gone through and changed out all the fluids, plugs, wires, etc... then drive it for a while. Make sure the cooling system is working 100%. Don't get wrapped up in all the modifications out there until you know its mechanically solid.

[Wile E Coyote]

Welcome aboard! There's a 60 series FAQ at the top of the 60 series page that has dozens of links that should answer much of your initial questions.

Awe heck, just added a link to the FAQ for ya:
http://forum.ih8mud.com/60-series-wa...%2A%2A%2A.html

[NocalFJ60]

Welcome to mud.

I would look over the record if you got them and see what has been done recently. I would change the transmission fluid if it has been awhile and maybe drop the pan and clean out the filter inside. Use the search in just this forum and read over the FAQ. See what kinda of gas mileage you are getting to see if it needs a tuneup. I would buy new headlights and also look into upgrading the harness which makes a big difference if you want to run high output lights.

[$hifty]

Originally Posted by me_tu05

that oil leak could just be the oil pan gasket. you should suggest that to your mechanic. congrats on the purchase and have fun with it.

It's got new plugs, wires, oil, oil filter, tranny fluid, coolant (and a newer radiator it looks like) the A/C is frigid...so far so good!

The body is straight with just a tiny little rust on the rear gate around the wiper arm.

[WES1977]

where are you located? and welcome

[Heartworm]

If you got an essentially rust free rig for $4K that runs and has been taken care of, you did good. Too bad it has 4 head lights, I'm sure that costs more to upgrade than two..HA! The head light mod is an enjoyable addition. I have had experience with the upgrade to Sylvania Silver Stars (~$50) on my 60 and there was a noticable difference; however, if I could do it over again, I would have gone for the REAL upgrade to Hella H4s or something like it. Ditto the advice on getting everything mundane (fluids, brake check, power steering pump check, etc) in order before spending the big bucks on the fun stuff. Hard to follow, but wise. Because your rig has 200K, you need to start thinking (Dreaming?) long term, i.e., engine and transmission for the long haul. There is a world of discussion on this board about both. The decisions of the future are (1) engine rebuild vs V8 mod (2) stock auto tranny rebuild vs H55 5 speed standard. Welcome!

[iaintscared1969]

Welcome and the light thing is an easy fix. Run the Syl. or upgrade to the Sterns setup. Lot of info here on it. BTW welcome

[Marc311]

Upgrading my headlights and harness to H4s was certainly one of the best mods I did on my 60. Check out RocDoc's thread when he upgraded his FJ62. He went high end - you can do it even cheaper than he did. But to do it right, it will likely set you back $200 or so ($40 to $100 for the harness, another $100 for head lamps, and another $30+ for bulbs). But your headlights will be as good, and likely better, than most new cars.

I agree with getting the mundane stuff done. But that is so . . .mundane. So throw yourself a bone every once in a while and spend some $$ on a fun mod between boring maintenance items. It doesn't need to be expensive either - check out the best mods under $50 thread.

[PhilC64]

Welcome to Mud! The only thing I would have done differently is getting it sooner! I did over $13K in damage to my FJC before my FJ62 was ready to roll the trails! Be careful, LC's are more addictive than crack and twice as expensive!

[4xoddic]

Congrats!

Having had an FJ62 for 18 yrs with nothing that would be considered a mod, here's my .02:

Hella or IPF European code headlights (as mentioned). Believe it would be far wiser than any DOT approved Sylvanias. Just the 2 low beams would put a on your face. I'm sure new harness would improve, but OEM will work.

Clean the contacts on all your door lock/window switches (search is your friend).

Poly bushings in springs will make you think you have a new suspension, although it's most of the work involved in a new suspension, IMHO.

New shocks (if needed). Having gone thru most of the major brands (Bilstein, OME, Nitrochargers), I would advise Toyota thru CDAN. Ditto for steering stabilizer.

Tires? I've always run 30x950x15 Michelins = 60K & near stock for 4.11 & AT.

Learn to anticipate hills & passing manners of your FJ62.

5.25 component speakers in front doors; 6.5 coaxials in rear OEM location (all behind stock grilles); tweeters (sweet & easy spot is 1.5 inches from upper R corner of master window/door switch). Crossovers in map pockets. Reflextix (aluminum bubble wrap) in doors (search is your friend). Replace window felt & rubber strip on doors (sorry, I don't have specifics, but believe water finds its way into door over time). Do all that at the same time as you polished the switch contacts.

Check that all drain openings in lower body & doors are open & draining.

New lift struts for hatch (search is your friend).

Subscribe to Yahoo 3FE group & keep reading MUD.

[brian]

Originally Posted by $hifty

If you could go back to the first days of your rig, what would you do different?

Thanks in advance for the input!!!!!

left the house sooner to go pick it up.

[CardinalFJ60]

a couple things came to mind.

I recommend concentrating on the mechanicals first, then suspension mods, tires, and all that stuff. I think that's the first priority. It's no fun parked on the side of the road with the hood up.

As you need to repair items, (which you will) you'll be thinking about mods/upgrades. I recommend thinking about OEM parts first, in most cases, since that part lasted like 20 years. Then, get advice from here on whether an "upgraded" part is worth it, and what their experience has been.

also, be prepared for the "while you're I'm in here" repairs/mods. For example, when you need to do a birf re-pack, that's when to do brakes, and heck, may as well get some Longfields in there, and awww heck, maybe you should keep in on the jackstands and clean up the axle and re-paint it. then, you look at how easy it would be to change those front shocks with all that stuff out of the way... ;-)

BUY THE FACTORY SERVICE MANUALS.

IPF headlight loom and lights are great...for the 62, you'll need two Looms IIRC. Kurt at CruiserOutfitters is a good resource for that setup.

have fun, enjoy the view from the right lane.

that's my $02...

[dp777usa]

Got my 89 Fj62 for $4K with 153,000 on it. It was a steal too. No rust. Best Mods for me so far are Tuffy console, near new Toyota Tacoma TRD sport bucket seats in front--got lucky on those. Pioneer CD player that takes an Ipod, tranny cooler on radiator, replace 4 WD dash actuated solenoid in engine compartment--which lets you go into 4WD at low speeds if your hubs are engaged; Pro Comp shocks, seals on differentials, Reid Supply rear hatch shocks, Yakima racks for the top. Still left to do: OME or Alcan leaf springs all around, tint the windows, 30 inch tires when existing tires wear out, possible LP gas conversion if fuel costs don't come down--jajajaja

[CruisinFJ60]

I have the sylvania silverstars and love em HUGE improvement over stock. Thats teh first thing i woulda done as oposed to them crappy wast of money ebay H4 "upgrades" after that i wouldnt do anything diferent. I love my truck and everything it is even with the motor on its last leg. I have driven the hell out of it in the last 30k and its never really left me with engine problems, maybe a busted axle shaft or 2, but never engine problems.