[Gwynley]

Hi All

I joined mud a while ago, but haven't posted much I have been reading the massive amount of info that already is on the forum - it really is great! I posted some of this before - but its easier to start again...

I am in the planning stages for a charity drive from London to Cape Town - the website following my journey and preparations is Overlandinthesun the plan is to leave around April 2009 - so I have a bit of time to sort things out..

I bought a 1989 HJ60 (though looks like US '62s but it is a manual and says HJ60 on the VIN)
The spec is as follows;
2h diesel (4 litre straight 6)
Manual,Hi 2WD Hi/Low 4WD
24volt NATO spec electrics
Great numberplate
Pretty standard everything else!

Few pics;








So what have I got planned?
Repair of the rust - and have the frame check out by a specialist
Protect the underside + frame (it isn't going to frame off though)
Rebuild Suspension, Axels Brakes Hub Diffs etc
Install Long range fuel tank - haven't exactly decided which on yet
New rear bumper / dual wheel carrier
Roof rack
Roof tent
Marvel at the recently rebuilt gearbox and transfer case..
Get the injectors cleaned - but everything else engine is fine.

Then....
Install DST thin film electrically producing Solar PV on the bonnet (have a look at G24 Innovations, personalising solar power, solar energy, dye sensitized solar, renewable energy, panel, charger, cell, sensitised ) with a seperate 12v circuit. This will power electric fans + electric power steering + all ICE.

Drive off into the sunset!

Last weekend I picked up the "CumTruck" from a Landrover specialist who have sorted out the welding and checked the frame - which is all good!

A few pics post rust...








Its not pretty but its for Africa!

[Gwynley]

does this forum not resize pictures?

[euclid]

Originally Posted by Gwynley

does this forum not resize pictures?

Nope, it does't.

[NocalFJ60]

Welcome to mud. Nice cruiser.

Enjoy the adventure.

[Gwynley]

Thanks for the Welcome - I certainly will enjoy the adventure.

I'll resize the pics as it is a bit annoying!

[Gordz]

Awsome Trip... give me a shout when you are in Cape Town... There are quiet a few 60's here, and a massive cruiser community... will take you to some cool places.

Gords

[Tinker]

Geez -
And all we get to do is poke around the mountains! OK, I guess we could go to South America as a few on MUD have.

Congratulations & will be eagerly following your progress!

[gbcruiser]

That is a good looking truck, a fine engine, and great rust repairs. How many miles on it, and any interior pics?

[Tapage]

great .. but the oil around your oil cap, means you miss some oil over the valvle cover the last time that you change it .. or your engine it's blowing compresion up ..?

[Gwynley]

Originally Posted by Tapage

great .. but the oil around your oil cap, means you miss some oil over the valvle cover the last time that you change it .. or your engine it's blowing compresion up ..?

(!) The engine picture was taken when I first bought the car, it is just a clumsy mechanic.. Engine really is fine.


Truck has 146,000 miles so just run in really!

[missipboy]

cool. that sounds like fun. so does that have the h55?

[Gwynley]

Originally Posted by missipboy

cool. that sounds like fun. so does that have the h55?

Not sure what a H55 is? engine is 2h

[Coyote808]

H55f is the heavy duty 5 speed manual transmission that was used behind Land Cruiser engines like the 3B, 2H, 13B-T, 12H-T, 2F, 3F, 3F-E, 1FZ, 1FZ-FE, 1HZ, 1HD-T, etc. So most likely, it is the H55f if it already has the 5 speed manual. If it's a 4 speed manual, probably H41f or H42f. And 4 speed auto is probably an A440f. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think those are all the transmissions that came stock in the 60 series.

[Gwynley]

Arh I see - thanks. Yes it is a 5 speed with part time 4x4 (its 2wd on the tarmac). The gearbox and transfer case have been reconditions recently so that is one this I don't have to worry about!

[Gwynley]

Been doing a bit of work today - I have a week off work to play with landcruiser!

I'm not doing a frame off repair - just a bit of touching up and some restoring. It is going to Africa after all!

I have never worked an a Landcruiser or 4x4 before so beer with me.. ( I have however completely rebuilt a BMW e30)

Jacked it up using my new high lift... I'm outside as it doesn't fit in the garage...



Did a bit of undoing nuts etc - Nothing difficult what so ever!


Then it was jack it up a bit further..



And remove the rear axle..


This HJ60 is missing something now!!



I couldn't believe how easy this was - nothing difficult so much space to work with great!


Can someone tell me what this is? Looks like a fuel pump to me - but isn't connected by the looks of things.. Any thoughts?

[BC40]

Originally Posted by Gwynley

Been doing a bit of work today - I have a week off work to play with landcruiser!



Can someone tell me what this is? Looks like a fuel pump to me - but isn't connected by the looks of things.. Any thoughts?

Water seperator. Allows water in fuel to settle, sensor lights up an indicator on the dash when there is water in your diesel. The screw on the bottom is a drain plug. Yes, definitely reconnect that before your trip.

[Gwynley]

ooh - deffo sounds useful!

Thanks!

[Gwynley]

Got a bit of news on this - just ordered a 195 litre fuel tank, snorkel, 2x diff Lokka, brand new extra heavy duty suspension with a 2" lift and a dual spare wheel carrier from Welcome to 4WD Systems Online! Tom there has been very helpful! Should be in the UK in the new year!

I also just landed a bit of support from my local Toyota dealership (i'm doing the trip for a charity called Solar-Aid) Jemca - who are London's biggest Toyota dealership - nice load of parts coming my way!

[Tinker]

What are those red lights in your rear bumper - foglights? Are they original? If so, I'm even more jealous.

And you must be having decent weather or you couldn't be doing this outside. And nice digs!

[Gwynley]

Yea they are fog lights in the rear bumper - actually they will be coming out as my other lights are going to be covered by the two spare wheels - which will be highly illegal in the UK. I'm going to put some lights in the rear bumper - so the fogs will be forsale!

It is pretty cold outside now - but not as bad as some parts in the US! I'm fine with it as long as it doesn't rain...

[GLTHFJ60]

Gwynley,

I would have thought your 89 HJ would have come with a FF rear axle, but oh well, not a big deal.

Good luck on your build!!

Originally Posted by Coyote808

H55f is the heavy duty 5 speed manual transmission that was used behind Land Cruiser engines like the 3B, 2H, 13B-T, 12H-T, 2F, 3F, 3F-E, 1FZ, 1FZ-FE, 1HZ, 1HD-T, etc. So most likely, it is the H55f if it already has the 5 speed manual. If it's a 4 speed manual, probably H41f or H42f. And 4 speed auto is probably an A440f. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think those are all the transmissions that came stock in the 60 series.

The FZ and HZ series of engines came with the H151 tranny, not the H55, and none of those engines came in 60 series cruisers.

[Gwynley]

Thanks!

From what I have seen of the '60s in the UK is that they all have rear drum brakes and only semi floating... Not even sure if you could get fully floating in the UK?

[Tinker]

It's +5 Farenheit (-15C?) & snowing here at about 1:30 PM: no workie outside. But the '84's in the heated garage downstairs so I'll putz a little yet today.

Gwyn -
Bet you could sell that rear bumper with the foglights to someone over here! Lots of us like the more obscure accessories. Too bad I can't use them: rear bumper is 3/16x5" C-channel. I'd think you'd have to go to a custom rear too but with swing-away tire mounts.

[Gwynley]

Brrr that's a lot colder than here. About 7c (or 45f in your money!)

The rear swings for the two wheels that I am getting are bolted directly to the frame (through the bumper) much much cheaper that buying a Kaymac rear bumper which seemed to be the only company willing to make a dual carrier.

I need two spare wheels, and with a long range fuel tank - none can be underneath. I'm also going to be having a roof top tent and don't really want a wheel on the roof anyway. This seems to be the best option

[Ropeman]

Nice looking project Gwynley.

I'm keen to follow your progress as I'm doing a similar thing to my HJ60, off to Morocco in the new year. I'm taking it down to Perth today for a play in the mud, see if I can't provoke some things to fall off.

[Yspen]

Gwynley

At the current exchange rate it may be worth your while to see if these guys = IEF Engineering News could ship a rear carrier to you . They have been in the business for years and it is a proven product . Use it myself .

http://www.iefeng.co.za/replacement_...r60_image1.jpg

Be sure to meet with us when you arrive in SA : www.landcruiserclub.co.za ( lot of useful tips there re travel in Africa)

[Gwynley]

Originally Posted by Ropeman

Nice looking project Gwynley.

I'm keen to follow your progress as I'm doing a similar thing to my HJ60, off to Morocco in the new year. I'm taking it down to Perth today for a play in the mud, see if I can't provoke some things to fall off.

Cool! Are you going west Coast? or East? - I'm going East, going from Italy to Tunisia, then Libya - nowhere near Morocco. Have you got a website going?

[Gwynley]

Originally Posted by Yspen

Gwynley

At the current exchange rate it may be worth your while to see if these guys = IEF Engineering News could ship a rear carrier to you . They have been in the business for years and it is a proven product . Use it myself .

http://www.iefeng.co.za/replacement_...r60_image1.jpg

Be sure to meet with us when you arrive in SA : www.landcruiserclub.co.za ( lot of useful tips there re travel in Africa)

Arhh! that looks better than what I have ordered.. oh well - i'm sure what I have ordered will be cheaper as the shipping is shared with a load of other items. I have joined the Landcruiserclub ZA, i'll start writing a post there at some point - will definatly want to meet people.

Gwyn

[Ropeman]

Originally Posted by Gwynley

Cool! Are you going west Coast? or East? - I'm going East, going from Italy to Tunisia, then Libya - nowhere near Morocco. Have you got a website going?

First trip is just going to be a shakedown around Morocco, up into the Haute Atlas then over the back and returning to the coast along the Oued Draa. The trip after will be to Timbuctou.

Libya is an interesting choice, I'd love to go but the astounding levels of bureaucracy put me off the idea slightly, are you getting a guide and all that palaver?

Went round the offroad course at Glentarkie yesterday and was frankly amazed at the off road capabilities of my big daft truck. The tow hitch will have to come off as it makes for a ruinous departure angle but the only time it got stuck was on some very deep ruts, the 235 - 70 16 BFG ATs coped superbly with any traction issues but they are just a wee bit short and I bellied out on the diffs. Still, I was happy cruising at 75 all the way back home so a decent compromise for expeditionary use.

If you haven't taken you cruiser on a proper off road course, I'd definitely advise it, the confidence you'll gain is well worth the money.

Hand throttle is a godsend too

[Gwynley]

Can't you drive all the way to Timbuctou on dual carriageway now?.. Trip looks cool!

so far the bureaucracy for Sudan and Egypt is worse than Libya. As far as I have worked out, you have to have a fixer - but they do act as a guide and only really heard positive things from other overlanders.

I have done a bit of offroading in the cruiser, but deffo want to go on a proper cause at some point when it is completed. And yes Hand throttle is a godsend in muddy bumpy fields at music festivals...