Official SD Cruisers Introduction Thread

[1973Guppie]

I thought I would start this thread to allow everyone to intro themselves to everyone else. Post a few pics of your truck (or trucks), when you got it, the story, yadda yadda yadda........

[1973Guppie]

Ok, me first.

I have a 1973 FJ40 and a 1970 FJ55, some more info below on my sig line to both of the trucks.

The FJ55 is a project in the works now, and moving slowly. Picked it up from a guy in AZ that had purchased a butload of parts for like 8 years, taken the thing apart and then decided he didn't want it. Good for me, bad for him. I guess. Thanks to my friend cruiserbrett, I heard about it and picked it up immediately. Flew out to AZ and drove home a huge moving truck with a trailer behind it. I wish I had a pic of my wife's face when I drove up. The neighbors hate me and I could give a rat's ass.

The 1973 I bought with my late dad, when I was 16. It has gone through many changes and is now something I use offroad when time allows and tinker on a bit. Some upcoming mods will be an Orion, get your but over here Brett, , rear fj55 spring swap for longer wheelbase, metaltech cage, repaint, rear seat, redo axles, AL radiator, and some other stuff.

Who's next, don't make me look like an ass here folks......

[FJ40 CruiserEd]

Originally Posted by 1973Guppie

...Who's next, don't make me look like an ass here folks......

OK, you're not an ass anymore...not by yourself anyway. My name is Ed and I'm a cruiserhead...more of a social cruiserhead than a hardcore cruiserhead, I can stop anytime I want. Anyway, I owned my first '66 FJ40 Landcruiser 20 years ago and sold it after I blew the motor...talk about young and dumb! I spent almost 20 years kicking myself whenever I saw a Lancruiser and I now have a '73 FJ40 I bought a few years ago. It's pretty much stock except for the springs and seats. Don't plan on doing too much to it except maybe a non-USA 4-speed tranny (lower gears) and maybe power steering (my arms are talking me into it). My eldest son is using the 40 as a daily driver until he goes to the Army in a couple weeks....then it's all mine!

My Dad had a FJ40 20 years ago also and just bought another within the past year...seeing mine all the time was too much for him. I'll try to post some pics.

Ed

[FJ40 CruiserEd]

Here's some pics from Pismo, Thomas Mtn and Calico.

[fj40_73]

First off I would like to thank Noah for burning a few hours of mine by starting this thread. After about a dozen visits, I am finally posting.

After building and thrashing on Bajabugs for 6 or so years, and then fixing / building many many VW type vehicles, I was over it. Tired of fixing the same junk year after year. Sold the last of my VW stuff and it was time to work on something else.




Early 2002, I bought my first fj40. It was not too expensive, and looked good. It ran good, and most things worked.



My buddy Seth told me about the pismo event, and I made it up there in 2004. The cruiser by this point was starting to rust threw it's bondo, oh, and I had a slight rod knock. It still made the drive up to pismo, did the runs, and back to SD area...slowly. But I did get a 4" spring lift on.



By Pismo 2005, I had put in a 350 crate motor, that I pulled from my 69 chev van. I installed that motor in the van while living in Morro Bay. I also had a rear auto locker in at this point, and added power steering. I put a NV4500 behind that 350 with the original stock TC.




A moving truck and my cruiser played "Smush the Honda". My Cruiser was parked where the honda is in this picture, during impact it actually jumped back a whole half a space, all 4 tires left the ground some how.



This yielded me ARB lockers, front and rear in time for pismo 06



By this time, the cruiser body was needing some work. I had already gotten my feet wet with body replacemnt on the passenger's side kick pannel.



Missed pismo 07, while doing frame off work which included an Orion HD, Metal Tech Cage, and lots and lots of time.

I have a short list of things to do before pismo 08, but am excited to go.

SY.

[tlcruiserman]

So is this the first new or additional Land Cruiser Club in San diego in the last 20 years or what?

rules? Regs? who is running this?

Oh, here are a few pics:

Cheers,

Michael

[SD_rdcruzer]

Originally Posted by tlcruiserman

So is this the first new or additional Land Cruiser Club in San diego in the last 20 years or what?

rules? Regs? who is running this?

Cheers,

Michael

Nice looking rig.
Welcome

Not really a club, just an place on MUD for cruiser fans in the SD area to share info, ask ?'s and maybe get together for some runs or wrenching time.

No rules.
No regs.
(other than what Woody already has)
Guppie can be the guy we will blame when/if things go bad.

[tlcruiserman]

Originally Posted by SD_rdcruzer

Nice looking rig.
Welcome

Not really a club, just an place on MUD for cruiser fans in the SD area to share info, ask ?'s and maybe get together for some runs or wrenching time.

No rules.
No regs.
(other than what Woody already has)
Guppie can be the guy we will blame when/if things go bad.

Good to know,

I have not wheeled much in the last few years (too busy with work and what not) and as much as I love wheeling with just runs, it would be good to wheel with some cruisers. Do you guys mind it it is not a 4x series, I usually wheel my ragtop 70 series these days

[TemeculaTim]

Originally Posted by tlcruiserman

Good to know,

I have not wheeled much in the last few years (too busy with work and what not) and as much as I love wheeling with just runs, it would be good to wheel with some cruisers. Do you guys mind it it is not a 4x series, I usually wheel my ragtop 70 series these days

Hi Michael,

Would love to see that sweet BJ42 or that 70 out on the trail. How is the new shop going?

Tim

[tlcruiserman]

Originally Posted by TemeculaTim

Hi Michael,

Would love to see that sweet BJ42 or that 70 out on the trail. How is the new shop going?

Tim

Hey Tim,

Well I doubt you will ever see my BJ42 out on the trails (maybe the new owner) but I have plenty of others to wheel that are beter equiped like my BJ70 rag top.

Nothing new on the new shop, just making do with the old one, but know that i have gotten rid of some of my LC's I have more room, i am now down to 8 Cruisers

Cheers,

Michael

[925NorCalinSD]

Whats up guys. New to SD and love to wheel. Only been to Corral Canyon so far but still fun. Anyone know of any cool Advanced type trails close enough to make a day trip?

[1973Guppie]

no rules, no regs, just don't be a fucktard and you will be okay.

for some local good trails, maybe head up to big bear, a few good runs up that way.

I am going to try and make it to pismo, I may just drive the 40 up there, I am going to be selling the 40 sometime next year and building an fj80, so this would be a good chance for a roadtrip in it.

I say we get a roadtrip cruiser line up going together and roll deep.....

Noah

[Bluetribal]

I will just copy mine from the SoCal 80's section.

1.) My name is Mark but everyone calls me by my last name Kuz (Pronounced Cuz)
2.) I love just above Downtown San Diego in South Park.
3.) 96' LC FZJ80 Un-Locked
Mods so far: 285/75/16 Cooper Discoverer SST MT's, Slee Skid Plate, Eclipse Speakers, John Deer Headlight Bulbs, Rear Cargo Light, Flares removed & Durabaked, Middle Seat Recliners, Visor Fix, Refurbished Hanna Rear Bumper & CDL (Hazard) Switch.
Mods in the NEAR Future: Temp Gauge Mod, Diff Breather Extensions, PHH, Starter Contacts, & birff job with new rotors.
Mods in the Future: Custom Sliders, These are my plans for a Cargo Box & FOR 3" Lift.
4.)My rig is a daily driver, I enjoy all types of trails and hope to enjoy the rocks more once I get sliders.
5.)I am a Jack of many trades and don't master any of them! I make a living detailing Mechanical & Plumbing in new construction but I also used to do photography for magazines and websites on the weekends. I also worked for a company for a year doing architectural renderings using Photoshop and I play around with web design. So if you need any help with one of these fields let me know and I will offer some advice or lend a hand.
6.)Pictures:
Day 1 Photo

My rig in Death Valley with the new Durabak lining.

My refurbished Hanna Bumper

[landcruising]

I am a SD native living Scripps Ranch currently have a 1997 FZJ80 with ome heavy/med lift, metal tech sliders, slee short bus $$$$ etc. I sold my 1972 FJ40 a few month ago. From Smurf Mobile to Space Ghost. Haven't had much opportunity to break in the 80 Yet and am still builing and fixing things. Still working on a rear bumper, roof rack, ac repairs, hose replacments etc. no time with a new born baby girl.

[fj40_73]

Originally Posted by 1973Guppie

no rules, no regs, just don't be a fucktard and you will be okay.
Noah

Thinking of making up some club cards for us so I can get a discount on my classic car insurance. I think Noah, just qutoed the club motto, that will be printed on the cards.

CA - San Diego Cruisers
no rules, no regs, just don't be a fucktard
and you will be okay.

[1973Guppie]

NICE! I like it......

[DomSmith]

Trying to catch up on the SD Forum...

I'm Dom.

73 FJ40 (Since 94)

65 FJ45 SWB (Since Halloween)



South Oceanside...

[GreenBomber]

Hey guys! I just finally found this forum. I have been hibernating lately and not been very active!!

Name is Ian, I am a native San Diegan as well. I am currently a ME student at SDSU and am a full time surfer and only part time wheeler.

I bought my 1966 FJ40 back in April 2008, and got it in running order, but, there are just too many issues still that need to be taken care of before taking out to any trails.

My favorite thing to do is camp/surf/explore in Baja. My dad has been going down with his dad since the 50's, and actually my family started going into Mexico since the 30's, so I guess its in my blood.

I am a Toyota 4x4 enthusiast like all of you too, and have a 1996 4runner, and have only owned Toyotas. My dad owns a 2003 Tundra, and his last rig was an 1989 FJ60.





This is my 96 4runner





Me trying to hitch a ride in Baja...


And my buddy is also a Toyota fan, here is him going through the Squeeze in an Fj80... ahaha.. sorry, no after shots, we were all laughing too hard. He almost got stuck in there, it was sad.

[FJ40 CruiserEd]

Nice to meet youse...nice rigs

[1973Guppie]

greenbomber, nice trucks, how much lift does your 96 have? also, interested in your buddy going through the squeeze, any body damage? I have an 80 that I am going to build up and am wondering if it will fit through there?

Noah

[GreenBomber]

Thanks Noah, and for all who are wondering about the Fj80 and the squeeze (Pinyon Mountain trail in Borrego) ...

Fj80's do not fit! :( My buddy is an older guy who likes to play with cars and in this case sold the FJ80 to his buddy who owns a body shop.

He got about 4-5feet of body damage on BOTH sides of the Land Cruiser! Do not try... Unless you don't care about that sort of stuff!! hehe.

Thanks all, and I hope to meet you guys in the future! I am envious of all your creations!!!

[1973Guppie]

well, that's just one trail I won't be able to go on, can't think of any others that are ever that tight, I have driven it a million times anyhow........

[GreenBomber]

Yeah, its just a short but sweet trail...

I'd rather get an FJ80 and build it up than go through the squeeze and heart attack hill...

Personally do not like heart attack hill...i just feel like I'm going to flop and kill myself. heh

[1973Guppie]

agreed, it is hairy, not too bad if you take it slow, but when the hill is loose sand it can get even worse....

[Plum Crazy 72]

So here are a few pics of my 72' FJ40. Rebuilt from the ground up...




I will post a few more pics when I get the chance.

List of Mods:

- 350 Small Block V8
- Fuel Injected
- Complete interior Rino Lined and carpeting.
- Complete new wireing
- 12k Winch (and Remote)
- Mitsubishi Starion leather Seats
- Custom GMC Automatic Tansmition
- VOD gauges
- 480W Sound System
- Air Compressed E-Brake
- 2nd Fuel tank with feed pump
- The list goes on...

Future Mods:

- Rear seats (jump seats)
- Fog Lights (Lower and Upper)
- upgraded stereo
- New Paint Job
- The list goes on...

I LOVE IT!!!

Elwin
Home

[jefferson-mo]

Hi I'm Jefferson

I'm in Clairemont(behind the Mosque), Balboa & 805 area

I've had my 60 since Labor Day 2003, flew to Seattle on a one-way and drove it home. Bought it sight unseen(except for a couple o' pics) from a friend of a friend who was a trustworthy guy, had never even sat in a Land Cruiser before!

No regrets!

A few quick pics here, just a few that are in my Photobucket album, I have tons more

I'll use thumbs to be nice, just click on them for full-size pics:

Being picked up at the Seattle Airport, 1st time I laid eyes on it:



ooooh shiny!

Being home after the drive:



Pre-lift, with the kayaks loaded:



Post lift @ Superstition:



With the Mickey Thompsons, 33" TSL Super Swampers & Staun's Beadlocks(friggin' sweet)(33s didn't work well with stock gears) off the Blazer(more about the Blazer later):



Mods that MUST be finished this year:

32G Bronco fuel tank:



EFI 351W:



This is what's holding me up right now, must be done before I can tear in to the LC-----The Blazer

Started as a rolled 80(with a new crate motor, lockers and suspension done)(won't smog)(not mine--given to me), bought a 73 donor:



Did a cute little body swap:



Pretty much how it looks today:




now it's a 73(no smog)

Still hafta assemble the doors, some wiring work, build a roll cage(got a S & W Racecars 10 pt kit) and sell it!

My FJ60:

Stock, 250,000+ miles,

List of mods so far,

OME medium lift
4+ A/R shackles
Bilstein shocks(stock replacements-too short)
Extended sway bar links
Aussie Locker rear
15 X 8 steelies
32X11.50 Mud Terrains
Unity Spotlights
Hella headlights
Hella Aux lights
Cheap Taiwan Aussie Mirrors

Mods coming:

351W EFI-like a 5.0 but more(Cali smog legal)(already got)
Mark's adapters(already got)
H55F 5 speed(already got)
Big Shaft split case(with proper drive shafts)(already got all)
4.10 FF rear(already got)
FJ62 4.10 front(don't got)
PowerTrax front(already got)
4Runner Calipers & T100 M/C(already got)
Stock Chrome Steelies(just got today)
33x9.50x15 All Terrains(don't got)
FJ62 speedo & tach(already got)
32 gallon Bronco Fuel Tank(already got)(new freebie)

Thinkin seriously about a RTT

Want bumpers & winch(down the road)


My avatar is my son, taken when he was only 5 months, now he is 3 years and 8 months

Here he was last Valentine's Day(2008) near Plaster City:



He digs road trips!

Genuine Cowboy Hat bought in Nogales Mexico


About me:

I'm a Ford Parts Guy, was working @ Pearson, now @ Kearny Mesa

sorry


Kearny-Pearson Ford



Born in Toronto of Australian parents(makes me Aussie I guess)
(about as pure Aussie as a white man can be)
moved to Rochester NY in '62
then to San Diego in '66
been living in Clairemont since Dec '67
Got married in July '03(Ya I waited long enough)
Carson James born in June '05

when he graduates high school I'll be 63

[Plum Crazy 72]

I wanted to post a few more pics of some of the little details that I love about my 72'. One thing I wanted to mention is that I am not a fan of my steering wheel, does anyone know where I can get one that is a little more stock looking. The one I have is off of a newer GMC truck. Anyhow, if anyone has any ideas I would love to hear you thoughts.

One pic is showing my shifter... I get a lot of questions about this. The other pic is just a fun look at one of my floor mats, custome made to look like my 72'.

Thanks,
Elwin

[car-car]

Alright, so I guess I'm up next. My name is Adam, born and raised in North San Diego, and I've caught the Cruiser sickness. The story of my newfound Cruiser addiction goes something like this. My first 4wd vehicle was an '01 Tacoma, which was a great truck. Functional and a lot of fun off-roading even though it was completely stock. Enter the wife. Short version of the selling of the Tacoma for a "family friendly" Accord was that part of that deal was that I was going to get another truck of my choice at a time to be named later. One of my best buddies had picked up an old Bronco that he started to work on, which then got me on the track of old classic 4x4 rigs. I have always been a fan of Toyota trucks, and I remembered the old Land Cruisers that were timeless classics, yet completely trail-worthy, but weren't something you saw all the time. I figured that a Cruiser was what I wanted. I knew my mechanical skills at that point were, how do I put this....lacking, as the most I had ever really done was an oil change and swap some spark plugs, but I wanted to learn how to fix things. I wanted a vehicle that was in mostly working order, late model with disc brakes, power steering, etc. so that I could drive it right off the bat without having to do any conversions, so I started looking around on eBay, AutoTrader, etc. In '06, I eventually ran across a late model '82 in Texas on Cars.com. I had the owner take it to a dealer to have it inspected, and ended up buying it unseen (other than photos and a dealer inspection report), and had it shipped. If I had to do it again, I would have gone for a pre-75 to avoid smog, and do the conversions I wanted, but hindsight is 20-20. When my son (who was two years old at the time) saw it, he named it the "Car-Car", which is what he still calls it today. The rig was pretty much stock, except for some 33x12.5x15 tires the PO put one. Other than that, it was in pretty decent condition with minimal rust.

I drove it for a while as is, patching minor things like the electrical hack job that was done on it, minor tune up things, etc. Took it camping a few times, and to Borrego, but I was tearing up the fenders with the stock suspension on the 33's on even the mildest of trails. So it was sitting in the garage more and more, which led some neglect once the carb started acting up since I didn't really know what I was doing mechanically. It really wasn't getting the love it needed, but once we moved to the place we are now, and we got settled in, I officially caught the Cruiser bug. I had to figure out why the carb wasn't running as well as it should so I started researching online. That is when I found the ih8mud site. Best and worst thing I found. Best, in the sense that I researched how to rebuild the carb, change out the manifold gasket, track down and fix vacuum leaks, track down and fix oil leaks, reset the timing, change all the fluids, rebuild the steering knuckles and front axle, center arm, etc., etc. so that it was running better than when I had gotten it; and worst, in the sense that the wife now hates the Cruiser because I spend waaaaay too much time on it now. But, she does now call me up to tell me if she sees a Cruiser around town.

My son and I ended up going up to Pismo for the first time in '08, and we can't wait to go back. That was a great experience, and met a lot of cool people up there and saw some pretty nice rides up there. It's also been great meeting some of the other Cruiserheads around San Diego County. I've spent some time talking with Dom and Chris about their rigs and picked their brains quite a bit, and appreciated meeting eveyone else and seeing everyone's rigs at Dom's place last month.

I just completed my first real "mod" on my rig. Everything else to this point has been deferred maintenance. I installed the MAF Safari 4" SUA lift on my truck, and I am completely stoked on it. I researched lifts for about six months as I saved up some cash, and I'm glad I went 4" instead of 2.5". The springs are still a little stiff, as I still need to fully break them in, but it is already a vast improvement of what I was running before.

Anyway, looking forward to wheeling and hanging with you guys in the future, and to further enjoying "the sickness" of owning a Cruiser.

Adam


Pic 1: When I got it:
Pic 2: My son who named it "Car-Car":
Pic 3: Updated pic with the new lift:

[Plum Crazy 72]

Adam,

I must say that the lift looks FANTASTIC!! Are you going to make it to the Borrego run on April 4th?

Elwin

[car-car]

Thanks man. I'm working on the hall pass to get out and wheel with you guys. Hopefully, we'll see you then. Thanks.