[Sixty's Guy]

Hi all. I bought my FJ55 yesterday. So yesterday morning I took the 1 hour plane flight from Launceston (Tasmania, Australia) to Melbourne. From the airport took the 30 minute bus ride to the train station. I then took the 1.5 hour train ride to Ballarat. Picked up the FJ55 and drove the just over one hour drive to Geelong to meet up with some friends. Then drove one hour to the ferry and took the 11 hour ferry ride to Devonport. Then the one hour drive back to Launceston. So in just over 24 hours I got the 55 back home!

I have been a HJ60 owner for a few years now and have always had a soft spot for them - so I bought one!

Here's some pics;

Existing 60;


New 55;








Interior;


Little bit of rust;




All in all I'm rather happy with my purchase. It doesn't have too much rust in it. After taking three 1 hour drives in it though I know that I want power steering. Also will get some greaseable shackles and pins and probably some Bilstein shocks. Front disc brakes would be nice too. Other than that just clean up the bodywork a little.

I need a big shed now!

[romegadave]

Great for you mateLooks like a clean rig and you've already got hours of drivin' to prove she's right. You know, some don't like the ambi doors but I must say they look right on your 55. I'm pretty much utilitarian and since I have no back glass and my tailgate is ****--I wish I had them. Good luck with your pig/welcome to the sty/ and look forward to hearing more about your work on her----------------Greets, Dave

[Sixty's Guy]

Originally Posted by romegadave

Great for you mateLooks like a clean rig and you've already got hours of drivin' to prove she's right. You know, some don't like the ambi doors but I must say they look right on your 55. I'm pretty much utilitarian and since I have no back glass and my tailgate is ****--I wish I had them. Good luck with your pig/welcome to the sty/ and look forward to hearing more about your work on her----------------Greets, Dave

Thanks Dave. She starts first time and all an probably doesn't drive as bad as I thought it would. I never thought I'd say it though, but my 60 felt luxurious when I drove it this afternoon!

[romegadave]

Excellent! Your testosterone will now sky rocket!!

And remember....basset hounds and volkswagen buses promote world peace.....FJ55's keep world peace

[n2666s]

shore nuff is one purdy piggie and with a pto

Lou

[TheBossHog]

Welcome to the pen Don't forget to add the piggie to your sig!

[Sixty's Guy]

Originally Posted by TheBossHog

Welcome to the pen Don't forget to add the piggie to your sig!

Done!

[jsaltlick]

I'm afraid to ask how little you paid for that sexy beast. Love the ambulance doors!!!!! I would guess $2800 AUD.

[fjdaveinoz]

Is that the one I seen on Ebay? is a nice looking truck, one of the better ones sold recently.
congrats!

Dave

[Sixty's Guy]

Originally Posted by jsaltlick

I'm afraid to ask how little you paid for that sexy beast. Love the ambulance doors!!!!! I would guess $2800 AUD.

Good guess! $3000 AUD.

[Sixty's Guy]

Originally Posted by fjdaveinoz

Is that the one I seen on Ebay? is a nice looking truck, one of the better ones sold recently.
congrats!

Dave

Yeh, was on Ebay briefly............. until I saw it! I missed out on a nice one a few weeks back so I snatched this one up straight away.

[uted]

That looks pretty neat Mark. Good score. Can't wait to see it in person

[Pighead]

That is indeed one fine looking swine. Well, maybe except for the white wagon wheels...
And the interior looks pristine. Even the dash. is that the original dash or a dash cover?
Would like some engine pics. Was Toyota still using the vacuum advance dizzy in Oz in 1975?
I like my tailgate, when it works, 'cause I cook on it. I think the tailgate is more useful than ambulance doors...but over here, ambulance doors would be way cooler than a tailgate.

[Sixty's Guy]

Originally Posted by uted

That looks pretty neat Mark. Good score. Can't wait to see it in person

Hi Steve and thanks - didn't know you were on here!

[Sixty's Guy]

Originally Posted by Pighead

That is indeed one fine looking swine. Well, maybe except for the white wagon wheels...
And the interior looks pristine. Even the dash. is that the original dash or a dash cover?
Would like some engine pics. Was Toyota still using the vacuum advance dizzy in Oz in 1975?
I like my tailgate, when it works, 'cause I cook on it. I think the tailgate is more useful than ambulance doors...but over here, ambulance doors would be way cooler than a tailgate.

Thanks. I'm thinking that I will put the wheels and tyres off the 60 in the top pic and put my 35z back on the 60. Dash is original. It does have one large crack on the top near the passenger that can;t be seen in that pic. Engine pics in a few days. Not sure on the vacuum advance. I wasn't too fussed with the rear doors - I just wanted a 55!

[uted]

Originally Posted by Sixty's Guy

Hi Steve and thanks - didn't know you were on here!

Usually in the 40 section getting info on how to mod my 40

[Sixty's Guy]

I have done some suspension work to the old girl in the last few days. I bought new bushes, greaseable shackles and pins, U bolts and a new steering damper, all from Belton. I baulked at buying new springs though. At $860 plus freight from Belton I decided to get out of it cheap and make up my own custom packs.

I got given a 2nd hand set of OME +2" 60 series springs, so I set about using those on the 55. I had a good look at it, but decided that I didn't want to weld on new hangers etc or muck around with different size bushes. So I swapped the top leaf (with the eyes) off the 60 series pack for the top leaf off the 55. This then means that the springs bolted straight up to the 55.

I pulled the 60 leaf packs apart and gave them a clean with a wire wheel on the end of my drill. I them gave them a liberal coat of Killrust black paint. I bought the 'pads' from between the springs and new centre bolts from the local springworks. I put moly grease on all of the leaves and bolted them up together again. The old packs had a free camber of 183mm. The 55 packs had a free camber of 125mm. My 'ghetto' spring packs had a camber of 175mm.

Whilst doing the springs my new Bilsteins arrived - woohoo. I used F4-B46-0247 shocks for the front. These are for a standard height FJ60. The shocks have lengths of 526mm extended and 333mm compressed. I bought OMEB11 bushes to convert the large bottom eye to suit the 16mm pins. Apart from that they bolted right up.

All up I gained 50mm, so I'm rather happy with my cheap ass efforts. As for the rear pack, they already have an add a leaf, so I am going to add a long leaf from a front 3" lift 60 series spring pack and then remove some of the smaller leaves. I'll get around to that in the next few weeks. I'm hoping for a 25mm lift from that with a much smoother ride.

Pics;

New friction pads;


'New' springs;




Original springs made by Mitsubishi?


Bilsteins;


End result;


The night before I decided to reinstall the thermostat - I had taken it out to show the local auto shop so they could order me a replacement. Broke a bolt when putting the top thermostat housing on. Had to drive 5km to get the 55 to my workshop - here's my bush mechanic fix - worked too!

[Sixty's Guy]

I got the rear springs done on the weekend. The existing spring pack had 9 leaves and was hard. I removed the add a leaf that was in there as well as the bottom 4 springs. I replaced these with springs out of a 60 series front 3" lift pack. I used the longest leaf with the military wrap (cut off each end of the spring) and also a medium length spring. So 6 leaves all up. The free camber on the 55 springs was 175mm, the new packs have a camber of 190mm. The rear has now been raised by approximately 15mm and the ride is a lot softer. I haven't been able to take it for a decent run yet as I am waiting on the replacement bottom thermosat housing to turn up, but it does ride nicely over the speed humps on the street. I also installed the Bilstein shocks on the rear (F4-B46-0258) and replaced the rear sway bar bushes with nolathane bushes.

I do have an issue with the front springs though. I have 'Landcruiser Lean' to the drivers side of about 15mm - not much, but enough for me to notice. I am considering removing the PTO winch and if I do that I'll remove another leaf from the front pack and swap them from side to side.

Pics;




Next project is the power steering - I now have all of the hardware to do it, but I need to do some work on my Jayco van first. Power steering will have to wait a month or so.

[fjdaveinoz]

My 45 Series also has these 'Mitsubishi' Marked Springs. Mine is a 1975 model. Something crazy going on...!

[Sixty's Guy]

Originally Posted by fjdaveinoz

My 45 Series also has these 'Mitsubishi' Marked Springs. Mine is a 1975 model. Something crazy going on...!

h

The spring retainers also had the Mitsubishi logo stamped on them.

[Wayneraintree]

Love your pig, man!

Nice work on the suspension, good to hear 60 lift springs can be worked to fit.

Why remove the PTO?

I am a sucker for a white cruiser, LOL.

[Sixty's Guy]

Originally Posted by Wayneraintree

Love your pig, man!

Nice work on the suspension, good to hear 60 lift springs can be worked to fit.

Why remove the PTO?

I am a sucker for a white cruiser, LOL.

Thanks! I'm not planning on using the PTO and I have been offered $500 for it. That would go towards ome other accessories. Not sure yet though........

[uted]

Coming along nicely Mark. Hows the steering conversion going.

Shame you already got rid of the pto, would have been interested in that for my 40, ah well shit happens.

keep up the good work
Steve

[Sixty's Guy]

Hey Steve. Power steering will have to wait a month or two. I need to do some work to the Jayco in preparation for a trip in October. BTW the leaves that I used for the back of the 55 came from that front set of leaves that I got off you ages ago!

The PTO is still on. I can't see myself using it, so I reckon I will sell it. Still thinking about it. I'll let you know what I decide to do......

[Sixty's Guy]

Bit of an update.....

I have started on installing power steering into the 55. I bought a triple pulley harmonic balancer, water pump, double pulley and fan from privateparts on Ebay - all components off a 40 series with stock power steering. I bought a 3F power steering pump and bracket off a guy on Outers. I bolted it up last weekend - the 46mm socket to remove the harmonic balancer had me stuck for a while. Ended up borrowing one of a welder mate. I also had to buy a harmonic balancer remover. I got it all bolted up and when I attempted to put the radiator back I realised that it wouldn't fit as the new pump and fan were wider than pump and fan that I was removing.

This then motivated me to install thermo fans. I bought two 9" S blade thermo fans off gt01gt on Ebay ($92 for the two including delivery). In hindsight I could havebought 2 x 10" fans and they would have fitted perfectly. I put the fans on the front of the radiator to free up the space between the engine and the radiator. I wired these fans up through a relay and Tridon thermo fan switch. The switch is part number TFS143 ($26)(http://www.tridon.com.au/Products/Pr...&G=483&P=2014), 16mm thread, 85 degrees C on and 80 degrees C off. Again with the benefit of hindsight a slightly higher value switch (maybe 92 on/87 off) would have been better - but this one does the job. As a bonus the 16mm thread is extremely similar to a 3/8 BSP thread. So much so that it screws in quite tightly and seals up fine with thread tape. I bought a brass BSP tee and tapped into the heater hose line. I also wired up a green LED light on the dash that lights up when the fan turns on. Forgot to get a picture of this.

Carp picture of fans installed;


Pic of where I installed the tee for the switch;


Relay and fuse box setup;


I took the 55 to do a few blocks around town and found that the fans don't come on when driving around doing 60kph. When stopped at lights and slow driving they come on for 5-10 minutes and then switch off. The temp gauge stays at approximately 40%. I'm fairly happy with that, but possibly a little higher temperature switch would have been the go. I'll see if I can get some more pics next weekend.

[Sixty's Guy]

Small update..... Not too much happening with the 55 atm. It failed rego inspection due to a hole in the muffler (now replaced) and also because the LPG tank wasn't fitted. I've pretty much decided to do away with gas - not worth the money getting a new tank. Although that now means I need to find a new petrol tank as the one I have has been cut in half to get the LPG tank to fit. Other than that I bought some 16" split wheels with 7.50x16 tyres to put on it. Suits it better than the Sunraysias with 31" tyres. Will have to get the new rego inspection done in the coming weeks.

[romegadave]

See that you got some stock rims....wish mine were painted as nice...Great looking rig

[jimhendrixx]

Mahalo brodder, that is sweet!

[OinkOinker]

:( i cant see the pictures

[Trollhole]

If you do sell the PTO and it goes to a 40 owner would you be willing to sell the frame extensions?


Also could you take some pics of the PTO shifter inside. I'm gonna have to cut the hole and would like for it to look stock.

Also you have a hand throttle. Could we see pics of it?

Cruiser looks awesome.