Resto-mod on my 55 has begun

landcruisnman · 01-22-09, 12:08 PM

I've committed to cleaning up my rig. Since I tore all the wiring out, I've passed the point of no return. I've owned this wagon for 19 years and it's definitely time. I've attached some before pics and some of the teardown. I've got all 4 doors and the tailgate sandblasted and primed. I'm planning on a coil/link front and SOA rear. I'm going to keep the 350/ toyota 5sp setup for now. When the time comes, I'll get lockers. ($$$). I've been through a lot with this truck. Most of my 20's and 30's(lots of fun). I'll send more pics as I get shit done. Seeing some of these builds has definitely motivated me. THanks for that!!!

landcruisnman · 01-22-09, 12:10 PM

Here's some pics of teardown beginnings.

landcruisnman · 01-22-09, 12:13 PM

A couple more of the doors..... PRESERVE THE PIGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lil'John · 01-22-09, 12:15 PM

VERY nice. My favorite phrase for this kind of work is renovation

miletwo · 01-22-09, 03:00 PM

Excellent. I'm calling mine a "restoversion" since what isn't being restored is being converted to something newer.

Peace and bacon grease

PabloCruise · 01-22-09, 09:05 PM

Looks like a clean body!!!

What year is it?

What side-view mirrors are those?

landcruisnman · 01-22-09, 10:29 PM

It's a 72 body with 74 doors. The mirrors are just cheap mirrors from an auto part store I got 12 years ago. I've already tossed them out. Not sure what I'm going to replace them with. Either stock or something similar to the black ones.

romegadave · 01-22-09, 11:43 PM

Nice...interior looks good too...has a sparse clean feel to it. I hope my wife doesn't see that mailbox of yours or I will be trying to find one. Looking forward to your work in progress!!!

cruiserbrett · 01-23-09, 06:11 PM

I remember seeing that truck around SD before. Are you adding sheetmetal to it, or going to leave it convertible?

Looking good!

dont forget to swing by the SD cruiser gathering on Sunday. check the clubhouse forum.

landcruisnman · 01-23-09, 07:53 PM

Brett,

I'm leaving it a convertible. It's pretty fun that way. I need a bikini top for it. When and where is this Cruiser gathering? I'll check the clubhouse forum. What are you driving around in? Maybe I've seen you cruzin around SD. North county or south??

Pat

cruiserbrett · 01-23-09, 08:31 PM

Pat,
I have an orange(now rusty) and white FJ55 in Pacific Beach...

Heres the link to the meeting

1973Guppie · 01-24-09, 01:50 PM

Hey Pat,

looks good! nice to see the project starting, let me know if I can help at all. Hope to see you at the gathering........

Noah

landcruisnman · 01-24-09, 06:01 PM

Thanks Noah. I'm going to do my best.

Pat

landcruisnman · 04-05-09, 03:54 PM

I got the green light from the wife to spend a whole Sunday on it. I do work the Sabath!!! We were able to get the body off the frame and started fab'n the brackets to do a rotisserie setup with (2) HD engine stands like 73 Guppie did. Great idea!! I've got some pic's. First time pulling the body off, and it was really fun I must say. I'm going to send the body on the rotisserie to the Sandblaster and make progress fast. Rear corners are scaring the crap out of me. I'll post more soon.
Later all
Pat
Carlsbad

landcruisnman · 04-05-09, 03:56 PM

Here's some more. Lots of fun.

n2666s · 04-05-09, 11:54 PM

Pat; congrats.............damn, that was quick getting the body off the frame.....

spent a couple of months getting mine off

..........please take pix of the rotisserie

Lou

Quote:

Originally Posted by landcruisnman

I got the green light from the wife to spend a whole Sunday on it. I do work the Sabath!!! We were able to get the body off the frame and started fab'n the brackets to do a rotisserie setup with (2) HD engine stands like 73 Guppie did. Great idea!! I've got some pic's. First time pulling the body off, and it was really fun I must say. I'm going to send the body on the rotisserie to the Sandblaster and make progress fast. Rear corners are scaring the crap out of me. I'll post more soon.
Later all
Pat
Carlsbad

landcruisnman · 04-10-09, 03:26 PM

Well, I got the rotisserie from 73Guppie the other day and put some larger castors on it so I could roll it around. Many thanks to him for letting me use this. It's really cool how easy it works. It really takes little effort to sping this thing all the way around. Makes it real easy to see the Rusty Hell I'm in for. Back corners need serious rebuild. I'll post as many as I can. I'll send more once I get more time. Happy Easter everybody!!

Pat

landcruisnman · 04-10-09, 03:27 PM

more pics to come

landcruisnman · 04-10-09, 03:28 PM

more to come still

landcruisnman · 04-10-09, 03:29 PM

check out to upsidedown action

1973Guppie · 04-10-09, 03:58 PM

Hey Pat!

That's great man! makes me smile to see it put to good use somewhere else!

great idea on the larger wheels, I would of done the same thing but I think in my small 2 car it would of ended up being too tall for the rafters. I bet it rolls nicely now.

let me know if you need any help with the metalwork, I have done it now so I can show you what I did if you need the help.

Noah

landcruisnman · 04-24-09, 03:36 PM

We'll, I finally scanned in some photos of the beginning for me when it comes to my Love for Landcruisers. My buddy brought home his Red and White 55 and I just fell in love. I found my first junkyard pig back then and it hasn't stopped yet. Here's some pics to check out. Lots of great memories for me!!

: beer:

:hillbi lly:

landcruisnman · 04-24-09, 03:39 PM

Our first trip to Mexico!!!!! Crazy. The front rubber brake lines blew and I lost my brakes on the way down. I had to put a screw in the line for the front at the Master and only use rear drums(scary as hell!!!) I put it in Low when I was near any population.

The next pics are in Mex on the same trip, at El Mirage in 1984 and at home in 1985.

landcruisnman · 04-24-09, 03:45 PM

The next pic is helping recover my friends Dad's Jeep that they rolled in Mexico. Their girlfriends were doing donuts and hit a large pothole and flipped. Luckily they were both 5ft tall and didn't get that hurt. One cut their leg and the Red Cross fixed her up for $10. The second one is my purchase of my current rig after getting it home from the wrecking yard in 1990. The third is my current rig and the parts 55 that I picked up for $500.00.

landcruisnman · 04-24-09, 03:49 PM

The next pics are as follows. I started getting close to finishing my current pig. Here's some pics of it in 1991 with the lift and tires. Getting closer.

landcruisnman · 04-24-09, 03:53 PM

Here's some pics of how it got to be close to where it is now. First is of the Top being made at an Auto Top Shop in OC(circa 1993). Next is after it's first real paint job(circa 1997). Last is putting it's powerplant back in(1997). Now I have it torn apart again, and this is the last time--I promise. Thanks for taking a stroll back in time with me.
Later all for now.

romegadave · 04-24-09, 03:54 PM

I love the pic of the Willy's and the Pig and you guys clowning around.....looks like a movie set or something the way its colored. Dang hippies

PabloCruise · 04-26-09, 10:27 PM

Dude, I love the time machine trip - thanks for sharing those pics!

You should do a thread about your old Pig!

landcruisnman · 04-27-09, 04:18 PM

Pablo,
That's pretty much all the pictures I have of the old pig. It was fun doing this and thinking back of all the good times I've had with that rig. I do have a few more shots I can add. The first is a High School Prom in 1984. My date is the one with the cans in the middle

The next two are loading up for a Mexico Surf Trip in 1985. That's the trip that my friends rolled their dad's jeep. Cool stuff.

PabloCruise · 05-02-09, 11:20 PM

Awesome history.

Gotta love a prom date with cans!