72’ “Black and Tan” 40 build

[nickswan]

I was bit hard by the land cruiser bug last year, and like so many before me, I HAD to have one. I traded in my 10’ Heep (as soon as I found out the 12’ would have a real motor) for more than I had into it, so the wife could get a new Overland Grand Cherokee. We made the agreement I would get a Landcruiser project.



http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j161/nickswan/94a239c2.jpg


With the CFO on board I started searching; she found what to the untrained eye would seem like a steal. A 72’ 40 that was 95% through a frame off resto (So the PO claimed) all it needed was for the front end to be buttoned up and driven for another 500,000 miles… he claimed that he was deployed with the military and took an RPG crippling him and not allowing him to finish the restore. I felt for the guy and agreed upon a price with him delivering it sight unseen. His ad started at $20,000 and steadily dropped a $1000 a day. (First clue)


When he arrived to unload it, he seemed to be in pretty good shape for having been on the receiving end of an RPG, but I was too excited to care. He jumped out and unloaded the 40 from his trailer and pushed it uphill into my garage literally by himself. (Second clue)


I looked it over and said “So this motor is ready to go without any issues, right?” he replied like he had many times over the course of our conversations. “oh, yeah it just needs a battery and some fresh gas and it will be perfect.” He mentioned that he weekly went into the garage and turned the motor over by hand to ensure it wouldn’t seize up. (Third clue)


He signed the title over and had me sign a hand written agreement stating that I was “totally satisfied with the vehicle” at the time I thought it was just a bill of sale… (Fourth clue)


He ran to his truck and hauled ass while I played with my new toy like a kid on Christmas day.


After I put most of the front end back together I decided I probably ought to take some photos


http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j161/nickswan/62824a65.jpg


http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j161/nickswan/a81fac89.jpg


http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j161/nickswan/3ea03988.jpg


http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j161/nickswan/9d863940.jpg


http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j161/nickswan/acfd1a46.jpg


I ran out and bought all new fluids for everything and a new battery, got all the fluids drained and topped off, put some fresh gas in and turned the key. Click… “hmm, thats strange.” Click… nothing.
I grabbed a 12” extension put it on the crank nut and tried to turn it by hand. It started to bend but wouldn’t budge. I grabbed my trusty 3’ pry bar, put it on and gave it all I had, nothing.
I pulled the plugs and stuck a bore scope down into the cylinders but couldn’t see much other than a little rust on cylinder one. WTF. Quick call to the PO, no answer.


While im pulling plug wires to inspect them I pull up on the dizzy lightly and the whole distributer pulls up like it was never seated or torqued down…



http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j161/nickswan/99fe20aa.jpg


http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j161/nickswan/f0d3e9be.jpg


Judging from the freshly painted block and new accessories I theorized that he spent some serious cash having the motor rebuilt and never fully seated the dizzy to engage the oil pump, and ran it till it welded itself together. Then found some sucker (ME) to sell it to with a great sob story.

I posted my woes on MUD and found a great deal on a complete F.5 drivetrain out of a 73’ the next weekend it was sitting in my driveway. (Thanks Roma!)

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j161/nickswan/00fc9da6.jpg

it also came with about a hundred pounds of georgia clay

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j161/nickswan/594fed28.jpg

now i wasn't about to make the same mistake so i made sure this one started and ran before i even lifted it in. (Dont try this at home without securing the motor first)

50c73c96.mp4 video by nickswan - Photobucket

once that was verified it was time for the swap.

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j161/nickswan/6f4cf6d8.jpg

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j161/nickswan/dd616a3d.jpg

i got my best helper out to help me. (yeah no shoes...)

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j161/nickswan/97e5baff.jpg

oh look there is a 800lb black boat anchor in the background.

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j161/nickswan/673551fb.jpg

here she is in her new home

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j161/nickswan/1149b496.jpg

anyone who is concerned about doing a stock drivetrain swap, just do it, these things are so easy to work on. i actually have considered v8 swaps time and a gain but F motors seem to keep being given away around here. i've got two complete running drivetrains sitting in my garage in the event of some sort of mechanical issue. oh the clutch is going out? well its cheaper for me to swap in another $300 drivetrain than to replace a $500 clutch.

All buttoned up, whats missing

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j161/nickswan/4ed92acb.jpg

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j161/nickswan/5764e5fc.jpg

oh yeah, brake lights. i went with the LED setup but i think im going to switch to the oem style

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j161/nickswan/d2096fd0.jpg

I noticed the water pump was leaking so i figured what the hell i've got another one sitting on this boat anchor of a motor. (how not to remove bolts)

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j161/nickswan/1cf45f36.jpg

I've spent more on taps and more time chasing threads than anything else on this 40

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j161/nickswan/4ee2a2d2.jpg

 

[nickswan]

All new brake lines in and bled, time for a test drive

Her maiden voyage

First drive observations: 40 year old drum brakes are going to need some adjusting. turning under-inflated 33x12.5 tires with manual steering will build muscle. It is way too hot in Florida for a hardtop. my patina paint job has got to go.

I picked up a couple cans of Flat khaki, and one can of white for the bezel.

Then a fellow Mud member sold me a very nice lightly used Ehsan top.

Then came the single most important mod to date

next on the list was a lift and some new tires/wheels. note to self- measure first, lift second. ever seen a 76" 40 in a 72" garage?

Turns out you can stack five 33x10.5 KM2 in the back

i went with the Rough Country 4" lift with anti-inversion shackles (I later went to a stock length anti inversion shackle and a 1" spacer drop in the rear) and stock steelies with 33x10.5x15 BFG KM2 MT tires. what a difference the 10.5" tires made, i have no desire to put power steering on currently.

No hub caps? i think it looks a lot meaner

 

[nickswan]

had to take it out and try out my new suspension

The front flexes really well, the back... not so much.

Time for its first Wheeling Event!

I want

 

[3jvj]

When did all this start?

Whoops; think I stole reserved spot number 3.

 

[Chuch]

Wow man, you've done one hell of a job. As soon as I saw the top on I was thinking "man, that thing needs black rims!" Then, I keep scrolling and see the black Steelies....classically awesome.

 

[nickswan]

the wife wouldn't let the kids ride with me without a cage, so...

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j161/nickswan/1da6b013.jpg

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j161/nickswan/e2e8d60c.jpg

My winch has paid for itself a hundred times over and i couldn't afford an 8274 just yet.

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j161/nickswan/44661b49.jpg

my next problem was how to get the jump seats in with the cage. i built these storage boxes and anchored them in.

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j161/nickswan/a152f1c7.jpg

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j161/nickswan/310180bb.jpg

whoever put those seats in must have been vertically challenged because at 6' i have to duck down to see traffic lights. thanks to MUD again i acquired some seats out of a 70' that will need to be recovered. but until then nothing a Mexican blanket cant fix.

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j161/nickswan/fc5457ad.jpg

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j161/nickswan/85a5740b.jpg

I've spent a ton of time ripping all the carpet and adhesive the PO used out. since this truck will be used and will get wet im still on the fence about what coating to use. I've used herculiner and it didnt hold up as well as i would have liked and the finish was way to shiny. anyone know of a good matte finish black smooth anti-rust coverage? POR-15? I've currently got a good solid floor with a nice patina.

 

[Snowdogyyz]

Great build! You've turned a bad situation into a great one. Nice job.

 

[cjgoode]

What a great thread, start of humming with a lot of pictures. Sorry about the deal you got, but also glad it did not slow you down, and you just moved on, only thing you really can do. Love the pics and how the rig is coming along.

 

[jbee]

Great build.
Cage looks great! Was it bought? Built? Brand? Price?

 

[nickswan]

Great build.
Cage looks great! Was it bought? Built? Brand? Price?

Lightly used metaltech family cage, I also have the front and rear frame tie-ins that I need to weld up as well as the hip bars. MT has their pricing up on their website depending on what you want. It's the best available in my opinion.

 

[cult45]

What a great build! I love a nut-and-bolt resto but I love this more, way cool.

Bet it owes you under $10k. Cheap fun.

Keep wheeling man.

 

[Ambrew]

Nice truck! It looks like you know how to get the most fun out of your 40!

 

[fireflyr]

I think maybe the PO took an RPG round to the cabeza. Great job and great story.

Sounds like you should pass on the name of this guy so he doesn't burn anyone else. You did a great job.

 

[twoyotas]

bummer to hear about the false claims from the PO, but at least he didn't take you for the $20,000 ride! Great rebuild. Lookin' Good!

 

[roma042987]

Good to see this thread and I love the way your 40 looks. You need some pictures of this thing on sand duty most people don't have the pleasure to cruise the beach. So what's next on the list? 4spd maybe?

 

[nickswan]

Good to see this thread and I love the way your 40 looks. You need some pictures of this thing on sand duty most people don't have the pleasure to cruise the beach. So what's next on the list? 4spd maybe?

You guessed it, rebuilt F.5 hooked to an SM420 and a 3sp tcase should be here next weekend, but I plan to run this drivetrain till it explodes.

 

[JohnnyC]

Very nice. Love the top...canvas is cool
Great engine as well... The f.5 is my engine of choice

Enjoy the ride!

 

[FF LC FREAK]

since this truck will be used and will get wet im still on the fence about what coating to use. I've used herculiner and it didnt hold up as well as i would have liked and the finish was way to shiny. anyone know of a good matte finish black smooth anti-rust coverage? POR-15? I've currently got a good solid floor with a nice patina.

Check out Monstaliner - www.monstaliner.com. I am very pleased with how mine has held up so far. What I really like about it is the texture. Not affiliated with them at all, just a happy customer. I've used Hurculiner and another cheap bedliner (Duplicote or something like that) product and would never touch either of them again.

Great job on the Cruiser!

 

[cruiserjunkie]

I used por 15 and was happy with it i used a reducer and a couple coats and layed down very well.metal prep is the key to using it. Love the look of your cruiser

 

[Travis22]

Bloody hell, magnificent transformation mate. It is looking fantastic now!

Travis.