MrP's HJ61 wagon

[MrP]

Hello from Western Australia. I've had this old 1986 Toyota Landcruiser HJ61RG with 12H-T and H55F for about a year now. This is my daily driver and I'm starting to set it up as a bit of a budget 'expedition' vehicle.

Since owning the car, I've mainly concentrated on the mechanical side of things. Not really interested in getting stranded out the back of bum-fxxx. Complete front end steering/suspension rebuild, bearings, swivel hubs, bushes, tie rods. Almost completely overhauled the brakes, rotors, new calipers up front, full rebuild on rear drums. New set of 31" A/T tyres. New turbo back 3" exhaust. I've installed a dual battery setup, utilising the CTEK D250S for my battery management/isolator/solar.

I'll endeavor to get more photos and updates happening as I make some more interesting modifications.

A s***ty photo from a while ago to whet the appetite... Since this was taken, I've given the car a damn good thrashing with the polishing wheel to make it slightly more presentable.

 

[DanS HJ-45]

Nice!

I love the graphics on your HJ61! I kind of wish ours had some.

Dan

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Love the bullbar!!

 

[SteveH]

Yeah - why don't you put a real bullbar on it? - the kind that can handle a 'roo impact

 

[MrP]

Yeah - why don't you put a real bullbar on it? - the kind that can handle a 'roo impact

Oh SteveH, don't you like my aluminium scaffolding?

 

[MrP]

Nice!

I love the graphics on your HJ61! I kind of wish ours had some.

Dan

Here is a better photo of the killer 1980's graphics. I'm yet to see a similar one. There seems to be so many iterations. What was the deal with them? Factory/Dealer fitter? Customer optioned?

 

[VX 12HT]

welcome mate I'm in wa as well yeh a lot different graphics out there mine has none which is slightly unusual for a 24volt nap import...

 

[HoJo 61]

Welcome! Feel free to post more pics.
Sorry if i missed but did you have factory lockers?

 

[Silveredition]

Good to see another from WA! I used an 'eraser wheel' go get rid of my pinstriping / graphics as they were looking pretty bad - but can still see where they were, so it doesn't really look any better.... I have done / am doing similar to mine. It is my daily driver, but I am pulling it off the road for a few weeks (starting this weekend) to do the swivel hubs / rotors / drums / bearings / 3" straight through exhaust etc...
Keep the pics coming!

 

[MrP]

Sorry if i missed but did you have factory lockers?

No factory lockers for me.

...3" straight through exhaust...

I upgraded my old rusted exhaust a month or so ago after having my left rear tyre blow out on the freeway. As the tyre separated from the rim it totally mangled my exhaust where it runs past the wheel and under the chassis rail. I got this 3" system sent over and the fit was great.

 

[Matty f]

Hi mate. Thanks for sharing the pics recond the 12HT/H55f would be a cracking combo.

Must be something about the 80s, Toyotas, Australia and pin striping.
My FJ62 came clad with them too.

 

[MrP]

Hi mate. Thanks for sharing the pics recond the 12HT/H55f would be a cracking combo.

Must be something about the 80s, Toyotas, Australia and pin striping.
My FJ62 came clad with them too.

The 12H-T seems to be a pretty good motor. I didn't really realise they had such a large following before I'd bought mine. The H55F is OK - pretty agricultural. First is pretty useless unless you're towing, or taking off up a hill.

 

[Silveredition]

The exhaust looks great - roughly $750 + freight? I think I looked at the same one without the muffler for about $650...
I have 6.5m of 3" exhaust pipe in the shed, so when that doesn't work out like I hope it will, I will purchase the same as yours....
I have had my hj61 for about a year too (bought it from Geraldton and drove it home to near Bunbury without it missing a beat!)...

 

[MrP]

Yeah I think I paid the $739 + $50 shipping to WA, but just looking at it now, its reduced to $665... Standard.

 

[SteveH]

Oh SteveH, don't you like my aluminium scaffolding?

Actually, I like it, because it's purpose-built, unlike the poser junk (damage multipliers) sold at every Toyota dealer in the US.

 

[TLC Norway]

good lookin rig, what other plans do you have?

 

[MrP]

@SteveH I'm not sure how well it would stand up to a cow or a camel (plenty of them up north) but for general pedestrian clearing I'm sure it would do a terrific job. I have mates that hang s*** on me about the aluminium barwork though, obviously not as sturdy as a steel unit but significantly lighter...

@TLC Norway I got my hands on a cargo barrier for $0. Its to suit a mid 2000s Holden Commodore wagon. I had to trim out the bottom corners to suit the wheel tubs but I think it looks OK. Fit for purpose anyway. I made a set of brackets and bolted it in for a test fit. When I get a minute, I'll remove it and clean it up a little better.

 

[MrP]

We headed out to Congelin over the weekend. Nice little spot, but damn cold. It was the first time out with the kid, 12 weeks old. Needed to take a few more things than I'm used to, but all went well.

I picked up an Opposite Lock full length aluminium roof rack the other week. It was removed from a Nissan GQ Patrol, so I had to 'adjust' the mounting feet slightly to suit the 60 gutters.

I think next thing I need to get sorted out is a better method of storage in the boot. Fridge slide for the Engel and some drawers or shelving...

 

[MrP]

 

[Tasmanic]

Mate that bar looks like a cow catcher from one of those old steam trains. I had a similar cattle grid on the front but I left it in Margate Tip in Tassie despite warnings from my mates that I was going to get wiped out by a roo the size of a cupboard! Took me three hours to cut the thing off but it's a lot easier to get under the bonnet now.

Nice rig and good improv with the load barrier.