My Hj60 camping rig (1 Viewer)

[Jonsey]

Well after a few years I finally have a 60 haha, I've wanted one since I got my licence but couldn't afford one that was half decent.
I actually went to look at this one with the intention of using the running gear in my orange 45 but as soon as I met the owner and heard the stories I knew I couldn't do that to it, he'd owned it since new and it had been almost everywhere in Australia bar far north Queensland.
Anyway it was a 82 G with 2H 4spd with a fairy overdrive, massive sub tank and a ton of rust haha, it had been sitting in the hay shed for at least 3 years when bought it, all I did was put some fresh diesel in bled the brakes and drove the 500kms home without an issue.
Now onto the fun bit, not fussed by metalwork (I'm a boilermaker) dad and I set about cutting the remains of the gutters off and making new ones up, luckily the rust was just from condensation inside and didn't extend down the pillars at all, now after a few days work it has a solid roof and is nearly on the road again

 

[Jonsey]

the day i bought it, note the duct tape along the gutters to keep the wind out haha

what the gutter was like above the back windows, i broke the piece out by hand

first new steel

 

[Jonsey]

on to the other side..

more new steel, starting to look good again

and the stage im up to now, repairing the rear quarter where it met a tree 10 yrs ago

 

[Freewheel]

Wow, strong metalwork - it's so interesting how the roof rusts in dry Oz, where in wet BC you never see a rusty roof - just rotten frames, rockers and quarter panels...

 

[mongoose2231]

wonderful seeing these being brought back to life..

 

[Jonsey]

Thanks guys, your roofs don't rust over there? im guessing its something to do with the sealant in the gutters cracking in our heat, then letting water under the edge of the panel, this 60 has spent its fare share of time in central Australian deserts but was housed in the wettest part of my state (still pretty dry haha)

 

[Freewheel]

Yes, could be the gutter sealant, my sealant looks brand new after almost 30 years of rain and grey skies. I've just noticed over the years that the Aussies on this forum are always doing crazy roof repairs, and I've never seen anyone from BC (or the rest of Canada) having to do it. We are always replacing our frames or doing underbody rust repair. I've also wondered if carrying surfboards or roof top boats dripping salt water has anything to do with it.

 

[MacGYVER1979]

Mine came from Florida originally and then the North Carolina beach, same roof gutter rust, clean like new under body. must be the heat.

 

[Jonsey]

Yeah, I know humidity and condensation is the reason they and 55s rust higher up in the roof pannel,
don't know about the surf boards etc, I can see how it'd do it but I've never actually seen a car around here with one on the roof, come to think of it I've never seen someone surfing anywhere near here haha the south coast has rubbish waves and freezing water

 

[hj 60]

Very nice repair, mine is ok but could start a rustbubble anytime.
Maybe the rear washer container has to much moisture on it, I saw that a few times in the morning when the liquid is cold and air temp high it was full of water drops.
The exhaust is mounted funny as it should be in the inside of the chassis (and my hj had rusted trough the chassis were the exhaust was closest)

 

[Jonsey]

Thanks, I guess the washer container doesn't help the situation very much, storing a source of condensation inside the cabin.
Yours exit under the rear? Over here it's a legal requirement to have the exhaust exit level with the edge of the bodywork, and behind all openings to the passangers compartment

 

[Tapage]

that's some sheet metal work right there ..

 

[Jonsey]

Thanks, it's my first attempt at this light stuff, I think I'm getting the hang of it now which is good because my fj 45 needs 10x more work haha

Got the drivers side in primer the other day, turned out better than I was expecting

 

[Tasmanic]

Hey Jonsey, good work mate. Bit like deja vu for me - I did almost the same repairs on mine a few weeks ago. Seen a lot of these go down in Tas with the roof rot - no one's bothered to fix them - wreck it, get another one in. Good on you for taking the time. Have you got scuttle/bulkhead rot too - behind the wiper motor? I ask because that's the last thing I tackled a couple of weeks ago.
I've also got an '82 HJ60 G 4 speed. I was offered a box with the Fairey Overdrive in Tas last year for beer money but there was no time or space to do the swap at that time. Keep up the good work!

 

[TLC Norway]

Glad to see another getting saved!
Good-sheetwork!

Sent from my SM-G388F

 

[Jonsey]

Thanks guys, hey tasmanic mine only has a "small" patch next to the bonnet hinge, I'm going to have a look at that when I do the other wheelarch sometime next year.
The fairey is good, just a little odd untill you get used to it haha, sucks you couldn't get it.

 

[Jonsey]

Today marks the return of my 60 the the wilderness, or driveway but that sounds boring haha
Got it all painted, Windows glued in and interior fitted over the past weekend.

Hopefully all is good, New windscreen goes in next Monday as well

 

[Jonsey]

Got it out for a run yesterday, ive had fun exploring near town and have put 150ks on it since the weekend.
still got a massive list of stuff to do though

 

[mongoose2231]

Sweet! Them there are some skills you got bud...

 

[cederholm]

Really nice work! I look forward to more of your posts/adventures.

~ Carl