Shop to Restore FJ60 1982 LC

[FallsChurchFJ60]

Hello All - I am new to the group and have question if anybody can help. I have a 1982 FJ60 with 110K, brown. Usually drives great. Last week I lost all steering while driving my two year old home. I kinda of freaked out and decided that I needed a new car. Drove a few and did not like them.

I have no mechanical skills and live on a hill without any flat surfaces. I would like to pay find a good shop to restore it. Can you recommend any place close by to do this? I will take it anyplace if they are good, even Texas.

I looked into Iron Pig in Fredericksburg but they seem to specialize in off-road. This is for my daily commute and I want it restored to stock. Also found Urban Cruisers in Atlanta from TLCA.

I have just barely convinced my wife to do this, so the easier the better. Thank you in advance for any help. Chris

[greytandy]

Welcome!

Do you really need to "restore" it or just get the steering fixed? Full restoration can be a costly process, and financially it may make sense to get a new (used) car. My two cents (FWIW) is to get the steering fixed and then take the 60 to a good, qualified mechanic to spot potential problem areas and fix them before they become a problem - much cheaper than a restoration.

- Dave

[John Smith]

I doubt your truck needs to be "restored". Is it full of rust? It sounds like you need a competent mechanic who is familiar with a FJ60 to go over the truck. With routine maintenance these trucks will last forever unless rust eats them. What caused the lack of steering? Did you break a tie rod end or something?

Are you willing to learn to repair the truck yourself or do you want to pay someone? Locally, Ryan at Below Deck and Lance at Iron Pig are the only shops that I know of who specialize in Cruisers.

[FallsChurchFJ60]

Steering was fixed parts/labor were $450. I am told that it is mechanically in good shape. My wife dings the car because the back panel (drivers side) wheel well has rust. It needs a new paint job and headliner. The dashboard has a crack on top. On inspections they always tell me that is in pretty good shape and better than most 10 year old vehicles.

I have been using Japanese Auto Clinic on Lee Highway and I am not sure they know what they are doing. The AC just stopped working and he said it wasn't worth the money to find the leak. I think it is.

I want to restore it because I think it is great and better than any new car I buy. That being said I would only want to spend around 13K and don't know if this is a reasonable amount.

I guess I really need a mechanic that knows Land Cruisers to advise me.

[greytandy]

There are a number of Cruiserheads in NOVA, so maybe someone can volunteer to come over and take a look and provide some useful input.

[John Smith]

I guess your shop does not have dye and a leak detector or does not want to repair your AC. That would send me to another shop. The 60s are prone to rust in the wheel wells as you have found. There is a lot more rust you probably can't see. If you really love the 60 series you could take your 13k and buy one heck of a rust free truck.

This is a nice 60 for a fraction of 13k. http://forum.ih8mud.com/vehicles-tra...theast-pa.html

[colangut]

Take it to Car Doctor on 29, just inside the beltway. Ask them to fix the AC. They are a great Japanese car shop in Falls Church.

Or, do what I'd do. Replace all the parts DIY and then take it to have the system vacuumed down and then charged up.

Sounds to me like you need some "renovating" rather than "restoration".

A body shop is going to be best place to get the rust fixed. Ryan Bascom is a professional body man and welder. I also have had great luck with the Maaco in Chantilly VA over the one in Merryfield. Ask to speak to the owner, Josh? Levi? He's a good guy and has done fair to good work for me for a great price on several occasions. Once he did a GREAT job on my FJ40 but most other times it was a fair deal for what I paid and it was CHEAP.

Head liner, try Lim's Auto Upholstry in Tyson's Corner of Tyco road or (Don Elkins Auto Upholstery - Fairfax, VA) Home in fairfax. Lim's used to be owned by a close friends of mines dad, but I hear the new owners are good too.

If you have money to burn and want to do it right, go see Louis at Karosserie in Merryfield. He normally works on Porsche but I've seen a 240Z car there so they might work on your Cruiser. This place has no equal in the entire mid Atlantic area when it comes to real restoration work, sheet metal fab and welding. Bring your wallet, it's not cheap but if they fix it, it won't rust again. These guys are real life panel beaters and can make anything out of a flat sheet of steel. Its not uncommon to go there and see a car go from scrap to $100K museum piece. They are on Prosperity right across from the post office. Another Porsche shop is right across the street from them. Expect to pay a lot.

Have fun with it.

Take it to one of the CLCC meetings and show it to the fellah's they'll point you in the right direction.

[76FJ40]

Gary Schmuck is selling a BEAUTIFUL, rust free 60 for less than $4k. Buy Gary's as a DD and turn yours into a trail rig for a lot less than $13k. You'll find gary's 60 in the vehicles for sale section, his screen name is Shmukster.


http://forum.ih8mud.com/vehicles-tra...theast-pa.html

[greytandy]

Originally Posted by 76FJ40

Gary Schmuck is selling a BEAUTIFUL, rust free 60 for less than $4k. Buy Gary's as a DD and turn yours into a trail rig for a lot less than $13k. You'll find gary's 60 in the vehicles for sale section, his screen name is Shmukster.


http://forum.ih8mud.com/vehicles-tra...theast-pa.html

This was Matt's 60 he just sold? If so, that is a clean, beautiful cruiser. $4K is a STEAL. If I wasn't married I'd buy it NOW.

[76FJ40]

Yes, this is Matt's 60

[71-CRUISER]

You can feel free to give us a call. We can do anything that you may want or need.

Thanks