So it all started back in ’99 or so when a buddy of mine finally talked me into going “wheeling” with him and some guys he knew from the “net”. After that fateful trip I knew I had to get a truck and get out in the dirt. The search was on. I had pretty much made up my mind pretty quickly that I wanted a Jeep Cherokee. After a whole bunch of research (months and months) this truck seemed like exactly what I wanted and that it would fit the bill for me. More research lead me to Pirate4x4.com and their message board. There I came across picture that changed it all… It was a pic of Adam Tollman’s Money Pit. From that point on there was nothing else that would quench my desire. I wanted an FJ40 and there was no stopping me. After a year and a half of searching I came across the add for a “1969 FJ40: 350 SBC, 4WDB, PS, PB Too much to list…”
I brought it home on December 15th of 2002. That journey was an adventure all it’s own. Ask me about it someday and I might tell you…
What a GEEK...
Getting ready to drive the 40 home to Phoenix from Ramona, Ca with the steering falling out
Now on to the reason we’re here. In late 2003 I started looking for an 80 series. We had decided to expand our family with a second child and I took this as the perfect opportunity to buy another Cruiser. After months of exhaustive searching for just the right truck at the right price I all but gave up the wagon hunt. Until that is, I wheeled with a fellow club member Lee (Accasbel here on Mud) in his nicely equiped FJ62. I had always admired the 60 series and had really fallen in lust with Henry Cubilan’s Princess, and seeing a 60 series in action on one of my favorite trails set the wheels in motion once more. The hunt was once again…ON. Thank goodness this hunt only lasted a couple months and a few doused dreams. Upon answering an add in the local Truck Trader for a “1985 Land Cruiser” that “needs engine work” I found my 60. I knew when I rounded the corner that this truck would be mine. I struck a deal with the owner and took her home the next weekend. That was May of 2004. Two bad holes and a half done desmog job kept me from getting the truck running in any short order. I quickly decided that a SBC 350 with fuel Injection and an auto were in this truck’s future. Fast forward 3 years and two sons later the "quick" V8 swap was done and now she’s a driver. I’ve got around 3000 miles on her since the conversion and she’s run each of them so far without a hiccup.
The specs are as follows:
Year = 1985
Motor = 1987 Chevy TBI 350 rebuilt
Trans = 1990 700r4 rebuilt (lokar shifter)
Xfer = 1985 splitcase
Gears = 4.88 (installed by PO)
Traction control = Lockrights front and rear
Wheels/tire = 15”x8.75” Alum Outlaws w/ 33x12.50x15 Pathfinder AT’s (Soon to be replaced w/ 255 85r16 Maxxis Bighorns on black steel crawlers)
Other Mods:
Montero dash handle and gauge pod
Hella 24” Map Light at passenger A-pillar
Icom 208H dual band Ham radio (Mag mounted antenna, forget the model)
Uniden PH66 CB tuned (Wilson 1k antenna)
Safari Snorkel
Dual Optima batteries (Will be redundant systems eventually)
Electric stereo antenna
Cut rear ¼’s (just like the Princess, done by PO who apparently had something to do with the princess’ ¼’s too)
In the works:
Wheels and tires
Overhead console to house 2 radios DVD player and switch bank
York OBA
Homebrew welder
Laptop mount and GPS/Oziexplorer)
Bumpers, sliders, Spare rack
Custom Roofrack/Aux lighting (lots of lighting)
On Board 6 Camera system
Rear Drawer system
Fridge Freeze
And all those other goodies that I don’t even know I want yet…
NOW FOR SALE ... ASK FOR PRICE
Email "bman5" at the mail server "cox.net" PM BOX IS FULL AND WILL STAY THAT WAY PLEASE EMAIL INSTEAD.
I don’t have any pics of her “really” wheeling yet so you’ll have to settle for build pics and poser shots for now.
The first time I layed my eyes on her:
On the trailer heading home:
My daughter Hayleigh so proud of daddy's new truck (She's 7 now)
The 2F mess:
I brought it home on December 15th of 2002. That journey was an adventure all it’s own. Ask me about it someday and I might tell you…
What a GEEK...
Getting ready to drive the 40 home to Phoenix from Ramona, Ca with the steering falling out
Now on to the reason we’re here. In late 2003 I started looking for an 80 series. We had decided to expand our family with a second child and I took this as the perfect opportunity to buy another Cruiser. After months of exhaustive searching for just the right truck at the right price I all but gave up the wagon hunt. Until that is, I wheeled with a fellow club member Lee (Accasbel here on Mud) in his nicely equiped FJ62. I had always admired the 60 series and had really fallen in lust with Henry Cubilan’s Princess, and seeing a 60 series in action on one of my favorite trails set the wheels in motion once more. The hunt was once again…ON. Thank goodness this hunt only lasted a couple months and a few doused dreams. Upon answering an add in the local Truck Trader for a “1985 Land Cruiser” that “needs engine work” I found my 60. I knew when I rounded the corner that this truck would be mine. I struck a deal with the owner and took her home the next weekend. That was May of 2004. Two bad holes and a half done desmog job kept me from getting the truck running in any short order. I quickly decided that a SBC 350 with fuel Injection and an auto were in this truck’s future. Fast forward 3 years and two sons later the "quick" V8 swap was done and now she’s a driver. I’ve got around 3000 miles on her since the conversion and she’s run each of them so far without a hiccup.
The specs are as follows:
Year = 1985
Motor = 1987 Chevy TBI 350 rebuilt
Trans = 1990 700r4 rebuilt (lokar shifter)
Xfer = 1985 splitcase
Gears = 4.88 (installed by PO)
Traction control = Lockrights front and rear
Wheels/tire = 15”x8.75” Alum Outlaws w/ 33x12.50x15 Pathfinder AT’s (Soon to be replaced w/ 255 85r16 Maxxis Bighorns on black steel crawlers)
Other Mods:
Montero dash handle and gauge pod
Hella 24” Map Light at passenger A-pillar
Icom 208H dual band Ham radio (Mag mounted antenna, forget the model)
Uniden PH66 CB tuned (Wilson 1k antenna)
Safari Snorkel
Dual Optima batteries (Will be redundant systems eventually)
Electric stereo antenna
Cut rear ¼’s (just like the Princess, done by PO who apparently had something to do with the princess’ ¼’s too)
In the works:
Wheels and tires
Overhead console to house 2 radios DVD player and switch bank
York OBA
Homebrew welder
Laptop mount and GPS/Oziexplorer)
Bumpers, sliders, Spare rack
Custom Roofrack/Aux lighting (lots of lighting)
On Board 6 Camera system
Rear Drawer system
Fridge Freeze
And all those other goodies that I don’t even know I want yet…
NOW FOR SALE ... ASK FOR PRICE
Email "bman5" at the mail server "cox.net" PM BOX IS FULL AND WILL STAY THAT WAY PLEASE EMAIL INSTEAD.
I don’t have any pics of her “really” wheeling yet so you’ll have to settle for build pics and poser shots for now.
The first time I layed my eyes on her:
On the trailer heading home:
My daughter Hayleigh so proud of daddy's new truck (She's 7 now)
The 2F mess:
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