Hello all, I want you to meet my 69' 55. I purchased it in April 2019 after going on a leisurely drive with my 2 year old son. The Landcruiser(s) just barely caught my eye as I drove past. A 69' fj55 paired with a 72' fj55 together sitting in a guys front lawn. They were set back away from the road a ways, about 100' or so. It was just for a split second that I could even see them let alone catching a glimpse of the droopy sun bleached for-sale sign in the rear window of the 72'. I looked in my rearview, saw my 2 year old sitting there and I said "hey bud, wanna see some rusty trucks?" He of course was just as stoked as I was so i whipped a U-turn and pulled up to check out the partly hidden spectacles. As we checked out the two trucks my excitment grew by bringing back memories of when I was a child. You see My folks had a 73' fj55 and my mom drove it as a daily driver. Taking us six kids on errand runs to the grocery store, to school and to the river in summertime. That was and still is some of my fondest childhood memories. It hit me that I wanted to create similar memories with my children as well so I began thinking of ways to make this work, Financially speaking. I dialed the number on the faded sign and did not get an answer, or a returned call... I tried again a week later and still nothing. But I kept trying and eventually my persistent dialing paid off, I finally got an answer. The gentleman told me that they didn't run and hadn't for several years. And if I wanted to purchase one I would need to take the other as well. So, long story short. Tax returns came in the nick of time! Along with some really disgusting and sappy pleadings with wife just to convince her why exactly it was a such a good idea to by not only buy one but two non-running vehicles and move them from some "stranger guy's" front lawn to our own front lawn. It was no easy task but my wife is a really great lady and had agreed to let me go for it. I'm so glad we did.
Here it is the day we met in April 2019. The 69' was in pretty good shape really for having been sitting for so long in Oregon's rainy weather. There is a little rust here and there but nothing that I'm afraid of. The rocker panels need some love and there is a small Bondo fill job on the rear driver corner where the bumper got in a little too deep. But it's all good I can clean it up when that time comes. mechanical first body later...
I have already done several things to the 69' but unfortunately they were not well documented at the time of those improvements.
Such as:
- Front wheel bearings.
- The birfield joints.
- Tie rod ends.
- Drag links.
- Front axle disassembled, inspected, reassembled, new oil.
- Steering box cleaned and greased.
- New u-joints in the front drive line (Matsuba joints from Cruiser Outfitters).
- OME steering damper.
- OME suspension in the front (the rear is coming soon).
- Rebuilt the Holley carburetor, which, dispite conflicting reviews I am actually really happy with.
- 2F valve cover from Mark's Offroad.
- Refurbished the heater blower motor.
- Fixed the fuel sending unit.
- Replaced the Speedometer cable.
- Rear window register disassembled and regreased.
- Rebuilt all of the wheel cylinders and currently in the process of making new brake lines, replacing the stock master.
- Refurbished and installed a Warn winch. Had to beef up the front bumper for that install. The factory bumper will be going back on. I have cut a hole in it for the winch cable to travel through.
Here are a few photos of it today:
Rear suspension is still stock.
Here it is the day we met in April 2019. The 69' was in pretty good shape really for having been sitting for so long in Oregon's rainy weather. There is a little rust here and there but nothing that I'm afraid of. The rocker panels need some love and there is a small Bondo fill job on the rear driver corner where the bumper got in a little too deep. But it's all good I can clean it up when that time comes. mechanical first body later...
I have already done several things to the 69' but unfortunately they were not well documented at the time of those improvements.
Such as:
- Front wheel bearings.
- The birfield joints.
- Tie rod ends.
- Drag links.
- Front axle disassembled, inspected, reassembled, new oil.
- Steering box cleaned and greased.
- New u-joints in the front drive line (Matsuba joints from Cruiser Outfitters).
- OME steering damper.
- OME suspension in the front (the rear is coming soon).
- Rebuilt the Holley carburetor, which, dispite conflicting reviews I am actually really happy with.
- 2F valve cover from Mark's Offroad.
- Refurbished the heater blower motor.
- Fixed the fuel sending unit.
- Replaced the Speedometer cable.
- Rear window register disassembled and regreased.
- Rebuilt all of the wheel cylinders and currently in the process of making new brake lines, replacing the stock master.
- Refurbished and installed a Warn winch. Had to beef up the front bumper for that install. The factory bumper will be going back on. I have cut a hole in it for the winch cable to travel through.
Here are a few photos of it today:
Rear suspension is still stock.
Last edited:
it was installed in the 72' when I sold it. I had no idea. I am still in contact with the guy i sold it to so I will try to make an offer for getting it back. I am pretty sure that i do still have the original grill though. I will post a photo of it later today.
Cant wait to install mine back on. I assume in stock form they are running lights? Not turn signals... or are they turn signals on yours because you have the Hella lights in place of where the factory turns were?
