Builds 1960 FJ28L - Project Lara

[scoobiedubes]

fwiw, i love the maroon/cream paint in the brochure pics

hmm I need to add that to the potential colors list.

If you are concerned with future value I would urge you to either leave it alone or do full-blown correct restoration. The downside to the latter is it would be penultimately difficult to make it correct. Anything less than that would be a waste of well into 6 figures.

agree with you Dan. What “correct” is in the cab is just difficult to figure out. So it will take some time and searching. On the mechanical, getting it back to original should be very doable and certainly what I will strive for. as it is there’s a lot in there that is not at all correct. I hope you along with others will help me get it right.

I do want to drive this truck, so leaving it as is isn’t really an option. They got it running for the auction, sure - but it’s not really a driver. And future value is always something I have to keep in my mind but it’s also not something I plan to sell or a restoration I’m going to rush.

 

[cruiserdan]

I won't be much help. Ours is not as intact as yours.

 

[JohnnyC]

@cruiserdan

i tried to see your door latches and window cranks and mechanisms... had yours been changed out or original?

Im wondering on how close they are to an old mitsubish j30 or even say a vw... the mitsu wagons started around that time as well and parts could have been sourced from the same supplier as Mitsubishi jeeps that were built in gifu area too

the mitsubishi jeeps also used the clamshell heaters and they come up for sale on japanese sites here and there

 

[cruiserdan]

Sadly there isn't much there to see.

 

[cruiserdan]

 

[JohnnyC]

no .... those are great.... thats a lot to see

looks like the original lock mech is still there... so any of his doors that resemble that are correct and the other is not original

 

[scoobiedubes]

That IS a lot to see - like my old chemistry professor used to say in lab “a picture is worth a kiloword”. looks like the same mechanisms as my LV which I suspected. However I probably won’t ever find those mechanisms. Maybe I can have them made ($$$).

the body work is going to take months. I’m hoping I get lucky and can find some of these parts in the meantime. Probably not realistic but you never know. @JohnnyC keep the suggestions coming maybe I’ll look into those VW and Mitsu handles. Door mechanisms can always be switched later if I come across the LV parts 10 or 20 years from now.

 

[scoobiedubes]

Took some photos today while I had a few moments to run over. Does look like we can get the ebrake figured out, sorry the pictures are terrible my phone doesn’t do well in low light. And we have 4 bolt fenders on one side. 0 bolts on the other - welded on!

 

[scoobiedubes]

Here’s the condition of the air cleaner. We will need to re-create the entire bottom.

also need to source some pieces for the heat riser coil. Had to do the same on the LV.

 

[scoobiedubes]

I’m going to take a look at a local mudder’s 55 this weekend to see if a 55 rear bench seat could be modified to match the LV seat - which I think is likely how this 28L rear seat looked originally. The rear wheel well is shifted forward on this truck probably 6” further (vs the LV) into the door opening so it will be tough and a little different but I think this is likely my best bet for the rear seat. Front seat still TBD...

First photo is the 28. Second two are the LV. Last two are some 55 seats.

 

[treerootCO]

The 28 parts manual is basically the FJ25. Here is some cool info on the FJ28

 

[whitey45]

@KT40 has a 55 seat in his lv, maybe he can shoot you a pic?

 

[Casey E]

I have one of those air cleaners and a few spare carbs. I’ll get pics

 

[scoobiedubes]

I have one of those air cleaners and a few spare carbs. I’ll get pics

That would be great! Remaking the one I have wouldn’t be ideal.

Would definitely be interested in seeing how @KT40 LV looks with the 55 bench. We measured the spacing in the LV and the 28 today and if we had an LV seat it looks like it would work with very little modification. So if a 55 seat works in an LV we should be able to make it work in the 28. Then i just have to find one!

thanks @treerootCO thats one spec sheet I hadn’t seen yet!

 

[1969FJ]

FJCO had one.

1960 Toyota 2 Door FJ28 Land Cruiser

While browsing through the FJ Company website I came across this very rare 1960 FJ28 Land Cruiser. The crew at FJ Co. found this Land Cruiser in Mexico and

offroadaction.ca

 

[KT40]

@KT40 has a 55 seat in his lv, maybe he can shoot you a pic?

That would be great! Remaking the one I have wouldn’t be ideal.

Would definitely be interested in seeing how @KT40 LV looks with the 55 bench. We measured the spacing in the LV and the 28 today and if we had an LV seat it looks like it would work with very little modification. So if a 55 seat works in an LV we should be able to make it work in the 28. Then i just have to find one!

thanks @treerootCO thats one spec sheet I hadn’t seen yet!

I will get some pictures on Sunday.
Turlock Saturday, Whitey.

 

[scoobiedubes]

Some cruiser porn. Ignore the missing hubcap we are working on the LVs brakes.

 

[wngrog]

Awesome photo

 

[Indygbd]

Awhile back I heard about a nos early Toyota steering wheel overseas and I have been hunting for one for my 1958 FJ25 project. I took the chance and purchased it. When it arrived it was not the one I was searching for. I reached out to some friends in Australia and they informed me it is an early 20/28 series Land Cruiser steering wheel. Not sure if you would be interested in it. Just tossing it out there. It is nos with light handling marks. Otherwise its in great shape.

 

[scoobiedubes]

Awhile back I heard about a nos early Toyota steering wheel overseas and I have been hunting for one for my 1958 FJ25 project. I took the chance and purchased it. When it arrived it was not the one I was searching for. I reached out to some friends in Australia and they informed me it is an early 20/28 series Land Cruiser steering wheel. Not sure if you would be interested in it. Just tossing it out there. It is nos with light handling marks. Otherwise its in great shape.

Very interested I don’t know if what we have is original or not but I’ll PM you for details. Im very much in the “picking” stages trying to gather all the parts I need before we start too much of the work.

FYI some good news thanks to @Tancruiser I believe we have some front and rear FJ45LV seats for the build from someone he knows. Best possible scenario for the interior for sure! Fingers crossed.

also got some very nice detailed dimensions of the FJ55 seat from @xtremeVA and saw a set in person thanks to @Hank Tank beautiful 78 nearby and it looks like we could make that work as a fallback if necessary. The LV seats obviously would be best as it’s possible that’s what was in there originally from Gifu.

I really love and appreciate this community, thank you everyone for taking ownership of this unicorn with me. When I decided to go for it I knew I would need help and the mud community has not disappointed!