Builds 1960 FJ28L - Project Lara (2 Viewers)

[tahoe40/45]

I have seen similar bib lights on other South and Central American Cruisers. Same with the tranny hump with the 4wd engage on the right side, the parking brake would be on the left in that covered oval hole, looks like a 20 series one.
Pedals look good.
Front spring look like a couple leafs are missing. But could be a FJ28 thing, i think there is 7 on a FJ25.
I think the booster is a add on, Probably should be like a FJ25 single circuit system.
The grill looks like the right one.

 

[JackA]

I have an extra set of front steps off an LV if you're interested.
I agree the grill looks original.
If you figure out a good solution for the hood hinges, I have some extras to rebuild and maybe part with a set as well.

 

[Land Cruiser Junky]

Just my two cents... Although it's not stock, keep the booster and stay away from single circuit brakes. You just might lose a perfectly good vehicle.

 

[scoobiedubes]

those look aftermarket. look to see if there is a manufacturer mark anywhere

Hope you’re right I would rather use the new ones.

I have seen similar bib lights on other South and Central American Cruisers. Same with the tranny hump with the 4wd engage on the right side, the parking brake would be on the left in that covered oval hole, looks like a 20 series one.
Pedals look good.
Front spring look like a couple leafs are missing. But could be a FJ28 thing, i think there is 7 on a FJ25.
I think the booster is a add on, Probably should be like a FJ25 single circuit system.
The grill looks like the right one.

I guess when we take these off and measure the opening we will know better what to do. If the opening fits the new ones we'll probably go that route, if the opening is smaller we will have to figure out a way to make the originals work and make a new bezel for the passenger side one.

So you think the tranny hump is original? That would be really good news.

Just my two cents... Although it's not stock, keep the booster and stay away from single circuit brakes. You just might lose a perfectly good vehicle.View attachment 2195810

I'm going to either keep the booster we have or put in one of the new OEM ones cityracer has I think. My kids will be in this with me, I'd like it to be reasonably safe. I hope nobody will see this as a negative

I have an extra set of front steps off an LV if you're interested.
I agree the grill looks original.
If you figure out a good solution for the hood hinges, I have some extras to rebuild and maybe part with a set as well.

Definitely interested in the steps if you've got a pair, I'll PM you on those. Will see how the hood hinges clean up initially I thought they were worse than they actually are, but you never know until you get through the rust and layers of paint. If you want me to send yours over to blasting with our other parts shoot me a PM and we can try to meet up to get them in - can't imagine it'll cost me anything additional.

 

[Living in the Past]

Those hood hinges are the correct type. My FJ25 hinges all have BJ25 cast into them. One end has a 2 at the end the other one a 3.

Clear I haven't been paying attention to the thread didn't notice there were more posts on other pages.

I personally do not have a issue with single circuit brake on a bone stock vehicle. They require maintenance but when dome correctly work great. When Toyota went to dual circuit brake the master cylinder had to reservoirs. 8/80 that changed a single reservoir. If a brake line is cut the reservoir will empty quickly and still have no brakes. We live in a society where drivers are so distracted they need the car to keep in the lane by itself and stop automatically when they don't paid attention. Can't back up without a camera.
Also think it would be hard to find a insurance company to let you DD and declared value. I certainly wouldn't register one this rare and not have a declared value. I would work to make it as stock as possible including brake rather modifying it for street use. To me it would take a lot more than a brake upgrade to feel a sixty year old vehicle was up to freeway and busy city streets.

 

[tahoe40/45]

Also two types of these hinges, 20 series i believe has the second set of numbers, later ones have just the BJ5225??

 

[1969FJ]

I hesitate to ask a question like this because I think I know the answer What's everyone think about the suspension - acceptable to replace with new or make the original work? My inclination is to clean up the original setup, but I've seen some very very well done restorations where all of the suspension is new and it didn't seem to bother anyone for "originality".

3rd picture is on the engine bay firewall passenger side - any idea what used to be mounted here? Someone welded something on aftermarket at some point but that one bracket lower on the left looks original.

4th picture of the brake booster, any idea what year this came out of? Couldn't find anything on the web about this PN. I see city racer has new OEM ones, still haven't decided what we're going to do with the brake system yet.

5th picture is of the existing grill, is this original? Its mounted too high, but hoping this is a keeper piece.

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My opinion is that on vehicles this old new suspension components will not detract from originality. So many NOS parts are unavailable that it is impossible to ever bring it back to stock exact condition. I tried to re arch my original springs on a 1969 and within 5 years they were flat again. I went to Old man Emu and the vehicle is still back to original height.

 

[JackA]

Here's the LV steps

 

[scoobiedubes]

My opinion is that on vehicles this old new suspension components will not detract from originality. So many NOS parts are unavailable that it is impossible to ever bring it back to stock exact condition. I tried to re arch my original springs on a 1969 and within 5 years they were flat again. I went to Old man Emu and the vehicle is still back to original height.

Thanks for the input and especially your experience - wouldn't want to go to all that trouble then have them go flat again. Will see how it all looks when we get it apart, but may be worth just going the OME route on this one as well. I guess I could always just throw the old parts in the garage attic to collect dust!

 

[Archie 1962 FJ25]

Hello Archie, I had no idea that you were looking for the early hood hinges. Mine are basically in the same shape as Nathan's so he's not really in need of them. I will probably use them on my LV but will make the decision shortly. If I don't use them they're yours.

Thanks Gene. I do have 61/62 2 piece hinges that have BJ5225 markings instead of BJ25. If mine are correct for your LV project than we can exchange them. Mine also needs new pins.

- Apologising to Nathan, didn’t mean to hijack this lovely thread.

 

[scoobiedubes]

One other piece of hard to find hardware that I need, is an FJ25 turn signal switch. I'm guessing we never find those Apollo semaphores, if we do we shift gears later. For now though I need this to switch the front marker lights. The early FJ40 type switch is going to look really out of place with the rounded wheel base.

This is going to be a tough one from what I have read, let me know if anyone has any leads

 

[JohnnyC]

I wouldn’t discount getting a set of Apollo’s just yet

 

[Archie 1962 FJ25]

One other piece of hard to find hardware that I need, is an FJ25 turn signal switch. I'm guessing we never find those Apollo semaphores, if we do we shift gears later. For now though I need this to switch the front marker lights. The early FJ40 type switch is going to look really out of place with the rounded wheel base.

This is going to be a tough one from what I have read, let me know if anyone has any leads View attachment 2196104

This turn signal switch is ultra rare of all the 20 series parts. I found the one in the picture on eBay after waiting and searching for almost 13 years. In fact lead came from @andybudge and every time I see it I remember him for pointing me in right direction.

just last year I found a set of Apollo semaphores that went to a friend in Melbourne, Australia. These do appear on eBay every now and then, Since they had much wider applications and were found on many more Japanese vehicles of that time including tractors & motorcycles.

Here is more information on them - Lever Style Directional

 

[dmamj]

@scoobiedubes this 1958 FJ28 FJ28L parts catalog may come in handy. Don't know how much variance there was between 58 and 60, but I'm more than happy to reference any part you need - just say the word.

Will enjoy watching and learning! Well done sir!

Dan

 

[scoobiedubes]

@scoobiedubes this 1958 FJ28 FJ28L parts catalog may come in handy. Don't know how much variance there was between 58 and 60, but I'm more than happy to reference any part you need - just say the word.

Will enjoy watching and learning! Well done sir!

Dan

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WOW how'd you come across that beauty? This forum never ceases to amaze me... Does it have any photos of the body or interior?

 

[scoobiedubes]

I wouldn’t discount getting a set of Apollo’s just yet

Don't tease! Fine, my hopes are up now.

This turn signal switch is ultra rare of all the 20 series parts. I found the one in the picture on eBay after waiting and searching for almost 13 years. In fact lead came from @andybudge and every time I see it I remember him for pointing me in right direction.

just last year I found a set of Apollo semaphores that went to a friend in Melbourne, Australia. These do appear on eBay every now and then, Since they had much wider applications and were found on many more Japanese vehicles of that time including tractors & motorcycles.

Here is more information on them - Lever Style Directional

Those switches must have not been made very well I guess if so many have disappeared? I figured it was a long shot but if I were to go with actual turn signals on this or switching the marker lights up front, I'm not sure what else I could use. Maybe this is another situation where I try to find something that doesn't look too out of place, and hope that someday I get the real thing.

 

[Living in the Past]

I need to find one of those Happ 355 heaters, $2500 for the clamshell! yikes!!

Are you talking the Nippon Denso heater?

Have you figured out what the rear license plate holder would have been? Believe the FJ25 used the light license plate bracket from the Toyopet. The FJ45LV had a Toyopet rear hatch handle covered by a plate. Toyota used up parts off the Toyopet on Land Cruisers. But that isn't any help finding them as those are as hard or harder to find.

 

[Archie 1962 FJ25]

Don't tease! Fine, my hopes are up now.

Those switches must have not been made very well I guess if so many have disappeared? I figured it was a long shot but if I were to go with actual turn signals on this or switching the marker lights up front, I'm not sure what else I could use. Maybe this is another situation where I try to find something that doesn't look too out of place, and hope that someday I get the real thing.

Switches were well made (Turn lever / stalk is another story), except they were made in much lesser quantities and on top similar aftermarket switches were cheap and readily available so no one bothered repairing them instead just trashed them.

I did find a NOS replacement turn signal switch (after market) few years back that works just as original including self cancelling. It is well made by a Canadian company and was a bit pricy. It seems to be very rare as I never saw another similar one for sale again. I was also in your shoes to find something that looks and works like original. I was planing to use that but since than I found an original thing.

I will post a picture of it and if you want it will be available at the price I bought it. Or else I will still use it for my DD and save the original in box with other rare bits such as “Darth Vader“ lamp, fuel cap etc and some other nos items that I have collected over the years.

 

[scoobiedubes]

Are you talking the Nippon Denso heater?

Have you figured out what the rear license plate holder would have been? Believe the FJ25 used the light license plate bracket from the Toyopet. The FJ45LV had a Toyopet rear hatch handle covered by a plate. Toyota used up parts off the Toyopet on Land Cruisers. But that isn't any help finding them as those are as hard or harder to find.

My understanding was that these early trucks only had dealer installed box heaters? Is that not true? Info came from this thread. I can’t tell if this truck ever had one, because of the modifications. And I’m torn over whether to bother adding one or not.

others have said they thought the license plate bracket in the rear was original but that’s another thing I need to pull off and get a closer look at - thanks for the reminder. Every time I go into the shop I get distracted by something and forget! It’s very different than what’s in my LV for sure since this one has ambulance doors and the LV has a hatch. If the plate bracket is original, what should the light look like? Is it the same as the early 60s FJ40s?

 

[Land Cruiser Junky]

Not sure if this has been said but those clear front marker lenses on your bib are original and as rare as your 28L. The fact that they are in great shape is a miracle. Put them in a very very safe place when you remove them. Also, if your chrome headlight rings need replacing, Kentrol makes a high quality ring in stainless steel that is a very close match.