1963 Land Cruiser Complete Rebuild

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jacktornio

jacktornio

Joined
Jul 23, 2025
Threads
2
Messages
12
Location
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Hi I am currently in the process of fixing up a 1963 Land Cruiser. It was my Grandpa’s and has been sitting in a pasture in Oklahoma for about 25 years and I just recently got it out and started cleaning it up. I took any junk or loose debris out, as well as the seats, gas tank, and more. It also is without the engine, transmission, brakes, etc and will be a complete rebuild. I am currently looking at a chevy 350 block with a manual 4x4 transmission maybe a sm465. This is the next step for me. I live in Wisconsin so getting down to Oklahoma won't be plausible till the fall. That's why I'm posting now so I have time to look and ask for opinions, I’m hoping to have an engine and transmission by the fall. My uncle is a mechanic and is helping me with the installs and getting more information, but I'd love any advice, opinions, or parts you have for me! I'll leave some pictures and videos of the cruiser below.

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Used to be a hardtop …. What we call the corrugated “high post” hard top

Looks like very old school smittybuilt roll bar

Like the improv behind the seat tool box… are you going to keep your grandfathers “improvements” … gas can area… old school sw tach

Welcome to ownership
 
There are free downloads of manuals

Coolermans wiring diagrams and parts

I have posted the links many times, but this laptop doesn't have them

I'm on fire watch and the good laptop is packed.

added
Coolerman's wiring diagram and parts.
Cruiser Wiring

Free download manuals

Land Cruiser Factory Service Manuals (FSMs)​

Factory service manuals (FSMs) for your Toyota Land Cruiser ! From the 1950s to the present!
www.cruisercult.com
www.cruisercult.com
 
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Yes you are in the very old group … I’m borderline lol
 
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I’m so old it makes me tired just looking at a project that far gone.

I’m glad you’re not tempted to try and restore it; there’s just too much missing.
 
I would most definitely call that rig a blank canvas! If you had paid for it I would call it a money pit. But at least unlike some Columbian lipstick pig you can certainly see what you are starting with. Good luck. We look forward to watching your progress. You have a worldwide support group.
 
PLEASE don't call this 'patina', throw some waxoil on it and call it a day. With this history and its having grown up in a relatively dry environment, this could turn in to a really nice 40 your grandad would be proud of. Finding a hard top, if you want one, might be tricky but you're in the right place to do it.

It's only 6 years older than me, but one can restore a Cruiser..... old codgers like us just keep getting older, @JohnnyC .
 
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@charliemeyer007 are you anywhere near the Claremont Fire? Wherever, be safe…
 
jacktornio said:
Hi I am currently in the process of fixing up a 1963 Land Cruiser. It was my Grandpa’s and has been sitting in a pasture in Oklahoma for about 25 years and I just recently got it out and started cleaning it up. I took any junk or loose debris out, as well as the seats, gas tank, and more. It also is without the engine, transmission, brakes, etc and will be a complete rebuild. I am currently looking at a chevy 350 block with a manual 4x4 transmission maybe a sm465. This is the next step for me. I live in Wisconsin so getting down to Oklahoma won't be plausible till the fall. That's why I'm posting now so I have time to look and ask for opinions, I’m hoping to have an engine and transmission by the fall. My uncle is a mechanic and is helping me with the installs and getting more information, but I'd love any advice, opinions, or parts you have for me! I'll leave some pictures and videos of the cruiser below.

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It’s cool that you have something like that in the family. What are your goals/ how do you plan to use it? The answers to those questions would help direct advice.
 
My first Landcruiser was a high post corrogated FJ40 titled as 1962. Toyota was not very consistent about years and some parts going back that far. Would be difficult finding a hard top but the regular non high post do come up, I think u could cut the post down. The door height changes slightly as well in the early years (glass is shorter on my 63’ truck compared to 69.
As others have said run the patina for now/a long time, and it’s time consuming, challenging and expensive if new to body work, and there is a lot you should do first like a dual circuit brake master and newer front axle with disk breaks.. this gets rid of the old “ball and claw” front steering knuckle and (at least half) of the none auto adjust front drum breaks.. and putting together your drivetrain will keep you busy.
Get it to drive and start enjoying it, it is too easy to lose momentum (I did currently but restarting soon). My 1962 (same color) is gone but I’ve still got a 1963 FJ45 pick up and building a 1969 (ish) to honor the beloved 1963.
Going to High School in Colorado, driving the 1962 FJ40 in the late 1970’s, I almost didn’t graduate high school because we would go 4 wheeling instead of school every week. We did some of the hardest trails in Colorado with no locker or a winch.. and no fear, we were driving Landcruisers! (By end of HS 3 other buddies had FJ40’s!)
 
Yes the fire is/was right over the hill, I could watch the tankers and choppers fly right over my house. between Lucky Peak reservoir and Aldape Summit, both about 2.5 miles away. Ash didn't at my house this time, the last fire it did and I evacuated. This time I just loaded up, Elsie is still loaded, when it cools down later I'll start hauling stuff back in.
 
Definitely a perfect candidate for a frame off build if there ever was one. You will only have 50-60K …….or you know maybe more, in it and you will be very experienced when you finish.
 
What part of Oklahoma?
 
JohnnyC said:
Used to be a hardtop …. What we call the corrugated “high post” hard top

Looks like very old school smittybuilt roll bar

Like the improv behind the seat tool box… are you going to keep your grandfathers “improvements” … gas can area… old school sw tach

Welcome to ownership
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Thank you for the welcome, I believe he bought It from someone with most of the after market improvements. I honestly haven't thought about that yet because I'm more concerned about an engine right now but I appreciate you bringing that up
 
rlong said:
My first Landcruiser was a high post corrogated FJ40 titled as 1962. Toyota was not very consistent about years and some parts going back that far. Would be difficult finding a hard top but the regular non high post do come up, I think u could cut the post down. The door height changes slightly as well in the early years (glass is shorter on my 63’ truck compared to 69.
As others have said run the patina for now/a long time, and it’s time consuming, challenging and expensive if new to body work, and there is a lot you should do first like a dual circuit brake master and newer front axle with disk breaks.. this gets rid of the old “ball and claw” front steering knuckle and (at least half) of the none auto adjust front drum breaks.. and putting together your drivetrain will keep you busy.
Get it to drive and start enjoying it, it is too easy to lose momentum (I did currently but restarting soon). My 1962 (same color) is gone but I’ve still got a 1963 FJ45 pick up and building a 1969 (ish) to honor the beloved 1963.
Going to High School in Colorado, driving the 1962 FJ40 in the late 1970’s, I almost didn’t graduate high school because we would go 4 wheeling instead of school every week. We did some of the hardest trails in Colorado with no locker or a winch.. and no fear, we were driving Landcruisers! (By end of HS 3 other buddies had FJ40’s!)
Click to expand...
That's very cool! I appreciate the advice and knowledge
 
nabbasi said:
It’s cool that you have something like that in the family. What are your goals/ how do you plan to use it? The answers to those questions would help direct advice.
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I think getting it drivable is my first goal. Then I can start worrying about some of the smaller issues. I want it to just be a car I can drive around in the summer. There's not enough off-roading near me to build it for that and I like the idea of driving it around town
 
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