1973 FJ55 Land Cruiser AKA Rusty (Am I crazy for wanting to restore this?)

[INailedIt]

Hello Everyone,
Last weekend I purchased a 1973 FJ55 Toyota Land Cruiser (aka "Rusty"). I found this on Facebook and after spending several days looking at it online, I decided to "Is this still available?" and now its parked next to my house. Now I'm scratching my head wondering what I have gotten myself into. I spent a few hours today vacuuming it out and cleaning out all the dirt, droppings, weeds and random garbage usually found in a vehicle that has been sitting out in a field for a few years. I'm looking forward to starting work on Rusty and hoping that I will be able to call upon the experts at Ih8mud. Please understand that I have never owned a Land Cruiser before, and will probably need lots of information and support as I move forward with this restoration. I know this is going to be a slow process as I will be doing this work in my free time on the weekends. I look forward to sharing my progress and communicating with you as the work progresses.

1973 FJ55 Land Cruiser
1.5F motor
3 speed
Factory AC
Rust, Rust, and more Rust.

 

[Mark Jennings]

You are now the proud owner of a piece of history. What you might do before you start your journey is get the history of the beast…..the story of all of the previous owners and the what, why and how you ended up as the owner. The STORY is actually worth more than the Cruiser.

 

[INailedIt]

You’re right. I’ll start researching to see what I can find out. I know the guy I bought it from said he purchased it from a guy in Wyoming. While vacuuming it out today I found a receipt in the glove box from 1987 saying that the guy in Wyoming paid $450 for it from a used car dealer in Casper.

 

[Ol Yeller]

Stick your nose into the Iron Pig sub form…great support group for the 55

 

[knuckle47]

Well, it’s a cool truck. There are specific groups here for the FJ55 but you have piqued a lot of interests just posting it here…Good Luck…

Never having own a Land Cruiser before puts you in two positions…neither I can say here but…it will be an event to docu,ent well

 

[Grayscale]

That looks like tons of fun.
I once had a '73 FJ40, sold it, for pragmatic reasons. Later, I was really into bicycle commuting for a while, and I would go thru the neighborhood, and there were three derelict-looking FJ55s parked on about one block, but it was two separate houses owned by one person, so depending on where the owner parked his daily-driver, it kinda looked like four 55s. That was the nudge to get me to start looking for my current truck. Crazy, yes. But, I'm not doing it for convenience, or luxury, that's just nuts. A vehicle that demands that you own a set of wrenches and develop some skills makes traveling anywhere an adventure and an accomplishment.

 

[knuckle47]

That looks like tons of fun.
I once had a '73 FJ40, sold it, for pragmatic reasons. Later, I was really into bicycle commuting for a while, and I would go thru the neighborhood, and there were three derelict-looking FJ55s parked on about one block, but it was two separate houses owned by one person, so depending on where the owner parked his daily-driver, it kinda looked like four 55s. That was the nudge to get me to start looking for my current truck. Crazy, yes. But, I'm not doing it for convenience, or luxury, that's just nuts. A vehicle that demands that you own a set of wrenches and develop some skills makes traveling anywhere an adventure and an accomplishment.

As you say this, I remember I had a box behind the seat in my FJ40 which was a bit modified the first 8 months after I bought it new in 1974. It had a full set of wrench’s, screwdrivers, 2 carburetors, stock distributor, plug wires, a spool of 12ga wire, all the original Toyota toolroll pieces, fuses, tape coat hangers and all most anything I could think I may need… the damn thing was only 8 months old but I felt so secure on many of those out of the way hiways and roads….never needed any of it …ha-ha

 

[PabloCruise]

Hello Everyone,
Last weekend I purchased a 1973 FJ55 Toyota Land Cruiser (aka "Rusty"). I found this on Facebook and after spending several days looking at it online, I decided to "Is this still available?" and now its parked next to my house. Now I'm scratching my head wondering what I have gotten myself into. I spent a few hours today vacuuming it out and cleaning out all the dirt, droppings, weeds and random garbage usually found in a vehicle that has been sitting out in a field for a few years. I'm looking forward to starting work on Rusty and hoping that I will be able to call upon the experts at Ih8mud. Please understand that I have never owned a Land Cruiser before, and will probably need lots of information and support as I move forward with this restoration. I know this is going to be a slow process as I will be doing this work in my free time on the weekends. I look forward to sharing my progress and communicating with you as the work progresses.

1973 FJ55 Land Cruiser
1.5F motor
3 speed
Factory AC
Rust, Rust, and more Rust.

View attachment 3725951

View attachment 3725952

Congratulations!!!

Come and see us in the Iron Pig sub-forum:

FJ55 Iron Pig Preservation Society

Home for the "Knights" to discuss restoration items unique to the FJ55 Series wagons.

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[76FJ40]

She's a creampuff. My wife says if the rust holes aren't big enough to put your head through, it's a keeper.

 

[onemanarmy]

hose it down with fluid film, lift and 33x10.5 tires, late model 2f and 4 speed and rock on

 

[MDH33]

My advice: Don't get hung up on "restoring" it. Just fix one thing at a time until it's running and driving. Cosmetics come last. Once it's running, just drive it awhile as is. I think it's a beauty.

 

[greenbeast]

Welcome to the Land Cruiser addiction! I like your style, go big or go home on your first purchase.

Having owned most models of the Land Cruiser line over the last 15 years I’ve found that my appreciation for the Iron Pig blows everything else away.

Share some interior pics including that AC?

The folks inside the pig pen are an incredibly helpful, forthcoming with the knowledge they have as any group I’ve worked with. All have a ton of passion for their 55s.

 

[INailedIt]

hose it down with fluid film, lift and 33x10.5 tires, late model 2f and 4 speed and rock on

What is fluid film? Does it slow the spread of rust?

 

[archie73]

That one was just down the road from me and had a strong pull on my heart strings. I have wanted a pig for while, but currently I have too many open projects in the works. Congrats on the purchase.

 

[INailedIt]

Congratulations!!!

Come and see us in the Iron Pig sub-forum:

FJ55 Iron Pig Preservation Society

Home for the "Knights" to discuss restoration items unique to the FJ55 Series wagons.

forum.ih8mud.com

I’ll check it out. Thanks

 

[INailedIt]

Welcome to the Land Cruiser addiction! I like your style, go big or go home on your first purchase.

Having owned most models of the Land Cruiser line over the last 15 years I’ve found that my appreciation for the Iron Pig blows everything else away.

Share some interior pics including that AC?

The folks inside the pig pen are an incredibly helpful, forthcoming with the knowledge they have as any group I’ve worked with. All have a ton of passion

Welcome to the Land Cruiser addiction! I like your style, go big or go home on your first purchase.

Having owned most models of the Land Cruiser line over the last 15 years I’ve found that my appreciation for the Iron Pig blows everything else away.

Share some interior pics including that AC?

The folks inside the pig pen are an incredibly helpful, forthcoming with the knowledge they have as any group I’ve worked with. All have a ton of passion for their 55s.

I took a few pictures of the AC system. I don’t know if it works, but it looks like all the parts are there. The back of the compressor says Toyoda on it.

 

[knuckle47]

Probably uses R-22 refrigerant?

 

[Grayscale]

The starter still has the Nippon Denso sticker, probably never rebuilt.

Did that spark plug come out of the head looking like that, or was it carried as a spare?

 

[INailedIt]

the spark plug was sitting in the battery tray when I bought it. It's the only spark plug that came with Rusty. The starter was also sitting in the tray. my fear is that the motor is siezed, but I haven't had time to confirm. All the spark plugs have been removed, I don't know how long ago, but I think it's been a few years. I'm thinking that a rebuild/replace may be needed. Also, the valve cover had been removed and was set back on top of the valves, but not tightly. Is it worth rebuilding a 1.5F engine? my preference is go more on the original side of things if possible.

 

[Grayscale]

I don't know what your intentions are with this truck. You said something like restoration, so, there is your answer. I didn't know '73s came with F1.5s?

My 40 came with a seized motor, and a good odometer. The starter nose cone was jammed between the flywheel and the bellhousing. But, instead of being thorough, I jumped on a Craiglist powertrain, now I'm still trying to unload some parts, five-years-later.

So, I'm running with something that I probably don't even need, and it had a full set of rusty Autolite 65 plugs in it (still in service). The carburetor was seized, the head was crusty in several ports, to the point where I wondered if a gasket could seal it up. The pusrod cover was rusty in the inside, by the PCV valve. However, it runs fine, gets normal mpg, four years without problems, no weird aftermarket replacement camshaft or freezeplugs to worry about. Some stuff, like rocker arm shafts are not going to rebuild or be replaced, that I know of, they only get reinstalled. With new valve stem seals, my exhaust is basically clear, although my carbs all kinda drool into the intake, so it is a minor issue, basically sub-clinical other than I pulled the carb many times and saw it.

What I'd say, in your case, is get an old-school pump-oiler-can with flex hose nozzle, and put a small amount of Marvel Mystery Oil (small bottle) in each spark plug hole. I think that I got mine at Harbor Freight, MMO might be there too? Soak it for a few hours, a few days, a few months - it removes contaminants from rings etc. It is not something you want in your oil if you are driving the vehicle, it isn't a quality lubricant. Drain the oil from the crankcase, 24mm socket and breaker-bar iirc (I cheat with a 15/16 box-end wrench sometimes). You might try to make the engine turn by hand, with leather gloves on the crank pulley, it shouldn't have too much resistance. Wheel chocks, transmission in neutral. Then report back.

Checking the seating of the distributor is next, but if you mess-up, you'll ruin your first F, like I did. I'm on my fourth LC-engine between two trucks, lol. Essentially, does the oil flow when the oil filter is removed; does it make it to the rocker arms, with just the starter turning the motor, and the high-tension coil wire disconnected.