4Cruisers
SILVER Star
The alignment is easy to do yourself, and your wife can help - mine did
. All you need to adjust is the toe-in. Right after you install new tires. Then the H55f.
Builds 1983 Cruiser Story
- Thread starter Ian Crawford
- Start date
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. All you need to adjust is the toe-in. Right after you install new tires. Then the H55f.
You are welcome to drive Buster to confirm the H55 is the way you want to go. August-YOUR LIFE WILL CHANGE! That is awesome.
- Thread starter
- #163
Well, I'm a Dad now and its awesome! We had a healthy baby girl.
The bouncy Cruiser ride puts her right to sleep! No big updates to report... I finally installed the new wheels and new tires, they are stock size, not 31s like I had. The difference from the KO to the KO2 is staggering when it comes to ride quality! I also fixed a squeaky clutch pedal.
On the list is AALs for the rear and new seat bottom foam for the driver's side. I have the H55 ready to go in once it needs a clutch! Other than that, just keep driving!
Here's some recent photos from checking out a friends new property:
\
The bouncy Cruiser ride puts her right to sleep! No big updates to report... I finally installed the new wheels and new tires, they are stock size, not 31s like I had. The difference from the KO to the KO2 is staggering when it comes to ride quality! I also fixed a squeaky clutch pedal.
On the list is AALs for the rear and new seat bottom foam for the driver's side. I have the H55 ready to go in once it needs a clutch! Other than that, just keep driving!
Here's some recent photos from checking out a friends new property:
Hi, Nice work. What no baby pictures ? Mike
what an amazing journey on this one.... super cool truck sir. dying to find a diamond in the rough like this!
That last photo made me think of one of my favorite quotes:
“From 30 feet away she looked like a lot of class. From 10 feet away she looked like something made up to be seen from 30 feet away.”
― Raymond Chandler, The High Window
But in all seriousness its a great thread and amazing to follow along and see the transformation from where it started to now.
“From 30 feet away she looked like a lot of class. From 10 feet away she looked like something made up to be seen from 30 feet away.”
― Raymond Chandler, The High Window
But in all seriousness its a great thread and amazing to follow along and see the transformation from where it started to now.
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- Thread starter
- #167
Appreciate it! I tell people it's a 30/30 truck, 30 feet away at 30 miles an hour it looks really good!
D21FJ60
#LiveLaughLove.
Haven't checked back in here for a bit. Congrats on the baby girl, time flies doesn't it? My 2 yo son loves sitting in my father's FJ60. Was down your way the other month in Corbin, love the mountain views.
Tech question- how did you affix the mexican blanket to the back of your seat? Stealing this idea for my 4Runner project, not sure if it will be doable as the t4r has a split rear seat...
Tech question- how did you affix the mexican blanket to the back of your seat? Stealing this idea for my 4Runner project, not sure if it will be doable as the t4r has a split rear seat...
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- Thread starter
- #170
Thanks! Sure does.... No new projects to speak of on the 60. Just DDing it.
This has a metal surround that holds the factory carpet in place. I just stretched it tight across the rear (with it removed from the truck) and re attached the metal surround securing the blanket in place.
This has a metal surround that holds the factory carpet in place. I just stretched it tight across the rear (with it removed from the truck) and re attached the metal surround securing the blanket in place.
D21FJ60
#LiveLaughLove.
Ah that is what I thought. Not sure i'll be able to do that on my t4r. Thx tho!
- Thread starter
- #172
Still Driving the Cruiser, no wild updates or modifications. Up to 104K miles! That's 20,000 miles in just over 2 years.
That's about 2,000 gallons of fuel at a cost of ~$4,738 ($2.30 per gallon used as average). Shew, wish I wouldn't have done that. But heck, sure beats driving a boring Camry at half the cost!
My AC Compressor has developed a clutch squeal especially when its above 90*F ambient, since it's getting towards the end of summer and I'd rather not pay for a recharge I think I'm going to try and replace the clutch. A new clutch kit is about half the price of the compressor and I'll save teh ~$80 re charge.
Anyone have any experience with this? Any advice?
If it was just me I'd live with it but I pick my daughter up some days after work and it gets pretty toasty back there...
That's about 2,000 gallons of fuel at a cost of ~$4,738 ($2.30 per gallon used as average). Shew, wish I wouldn't have done that. But heck, sure beats driving a boring Camry at half the cost!
My AC Compressor has developed a clutch squeal especially when its above 90*F ambient, since it's getting towards the end of summer and I'd rather not pay for a recharge I think I'm going to try and replace the clutch. A new clutch kit is about half the price of the compressor and I'll save teh ~$80 re charge.
Anyone have any experience with this? Any advice?
If it was just me I'd live with it but I pick my daughter up some days after work and it gets pretty toasty back there...
If the clutch is squealing because it’s slipping, you can potentially re-shim it to make better contact. Typically you can get one re-shim out of the friction material...so if it’s already been done in the past you’ll need to replace it.
If the gap between the friction disc and the pulley is too great, the electromagnet can’t draw the two components together. Re-shimming closes the gap and allows the magnet to pull and hold the two components together.
If the gap between the friction disc and the pulley is too great, the electromagnet can’t draw the two components together. Re-shimming closes the gap and allows the magnet to pull and hold the two components together.
- Thread starter
- #174
It's been awhile since an update, especially any big jobs but the Holiday Weekend provided time to finish the most physical job I've ever completed on my 60. To say I'm pretty sore is an understatement. My whole body aches and I can't turn my head too far to the left.....
This job also broke in the new garage!
Installed the Trail Tailor C-Channel Kit in my 1983. I cannot say enough good things about the quality and fit of @TRAIL TAILOR 's product.
It's safe to say that Toyota did not foresee anyone needing to remove these channels and rivets....
In my opinion I don't know why anyone would try to do this without removing the fuel tank, I understand some of you didn't and I'm impressed.
Total work time was about 12 hours.
Here's what I started with:
Friday evening I jacked it up and removed the spare tire cross member so we could hit it hard Saturday morning.
Saturday AM we started disassembly with fuel tank removal. Once that was out we could start getting down and dirty.
The shackles didn't fight us as much as I had anticipated but they did take a bit of persuading, removal of the old bushings went fairly smooth as well. I was able to drive a punch in and pry and they broke apart.
For the old channel removal, we chose to use a plasma cutter to wash the heads off of the rivets and blow the middle out, we followed with a 4 LB sledge and drift to pound them out. None of them came easy.... We finally found a workable system and we could get (the easy access) rivets out in about 7-10 minutes each, unfortunately this came about after we had fought the lion's share of them.
I was somewhat limited on my plasma with the 15A breaker in the garage. If I could've cranked it up I think we could've burned through the rivets a little more and made removal a bit easier.
It is a messy physical job. Luckily my brother and a buddy volunteered to help. I can't imagine how one person could do this in a weekend. They were paid handsomely in good Stouts and Porters (it was 40*F), cheap beer and pizza.
Had everything out and wire brushed with 3 coats of Rustoleum Heavy Duty Enamel by about 7P Saturday and we called it a night.
Sunday I had about 3 hours in re-installation of everything. Again, this kit was great, everything lined up so well. On the few that were close I was able to thread the hardware through, since it was Grade 8 the threads were OK.
This job also broke in the new garage!
Installed the Trail Tailor C-Channel Kit in my 1983. I cannot say enough good things about the quality and fit of @TRAIL TAILOR 's product.
C-Channel Kit 60 Series
Toyota Land Cruiser 60 series rear C-Channel Kit Strengthen up that rusty rear frame 3/16" channel reinforcement rails with Grade 8 hardware These are bare metal and shipped with a 1/2" step bit to assist in the install
www.trail-tailor.com
It's safe to say that Toyota did not foresee anyone needing to remove these channels and rivets....
In my opinion I don't know why anyone would try to do this without removing the fuel tank, I understand some of you didn't and I'm impressed.
Total work time was about 12 hours.
Here's what I started with:
Friday evening I jacked it up and removed the spare tire cross member so we could hit it hard Saturday morning.
Saturday AM we started disassembly with fuel tank removal. Once that was out we could start getting down and dirty.
The shackles didn't fight us as much as I had anticipated but they did take a bit of persuading, removal of the old bushings went fairly smooth as well. I was able to drive a punch in and pry and they broke apart.
For the old channel removal, we chose to use a plasma cutter to wash the heads off of the rivets and blow the middle out, we followed with a 4 LB sledge and drift to pound them out. None of them came easy.... We finally found a workable system and we could get (the easy access) rivets out in about 7-10 minutes each, unfortunately this came about after we had fought the lion's share of them.
I was somewhat limited on my plasma with the 15A breaker in the garage. If I could've cranked it up I think we could've burned through the rivets a little more and made removal a bit easier.
It is a messy physical job. Luckily my brother and a buddy volunteered to help. I can't imagine how one person could do this in a weekend. They were paid handsomely in good Stouts and Porters (it was 40*F), cheap beer and pizza.
Had everything out and wire brushed with 3 coats of Rustoleum Heavy Duty Enamel by about 7P Saturday and we called it a night.
Sunday I had about 3 hours in re-installation of everything. Again, this kit was great, everything lined up so well. On the few that were close I was able to thread the hardware through, since it was Grade 8 the threads were OK.
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- Thread starter
- #175
All-in-All, the job is a b*tch but very satisfying once complete. IMO tank removal is a must as well as having a good source of heat. The plasma doubled as a cutting tool and heat provider. I heavier sledge *we used a 4LB) and longer drift (we used a 5") might have helped some but honestly I don;t think I could've swung a heavier sledge that many times....
I did smash a healthy amount of axle grease between the channels and frame to help preserve them.
I'm very happy with the finished product and hopefully I never ever, ever, ever, ever have to do this job on this truck again!
Stay tuned for the knuckle rebuild, rain gutter repair, and hopefully a OME 2" light duty lift!
I've got a hard deadline of March 10th as Crawford Baby #2 will be making it's arrival!
I did smash a healthy amount of axle grease between the channels and frame to help preserve them.
I'm very happy with the finished product and hopefully I never ever, ever, ever, ever have to do this job on this truck again!
Stay tuned for the knuckle rebuild, rain gutter repair, and hopefully a OME 2" light duty lift!
I've got a hard deadline of March 10th as Crawford Baby #2 will be making it's arrival!
NeverGiveUpYota
Dare me.
BRAVO !!!!!And congrats on baby number 2!
Always impressed by the work you do and the positive way you frame your jobs. Baby #2, I haven't even met #1 yet. Geesh!! Stay away from the lady! HaHa.....
- Thread starter
- #178
Another weekend another job knocked out! March is coming up quickly!
Rain Gutter re-seal. It was time, 37/38 years of sun baking had petrified what was left of mine. One question I keep getting is did it leak. The answer is seemingly "no", at least not obviously. I daily drive it and have never noticed a leak. Given the condition, this surprises me but I'll take what I can get!
Overall the job was not bad! Not counting the time in between paint coats I'd say I have about 4 hours work time. I cannot say enough good about the 3M 08307 Self-Leveling Seam Sealer, this is specific for rain gutters/rain ditches and it really is amazing to work with. I did have to buy a special application gun for the two-part mix (so if anyone local needs it, you know where to find it!)
Sunday was a beautiful day in Kentucky about 60*F so I decided to start the job outside this turned out to be a good plan because it's a bit messy-er than one might expect! I started with a hammer flat blade screw driver to chip the old out of the gutter. A process that worked really well given how dry-rotted the sealer was. Then I moved to detail work with a hooked pick.
Once all of the big stuff was out I moved to a series of wire wheel brushes on an electric drill to clean and prep the gutters.
I taped this truck off and wiped the rest of the debris and dust out with thinner and applied two coats of Locktite Rust Neutralizer/Converter followed by a coat of Rustoleum Flat Red Primer.
Rain was starting to move in and I knew I needed more time so I rolled up the rear paper and moved the Cruiser into the garage. By that time it was getting close to a Christmas party we needed to attend so I hit it with one more coat of primer and headed in to clean up.
Rain Gutter re-seal. It was time, 37/38 years of sun baking had petrified what was left of mine. One question I keep getting is did it leak. The answer is seemingly "no", at least not obviously. I daily drive it and have never noticed a leak. Given the condition, this surprises me but I'll take what I can get!
Overall the job was not bad! Not counting the time in between paint coats I'd say I have about 4 hours work time. I cannot say enough good about the 3M 08307 Self-Leveling Seam Sealer, this is specific for rain gutters/rain ditches and it really is amazing to work with. I did have to buy a special application gun for the two-part mix (so if anyone local needs it, you know where to find it!)
Sunday was a beautiful day in Kentucky about 60*F so I decided to start the job outside this turned out to be a good plan because it's a bit messy-er than one might expect! I started with a hammer flat blade screw driver to chip the old out of the gutter. A process that worked really well given how dry-rotted the sealer was. Then I moved to detail work with a hooked pick.
Once all of the big stuff was out I moved to a series of wire wheel brushes on an electric drill to clean and prep the gutters.
I taped this truck off and wiped the rest of the debris and dust out with thinner and applied two coats of Locktite Rust Neutralizer/Converter followed by a coat of Rustoleum Flat Red Primer.
Rain was starting to move in and I knew I needed more time so I rolled up the rear paper and moved the Cruiser into the garage. By that time it was getting close to a Christmas party we needed to attend so I hit it with one more coat of primer and headed in to clean up.
- Thread starter
- #179
Onto the seam sealer!
Again, great product for this application: 3M™ Self-Leveling Seam Sealer | 3M United States
I took Monday off so I could catch up on this project and a few house things. Man it's nice to be in the garage when I would normally be in the office.
I scuffed the newly laid primer with scotch-brite and then blew the dust off with compressed air and wiped the rails out again. The seam sealer has an 8 mintue work time to I started across the back in the middle to the crown of the roof.
The gutters aren't super uniform, they have wide and thin spots, you can get away with one heavy pass on most of it. I used a piece of scrap cardboard to push the sealer out against both edges where needed. Its amazing in that 8 minute work time it lays down like glass!
The A pillars were the toughest, it could be because the garage was about 50*F but it did not want to run down the channel so I was forced to lay it down best I could and push it in with my scrap cardboard. This was a little messy but if you did well taping it off it turns out OK.
Once it was all laid down and I was happy with how the gutter was sealed it was time to wait on it to dry. Believe it or not they say you can paint this in 15 minutes! Sure enough it was dry to the touch.
I used almost 1 full 200mL tube. I bought 2 for the job but the second was not needed.
I meticulously color matched with the first can of Rustoleum "Dark Brown" I found at Lowe's.
Overall I'm pretty happy with the outcome!
Still on the "to-do" list are:
Knuckle rebuild and OME Lift kit (Procured!)
Let's hope I can get both finished! Knuckle rebuild has the priority.
Again, great product for this application: 3M™ Self-Leveling Seam Sealer | 3M United States
I took Monday off so I could catch up on this project and a few house things. Man it's nice to be in the garage when I would normally be in the office.
I scuffed the newly laid primer with scotch-brite and then blew the dust off with compressed air and wiped the rails out again. The seam sealer has an 8 mintue work time to I started across the back in the middle to the crown of the roof.
The gutters aren't super uniform, they have wide and thin spots, you can get away with one heavy pass on most of it. I used a piece of scrap cardboard to push the sealer out against both edges where needed. Its amazing in that 8 minute work time it lays down like glass!
The A pillars were the toughest, it could be because the garage was about 50*F but it did not want to run down the channel so I was forced to lay it down best I could and push it in with my scrap cardboard. This was a little messy but if you did well taping it off it turns out OK.
Once it was all laid down and I was happy with how the gutter was sealed it was time to wait on it to dry. Believe it or not they say you can paint this in 15 minutes! Sure enough it was dry to the touch.
I used almost 1 full 200mL tube. I bought 2 for the job but the second was not needed.
I meticulously color matched with the first can of Rustoleum "Dark Brown" I found at Lowe's.
Overall I'm pretty happy with the outcome!
Still on the "to-do" list are:
Knuckle rebuild and OME Lift kit (Procured!)
Let's hope I can get both finished! Knuckle rebuild has the priority.
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NeverGiveUpYota
Dare me.
Thank you for this post. Beautifully details photos and explanations of how to. 
