1985 FJ73 (1 Viewer)

[Guu]

Hello I’m Steve and this is my FJ73, I bought it last year and it is my first 4x4. Since I have owned it I’ve had to replace the fuel tank due to rust, I had one made by Brown Davis and it’s a nice bit of kit. Increased capacity to 120ltr. Will grab a photo soon. And also I’ve replaced the water pump and done a couple of gaskets on the engine alongside normal fluids and filters.

It has generally been very reliable and I really like it. BUT, last time I took it out over Christmas the axle housing bent on me. It has gone before because upon stripping the axle down one of the trunnion bearing races is offset.

So I’ve been on the hunt for a replacement axle housing. I live on a remote island but thankfully there are many landcruiser’s which have been left all over the place. First I tried a 60 axle housing but that was too big, this car only had 150k km on it. I may go back and get the diff!

Next I found a leaf sprung 75 ute but this had a diff which was too small. As my car is a 1985 model I needed an early one with the larger diff as I wanted to reuse my own axle parts.

 

[Guu]

I eventually found one in a locals back garden. The vehicle had been upside down for a very long time and all the inner axles and everything removed. Just the axle housing remain and it is very rusty. So i'm cleaning it and getting it ready to go on. Want my cruiser back by the end of the weekend!

The knuckle cups came up good with some elbow grease and tin foil

Rust inside the housing

The actual inside bit / tubes ? in which the inner axles go through are nice and clean though

 

[Guu]

And these last pictures here are off tonights work

Not a good time to be painting in wet season though, going to have to re do the sway bar

 

[FJ73Texas]

Welcome. It is nice to see another FJ73 so I don't feel so alone although most other FJ73s owners here seem to be from AUS.

 

[Guu]

No worries mate glad to be here.

Rough and ready frame painting in my lunch break....Hope it doesn't rain

 

[coldtaco]

What did you do to prep and what did you use to paint?

 

[Guu]

I used a grinder with a couple of different wire brush attachments and then a manual wire brush for those areas where i couldn't get the grinder in. I didn't take the paint back to bare metal. Then a good go over with the air gun

Paint is rust guard enamel by white knight.

Bit of a rush job tbh but can't have done any harm and looks much better than before.

The free wheeling hubs come up good too!!!

 

[roscoFJ73]

Nice, I would like to visit GE one day. Is there a parts store on the island?

Is that rain from Cyclone Debra?

 

[Guu]

Haha no or in the local language Nara!! The place is beautiful mate. If you get a chance come for sure. Fishing is amazing!

There are plenty of abandoned cars though.

Nope just general rain. Not much done tonight two under panels sprayed and the sway bar re done. Ran out of paint though, would like to have given it another coat really.

 

[Guu]

Been bit lazy last couple of nights but got some work done tonight. Diff and axle painted and also the thing that the u bolts and shock bolts to.

Bit of a problem with the tie rods i cant unscrew two of them. I can get one out of each side but the other ones, the ones with like a hole in them for you to get a bar or screwdriver through to help with unscrewing them are putting up a real fight.

I can get them to turn just it's very hard but they just dont seem to be unscrewing out. Am i missing something here??? Any help please

 

[Guu]

There left hand thread aren't they and I've just learnt this after breaking my vice!

 

[Guu]

Struthed it!

 

[ozcrusier]

Nice old truck mate keep the pics coming.

 

[Guu]

Cheers mate