Builds 1987 fj60 12h-t h55f conversion

[roma042987]

Did a few final things to the 12ht as well. Got the clutch installed as well as the bellhousing.

Repowder coated the bellhousing. Forgot to do the inside last time around.

This allowed me to cobble together the rear mount for my run stand out of an old engine mount and some scrap metal I had laying around. New hardware and a new clutch slave boot.

 

[coldtaco]

still waiting on those heat shields for the exhaust manifold

 

[roma042987]

Coming up on ten years of ownership of this 60 and 2.5 years since I've posted an update. I do enjoy revisiting my threads from time to time to take a trip down memory lane and also to catalog what repairs or modifications I did so, it's time for an update. The truck has almost 177k miles on it now so roughly 22k on the rebuilt engine. It starts with ease and aside from a very minor coolant drip from the oil cooler housing, is in excellent shape. During the engine rebuild I powder coated the above housing prior to knowing that coolant breaks down the powder coat. The coolant is deteriorating the powder on the gasket surface side of the housing and causing a slight leak under pressure. I bought another oil cooler housing I was going to clean up in my vapor hone so the removal and repair process could be expedited as much as possible. Not really looking forward to that repair since I'm pretty confident the injection pump will need to be pulled.

Couple of years back I made all new battery cables for the 60 using 1/0 cable and military style connectors. This was an overdue repair because the original terminals notoriously had a bad connection and I'd have to get out of the truck and wiggle the cables probably 4 out of 10 starts. Not sure why I put it off for so long aside from just lack of time or laziness. I did buy enough cable, terminals, ends, as well as a crimping tool so I could do my 40 next.

Trip to the Georgia mtns a few months back

Also removed the roof top tent and rack to move it over to my trailer.

 

[roma042987]

Last August I almost took the cruiser to SAS #6 but lack of time in trying to address some minor modifications led me to drive my 100. I had a small punch list of items like removing the roof top tent and rack (since I was pulling my camper for that trip), need for new wiper arms, rear speakers, rear add a leafs, and rear accessory socket for the cargo area to power the fridge. Some time is September or October I knocked out those punch items.

New 4 runner arms and blades as well as new covers for the cowl.

 

[roma042987]

New driver door handle and markers that I bought several years ago finally got installed. I replaced the passenger door a handle a few years back because it had broken and was so happy with how it felt I'd ordered the driver side and just never got around to installing it.

 

[roma042987]

New tail light lenses and a set of manual 62 mirrors which were one of the best mods I'd done on the 60.

I think this photo was after the additional rear leaf install on the OME leaf pack.

 

[roma042987]

I know the speaker mod is controversial in some people's eyes since the rear cardboard panels need to be cut but I weighed my options and decided to throw them back there. I used some 62 brackets and pop riveted a tiny aluminum strip of metal to the pinch weld of the body. I wanted to come up with something as least as invasive as possible and this was my solution. One 3/16 hole on each side, aside from the cut cardboard.

And silly me didn't even photograph the finished product...I'll have to snap a picture and update this post

 

[roma042987]

And six years after building and three years after installing my cable locked axles, I finally got around to attaching the cables and locking levers.


I was fortunate enough to have a set of RHD and LHD levers and cables to pick the best hardware and parts from.

 

[roma042987]

Referencing several others posts for positioning I drilled the two holes for the cables and three holes for riv nuts for the lever assembly.

I was pleasantly surprised the center console fit as well as my RHD suspension seat (which has the recline lever on the inboard side since it's the Japanese driver seat). ( I could have installed the seat on the right side and had proper recline lever orientation but the passenger seat didn't have lumbar or the bottom cushion adjustments)

 

[roma042987]

 

[roma042987]

Left hand drive cable/lever assembly.

 

[bottombracket]

Oh my, that looks so freaking awesome.

This and your build thread for Tucker’s 40 were the first threads I saw where l thought “that’s how I want to document what I do”.

 

[roma042987]

Oh my, that looks so freaking awesome.

This and your build thread for Tucker’s 40 were the first threads I saw where l thought “that’s how I want to document what I do”.

Thanks Galen, I wish I could have kept up with it better on here. Just don't have the free time these days that I did prior to kids, going back to school, and traveling for work all the time.

 

[roma042987]

 

[roma042987]

Several of the lever/cable assembly holes are predrilled on the U.S. market 60 body. By installing riv nuts in them I was able to mark the holes for the additional holes, drill them and install riv nuts in them. I broke my riv nut tool on the third riv nut and had to put the project on hold for a few days until the replacement arrived.

 

[dogfishlake]

I thought at first that the cable lock lever setup would be a pain and not very handy. After Mineral Creek at SAS6 I discovered otherwise. I had the rear on most of the time and the front on and off many times up that trail. It was beat up and very sketchy but between the lug of the 12h-t and the front locker on when needed, Chunk made the trail pretty smooth. I've seen the trails you are unafraid to tackle and think you will like the setup very much!
Hope to see you soon buddy!

 

[Elbert]

glad you made some progress on your mods, I too have been trying to go through my "stuff" to see what I have and what I've forgotten about. My new potentially viable goal is that I get all the stuff done, I have the parts for, before summer hits.

 

[HemiAlex]

Very awesome build with great attention to detail.

 

[HueyDriver]

I’ve read this build post probably 5 times through and am thankful for you taking the time to post updates, along with attaching part numbers.

Are you installing the indicators for the lockers on your dash cluster as well?

 

[roma042987]

I’ve read this build post probably 5 times through and am thankful for you taking the time to post updates, along with attaching part numbers.

Are you installing the indicators for the lockers on your dash cluster as well?

Thanks for the compliment. I'd like to but, I don't have a cluster with indicators laying around so it's not really a huge priority.