Build 1996 HZJ75 Land Cruiser Pickup
- Thread starter Will Van
- Start date
Member Build Threads
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
Will Van
GOLD Star
- Thread starter
- #642
Time for an update.
My original cluster had a broken speedo. It broke almost immediately after I bought the truck while leaving LA.
My plan was to do a custom setup to display RPM and oil pressure on my new instrument cluster (my original cluster did not have tach or oil pressure gauge). Everything on the new cluster worked (including speedo), but for a variety of reasons, I decided to go back to the original cluster, rather than fool with RPM and oil pressure.
But I still needed a speedo. My friend Matt reminded me that I could probably just swap the speedo out of the new cluster into the old cluster, and then I could reinstall my original cluster (with working speedometer).
Original (broken) speedo on the left. New working speedo on the right.
Voilà. Working speedo in original cluster.
The script for the timing belt reminder is blocked, but otherwise everything works great. Well...except for that sometime while the truck was sitting, the fuel gauge quit working (unrelated to any cluster swap shenanigans). I have ordered a new fuel gauge float and hopefully that solves everything 100%.
Huge thanks to @FJ73Texas for all his help. I could not have done it without you!
My original cluster had a broken speedo. It broke almost immediately after I bought the truck while leaving LA.
My plan was to do a custom setup to display RPM and oil pressure on my new instrument cluster (my original cluster did not have tach or oil pressure gauge). Everything on the new cluster worked (including speedo), but for a variety of reasons, I decided to go back to the original cluster, rather than fool with RPM and oil pressure.
But I still needed a speedo. My friend Matt reminded me that I could probably just swap the speedo out of the new cluster into the old cluster, and then I could reinstall my original cluster (with working speedometer).
Original (broken) speedo on the left. New working speedo on the right.
Voilà. Working speedo in original cluster.
The script for the timing belt reminder is blocked, but otherwise everything works great. Well...except for that sometime while the truck was sitting, the fuel gauge quit working (unrelated to any cluster swap shenanigans). I have ordered a new fuel gauge float and hopefully that solves everything 100%.
Huge thanks to @FJ73Texas for all his help. I could not have done it without you!
Last edited:
Will Van
GOLD Star
- Thread starter
- #643
My hood hinge covers were painted body color by the previous owner. For some reason, this detail really irritated me because they're supposed to be black.
I ordered some new hinge covers from PartSouq. The original design is discontinued, so the new covers are larger. But I think they look great.
The newer HZJ79 Land Cruisers with a factory snorkel add the "Toyota Land Cruiser" badge on the door panel.
I decided to mimic the look on my truck. I just cut the tabs off the back of the badge and used 3M double-sided tape.
And the final results.
Somewhere in there I also added the "Diesel" badge to the front grill.
I ordered some new hinge covers from PartSouq. The original design is discontinued, so the new covers are larger. But I think they look great.
The newer HZJ79 Land Cruisers with a factory snorkel add the "Toyota Land Cruiser" badge on the door panel.
I decided to mimic the look on my truck. I just cut the tabs off the back of the badge and used 3M double-sided tape.
And the final results.
Somewhere in there I also added the "Diesel" badge to the front grill.
Last edited:
I’m glad I could contribute a tiny piece to this awesome build, Will!
Will Van
GOLD Star
- Thread starter
- #651
When Georg at Valley Hybrids rebuilt my transfer case and transmission, I went with 4:1 t-case gears and twin stick shifters. I really liked the simplicity of the plastic shift knobs for the twin sticks, but they were nearly impossible to read.
Only if the light caught them at the perfect angle could you decipher the script. Nearly impossible when they were mounted on the shift stalks on the floor.
I had used Tamiya plastic modeling products for my A/C switch project, so I decided to give it a whirl on the plastic shift knobs. I used oil-based Tamiya surface primer and paint. Then sanded down the excess on a flat surface and finish-coated with flat clear.
The final results are not perfect, but they are way easier to read than original.
Only if the light caught them at the perfect angle could you decipher the script. Nearly impossible when they were mounted on the shift stalks on the floor.
I had used Tamiya plastic modeling products for my A/C switch project, so I decided to give it a whirl on the plastic shift knobs. I used oil-based Tamiya surface primer and paint. Then sanded down the excess on a flat surface and finish-coated with flat clear.
The final results are not perfect, but they are way easier to read than original.
Strong. Really tied the room together.Although the floor pans were not perfect, I decided to reinstall the vinyl interior. I was able to find the front section brand new from PartSouq. The rear section I cleaned up with soap and water and reinstalled.
GLWS. It's a nice truck from data I've received from others in your area.
Would love to, but…..