I have a dewalt hog ring pliers that's loaded with a magazine for very quick connections. It's a little bulky for some spots but works good for light duty holding. The included rings were definitely not as strong as the Toyota ones.
87 FJ60 - "Willie" "The Beast" Build Thread (6 Viewers)
- Thread starter Rusto
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
I hear you on the interior, but it will be completely done, forever (We'll, there's a better console to be had) but for the most part, I can check the interior off e list for good.
I redid my seat covers with custom ones from CruiserCorps. They are made to order but worth the short wait. You'll definitely need hog ring pliers and new rings unless you use the old ones which I did. They are time consuming to do on your own but worth it. Especially because you'll need to remove the seats and also remove the backrest from the actual seat. And don't throw out the wires in the old covers because you will reuse them in the new ones. The one thing I regret is I wish I would have put new padding in the seats. Now I will probably have to redo this process again to put in new paddingJust think though when you do this it will be hopefully only once and you'll thank yourself you did the interior. So much more comfortable and another step to upgrading it. Happy spending!!
I think the late model stripe pattern is harder to find than the earlier
pattern. I would be tempted to find two good early model front seats
and redo the foam with $OR but keep the early pattern covers and
end up matching the back seat. Seems like a fraction of the price
to get an OEM interior (albeit the wrong one, technically)
But that route relies on 30+ year old fabric and vinyl piping...
I'd probably put a set of heavy canvas seat covers on after that
to protect it.
pattern. I would be tempted to find two good early model front seats
and redo the foam with $OR but keep the early pattern covers and
end up matching the back seat. Seems like a fraction of the price
to get an OEM interior (albeit the wrong one, technically)
But that route relies on 30+ year old fabric and vinyl piping...
I'd probably put a set of heavy canvas seat covers on after that
to protect it.
Rusto
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #65
Good tips on the tools and tips for doing the seats. I'll most definitely be doing it myself. @aviafx, I sent you and dnp PMs on the subject. Happy to split to bring down the costs of the carpet if we can make it work.
Big win for me today. Found the dorman window regulators on Amazon for about the same price as anywhere else. AND I found $75 worth of Amazon gift cards that i won at work. Brought the cost down to $25.00 for my two regulators!
I'll whittle down the costs everywhere I can, that's for sure.
Big win for me today. Found the dorman window regulators on Amazon for about the same price as anywhere else. AND I found $75 worth of Amazon gift cards that i won at work. Brought the cost down to $25.00 for my two regulators!
I'll whittle down the costs everywhere I can, that's for sure.
Rusto
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #66
Hey Adam, I owe you another response on the carpet. Been super busy traveling for work and about to leave town for another week.
But when I get back it is on!
I have spent some money already
. Picked up the window regulators for the front doors for $25 (had a $75 Amazon card and found them there). They went in easy peezy and I can roll down the windows in the cold.
Sent email to Jim C. regarding the carb. LVM, haven't heard back.
Started a converstation with George about the Saginaw upgrade, haven't heard back. Won't be able to really do either for a month anyway.
I'm all over the place with my interior still. Will most likely be getting the foam from SOR, but will be checking out upholstery shops too to get a quote. Even thinking about taking this opportunity to get a split bench for the back.
My latest purchase - the rear two window-regulators (I don't want ANY passengers complaining about having to roll the window down by hand, so it has to be easy for all the lazy candy asses in the world today). And three light lenses, both rear tailight lenses (OEM even!) and one for the front. Those babies are going to look nice!
So I'm $245 all in right....
4 window regulators - $100 (not counting amazon gift card)
2 OEM tail light lenses - $120
1 repro blinker lense - $25.
Interior is next, provided I don't get after the Saginaw upgrade first. Matching up the front seats to the nice back pre 86 pattern is a good idea. I like that pattern anyway. If I don't go split bench, I may just do that. Nice tip @Trapper50cal (let's have that beer when I'm back in town!)
But when I get back it is on!
I have spent some money already
. Picked up the window regulators for the front doors for $25 (had a $75 Amazon card and found them there). They went in easy peezy and I can roll down the windows in the cold.Sent email to Jim C. regarding the carb. LVM, haven't heard back.
Started a converstation with George about the Saginaw upgrade, haven't heard back. Won't be able to really do either for a month anyway.
I'm all over the place with my interior still. Will most likely be getting the foam from SOR, but will be checking out upholstery shops too to get a quote. Even thinking about taking this opportunity to get a split bench for the back.
My latest purchase - the rear two window-regulators (I don't want ANY passengers complaining about having to roll the window down by hand, so it has to be easy for all the lazy candy asses in the world today). And three light lenses, both rear tailight lenses (OEM even!) and one for the front. Those babies are going to look nice!
So I'm $245 all in right....
4 window regulators - $100 (not counting amazon gift card)
2 OEM tail light lenses - $120
1 repro blinker lense - $25.
Interior is next, provided I don't get after the Saginaw upgrade first. Matching up the front seats to the nice back pre 86 pattern is a good idea. I like that pattern anyway. If I don't go split bench, I may just do that. Nice tip @Trapper50cal (let's have that beer when I'm back in town!)
Rusto
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #67
This is starting to turn into a build thread... I guess right now, it's just a "buy thread" Build thread to follow 
Just purchased the conversion kit from Georg for the Saginaw Pump upgrade. I went ahead and purchased the already modified bracket from them, too. $85 and it's modified by somebody that knows what they are doing, blasted and painted as well. Great service from Brian and the order will be on the next truck out.
So I'm $459 all in right now.
4 window regulators - $100 (not counting amazon gift card)
2 OEM tail light lenses - $120
1 repro blinker lense - $25.
1 Valley Hybrid & Cruiser Brothers Saginaw Conversion kit $214 (with shipping and bracket)
Thinking about pulling the trigger on a FJ80 Steering box - any thoughts on that?
Just purchased the conversion kit from Georg for the Saginaw Pump upgrade. I went ahead and purchased the already modified bracket from them, too. $85 and it's modified by somebody that knows what they are doing, blasted and painted as well. Great service from Brian and the order will be on the next truck out.
So I'm $459 all in right now.
4 window regulators - $100 (not counting amazon gift card)
2 OEM tail light lenses - $120
1 repro blinker lense - $25.
1 Valley Hybrid & Cruiser Brothers Saginaw Conversion kit $214 (with shipping and bracket)
Thinking about pulling the trigger on a FJ80 Steering box - any thoughts on that?
umpqua
GOLD Star
These Vario Seat | scheel-mann are the seats that are going in my Troopy. No way I spend $1K with SOR to rebuild the existing. Too damned uncomfortable to begin with. That's just me though.
Nice looking 60.
Nice looking 60.
Nostradamus
SILVER Star
just looked at the picture again...pretty sure it already has some paint. the H55 is the ticket
Rusto
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #70
What great seats! Completely opened up a new door for me, @umpqua. Need to dig n more when I'm not on my phone.
Thanks for the compliments on the truck. Truly one of the most consistently enjoyable experience - driving around in a solid fj60.
Taking care of the little items while I think through the interior some more. Probably only one shot at this.
I do appreciate the input..
Thanks for the compliments on the truck. Truly one of the most consistently enjoyable experience - driving around in a solid fj60.
Taking care of the little items while I think through the interior some more. Probably only one shot at this.
I do appreciate the input..
Rusto
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #73
I'm going to trust @Willard when he says I can put on the seat covers myself with the two tools mentioned (thanks @crashmonk and Willard) and extra hog rings.
Actually leaning towards SOR vinyl. I love having vehicles that look stock on the outside, with well maintained but old paint, then open the door think, "damn, this is nice". And $OR seems to do better than anyone in that regard.
Reason I've decided to do the job myself is that I got two quotes from upholsterers in town (not many to choose from in Durango, although Farmington is still an option). One said around $1,300 to make the seat covers and install them, or $450 just to install $OR covers.
Other quote was around $1,500 to $1,700 to make and install or $500 to just install.
I just can't justify paying somebody else $400 - $500 for something i should be able to do. My wife is pretty handy with upholstery stuff on furniture and generally handy around the shop. Between the two of us, we should be able to knock it out. Here are $ORs instructions for the front seat bottom covers, by the way -
Bottom Seat Cover Installation
1. Remove the old seat covers. Reuse retaining wires.
2. Fold the front and back flap upward and insert retaining wires into the flap on the underside of cover.
3. Center the cover over the foam. Position the flap and wire into the cutout in the cushion and attach to frame with hog rings.
4. Fold the front and rear flaps around the cushion, pulling the cover tight.
5. Insert retaining wires into the back flap.
6. Pull the wire around the bottom edge of the cover tight and attach with hog rings to the designated locations on the frame.
7. Pull the back flap tight and attach to the frame with hog rings.
Sounds easy enough (famous last words)
Actually leaning towards SOR vinyl. I love having vehicles that look stock on the outside, with well maintained but old paint, then open the door think, "damn, this is nice". And $OR seems to do better than anyone in that regard.
Reason I've decided to do the job myself is that I got two quotes from upholsterers in town (not many to choose from in Durango, although Farmington is still an option). One said around $1,300 to make the seat covers and install them, or $450 just to install $OR covers.
Other quote was around $1,500 to $1,700 to make and install or $500 to just install.
I just can't justify paying somebody else $400 - $500 for something i should be able to do. My wife is pretty handy with upholstery stuff on furniture and generally handy around the shop. Between the two of us, we should be able to knock it out. Here are $ORs instructions for the front seat bottom covers, by the way -
Bottom Seat Cover Installation
1. Remove the old seat covers. Reuse retaining wires.
2. Fold the front and back flap upward and insert retaining wires into the flap on the underside of cover.
3. Center the cover over the foam. Position the flap and wire into the cutout in the cushion and attach to frame with hog rings.
4. Fold the front and rear flaps around the cushion, pulling the cover tight.
5. Insert retaining wires into the back flap.
6. Pull the wire around the bottom edge of the cover tight and attach with hog rings to the designated locations on the frame.
7. Pull the back flap tight and attach to the frame with hog rings.
Sounds easy enough (famous last words)
Before you tackle it, get some quotes from Aztec/Farmington...the hispanic/latino contingency
should never be overlooked when it comes to upholstery. Better, faster, cheaper.
should never be overlooked when it comes to upholstery. Better, faster, cheaper.
I’m always for doing some yourself and learning a skill but if you want people to say “damn, that’s nice” then I’d go with a pro. Almost every DYI job I’ve seen had wrinkles and fit issues. Doesn’t mean it looked bad but you can tell it wasn’t done by a professional, hope you can prove me wrong.
FYI In Albuquerque I had front and rear seat covers made and installed, four matching door panels and speakers install for $950
Rusto
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #76
I hear you on the pro vs. me look. My only saving grace in that regard would be my wife's extreme attention to detail (she's of German descent -me, I'm a bard from Scotland lineage). if she helps, it would be done right or not at all. If the price is right, I'd happily let somebody else do it.
that's a price I could live with. What type of material did they use for the seats? Do you have any pics?
that's a price I could live with. What type of material did they use for the seats? Do you have any pics?
Rusto
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #78
Very nice @NMfjCruiser My door cards are in pretty good shape, save for a little sun damage along the top. I'll be pulling the seats and delivering them, which should save me a little money.
Working the Farmington / Aztec angle. If I can get it done for less than a grand, I'll pull the trigger. I'm opting for what I think is a more expensive material, but less work.
Thanks again for all the input.
Working the Farmington / Aztec angle. If I can get it done for less than a grand, I'll pull the trigger. I'm opting for what I think is a more expensive material, but less work.
Thanks again for all the input.
Thanks. I used a GM material so it could be replaced if damaged.
Any updates?
