Build 97 HZJ73

[Guyute]

Built some little speaker boxes to use when the top and rear doors are off. Found a speaker harness that works with the factory harness if you shave a little plastic side nubbin on it. Just extended the wires, shave, plug > play. Part number below. Think it was like $9 for the pair.

 

[Guyute]

Almost time to drop the top back on here. Swapped out the four FRP seals and cleaned it up in preparation. Windscreen seal and gasket are still on the to-do list. Freshy badges because I broke one pulling it off.

Sticker inside the RH side of the top. FRP born date. Awe.

 

[FJ73Texas]

I looked up that symbol out of curiosity.

It refers to “Kojima Press Industry Co., Ltd.”

“A business partner of Toyota Motor Corporation. Manufactures interior and exterior automotive components.”

 

[Sundowner]

Almost time to drop the top back on here. Swapped out the four FRP seals and cleaned it up in preparation.

I volunteer you to help me with those when I get the new ones. Speaking of that...

 

[Guyute]

In. LMK.

That front one (90K02) takes some abuse and was past ready to replace. The rest were in decent shape just compressed. The top had never been off though.

B

 

[Sundowner]

In. LMK.

That front one (90K02) takes some abuse and was past ready to replace. The rest were in decent shape just compressed. The top had never been off though.

B

Mine hasn't been off, either. I need to do all of those seals, the cowl, the windows, doors, and probably a bunch of other stuff as well.

 

[OGBeno]

I looked up that symbol out of curiosity.

It refers to “Kojima Press Industry Co., Ltd.”

“A business partner of Toyota Motor Corporation. Manufactures interior and exterior automotive components.”

View attachment 3733255​

One of the oldest LC platform suppliers.

 

[Guyute]

Top went back on without hassle with new seals all around. Ha a quiet and warm drive to work this morning.

Goodbye blue skies... see you in 8-9 months. Hey what does Oregon and Cher have in common? Neither of them are f&*king Sunny.

New FRP badges are shiny.

 

[Sundowner]

That was a solid joke: well played

 

[Guyute]

That was a solid joke: well played

Except it was sunny yesterday.

 

[Sundowner]

Except it was sunny yesterday.

...and I'm looking for a joke about it not being sunny since 1998, but there's a part of me that's saying "too soon."

 

[Guyute]

Couple little things done on the 73 recently.

Second Skin sound deadening done in the LHS rear qtr.

Still have the LHS front door to do. Also have enough to do the entire floor and bought their mass loaded vinyl as well.

 

[Guyute]

Brought it to an old school auto glass guy yesterday. Replaced the windscreen gasket. It was a battle for sure... heated his shop up to about 900* F trying to stretch the gasket around the glass.

Pretty clean. One little icky spot we cleaned up and primered. pic is pre primer and just lightly cleaned up.

Non-chrome gasket we used >

 

[Guyute]

Lil' update. Just mostly been daily driving this boo. Some maintenance stuff knocked off the list. Drove it from Portland to Vancouver Island Canada to pick up some Prado cargo doors for cheap.

So got the top pulled so I could start playing with that project a bit. The exhaust really pulls into the cab without a tailgate/doors in this configuration. Stock exhaust dump.

Figured I'd do the cargo doors in two or three phases. Just get them on there and functioning this summer. Over the winter I'll try and get the body work done on them. Ordered all the bits and bobs I was missing from the motherland. Bought some SS hinges and panels from @joekatana (thanks again! All super nice stuff). Tried to carefully pull the frame on the small side door. It's just brazed on the outer side... spot weld on the other then a booger weld somewhere and some seam sealer here/there.. Hassle! So I just cut the large side window frame off. Quicker!

 

[Guyute]

Here is where I'm at now. Functioning half doors! Even have the license plate light working. Ha-ha, coppers.

 

[CHILLCAT]

Looking good! I noticed the same thing, lots of exhaust pouring into the open cab. Putting the back seats helped but doesn’t look like you had that option. I imagine it’s much better now that you’ve got the doors in.

 

[Guyute]

Looking good! I noticed the same thing, lots of exhaust pouring into the open cab. Putting the back seats helped but doesn’t look like you had that option. I imagine it’s much better now that you’ve got the doors in.

So much better! I mean without tops we all smell all the smells but, definitely not my own exhaust anymore.

 

[Guyute]

Mostly just driving this little bundle of joy.

When I received it the RHS step was loose. The forward two bolts were sheared off and several others were just above hand tight. I think the PO had tried to take them off then gave up. Pulled them completely after a few months thinking I'd do sliders at some point. Last weekend I decided to clean them up, extract the broken bolts and reinstall. The stock exhaust peaking out was starting to bug me.

All new JIS Overland Metric hardware. Solid AF now.

This isn't a slider kinda rig.

Before - RHS

After RHS -

 

[LDRF]

@Guyute
I was very unsuccessful at removing the brackets from the frame, without snapping off the bolts.

Mine look like various versions of this.

Before, with the bracket attached to the frame with the two bolts:

After with the bracket off. Bolts sheared off due to the harsh winters with lots of salty roads

Did you have an easy or hard time, getting the bolts out? I’ve had zero luck. Any advice?

 

[Guyute]

Oh! The belly of our rigs look very different. I'll snap (bad choice of words) a picture tonight but all those bracket to body fasteners came out clean for me. My troubled 2 were the front most bolts with captive nuts that go in right near the front mud flap. Ended up drilling them out then using new bolts with a washer and nut vs the stock captive.

No real advice. You're a saint for saving that Cruiser. 200 shiny birfield points for you.