Advice on restoring(?) an LJ70

[zaacjinn98]

Hi! i just wanted to ask around what are the general rules of thumb is when restoring a 70 series land cruiser like the LJ70. Me and my mom are planning on doing a project to fix up one of these classic 2 door landcruisers as she sold me on how good it drove as she owned one in the 90's and i kinda fell in love with the look of the car.

I wanted to know what to look out for and what takes precedence when doing these sort of projects and when buying one that is still in running condition but already heavily used.

Thank you!

 

[Dprio34]

@zaacjinn98 , Assuming you find / buy an LJ70 without a cracked head cylinder, In no particular order, do a good inspection on the Brakes, Cooling System, Electrical, and Suspension. Then just attack the issues that seem most pressing / worst shape. I needed a whole bunch of items when I purchased mine. Just gonna depend on what you end up with, and how well the previous owner maintained the vehicle. Did PO change the timing belt? Do you trust him if he says he did without good documentation? Good Luck! It's s journey. The people here are always willing to help when you get to your specific questions.

 

[zaacjinn98]

thank you very much @Dprio34 ! how did the process of upholstering the interior, repainting exterior or treating rust on the frame go? im curious on that matter too if you would be willing to share!

 

[Dprio34]

My upholstery wasn't too bad. Interior Panels were not so good, but you can make new ones out of ABS sheets. Just take your time. Luckily no rust on my frame either. Other than my roof in some sections and rocker panels, there was no body rust. I will need to re-address this at some point. The guy that did my body work was NOT very good. That was a bad experience. The guy that sprayed my car, did a nice job, but the body guy didn't do him or me any favors. My LJ70 came from Spain so it had a leg up on being in a dry environment. The LJ is easy enough to take apart prior to painting. Most all glass is easy to get out, as well as grill, and door handles... so the painter has no excuses.

 

[Eurasiaoverland]

Look for an example with straight bodywork, no rust in the arches and original paint (good luck). Don't buy anything from South America.

Working on the engine, transmission, driveline, suspension etc is pretty straightforward, so the condition of these would be a secondary concern, especially if you want a restoration project.

Doing a good job on bodywork and paint requires a lot of skill and time, which means a lot of expense if you don't have these skills/facilities. Spend the money up front on the best example you can get.