Aussie LJ71

[Reddave]

Toyota LJ 71, 1985
This is my new toy, picked it up in July earlier this year, it was previously being used as a promotional vehicle for a tyre business that is now closed, their loss is my gain!!
Heres the Modification list:
From front to rear
Custom bar with tow hitches
D/lights
Brush bars
2" body lift
2" suspension lift
3.8 Commodore V6 eco tech
Diff breathers on firewall
Safari snorkel
Leaking power stearing box
Sliders/Steps
Front sway bar removed
Racing seats with full harnesses and lap/sash belts
UHF
Manual thermo fan switch
Compressor/ tank
Twin batteries
Bunnings flares
Rear bar
rear tow hitch
Front and rear Richmond Auto Lockers
Mods to come:
Internal cage
35" tyres
Make a new rear bar for it with a swingaway to suit a 35" tyre and jerry cans
Remove front auto locker and fit an ARB locker
Anyway, enough with the text, heres the pics:

It doesn't come on the 35" tyres pictured, just 31" tyres to pass RWC
It was an eventful night picking it up, picked up around 7:30pm, got 20 minutes down the road and the death wobbles were ridiculous. Decided to park it up and get a tandem to take it home. The joys of being on the outskirts is that the nearest trailer was nearly half an hour away
Got the trailer and headed back up, towed the thing to my work so I could inspect it the next day.
Before anyone says anything, it's an old car that I knew needed work, it has been driven 3 times in the last 18 months.

Found caster bushes torn, panhard rod bushes u/s and all the tie rods need repacing, I'll replace all of those parts and that should be a good start in sorting out the wobbles

Anyways heres some pics as it sits at the moment:

 

[Reddave]

Pulled all the stickers off, tightened the bolts holding the steering coupling as there was about 10mm of movement side to side on the steering wheel


Removed all the tie rod ends and replaced 3 of them, I had been supplied the wrong one so couldn't finish doing the job.

Found the steering arms to have small bends in them so made some measurements and gave the old tie rods to a mate of mine who has an engineering shop so he can make me some solid chromoly steering arms and throw away the hollow factory ones.
Then started working on the front suspension, pulled the panhard out, yep, bush has definitely had it

Then pulled out the radius arms and attempted to press them out, my little 10 tonner wasn't going to get them out, took them up to my local pedders suspension to use their press. Their 30 tonne press nearly maxxed out but they got them out for me

Had a bit of a drama lining up the radius bush on the chassis end, didn't have enough hands to push the car back and put the bush, washer and bolt in place.
Aligned it and took it for a test drive. It's like a new car!!!

 

[Reddave]

Bought some summer tyres, 315/75 16 procomp muddies. For what I paid for them I couldn't even buy the rims so these will do until winter

Fitted a stereo and made up a switch panel:

Cut off the brush bars, just need to cap the ends:

Fitted up an ARB bar off an FZJ73, slight mods to make it fit, but fits relatively well:

Remade the drawers in the back:

Just have to fit a new battery and carpet the drawers and she's ready for her first run!!!!

 

[Reddave]

Got lots of ideas and dreams so far from you guys just by lurking around here, so thought I would show you my little toy

 

[Oldtoy74]

Welcome to mud, it seems you have been busy, making your personal touches to your cruiser,
We don't get to see too many 71's, ""....... No doubt we will see more of this little beauty

I do like your switch panel , very neat

 

[maat]

Nice rig mate! Keep the pics coming!

 

[Reddave]

Made a spare wheel spacer and work light holder today, just need to paint it and then I can wire up the light

 

[chappohj47]

It's looking good mate

 

[Reddave]

Painted and wired up my worklight this weekend

Carpeted my drawers and mounted my fridge on my drop slide, the cavity is to store all my cooking gear and food in two seperate tubs so I can bring them to the fire/shade or somewhere else convenient to cook!!!

 

[Reddave]

Bought a secondhand light bar, but came with no mounts, so had to make this:

All mounted up, just need to wire it up

 

[quietmission]

Nice truck. Your truck is coming along well.

 

[Josie'sLandCruiser]

Hi all,

Reddave, thanks for sharing your new rig with us!

A friend of mine has a '89 LJ73 that has a Toyota 3.4L V-6 he swapped in after the original 2L-TE died.

Regards,

Alan

 

[roscoFJ73]

Nice work. How does the Ecotech engine go, stay cool enough?

 

[dabasscow]

Nice Rig mate, IS that the Commodore 3.8 V6? What gearbox manual or auto?

 

[Hulsty]

Cool ride, thats my mates old bullbar. You will have to come out with us for a drive soon.