Build Bj60 Barn truck rebirth + 13bt

[woytovich]

Marlin ToyBox: 85 FJ60 w/H55 & Split TC

Well I guess this is the start of an install thread... I have in my hot little hands a brand new, fresh Marlin ToyBox for my H55 and split TC. It's going in my 1985 FJ60 (the H55/TC is currently installed...) This is planned as a mid-winter project so there won't be much progress for a while...

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[BryanLiew]

Nice looking Truck! Wondering about the wheels you have on it…..Struggling to find something to fit…..

They are FJ Cruiser steelies, wheel spacers or 80 axels will make are needed to make them fit nicely though.

 

[BryanLiew]

It's been a while, but I have done a couple things since my last post. I decided not to instal later toy box for now, im still deciding if I need it.

I did put 4.56 gears and new 35x12.5r15 on the old aluminum wheels.

 

[BryanLiew]

You may have noticed in the last post the FF rear axle. I swapped the semi float out when I did the regear with hj61 FF axle!

 

[BryanLiew]

The 13bt has over 300 000km and was getting about loud. I adjusted the valves which made it abit quieter. I used the specs in the toyota book.

 

[BryanLiew]

I finished rebuilding the original H55F and transfer case that had been sitting all winter, and finally swapped it in to replace the BJ74 transmission that occasionally popped out of 5th gear.

 

[BryanLiew]

Im abit late on this, but I wanted to take the 60 for Winnipeg,manitoba to British Columbia at the end of August for some wheeling, so I needed some rocker protection. This was the two days before I left.

I use the old rockslides I cut of the parts truck(my uncles old truck) and extended them because they were abit short. I also made twin sticks.

 

[Gimme a 60]

I like the FF that’s what I’ll do to mine next.

 

[BryanLiew]

August 15 2025

I left my Co-op early and started driving at 12pm. My first stop was regina for for gas, and I want even empty yet! On the whole trip, I got between 9.4 and 12.L/100km!

My plan was to drive to Calgary, but I broke own 5-10 minutes from the perimeter. I almost lost a wheel. It was abit after 12AM so I slept at the closest truck stop.

Damage check: two broken studs and ovaled-out lug holes on the aluminum wheel. Limped it 15 minutes to the nearest Lordco in Calgary, posted on the Rocky Mountain Land Cruiser Club FB group, and started swapping studs. Found out the axle had to come out since the studs were too long to clear the backing plate. Of course, I forgot my brass punch… so I sat around hoping for a helping hand instead of dropping $80 at Lordco.


August 16 2025

My dad threw a post up in the RMLC group and @lkortbeek answered the call with tools in hand He got the hub off, and even called in his buddy Paul Meir from the dealership across the street. Paul pressed in the new studs and mounted my good tire onto the spare rim (the old one was old).
By 2:30PM I was back on the road—community came through big time!

 

[BryanLiew]

I couldn't make it to Vancouver, so I stopped over in Kamloops. My brother lined me up with his friends Andrew & Haley—bonus, they’ve got a GX in the driveway.

 

[BryanLiew]

August 17 2025

I made it to Vancouver early on Sunday then met up with my brother and got to his place in Coquitlam. He has two 1st gen Tacomas and a grey hdj81. The access cab 1st gen is SAS'd with a 80 diff, locked and has duals(it's unstoppable offroad). The fzj80 is roommates.

 

[BryanLiew]

Spent the week hanging out in Kamloops and wrenching on the 60. Got the 8274 wired up and synthetic line installed (good thing too—I ended up needing it). Fixed the air locker line that had melted on the turbo heat shield, and chased down a transfer case leak that turned out to be the H55F output shaft nut cover. Cruiser life = always something to fix lol

 

[BryanLiew]

Thursday shake-down run with my brother before meeting everyone at the Whipsaw trailhead on Friday.
We dropped into Harrison the hard way for night one. He clipped a rock and smashed a locking hub. Lucky for him, the 60 carries a spare on the tire swing-out. Swapped it and kept rolling. Can’t believe it actually came in handy!

 

[BryanLiew]

Morning before Whipsaw we checked out Fossil Beach. Tight squeeze for the 60, but made it in and out—just a short winch at the exit. Probably could’ve crawled it, but with Whipsaw ahead I didn’t feel like risking driveline or body damage. After that we ran into Princeton for food & fuel, then cruised to the Whipsaw trailhead. Met up with another group while waiting for our crew. ️

 

[BryanLiew]

This was the First small obstacle, and my first time wheeling the 60. Crawled right up like it was nothing.

 

[BryanLiew]

This is a short highlight of the whipsaw trip since it to much to post here

Whipsaw2025 = @backupbry7

See Instagram 'Whipsaw2025' highlights from (@backupbry7)

www.instagram.com

I had to winch in two spots.
The first spot I got myself in a tough spot where I rock and driveline components dont mix well lol

The second spot I thought I stalled, but the engine kept running. Lost brakes, wouldn’t shut off, and smoke started pouring out of the intake. Had to kill it by hand at the throttle body. Winched out not knowing what happened… Turns out the engine had actually started running backwards when I stalled and rolled back abit. Realized it later because I remembered 1st gear was suddenly reverse, and reverse was forward.

 

[BryanLiew]

I was worried about the DIY reverse eye springs breaking on the trip, but had not problems!
Also, after wheeling the 60, lower gears like a toybox would defiantly help, but not sure I want to add another thing that can goi wrong to the 60 since I would like to use it for camping and not hard wheeling.

 

[BryanLiew]

I like the FF that’s what I’ll do to mine next.

Worth it! Dealing with a c clip semifloat on the trail would not be fun

 

[duncanrm]

The second spot I thought I stalled, but the engine kept running. Lost brakes, wouldn’t shut off, and smoke started pouring out of the intake. Had to kill it by hand at the throttle body. Winched out not knowing what happened… Turns out the engine had actually started running backwards when I stalled and rolled back abit. Realized it later because I remembered 1st gear was suddenly reverse, and reverse was forward.

Interesting.. the H and 2H engines will run backwards as well, the EDIC is meant to prevent it with its Low Oil Pressure Cutoff function, but when the EDIC fails Stop Cables are commonly fitted. The 13BT doesn't have any mechanism to prevent it at all? As you've identified, stalling then rolling backwards with the clutch out when in a forward gear causes it.

I run a Stop Cable on the 2H in my HJ47 and consequently am right onto the clutch if something goes wrong on an uphill climb.

 

[Gimme a 60]

Worth it! Dealing with a c clip semifloat on the trail would not be fun

Yea is the FF actually stronger though? The 60 series rear axle shafts seem pretty Damn large. The FF shaft is significantly smaller.