Darwin Australia fj55, with a few questions

Mickkk · Oct 8, 2016

G'day, I'm new around here. I came across a one owner 1976 fj55 that I would be kicking my self for the rest of my life if I didn't buy it. So I took the plunge. I'm told it was owned by a mechanic / panel beater. And it has minimal rust, there's A bit of surface rust on the bonnet and tail gate. There is non in the roof or footwalls. In the front quarter panel just in front of the front doors (behind the wheels) has been repaired pretty poorly (from my limited knowledge) and just a little in the rear doors just coming through, and a few pin holes on the sills. Not too bad for a 40 year old 55, and should will be fine for rego. Got it going and took it for a bit of a drive around the block. Went good, even the factory ac works. It has sat for 20 months as the owner past away. Was turned over every now and then by the son, but didn't drive it. There's a few leaks that will need sorting for rego.
It also literally come with 1.5 cars of spares minus the chassis. Full rusty body. 2 sets of doors, 2f motor, axles, etc etc. this bloke couldn't seem to throw out any 55 parts.
One of the many many questions that I will be asking you lot, is about the fairey over drives. It used to hav one. But the son said there was a common park that failed regularly. His dad purchased every fairey over drive that come up for sale in Darwin for the last 30 years. I have 4 or 5 complete fairey over drives but apparently non are in working due to this common problem part failing.
Any one have any experiences with these. Know what the common fault was with them, and how to fix them.

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This is my other 4wd. Only upgraded it less than a year ago from a Mitsubishi triton. Nota Toyota, but I don't think the Toyota's are made the way they used to and the competition has come along way.
Cheers Mickey

Mickkk · Oct 8, 2016

Don't know what I'm doing wrong with the pics, must be different here than most other forumw

Mickkk · Oct 8, 2016

Mickkk · Oct 8, 2016

Mickkk · Oct 8, 2016

Sorted it, it's easier to up load photos here than most forums

Mickkk · Oct 8, 2016

I have called her miss piggy. I stared automatically referring to it as a "her". So miss piggy seems fitting, as she is also beautiful in all her unlyness.

Mickkk · Oct 8, 2016

This is my other 4wd. Not a Toyota, but the new Toyota's are not like the old ones

PabloCruise · Oct 10, 2016

That is awesome!

Factory PTO winch?

It would be great to see some shots of the factory AC set-up.

Looks like you scored on the spare parts.

You got one with a tailgate? Does the window hand-crank up and down?

Could we see a close up photo of the mud flaps? They look to be Toyota pieces.

What is your modern ride? Nissan?

Mickkk · Oct 10, 2016

Yes, it's a tailgate, with manual winder, still works fine. You have to open the window to open the tail gate which is a bit of an odd design. It's the older one where the handle clips in just inside the drivers door.
Also come with a later model tail gate where the winder is built into the handle.
I was a bit shocked with how much parts it done with, i still have to go through and se what's good and what's not, but I think I will be glad I have them. Was looking around and they cost soo much.

My other 4wd is a Ford ranger. 3.2 litre 5 cylinder diesel.

bobm · Oct 11, 2016

Yup (ranger diesel) never get the good stuff here.

Mickkk · Oct 11, 2016

Haha many think the same here with the f truck and raptors etc. just crazy prices, about 3x the price they are over there. But I think they would be a little big for me, tracks can be a little tight in te territory.

Mickkk · Oct 12, 2016

Anyone had much luck with the electronic rust prevention kits? It's not too bad, but I'm hoping I can get a few years out of it before giving it a respray, as I know it will turn into a full rebuild and I just want to drive it for a bit. But wanting to prevent any rust from getting any worse. Most is only surface rust, but there's also a few other pinholes and a spot in one door.

Mickkk · Feb 20, 2017

Been a while since I posted.

Took the old girl for a drive (drove the fj55 too....boom tish) up the Arnhem Highway to Kakadu this weekend. As you can see, shes a bit wet up here (Darwin NT) at the moment. We were planning to go to Cooinda, but it got evacuated so we ended up at the croc hotel in Jabiru.
We stopped at a few billabongs on the way home, but they looked more like an inland see at the moment. Came across a frill neck lizard, who picked the wrong tree to run away and ended up a small stick. We played a ring around the rossie for a bit until he let me close with my camera.
Bit of damage to fog dam with all the water, and a lot of fisherman fishing of the highway.
The 55 ran like a dream really, sat at 90 km/h the whole way. Air con blew nice and cold, and didn't break down once haha.
ended up doing 450 kms and ended up getting 16.6 km per 100 kms. Not too bad considering the carbi needs attention.
Had one fella ask if its ok if he takes a few pics, and seen 2 others snapping away too haha.