Builds First LC, HZJ77 Build "Kengo" (6 Viewers)

[Blomdala]

Luckily I had a few more brushed left over from the last time I fixed this sides brushes. Honestly this is probably my last time fixing it… as fun as these electric hubs are, not having parts available for the brushes is a bummer.

Question, any one ever lathe/chop the bottom of these hub bodies off to make the spacer for manual hubs? It has all the right holes, and it’s free. Just something I was thinking about. Or it’s time to start collecting parts.

 

[Blomdala]

Got it all lined down and ready to install. I think it broke this time because I had too much solder on it, it wasn’t springing up and down like it should.

Knuckle is cleaner, fresh studs, and the hub body is naked and ready for races! Should get this knuckle back together tomorrow!

 

[Blomdala]

finally finished up the wheel bearings this week. Glad to start fresh with those guys.

Continuing on my list of things was finally putting some horns in. Got the only 24v I could find on Amazon from hella. The fit perfect and we’re cheap! Just had to bend the tabs flat, and clean up the threads of the holes as they got a little crusty.

 

[Blomdala]

The next accomplishment was the 3rd row seat. I need 6 seats for the whole family, I’m sure very few if any would ever want to add the 3rd row in one, but it was cheaper than buying a prado and I like my truck. So here we are!

After a few test fits, I got the rear bracket to line up correctly for a level seat. I tried to maximize leg room and side room, so none of it is mounted exactly where the blank areas are for a prado.

Things got a little warm on the opposite side of the wheel wells so they will get some undercoating re applied shortly.

 

[Blomdala]

With the carpet down it looks pretty nice! Keeping the seat out for cruise Moab, but I will get put back in after that.

Next up was getting that thinsulate that I payed down for our road trip under the carpet so it looks less hoaky. It helped with temps and sound so it can stay.

While I was down there, I finally figured out what the grey wrapped pair of power wires are for in my dash. So funny what the Japanese market customers want for their vehicles lol. I would never want someone to add a courtesy light to a foot well when the door is open ha.

Last up I started installing an LED light for the back door. Working on making a table for back here and I love the strip light idea. There is a guy in AUS with his “retrow 76” and I love his build so I copy a lot of his setup.

 

[Loober]

@Blomdala wow 6 passengers in a 77, power to you. I have trouble fitting me and my son with camping gear for a weekend trip.

 

[ATL Cruiser]

Did you end up installing shoulder seat belts back there?

 

[Blomdala]

@Blomdala wow 6 passengers in a 77, power to you. I have trouble fitting me and my son with camping gear for a weekend trip.

It gets a little tight, but the kids love riding in the cruiser so I don't want to hinder that! I don't think we will be doing anything other than day trips to the mountains with 6 people though haha. The rest of the truck will be full of snacks for those monsters.

 

[Blomdala]

Did you end up installing shoulder seat belts back there?

I havent yet, looking around at pick n pulls for the right belt. I think an 80 series belt will fit about right. The upper anchor is behind the headliner (I can feel it, so ill just cut a small hole for it later), and the 2 lower anchors will just get a 3 point seat belt kit for the reinforcing plates and install it right by the side panel. Prados had the belt roll side inside the rear quarter with the belt passing through the side panel.

For right now, I have an isofix bracket that will fit on the seat, so ill put a car seat child back there rather than my booster seat kid.

 

[ATL Cruiser]

I havent yet, looking around at pick n pulls for the right belt. I think an 80 series belt will fit about right. The upper anchor is behind the headliner (I can feel it, so ill just cut a small hole for it later), and the 2 lower anchors will just get a 3 point seat belt kit for the reinforcing plates and install it right by the side panel. Prados had the belt roll side inside the rear quarter with the belt passing through the side panel.

For right now, I have an isofix bracket that will fit on the seat, so ill put a car seat child back there rather than my booster seat kid.

I'm 99% certain that the upper hole you are feeling is just that. A hole with no threads. I did the same thing as you, pulling down the headliner only the see an empty hole there.

I debated installing a rivnut in that spot, but I chickened out on a rivnut holding a seatbelt in place during a wreck.

Instead I did this:

 

[Blomdala]

I'm 99% certain that the upper hole you are feeling is just that. A hole with no threads. I did the same thing as you, pulling down the headliner only the see an empty hole there.

I debated installing a rivnut in that spot, but I chickened out on a rivnut holding a seatbelt in place during a wreck.

Instead I did this:

View attachment 3280352

Did you just put and actual nut back there? The hole I was feeling is farther forward towards the c pillar. Not the handle holes but between the corner and the handle holes.

 

[ATL Cruiser]

Yes, the "correct" mount location is here. Mine had an empty hole there when I opened up the headliner. There is no access in that location for a nut, so I would have had to make a cut-out OR install a rivnut. I didn't like either option.

Yes, in the corner location, I did install a nut behind it with a big thick fender washer from McMaster. That's why I had to bend that wrench, in order to grab the nut behind it.

 

[Blomdala]

Yes, the "correct" mount location is here. Mine had an empty hole there when I opened up the headliner. There is no access in that location for a nut, so I would have had to make a cut-out OR install a rivnut. I didn't like either option.

Yes, in the corner location, I did install a nut behind it with a big thick fender washer from McMaster. That's why I had to bend that wrench, in order to grab the nut behind it.

View attachment 3280368

Very nice! Thank you for sharing!! Did you put a prado seat in or another 76 bench?

 

[ATL Cruiser]

I put in a duplicate HZJ77 bench from Yahoo Auctions. Looks like this.

I didn't mean to hijack your build thread with my own photos. Just trying to help out where I can, as the seatbelts were a real pain for me.

 

[Blomdala]

I put in a duplicate HZJ77 bench from Yahoo Auctions. Looks like this.

I didn't mean to hijack your build thread with my own photos. Just trying to help out where I can, as the seatbelts were a real pain for me.

View attachment 3280401

You're all good! I appreciate the info as I haven't dug into it yet! I like the bench back there, I went cheap cause I didn't want to pay extra shipping when I just needed one more seat lol.

 

[AirheadNut]

I wonder when they went to shoulder belts in the 3rd row? My 1991 Prado has lap belts in both the 2nd and 3rd row seats.

 

[Blomdala]

I wonder when they went to shoulder belts in the 3rd row? My 1991 Prado has lap belts in both the 2nd and 3rd row seats.

Based on the other major updates of the HZJ77 (Electronic transmission control) my guess is 1993. But I’m happy to hear yours has lap belts! The receiver for the belt is in the seat, so a lap would be easy. For now since it will be just to mount a car seat with a 5 point harness I’m not not worried ha

 

[Blomdala]

After hitting up a few metal yards, I found some sheet metal to work on the back door table. I wound some stainless that I think was destined to be a public restroom mirror, so it felt like the right piece to try this out first with!

I had to trim my back up camera cable to make the wires route all behind the panel.

It was kind of hard to mark because of the reflection lol. I was glad it’s thin (I think it’s 18ga) because it’s lighter, but I knew I wanted to add bends to stiffen it up a bit. I went with 1/2” on 3 of 4 sides.

 

[Blomdala]

The Long edge was trickier, I need to modify this brake to make it a little more consistent with bends, but I’m pretty happy with my first bends. It’s much more rigid now. My thoughts are to make/find a wood cutting board that will sit inside the edges for transport, and use the bottom ledge and straps to be a platform when folded out. I might also make one out of some more stainless.

I also got to install my first nutserts! Definitely a cool tool that I will put to use again!

I need to adjust some of the holes, but I’m happy with the start. If nothing else it’s certainly affordable!

 

[Blomdala]

Today I tried to make a tray for the folding down part, man I am not good with sheet metal. I need some more practice lol, but it is atleast usable. Need to get some sort of cable for it to hold the outer edge, the under edge sits nicely on the lip but should get some hinge on there. It may just become wood here in the future so it looks less crappy…