Builds FitzJ60 1983 FJ60 Build

[fjdemon]

A few questions:

I know it's between many layers, but will the carpet padding retain moisture?

Do you think your wrinkles will work themselves out after heating up in the sun or with a heat gun?

Do you plan to do anything inside the doors for sound proofing?

Looks good!

 

[NookShneer]

A few questions:

I know it's between many layers, but will the carpet padding retain moisture?

Do you think your wrinkles will work themselves out after heating up in the sun or with a heat gun?

Do you plan to do anything inside the doors for sound proofing?

Looks good!

Yo! Great questions. Don't think the carpet padding will retain moisture. I'm going to have to run a little experiment to check that. The vinyl is waterproof so the only thing that could happen is water "wicking" along the carpet padding to the middle/interior portions . So I'll see if it does that.

I drove #FitzJ60 about 400 miles in the last 2 days and there is quite a bit of heat that still comes in thru all layers of insulation and vinyl. I haven't re-installed the heat shields between the floor boards and exhaust so i'm thinking some of that will be cut back. Nonetheless it softened but the wrinkles didn't come out. I'm guessing it's going to be a softening and stretching affair, I'll keep on it and post results if I can dial it in further. I think the best results would happen if you removed the shifters (not just the boots and shift knobs) and the HVAC so you could actually lay the vinyl out before having to guess cut it.

Doors will get live down the line. But yes thinking butyl on the interior door skin, possibly foam or something around that. Water can/does passe thru the door skins so leaving stuff out of there that will take longer to dry is a goal especially living in WA.

-Dave

 

[NookShneer]

Covered 170 miles of the WA BDR this week. Leavenworth WA to Packwood WA. Averaged 10mpg with 90% being off road at 20mph or less, pretty surprised by that.

Some wicked views on those roads. Glad to have a partner for most of the way @hotwire_one joined me with his 4 Runner that has a sick build out in the back. He grew up with a 62 (still in the family) and was having a bit of crusier envy.

On with the photos!

 

[NookShneer]

Front is mostly back together. Need to get longer bolts for passenger seat mounts.

Picked up a lot of dust driving over the weekend. Lesson learned. Don't leave bolt holes in filled or side badges off. If I had put a piece of tape over it I probably would have been fine.

Due to this I found that the vinyl carpet is easy to clean but can collect dust in the recesses that are textured on the surface. Better than getting stuck in new carpet I guess. Quick wipe down with a wet rag took care of most of it. It might take an actual brush of sorts to clean it completely.

Back should be wrapped tomorrow. Rear seats need to go it. Getting bolts to line-up be long enough has taken a good bit of work with the floor project. I've been trying to weigh the vinyl in the position I want it in then craw under the car and lance up or drill up to creste a bolt hole. I have been coming back thru with the drill bit for a pass from the top down, then shop vac and then use an old soldering iron to clean up the layers in between. The carpet padding as been to think for most of the bolts so I have been trimming out were the "foot print" is so that I don't have to purchase more bolts.

Picked up a 62 dash and dash pad from @red66toy last week and have been going thru the parts for the 62 dash swap.

I'm missing one indicator for the CEL which I'm still working on sourcing. Interesting enough there are a bunch of open indicator bags on the seatbelt light indicator. Looks like different markets may have more (thinking 61's) I'm going to see if I can make use of those down the line.

 

[red66toy]

Looking good! Has the vinyl flooring "relaxed" more since its been installed? Want to come help me install mine
Did HJ61s come with locker indicators like the 80 series on the dash? Maybe you can find the little lens from one.

 

[NookShneer]

Looking good! Has the vinyl flooring "relaxed" more since its been installed? Want to come help me install mine
Did HJ61s come with locker indicators like the 80 series on the dash? Maybe you can find the little lens from one.

Heat seems like the best thing when installing. That and cutting the smaller pieces off at a time so you don't take too much off.

Let me know when. I'm sure yours will be less involved than mine with all the weird seat mounts.

I'll see if I can research the HJ61 dash indicators. I think they came with LSD's or cable lockers, I Guess if they have a seat belt light then the cable lockers could have had an indicator as well.

I was wondering if there was a way to add a low gas light.

 

[red66toy]

Heat seems like the best thing when installing. That and cutting the smaller pieces off at a time so you don't take too much off.

Let me know when. I'm sure yours will be less involved than mine with all the weird seat mounts.

I'll see if I can research the HJ61 dash indicators. I think they came with LSD's or cable lockers, I Guess if they have a seat belt light then the cable lockers could have had an indicator as well.

I was wondering if there was a way to add a low gas light.

I am sure you could, some that can tap into the gas gauge and come on when the ohm reading reaches a certain point? Just guessing there though.

 

[red66toy]

Get hunting for one of these!

 

[NookShneer]

Get hunting for one of these!

You know what that is out of? Hj61? Or a 70 series variant?

 

[red66toy]

You know what that is out of? Hj61? Or a 70 series variant?

HJ61! Need to find someone parting one out that had lockers.

 

[roma042987]

man that's some awesome scenery totally jealous of where you live at. How do you like the console? Im in the market for one as well.

 

[NookShneer]

man that's some awesome scenery totally jealous of where you live at. How do you like the console? Im in the market for one as well.

I did some modifications to make it fit. But I like the combo lock. The front plate has a blank and switch plate with punch outs. The rear drawer is a neat feature (more likely to hide my 2 year toy cars than anything else)

Price was pretty comparable to the ruddy from what I remember. I think the fact that the arm rest is in the right spot is one of those I didn't know what I was missing things.

If I could change anything it would be the following: A tru plug and play fit would be nice. The lower "floor" rattles a bit on rough roads I found out. I picked up some foam weatherstripping today to see if laying that down would take care of it. I might add more bracing to the rear of the console, currently it's just bolted to the top of the rear heater and a bit wobbly on rough roads.

I've been watching your "what's it worth thread" and you've done amazing work on the 12ht conversion. Big-ups man! Come out for a visit anytime.

 

[NookShneer]

"Sometimes you eat the bear, and sometimes the bear eats you."

Not much of an electrical guy (learning as I go) but managed to get the front console wired up for power ️. 2 blue sea USB and a 12v plug for the front wired in constant on.

Went to replace the rear hatch surround weather stripping today and found a suprise. In the 7 years of owning the vehicle I never pulled it, prob need to make that a bigger priority people. No worrries, @Kleatus has got the routine down from his "Patches 40 thread" and is going to watch me learn how to grind ugh I mean weld.

 

[NookShneer]

Well got after the rust in the back. With major help/lessons from @Kleatus. Pretty happy with the results.

 

[NookShneer]

With how hot it is I'm worried about the eclipse trip I have planned in a couple weeks with @xtiaan2000 and @Kleatus.

@Kleatus posted up some 30 deg vent temps and I'm pretty jealous of how comfortable that sounds in what is going to be 90+ temps most likely.

Haven't had AC running in 6 years. Pulled vacuum on the system for 45 mins. Didn't hold vac after I let the pump off. Need to double check the 134 adapters and rest of the fittings to make sure everything is tight.

I have a blower motor arriving Monday, and o-rings and new drier arriving on Wednesday.

Blue dots below are mapped viewing spots. Couple fire towers, and ridge tops. Most are an hour back from paved roads.

 

[NookShneer]

Marble Pass for the Eclipse with @xtiaan2000

Rolling around the mining hills outside of Sumpter OR

 

[NookShneer]

 

[NookShneer]

Last set from Sumpter OR

 

[NookShneer]

@xtiaan2000 and I cruised back after the eclipse towards Seattle. He was lamenting that we didn't really do any wheeling since it was just on forest Service roads. I made the call to take him back over the cascades via the Naches Wagon trail. I'd never been on it. But heard that it was cool. So we filled up the tank in Yakima and charged for the trail. We narrowly missed the road closures and followed the GPS towards the trail camping by the Naches River for the night.

 

[NookShneer]

The Naches trail felt like a drug experience. Everything was nice and mellow starting out. Think Bambi scenery with large coniferous trees and open meadows with butterflies and floppy eared rabbits lopping about. From the east side everything was mellow and easy up to government meadows where the PCT passes thru.

But as we descended down the west side, darkness grew. And I found myself wanting this trail to end because I felt like I got in over my head.

"Am I touching?"

"Not yet" @xtiaan2000

"Okay" , tries to give some throttle. Crunch

"Never mind" @xtiaan2000