I’ve been lurking and stealing knowledge for the last 6 years from this great forum. Long overdue build thread and hoping to use the motivation to keep the momentum with the build.
I first got introduced to Landcruisers when a good friend @xtiaan2000 asked if I wanted to go skiing. At the time I was living in Southern California. I roll over to his place and we load into his 1976 FJ55. It was an inspiring ride to say the least. I started casually looking possibly 6 month later knowing that I wanted some creature comforts (namely power steering and AC) and when I found a rig pop up on Craigslist I jumped to check it out.
I ended up bringing @xtiaan2000 with me to help take a look at everything as he was more knowledgeable than me with regards to the whole world of LC. Overall, I ended up rolling down to Santa Barbara a few days later and drove the 60 home.
Few days later sitting at home.
The first trip we planned was to head up to Kernville which from home was about 200 miles and 4 hour drive away. It was slow going up to lake pyramid on the I-5 but that didn’t really bother me at all. I did start to get a little worried as the stereo started cutting out which let me know that something was up. We didn’t make it much further before I started to pull off the interstate at the next exit. We made it down the ramp when the whole thing died. I coasted off the ramp and pulled over along the side.
After talking with my father on the phone we were able to confirm that the battery was died. He drove out to give us a hand (didn’t know I needed to have AAA yet). This experience confirmed that my father is a much more intelligent man than I had ever given him credit to at that point. Since the Cruiser had died he had assumed that the Alt was the problem. We pulled the Battery from the cruiser and swapped in his battery from the 2003 Ford Focus he drove out to meet us in. Getting the Group 27 battery to fit in the Focus battery tray took some work (removing the batt tray and unbolting the air cleaner box to push it aside). We jumped started the Focus (with the dead cruiser battery) with the Cruiser (which had the Focus Battery) The one good Alt in the focus was able to charge up the cruiser battery and luckily we made the 67 mile ride back on the charged Focus Battery. In theory we could have cycled the batteries another time (possibly) and made it a bit further. I was taught a great lesson by the cruiser that day and may others since then.
The Goal is to continue to work on FitzJ60 and get it to the point of comfortable and capable expo overland trips are possible.
Since owning have replaced:
Cooling system – Radiator, thermostat, hoses, water pump.
Engine - Desmogged, rebuilt carb (Marks off road), Tri-Y headers and 2.5” back cat delete new muffler. 62 3FE 80amp alt installed. 3F carb and air box installed in prep for snorkel. Dizzy recurve, cap rotors wires plugs, valve adjust, timing, coil replaced.
Steering - tierod ends, steering box re-seal by WTOR Powersteering @Orange45’s Saginaw kit with a twist, old smog pump position has a 2nd Alt (60 Amp 2F) still needs to get wired up.
Suspension – OME Heavy/Heavy, new bushings anti inversion shackles, 4Plus ubolt flip plates.
Front axle re-build
Interior – BMW seats up front with TorFab early 60 seat brackets, New front seat belts from SeatbeltPlanet. 62 rear belts installed and re-webbed by SeatbeltPlanet. B-piller replacements, FJ62 lower dash, Front heater core replaced, 62 Fuel Door release.
In the works:
61 series rear split bench
62 center rear heater / Tuffy/Crusiercrap center console
Used H55 / split case with 4:1 gear rebuild
Monstaliner the exterior
Rust repair in C-Channels
Dual Alt/ Battery set-up
Sound deadening
Partial Door cards
Headliner
Winshield replace
Sliding rear windows install.
62 upper dash swap
Underhood LED lighting / interior lighting
80 series rear FF with Harrop locker or Elocker/chilcat cable set-up
Tundra Brakes up Front – Harrop locker Elocker/chilcat cable set-up
Roof rack / RTT
I first got introduced to Landcruisers when a good friend @xtiaan2000 asked if I wanted to go skiing. At the time I was living in Southern California. I roll over to his place and we load into his 1976 FJ55. It was an inspiring ride to say the least. I started casually looking possibly 6 month later knowing that I wanted some creature comforts (namely power steering and AC) and when I found a rig pop up on Craigslist I jumped to check it out.
I ended up bringing @xtiaan2000 with me to help take a look at everything as he was more knowledgeable than me with regards to the whole world of LC. Overall, I ended up rolling down to Santa Barbara a few days later and drove the 60 home.
Few days later sitting at home.
The first trip we planned was to head up to Kernville which from home was about 200 miles and 4 hour drive away. It was slow going up to lake pyramid on the I-5 but that didn’t really bother me at all. I did start to get a little worried as the stereo started cutting out which let me know that something was up. We didn’t make it much further before I started to pull off the interstate at the next exit. We made it down the ramp when the whole thing died. I coasted off the ramp and pulled over along the side.
After talking with my father on the phone we were able to confirm that the battery was died. He drove out to give us a hand (didn’t know I needed to have AAA yet). This experience confirmed that my father is a much more intelligent man than I had ever given him credit to at that point. Since the Cruiser had died he had assumed that the Alt was the problem. We pulled the Battery from the cruiser and swapped in his battery from the 2003 Ford Focus he drove out to meet us in. Getting the Group 27 battery to fit in the Focus battery tray took some work (removing the batt tray and unbolting the air cleaner box to push it aside). We jumped started the Focus (with the dead cruiser battery) with the Cruiser (which had the Focus Battery) The one good Alt in the focus was able to charge up the cruiser battery and luckily we made the 67 mile ride back on the charged Focus Battery. In theory we could have cycled the batteries another time (possibly) and made it a bit further. I was taught a great lesson by the cruiser that day and may others since then.
The Goal is to continue to work on FitzJ60 and get it to the point of comfortable and capable expo overland trips are possible.
Since owning have replaced:
Cooling system – Radiator, thermostat, hoses, water pump.
Engine - Desmogged, rebuilt carb (Marks off road), Tri-Y headers and 2.5” back cat delete new muffler. 62 3FE 80amp alt installed. 3F carb and air box installed in prep for snorkel. Dizzy recurve, cap rotors wires plugs, valve adjust, timing, coil replaced.
Steering - tierod ends, steering box re-seal by WTOR Powersteering @Orange45’s Saginaw kit with a twist, old smog pump position has a 2nd Alt (60 Amp 2F) still needs to get wired up.
Suspension – OME Heavy/Heavy, new bushings anti inversion shackles, 4Plus ubolt flip plates.
Front axle re-build
Interior – BMW seats up front with TorFab early 60 seat brackets, New front seat belts from SeatbeltPlanet. 62 rear belts installed and re-webbed by SeatbeltPlanet. B-piller replacements, FJ62 lower dash, Front heater core replaced, 62 Fuel Door release.
In the works:
61 series rear split bench
62 center rear heater / Tuffy/Crusiercrap center console
Used H55 / split case with 4:1 gear rebuild
Monstaliner the exterior
Rust repair in C-Channels
Dual Alt/ Battery set-up
Sound deadening
Partial Door cards
Headliner
Winshield replace
Sliding rear windows install.
62 upper dash swap
Underhood LED lighting / interior lighting
80 series rear FF with Harrop locker or Elocker/chilcat cable set-up
Tundra Brakes up Front – Harrop locker Elocker/chilcat cable set-up
Roof rack / RTT
