And here's my update on how it ended up going from Bozeman to DFW:
I’ve been mostly a lurker on IH8MUD for the last 15 months but stumbled across the link above (Craigslist MT 222k) and realized I am now the owner of this vehicle. I thought it might be interesting to document what’s happened with the vehicle since the listing in 2020.
Luckily, everything in craigslist link above hunts with what I discovered in the process of buying it (except for the fire / acid speculation, which I don’t think was the case).
So, here’s the timeline and what I know.
The PPO or PPPO is referenced in the CL post and my understanding of the backstory was the same. Age / other issues / what-have-you caused vehicle neglect. The PO (local to Gallatin valley at the time) bought it to restore since he already had experience restoring a couple other Cruisers (FJ80s). He started the restoration process in early 2021 and then his wife was transferred. He put this cruiser up on craigslist since he already had 3 or 4 other vehicles and family to get moved across the country.
This is where I come in. I’d hit a point where I decided I needed a tactile hobby (I can only run and read so much, and I sit at a computer all day). Having had two Toyotas in my teens and 20s, and two GXs over the years, I’m a fan of Toyota’s design and engineering. So, it made me consider a 62 as a target – I love how they look and the insane toughness. I wanted something that needed work I could handle, wasn’t priced ridiculously but wasn’t a lost cause either.
I did a lot of craigslist searching and stumbled into this one and it looked promising from the standpoint of being relatively rust-free and mechanical improved from its lowest point. The body and interior were still rough, for sure. Spent a couple hours on the phone wiht the PO and then my son and I flew up to Bozeman from DFW, spent a day driving it (still with sketchy brakes) goofing around Bozeman, and agreed with PO to buy it on July 3, 2021. Stoked!
Here were the main updates the PO performed before I took the baton:
4-core radiator + cap
Aisin Water Pump
Alternator
New Battery
New Battery Tray
Belts (Gates)
Aisin Fan clutch and Fan
ARB IPF wiring loom for the headlights
Driver's side low beam headlight
Mirrors (aftermarket)
Front turn indicators (aftermarket)
Rear turn indicators
Front Valance
Air filter
31" Falken Wild Peak tires
Upper and lower radiator hoses
Battery Terminals
Carpet by ACC
Fan Shroud cut, refinished, and painted
Fusible link
Distributor cap
It took a few weeks to work out the shipping at a reasonable price, but I knew that it would not be welcome into the garage with the volume of fluids dripping from it. So, I had it shipped to Dadja’s Automotive in the DFW area to solve immediate obvious leaks, work on brakes, etc and get it passed for state inspection.
Work performed by Dadjas:
Knuckle rebuild
Front brakes
Oil Pan Seal
Rear Pinion Seal
R-134 conversion
Hi-Beam wiring fix
New windshield
Adjustment to solve rough idle
Oil/Filter
State inspection (It passed the DFW auto inspection regime / racket!)
I finally pulled it into my garage Labor Day weekend, 2021. Since that time, here’s what I’ve been working on (it’s not a DD). I’ve really enjoyed researching / problem solving, and this site is a huge help.
Installed a lot of missing interior bits, minor trim parts, screws, etc.
Several rounds of de-funking the interior of bad mojo including wet dog smell (a lot of dog hair in every crevice). Cleaned, cleaned, and cleaned some more to make it tolerable to drive over the last year. Seats, headliner, etc. In the long run, upholstery needed to be replaced (per below) as it was mostly trashed, as was some of the front foam.
Degreasing / de-crusting the undercarriage (mostly by hand) – ongoing to this day when I feel like doing a mindless task.
Replaced broken master power window switch with new one from Switchdoctor. Only sold in Brown so I used SEM paint to color match it to grey interior and hand painted the labeling to silver
Installed rear wiper arm and motor
Installed new fuel filter (to solve hard hot starts)
Installed new fuel pressure regulator (to solve hard hot starts)
Installed new PCV valve (to solve hard hot starts)
Pulled and cleaned cold start injector
Installed Hella H4 low beams (still kind of tepid light output but better than Sylvania’s it had)
Rear diff fluid change
Front diff fluid change
Transfer case fluid change
CCOT “chrome” replacement mirrors – they did vibrate a lot at first but then settled in decently, imo, and now have minimal vibration. Price to value seems about right on these.
Installed wheel spacers because existing non-OEM steel wheels were rubbing tie rod ends
Replaced Tie Rod Ends / Drag Link and Tubes (555) – Cruiser Outfitters
Installed OME Steering Stabilizer
Installed KYB shocks (low cost stop-gap until I’m ready to figure out suspension – needs new leaf springs / bushings)
Installed Power antenna mast since antenna motor still worked (one of my favorite 1980s gadgets)
Pulled door cards, scrubbed, and cleaned / lubricated power window tracks and mechanicals – all work – slowly, as expected
Refurbished license plate holder and re-established grounding so light works
Fixed parking brake (missing pins / cotter pins)
Replaced starter with Denso remanufactured
Refurbed front and rear seat framing and reupholstered interior with Mosley leather option and new SOR foam bottoms (Plug: this leather is terrific – and now I have new car smell!)
ATF drain / fill
Potential “next up” candidates:
Fall / Winter 2022 project may be dent pulling with stud welder dent puller. Body panels have virtually no rust. I’d rather pull dents and keep it original than replace with new or replacement stock, if possible.
Reseal gutters
Refurb window felts so I can get window tinting and cut down TX summer heat
Things I’m mentally sparring over for 2023 and beyond:
AC work – dodgy compressor – locks up intermittently
Suspension – lift / springs / etc. OME vs Dobinsons 2”
Bumpers – fix dents and leave as chrome, or replace with more rugged option (likely the latter) and move spare tire to the bumper. Incidentally, it’s rolling with the original Dunlop spare right now. Hope I don’t get a flat.
Paint - this is such an enigma. Parts of the paint are not that bad aside from a lot of gravel chips. The hood paint was totally gone, so I rattled canned some Duplicolor – GM Storm Grey on the hood which turned out as a tolerable match to tide things over until I figure out whether to have a reasonable respray on the hood, front fenders, and roof, or just repaint the whole thing someday.
Wheels / Tires – maybe 32-33” w/ 16s
In summary, I bought it to use it and just have fun – it likely won’t see a whole lot of offroad action aside from some occasional rugged TX ranchland. I’m not going for a showpiece restoration but want to be a solid rig. So, far I’ve put about 1k miles on it just driving it around DFW and had zero issues (knock on wood).
All in all, I’m having a blast with the challenges of fixing this up, and learning new things.
