Builds Growing the Family: 1985 FJ60 Refresh and build (1 Viewer)

[JTU]

The battery tray was old crusty and rusty, Stainless Trays makes it look 100% better.

The fuel gauge hasn’t worked since I got it, stuck on E. I figured it was just the sending unit so I swapped in a new one......and still no working gauge. Maybe it’s the gauge itself that’s broken.

 

[JTU]

I just realized I forgot about this thread.

Not to much has happened with it. Since getting my 40 back from rehab I have been driving it a lot.

FJ40 got a full engine rehab along with fuel injection:

Backroad cruising

 

[JTU]

But the 60 has not become the stepchild of the garage. The stepchild title goes to the 80 series that has been left in the corner for months.

The 60 has been at the body shop getting a full repaint. It spent most of its life outside in the harsh south Alabama sun which Scorched the roof, cowl, and all the trim that faced upwards.

The hood and drivers front fender had been repainted at some point, I’m guessing a small front end collision since the rocker had a decent sized dent in it.

At first I was going to try and just paint the roof ans worst panels. I knew it wouldn’t be an exact match but I was hoping the painter could get it close.

Paint match fail. The roof wasn’t obvious but the cowl and passenger fender came out way to light.

My OCD went into full overdrive. So there’s only one thing to do about it.

Strip it all down and go all in.

 

[OGBeno]

SOLID @JTU

 

[SteveH]

Nice fleet of old iron.

 

[JTU]

Stopped by the body shop this morning to check up on the progress on the 60. Most of the panels are blocked and primed, still a little prep work to do. Hopefully it will be heading to the paint booth next week to get some color laid on it.

 

[Nostradamus]

I started last week with no plans to buy a vehicle. Midway through I see an ad for a clean looking 60 series and it got me thinking; I have a 40 series, I have a 80 series so it only make sense that I need a 60 in the garage now. I run the classified ad by a friend and he says I should go checkout a 60 that is local that a guy bought and wouldn't mind letting it go.

It was all downhill from there and 2 days later I brought home this 1985 FJ60. The thing that sealed the deal was the 2F had a fresh rebuild a fews years ago and it had a H55 swap. 223K on the clock, 50K on the rebuilt 2F and H55.
View attachment 1673655

It has the normal wear and tear to expect on a 30+ year old vehicle but the body is straight. The paint is the only cosmetic issue, the driver side has been repainted at some point in its life but the roof is the only major paint issue. It spent most of it life as a vacation vehicle at the original owners house on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico.

The interior is pretty good, the carpet is a little dirty but the seats are clean and mostly tear free.
View attachment 1673696
View attachment 1673698

I have the exact same deal. 1985 FJ60 w rebuilt 2F and an H55. About 60K on the rebuild and 221K overall. Great rig. You'll have a ton of fun with it.

 

[IslandJ]

One day a H55 will be in my 60. Cant wait to see the fresh paint on the rig!

 

[Big Cruiser Guy]

I'm assuming you're not changing the color, seeing as how you already have the best possible color for a 60.

 

[JTU]

I'm assuming you're not changing the color, seeing as how you already have the best possible color for a 60.

Of course it’s staying metallic brown

 

[JTU]

The body received a coat of red oxide primer and now is in final sanding before top coat.

 

[JTU]

Finally got some color on it and It turned out great! It will get a finally buff and then started the resassembly process with all new window seals and gaskets.

 

[FJ60Cam]

 

[Beams37]

What cam said!

 

[JTU]

Got it back to my shop yesterday and started piecing it back together. Got some new exterior bits and pieces coming to compliment the new paint. Its going to the glass shop next week to have the windows with new gaskets installed. I'm excited to see it all come back together now.

 

[Javelin]

Looks great. Love the color, second favorite behind Beige.

 

[JTU]

Progress has been slow but I'm getting there. The paint shop wanted to let the clear coat hardened for 30 days before cutting and buffing it. Once the clear coat fully hardens it will go back for cut and buff and ceramic coating.

The rear cargo windows and rear windshield was re-installed with new OEM gaskets from @beno. I used a City Racer reproduction non-lock groove windshield gasket on the front. I ordered a black lockstrip kit from @reevesci to replace the chrome lock strip on the windows.

Lots more parts to go on:
-City Racer door runs, front & rear
-City Racer door gasket on every door
-Cruiser Corps Grill Kit
-New OEM badges
-New OEM marker lights
-New OEM Front and rear blinkers
-All new OEM screw clips, nutserts, and screws
-New stereo and speakers

 

[JTU]

The Cruiser corps grill kit is one of the best $150 one can spend on the exterior of their 60.

Original OEM (left) vs Cruiser Corp reproduction(right)

The Cruiser Corps grill is good stuff.

 

[Hojack]

Got the new 33s installed and took it for a loop around the farm. The Dobinson's kit sits nice and level with just a slight rake, it rides stiff but not back breaking rough. The tire shop mixed up my request and put the white letters out, I'm still deciding if should have them flipped or not.
View attachment 1674997

I actually like the white wall lettering. Gives it that 80s old school look.

 

[JTU]

Since I had the doors apart it was the perfect time to sound insulate the doors inside and out. I had a box of Noico material left over from my 80 series interior project so I got to work making my 60 quieter one door at a time. I also ran new 16ga speaker wire to the doors and rear cargo speakers.

Ran out of the Noico material so I ordered some FatMap off Amazon. The Fatmap is 10x as tacky as the Noico and is much more pliable.

The rear panels received two layers of FatMap

Topped the rear cargo panels off with some new Rockford Fosgate 6x9s