Builds HJ61 Cruiser build (15 Viewers)

[TLC Norway]

then i was ready for 2 weeks on the road, three guys, a wolf, a tent with wood stove and axes in different sizes. It was going to be quite a journey!

First camp was after about 15 hours on the road. We took a left in the swedish forests and followed a logging road with lockers engaged until we found a small clearing. Nice spot! put her i 2wd and spun the rear down to the stove and wood could easily be reached from the roof.

more to come!

 

[TLC Norway]

After a good few hours in a warm tent with warm food, we headed out again. I had heard of a bridge that could sound interesting in our path, but lets say it was a bit too interesting for a 3tonne cruiser, and luckily it was a bit too narrow.

 

[TLC Norway]

After long stretches of flat landscape, we got out of sweden, and toured around mid norway, and got into the mountains.

And we did quite a few stops to inspect old settlements and building techniques. Whats special about the 1700- architecture of the Western-Norway, was the low and bad amount of wood supply but they had their skills with stone, as seen here:

And this building is areconstruction of a typical building techniqe from when someone could afford or had enough wood to produce this.
My pointing friend there was actually rowing that log-ferry years ago when they simulated how they transported timber in the fjords of west-norway in the 16-1800s.

 

[TLC Norway]

In Voss, we inspected a medieval hall, Loft, from before the black plauge, around 1300. This is one of the oldest remaining buildings in Norway, and can tell us alot about how they lived, worked and carved wood back in the middle ages. A truly majstectic building.

Another importaint stop was at the Borgund stave church, dated 1200. Amazing condition for a wooden building. Armed guards and so on.
Well, i cant get into talking about that, you'll have to be there.

As you can see... we're pretty rear end heavy here. Wolf agrees!

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Just incredible

 

[Cruising Canuck]

I want to go to norway!
Great pictures, please share more journeys like this

 

[TLC Norway]

I got more coming, I think I'm halfway roadwise/picturewise. But too many nerdy pictures to post! Will add more later

 

[TLC Norway]

Out looking for roofing material. Had to pull some logs quite a stretch trough the woods, and ended up in sticky situations on rotten snow and soft ground. Glad i had the winch. Solenoid for pulling in stopped working, so i had to go out on the winch to pull in. not good, but got me out of there!

Here the 61 is doing its best to find a way through dense forest with shifting snow, creeks, tight bush, trees. 5 minutes after this, i got high centered and slid sideways against a medium sized birch, pushed in the body about 4inches right in front of the side land cruiser emblem. It was in a tough spot, so i rigged my winchto hold my precious from sliding further, and cut the birch. Panel came right out, almost no harm done!

Our 40 years old tent stove setup is flawless. keeps us warm all night.

Crossed the mountain north of valdres, we got into bad weather after this picture, so i kept both hands on the wheel and was glad i didnt unscrew the 600 studs from the tires!

 

[TLC Norway]

I did an inspection on the roof construction of Stiklestad Church from the year of 1180, and got to take a snap out of the door on the bell tower.
To the left in the picture you can see the longhouse, where i camped for a week. Prime campsite, with special permisson
Amazing view from the tower of an breathtaking church with a really interesting story.

The church on stiklestad, not with its original roof.

Early morning at the ledgendary camp site, behind the Longhose at stiklestad. The night before we had 9 visitors in the tent, with candles and fire in the oven, A blues master, local brewed beer and good tales. We kept the windows open during the night! I've had this tent for about 15 years, and it was stored at a barn when my property burned two years ago. im soo glad i still have it!

The next day i got half of my roof done, in a traditional way. The pine is cut in 13inches logs, split into six, cooked for two hours, split into thin boards with a knife, and nailed while wet. Good roofs.

I crossed the polar circle at saltfjellet on my way home again.

 

[TLC Norway]

Not many on the early morning ferry...

And as i was getting close to home, i took a shortcut over a ice-bridge to save an hour.
Well, that did not go as planned. Halfway over, i noticed the ice got weaker, and i set my course for the oposite bank, too afraid to turn around.
I went through the ice only meters from the bank. Again, without the winch (still winching on spool) saved my butt. Nervous situation...
This is shortly after i got winched out...scary.

More to come!

 

[Landpimp]

WOW, what a great trip, I was looking at the pics and thinking that things were looking very familiar, its been close to 20 years since I was in Voss, I fell in love with that part of Norway, I tell people all the time its the only place I would move to(if they would take me)

 

[TLC Norway]

WOW, what a great trip, I was looking at the pics and thinking that things were looking very familiar, its been close to 20 years since I was in Voss, I fell in love with that part of Norway, I tell people all the time its the only place I would move to(if they would take me)

No wonder you fell in love, it's truly one of the most dramatic and beautiful areas of Norway.
I have a few friends there, and they feel that north of norway reminds them of voss, it's just colder up here.
What brought you to Voss back in the days?

When i got home, this wonderful package was at my post office. Birthday Present for myself
I got the wrong oil cap, should have been the teq one..
-misc grommets, licence plate light with rubber, grey colomn surround and wiper linkage is sweet!

I's satisfying to complete a rig with oem parts, as long as they can be found. Anyone got the oem antenna grommet for me?

 

[HoJo 61]

Worth the wait, thanks for sharing the pics and the story!

 

[TLC Norway]

Soo, after about 3700km (aprox 2300 miles) of cruiser flawlessness, i got home and rebooted and repacked for JAC winter meet, an hour from my place. Arrived there an hour after midnight friday, grabbed a beer to celebrate arriving in time and went to bed, had 13h straight behind the wheel.

Woke up and swapped the skinnies from my 61 to myladys 73, mounted the 35" kumhos on the 61 and dropped to single digits, about 5-7 psi.

The conditions was fun with different snow conditions varying from wet and soft, rock hard, bottomless powder, and some treacherous areas with mud and creeks underneath.

Sideways it can be really scary with single digits in those conditions, but the 255/85r16 BF's on 7" rim really sticked onto the wheels, and kept performing really good on the 73 with fresh ome install. She enjoyed it!

A pose after one of the longer hills

 

[TLC Norway]

On the very same spot pictured above, a guy tried the very same route as my girl, same rig setup, but with 33x12,5s on 10" wide rims and low pressure. It popped right off, not a surprise. That's the main reason i'll never go 10" wheel width.
You can barely see, we secured him sideways to that rock, and my 61 held him from sliding back. He could safely jack the rear up and pop the bead back on. (video of un-beading will come)

On his next attempt, the procomps just didnt like the terrain, and gave up a sidewall.

The kumhos and BF's held up great against the same rocks. Not many pushed up that hill without winching.

 

[TLC Norway]

And half of the video material ended up in here for now, maybe i'll get around to do the rest some time
Enjoy! (sorry for the camera clicking...and wobble)

 

[TLC Norway]

Pulled a leaf up front, 3'rd from the top. Added a 4* shim, installed ubolt flip kit on the front from @lcwizard at the same time.
This little adjustment means heaps for comfort and ride, handling and offroad capabilities. One question, what should i torque the u bolts up to?
100 ft/lbs ?

Had 7 leaves in the front, making it a tad too stiff. Now, with 6, it rides smoother and with better shocks it would be spot on, i think.
Bushing at the shock mount needs to be the smaller style 16mm not 18mm. OMEB11 bushings are correct FYI.

New vs Old

Halfway done, in my temp messy shed with improvised jack setup.

Still sits level, with normal loads front and back. I think i'll pull a rear leaf or two also, when installing rear flip kits.
Chilling out next to its little sister.

 

[TLC Norway]

And one of many loads of timber beeing hauled out to my new project. Taken out of the woods with just one axe.

Rides better now on the 35's after the caster shim. Will pull the studs from the 255's tonight and see how they ride.
Had the worst symtoms of wandering when riding the 35's, about 90 % fixed now. i'll check my toe after ive got some km's on the KM2s.

Have a nice weekend, guys!

 

[TLC Norway]

Caster shimming was a success, especially with the 255's. with all the miles im putting down daily, i'll keep running them for a while, can drive with one finger on the wheel.

Another issue has been growing, and now getting noticeable. vibrating brake pedal... now, with heavy braking, there is a solid vibrating in the pedal, earlier it was barely noticeable, like a tire slightly out of balance. Done the normal checks, rear brakes are fine, front also seems fine. All wheel bearings are nice. front discs, pads and rear shoes are all under 14 months old. Front discs seem straight after a few rounds with dial caliper runout check. Knuckles are rebuilt.
Gotta track this down, any suggestions?????

Been fiddling with a few more things, roughly straightened the stock rear bumper to get it painted and throw on the end caps.
Sliders will also get a stroke of paint.
Sanded and painted a set of new to me battery trays, in pretty good condition. Mine have always been improvised. Mounting tomorrow.
Tore down to access the valve cover, adjusting them tomorrow. Maybe i'll have to polish up the intake pipes.

Fun little project was to install the Firestik antenna mount from Jason @reevesci with a 4' antenna, quick disconnect, hd spring and firering cable. got out the butane soldering iron and soldered the connector and a ground cable.
Antenna mount is really slick, i just had to make up an angled grommet for the fender.
I also bent the threaded rod slightly, and did not bolt the mount to the oem antenna mount, i moved it backwards about an inch and drilled a new hole for it to stand a bit more up straight. Success!

Went for a drive to an open area near the lake, to see how the SWR reacted. Last piece of ice disappearing!

Anyway, with the antenna tip screwed all the way down, i got a 1.1 swr on ch1 and 2.1 on ch40.
When we run trails, we operate between ch6-16. primarily 16 since 4x4=16.
Not happy about the high rate at ch 40... maybe the spring and quick disconnect made it a tad too long. (?)

 

[TLC Norway]

I like uncovering internals like this, looks neat and clean. Only two exhaust valves were slightly off, and one intake valve.
Good!