Builds JDM 73

[SKULLYOTA]

Not really a "build", but maybe just a catalog of the mods done to the HZJ73 I just bought.



I bought it from local Mudder Eco 45, after the wife gave a go ahead to finally get a 4x4 I REALLY wanted. After a few 84-88 Toyota trucks/4runners, Samurai, FJ55, and 1st Gen Tacoma I wanted something that was fairly indestructible and had some more interior room.



A troopy just wasn't going to work out budget-wise, and none were for sale close by anyway. This 73 was literally down the road and the wheel base/size is perfect for 4wheeling and has enough room to camp out of I think. 1990 model year, 24v, 1hz, auto, pw, pl. 99.9% rust free. Eco 45 really found a good one.

So.....I think this was day after I bought it...maybe the evening of:

Aluminum brush guard, rear ladder, spot lights, and back ladder came off immediately. Same with the shin-killing receiver hitch. My mildly built 99 Tacoma sold on CL in a day, so I had some $$ for necessary mods.

 

[SKULLYOTA]

Bought a Affordable Offroad FJ40 Prerunner bumper, and modified it to fit a 70 series. I used some 2x4 steel tube to extend the frame, mount a piece of winch mounting plate to and bolted/welded where needed. Turned out pretty good. Sticks out a little far, but the 24v Comeup winch is a fat bastard. 12k variety.

The bumper from Affordable Offroad is VERY well built, and very inexpensive. I was not about to drop almost $1000 on an ARB when all I needed was to mount a winch, two recovery points and my spotlights.

Also added some extra lumens out back from a cheap old Amazon LED. Even after removing a lot of tint from the truck, it's still needs help when backing at night. I'll integrate a flush-mount one when I get around to building a rear bumper/swingout

 

[Gun Runner 5]

U.S. 70's Registration.

 

[SKULLYOTA]

U.S. 70's Registration.

Already checked in brother

 

[Gun Runner 5]

Thanks

 

[SKULLYOTA]

Forgot that I also bought a Harrop for the rear, probably won't get time to put it in for awhile but I had the cash and didn't want an auto locker in case my wife ever needs to drive this in the snow/ice. Getting a Harrop took more frustration than I thought. After too much trouble with trying to get a reply from one vendor, or another vendor that denied selling them when they were on their website....East Coast Gear Supply came thru with excellent service, communication, price and free shipping. Highly recommend doing business with them.

Anyway, not sure when I'll get around to putting this in, but at least I have it.

 

[SKULLYOTA]

Love driving this thing so far

 

[SKULLYOTA]

Apparently the super duper cool locking rocker switch that Harrop is including with their lockers has a much bigger footprint than your typical Carling rocker switch. So I made my own from a red rocker switch and some sticky labels. looks good in my Paranoid Fab panel.

 

[SKULLYOTA]

Went up to the woods and cut a tree down too for christmas

 

[roscoFJ73]

What does your wife think about it?

 

[divemedic]

70 Series Land Cruisers - North America Public Group | Facebook

If you do FB.

Truck is looking good. I’m loving that fuse/relay panel too!

 

[SKULLYOTA]

What does your wife think about it?

She digs it.

70 Series Land Cruisers - North America Public Group | Facebook

If you do FB.

Truck is looking good. I’m loving that fuse/relay panel too!

Joined the FB group, looks like a good source of info

 

[SKULLYOTA]

New Dobinsons Snorkel came in the mail, and removed the Narva flat 7 trailer harness. I’ll clean it up, redo the install and get the matching male plug for a trailer build I have in mind.

 

[roscoFJ73]

How does the Dobinsons snorkel feel? I have never seen one close up.

 

[SKULLYOTA]

It feels nice enough, about the same as the china snorkel I had on my Tacoma. I think I got the part number for a different engine than what I have, but we'll see how it goes. It's been too cold to even think of working on it.

and apparently no one returns the "toyota wave" when you drive a 70...all the 80 guys must think it's an Isuzu Trooper or something....plenty of excited waves from homeless people though..."hey this guys gotta have leftover dough!!"

 

[SKULLYOTA]

Looks like the snorkel part numbers/applications are on Dobinson's website:

Mine from amazon turns out to be the 3374, but I have a 1HZ....I'll see how it goes. It includes this very bulky cast aluminum elbow thing that I'm supposed to rivet to the aircleaner housing, but it might no be necessary.

 

[FJBen]

It feels nice enough, about the same as the china snorkel I had on my Tacoma. I think I got the part number for a different engine than what I have, but we'll see how it goes. It's been too cold to even think of working on it.

and apparently no one returns the "toyota wave" when you drive a 70...all the 80 guys must think it's an Isuzu Trooper or something....plenty of excited waves from homeless people though..."hey this guys gotta have leftover dough!!"

I hear ya, we haven't been above 20 this week, progress is SLOW.

And yeah, I can imagine most people thinking it's an Isuzu or mitsubishi...80 series guys, you think they would know better.

 

[SKULLYOTA]

Well the Dobinson's install was ok., I intalled a Reese pintle hitch on the rear top replace the homemade looking pull tab on the rear crossmember. Also removed the little aluminum step in the middle of the rear bumper. Much better. I also rewired the Narva plug and bought the matching trailer connector. Really looking forward to building a RTT trailer soon.

 

[SKULLYOTA]

The Dobinson's snorkel was a little bit of a pain to install (and I've isntalled snorkels before with no issues)

Finished Product....

 

[SKULLYOTA]

There were several other parts of the kit that needed to be red-drilled, trimmed, etc. Doing over I'd look for a factory Toyota one.

Also changed the reverse lights in the taillight housings to LED. Discovered that one taillight had a standard 24V bulb, and the other an old dim LED: