OK this title may change a bit later. Get ready for a book
So earlier this year I bought a 1986 FJ60 from northern New Hampshire.
I was on the lookout for a Blue FJ60. While I was not picky on the year I was on the color.
Being from Canada originally, my very first Land Cruiser was a 1983 Blue BJ42. While mine was a 5 speed, My second BJ42 was a 82 and this was a 4 speed although red it was still cool.
When I moved to the US I was forced to sell it as I could not import it in.
I now live in Northern Virginia, have 2 kids and wanted another Land Cruiser to build with my kids and go camping and fishing etc with it.
I looked at the 80 on up series and they just did nothing for me. So I hunted down this truck. Bought it sight unseen (other than pictures) was given a brief description on it and drove up and brought it home.
Upon arriving I looked at it and thought.....I must be crazy, what have I done.
So we loaded it up on the trailer and I drove back 11 hours. After the first 4 trying to convince myself I did the right thing I stopped and took a break. See I drove 10 hours up there and then turned and burned home.
With my stop I decided to look at all of the paperwork the PO gave me. I knew it had a new oil pan, and a new head gasket. Plus it had a new Rad. When I picked it up the PO said here is the engine rebuild paperwork.
So looking at the paperwork in had, sure enough it had the following major work done in the last 6K and 3 years ago (it was not driven much)
Engine complete rebuild
New Clutch
Complete front end rebuild including bearings, disks, calipers and brakes (it stops real well)
New Rad
New Oil Pan
New Carb
New muffler and tail pipe
and a number of other things
Further digging showed me the Head was rebuilt at 20K.
I have everything bill showing what was done to this since 1997 including VIN and Mileage. for verification. Crazy!
The PO had "oiled" the chassis and it is completely rust free so a bonus.
With the 60 I also got a Hayes manual and a copy of a FSM.
So was more excited. I brought it home. My wife was not happy (she did know I was buying this).
Fast forward a few months. Wife forced me to sell it. I had a buyer and I had a terrible feeling and backed out at the very last second. He understood.
So now I have my FJ60, sitting in my Garage
Last weekend I started the work. Tore out the carpet, tore into the drivers wheel well arch and found what I knew was there; RUST!
Wheel wells will be taken care of by patch panels from Trail-Tailor and I will weld them in, Carpet. is also from Jason.
Drivers floor will need a bit of work.
The OME kit on the 60 (has the greasable pin inversion shackles) is a light/medium kit.
The rockers have been cut into and 2x4 sliders welded in.
As this will be an expedition rig/ daily driver (as soon as this is built I am selling my F150 and kill off that debt) the springs need to be changed, rig needs to be cleaned up, made sure it is 100% reliable, and something of a decent radio put in.
So the expected work.
Rust repair Floor and wheel wells
Replace upper tailgate (mine has a huge hold) sourced.
New Carpet
Dash cap (mine is cracked to hell)
Rear tire carrier bumper
Front ARB or 4Plus (not sure yet which, with the Deer in Northern VA, a good bull bumper is needed)
Eventually a Winch
Replace suspension (Ironman Med/heavy from Mark's Offroad, shocks and bushings from Cruiseroutfitters)
Repair small hole in drivers seat
Clean seats and replace bottom seat foam
New tires
Paint the little things like wiper arms
Mount roof rack
Clean up engine bay
DeSmog (not needed in VA)
Make sure all vacuum hoses are right (something seems off by looking at it)
Update headlights
Fix AC
Get and install a Long Range Tank
New Radio
Paint
I was going to Fuel inject it, but have decided not to at this time. I was then thinking Weber carb, but I will give my carb a chance.
5-Speed is the future, but next summer as it is not in the budget.
As I said this will be my daily driver. I go to Raleigh, NC once a month so this needs to be reliable as can be.
My F150 with the engine it has averages about 12MPG (towing like 5-7). It has a long range tank (38 or 40 gal) and my wife's Yukon XL gets better fuel economy.
I seee about 468 miles out of that tank full.
So knowing that and the FJ60 is about the same as the F150, I know fuel wise what I am in for. The FJ60 is about 230 miles out of the regular tank and I figure close to double that out of the LRT. So about the same as my F150 for fuel economy. the difference is I own the FJ60. The bank own the F150.
My budget is super tight and I will be doing 99% by myself. It expected all of this to be done Dec 1.
I will be posting my progress and questions I may have here on this thread with lots of pictures.
Starting with my FJ60.
Oh that 3 Gauge cluster is going ASAP.
So earlier this year I bought a 1986 FJ60 from northern New Hampshire.
I was on the lookout for a Blue FJ60. While I was not picky on the year I was on the color.
Being from Canada originally, my very first Land Cruiser was a 1983 Blue BJ42. While mine was a 5 speed, My second BJ42 was a 82 and this was a 4 speed although red it was still cool.
When I moved to the US I was forced to sell it as I could not import it in.
I now live in Northern Virginia, have 2 kids and wanted another Land Cruiser to build with my kids and go camping and fishing etc with it.
I looked at the 80 on up series and they just did nothing for me. So I hunted down this truck. Bought it sight unseen (other than pictures) was given a brief description on it and drove up and brought it home.
Upon arriving I looked at it and thought.....I must be crazy, what have I done.
So we loaded it up on the trailer and I drove back 11 hours. After the first 4 trying to convince myself I did the right thing I stopped and took a break. See I drove 10 hours up there and then turned and burned home.
With my stop I decided to look at all of the paperwork the PO gave me. I knew it had a new oil pan, and a new head gasket. Plus it had a new Rad. When I picked it up the PO said here is the engine rebuild paperwork.
So looking at the paperwork in had, sure enough it had the following major work done in the last 6K and 3 years ago (it was not driven much)
Engine complete rebuild
New Clutch
Complete front end rebuild including bearings, disks, calipers and brakes (it stops real well)
New Rad
New Oil Pan
New Carb
New muffler and tail pipe
and a number of other things
Further digging showed me the Head was rebuilt at 20K.
I have everything bill showing what was done to this since 1997 including VIN and Mileage. for verification. Crazy!
The PO had "oiled" the chassis and it is completely rust free so a bonus.
With the 60 I also got a Hayes manual and a copy of a FSM.
So was more excited. I brought it home. My wife was not happy (she did know I was buying this).
Fast forward a few months. Wife forced me to sell it. I had a buyer and I had a terrible feeling and backed out at the very last second. He understood.
So now I have my FJ60, sitting in my Garage
Last weekend I started the work. Tore out the carpet, tore into the drivers wheel well arch and found what I knew was there; RUST!
Wheel wells will be taken care of by patch panels from Trail-Tailor and I will weld them in, Carpet. is also from Jason.
Drivers floor will need a bit of work.
The OME kit on the 60 (has the greasable pin inversion shackles) is a light/medium kit.
The rockers have been cut into and 2x4 sliders welded in.
As this will be an expedition rig/ daily driver (as soon as this is built I am selling my F150 and kill off that debt) the springs need to be changed, rig needs to be cleaned up, made sure it is 100% reliable, and something of a decent radio put in.
So the expected work.
Rust repair Floor and wheel wells
Replace upper tailgate (mine has a huge hold) sourced.
New Carpet
Dash cap (mine is cracked to hell)
Rear tire carrier bumper
Front ARB or 4Plus (not sure yet which, with the Deer in Northern VA, a good bull bumper is needed)
Eventually a Winch
Replace suspension (Ironman Med/heavy from Mark's Offroad, shocks and bushings from Cruiseroutfitters)
Repair small hole in drivers seat
Clean seats and replace bottom seat foam
New tires
Paint the little things like wiper arms
Mount roof rack
Clean up engine bay
DeSmog (not needed in VA)
Make sure all vacuum hoses are right (something seems off by looking at it)
Update headlights
Fix AC
Get and install a Long Range Tank
New Radio
Paint
I was going to Fuel inject it, but have decided not to at this time. I was then thinking Weber carb, but I will give my carb a chance.
5-Speed is the future, but next summer as it is not in the budget.
As I said this will be my daily driver. I go to Raleigh, NC once a month so this needs to be reliable as can be.
My F150 with the engine it has averages about 12MPG (towing like 5-7). It has a long range tank (38 or 40 gal) and my wife's Yukon XL gets better fuel economy.
I seee about 468 miles out of that tank full.
So knowing that and the FJ60 is about the same as the F150, I know fuel wise what I am in for. The FJ60 is about 230 miles out of the regular tank and I figure close to double that out of the LRT. So about the same as my F150 for fuel economy. the difference is I own the FJ60. The bank own the F150.
My budget is super tight and I will be doing 99% by myself. It expected all of this to be done Dec 1.
I will be posting my progress and questions I may have here on this thread with lots of pictures.
Starting with my FJ60.
Oh that 3 Gauge cluster is going ASAP.
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, you and the family will be happy that you did.
