Build Klip's FJ62 revival

[klip]

Had a bad dent to deal with on the driver side. I wanted to keep the original body lines and this will get me plenty of clearance. So far I'm happy with the way it looks.

 

[Captain Sanuk]

Very clean.

 

[klip]

Thanks, I really didn't want to just take the sawzall to it. But holy crap, I forgot how much body work sucks. I've been sanding for days and still am not done yet. I'll get get some more pics up when I get it primed.

 

[dpr64]

Hi...Very nice work! On the Tacoma rear axle, what is the difference from yours being a 4 cylinder donor VS the 6 cylinder ones? Did the latter years come with disc brakes?
Thanks...

 

[TLC Norway]

Smart move on the fenders...

 

[klip]

Thanks all! Most of the v6's have a different gear ratio than the 4 bangers.

 

[niffa]

Forgive a rookie but does axle wrap occur on the front diff also?

 

[klip]

Yes, but I have never had a problem with axle wrap in the front.

 

[klip]

Fenders are primed, made filler pieces for the fender well.

I filled in the gaps around the filler pieces with THE RIGHT STUFF gasket maker silicone, then I painted over them with a tan colored bed liner to match the rest of the wheel well. My computer has been down for a while so hopefully the pics from my phone upload ok...

 

[klip]

Almost ready to paint,

 

[klip]

Can't find anything that matches close enough yet. The two colors I tried are coming out really gold.

 

[overhanger]

Looking good. For more fender room I just run Swampers - they're self-clearancing!

 

[klip]

That works too! Thank you.

 

[klip]

Couldn't find any paint that matched so I gave up and went with the closest match out of the 4 cans I bought. I'll end up painting the whole thing down the road, it needs it anyway.

Pretty happy with the end result other than the paint color. Put the stock mud flaps back on even though their not doing much, hopefully it will keep the cops off my tail.

Next up is get this thing ref'd and reg'd.

 

[klip]

Well a year and a half later it's all ref'd and registered. Been driving it around and loving every minute of it! It actually has pretty good road manors too, the only thing i need to do is install a rear sway bar. I can't put the old one back in because it goes around the offset diff. Other than that and a couple small leaks it turned out real nice. Still have a bunch of small things on the list, slowly chipping away at it. Just happy I finally get to drive it again, been too long.

 

[cruisermatt]

Well a year and a half later it's all ref'd and registered. Been driving it around and loving every minute of it! It actually has pretty good road manors too, the only thing i need to do is install a rear sway bar. I can't put the old one back in because it goes around the offset diff. Other than that and a couple small leaks it turned out real nice. Still have a bunch of small things on the list, slowly chipping away at it. Just happy I finally get to drive it again, been too long.

Nice! Do you have a front sway bar yet?

 

[klip]

Thanks, yea I was able to reuse the front sway bar because it still has the original axle. I just made extensions with 3/8'' rod I threaded at each end and some 3/8'' id steel pipe. And I replaced all the bushings, the front rides pretty nice but I feel the rear sway and rock back and fourth.

 

[klip]

Still not painted but new rims and tires. I have rock sliders to weld on, adapters to buy, going back to the cruiser rear axle. Just got a computer back, haven't had one in over a year. I'll get some pics up soon.

 

[klip]

Finally starting to settle back into home. We rebuilt after the camp fire, THE CRUISER SURVIVED!!!!!!! Some damage but all in all it made it. The fire burned through my town, not leaving much behind. I rushed home in my work truck and gathered what I could as I was not prepared for this at all, moved the cruiser to the middle of my property, and left as my neighbors house was burning to the ground. After I left I went probably 4 weeks without knowing if my house was still there. Mostly everything on my property I lost, except for my 1974 GMC K2500 and the cruiser. The fire was November 8th 2018. I've rebuilt my house and started to get back to a normal day to day life. I'll follow up with pics of the cruiser soon. Try to pick up where I left off. So much to do!

 

[klip]

Started a front bumper with a winch. Maxxis Trepador 37" radials. Need to finish front and rear bumpers, spare tire swing out. Roof rack. Re gear the axles, rebuild the trans. As it sat for 3 years it got the first crack in the dashboard. It's been nice to read the whole thread from the start, pics of my backyard and the garage brings back memories. Great to be back!