Im starting this "build" thread to track the progress and to ask questions regarding this crusty, rusty '74 (i think) Toyota Land Cruiser. The vin tag says the build date is 11/74 so i am assuming its a '74 based on the 1f engine and drum brakes all the way around.
I picked up this beauty over the weekend from a field south of San Antonio. It was buried to the hubs in the dirt and didnt roll. The transmission is locked i think. Tires were literally blown out and flat. The guy i bought it from acquired it 10 years ago and didnt touch it. Tags on the plates say '93. Engine was not locked up.
Shes so pretty:
Dat ass tho
Specs:
1974 Land Cruiser
Factory Soft top (missing the bows)
1F Engine with a 3-speed (i think) and factory t-case
Holley 2-barrel carb
Going to run 31-33" tires on the oem wheels and hub caps
Rust everywhere
chewed up wiring under the hood
Brought it home and powerwashed it on the trailer. I figured out the t-case and shifted it into neutral and got it to roll. Brakes weren't locked up. Swapped on a set of wheels and tires that i had lying around and rolled it into the shop.
I pulled the radiator to confirm that the engine was indeed free. (turns out you cant reach the front of the crank in any position). Previous owner bypassed the mechanical fuel pump and ran an electric on the firewall. It was shot, so i swapped that out with one i had on the shelf, blew out the carb (holley 2-barrel), swapped 4 out 6 chewed up spark plug wires with some random ones i had (need to find two more), re-did some chewed up wiring, poured fresh gas in and the bitch started right up. All kinds of s*** blew out of the tail pipe, smoked a little, then cleared up after a little time running. This thing is going to be fun.
Already looking better after the bath and new meats
Pulled the thermostat housing and found this mess
Housing. I cleaned it up and its salvageable
Now on to the plans for this thing. My goal to make it a back roads cruiser. That means i only need it to reach a speed of 45-55 mph. I plan on rebuilding what needs to be rebuilt to make it a nice driver.
1. Swap on fj60 brakes up front
2. Swap in a 60 rear while im at it (need to see if the 40 third member is compatible with the 60 shafts to keep the same gear ratio.
3. New seats (current ones are beyond scrap)
4. 31-33" skinny meats
5. Warn 8274 winch (love the look of this winch on a classic cruiser)
6. New booster and master cylinder
7. Profit?
Current issues that i am fighting.
1. The engine will only stay running with the key in the "start" position. After some research, it could either be the ballast resistor or the ignition. Both are now on order. Anything else it could be? I jumped the coil straight to the battery so it would stay running without me holding the key.
2. Some of the lighting works. Like i mentioned earlier, rats had lunch with the wiring. I plan on fixing as much as i can and cleaning grounds before i start replacing lights. The headlights themselves dont come on with the switch, but i confirmed they work by jumping it to the battery.
3. Trans is locked up i think. I cant get the shifter to go into any gear and it wiggles just a little bit. Cant even shift into neutral. I soaked it in Kroil and will pop the cover off to see if anything is blatantly wrong before i drag it around the yard to try and free it up. Do any mini truck 5-speeds adapt to the 1F? W56, r150, G52, etc? I can run a mini truck case and a centered IFS rear at that point.
Ive downloaded several FSMs to help me diagnose this beauty. This is my first Land Cruiser. I am deep into the first gen mini truck game so i have all kinds of parts to use, as needed. Cant wait to get it on the road again.
Sorry for the long winded first post.
I picked up this beauty over the weekend from a field south of San Antonio. It was buried to the hubs in the dirt and didnt roll. The transmission is locked i think. Tires were literally blown out and flat. The guy i bought it from acquired it 10 years ago and didnt touch it. Tags on the plates say '93. Engine was not locked up.
Shes so pretty:
Dat ass tho
Specs:
1974 Land Cruiser
Factory Soft top (missing the bows)
1F Engine with a 3-speed (i think) and factory t-case
Holley 2-barrel carb
Going to run 31-33" tires on the oem wheels and hub caps
Rust everywhere
chewed up wiring under the hood
Brought it home and powerwashed it on the trailer. I figured out the t-case and shifted it into neutral and got it to roll. Brakes weren't locked up. Swapped on a set of wheels and tires that i had lying around and rolled it into the shop.
I pulled the radiator to confirm that the engine was indeed free. (turns out you cant reach the front of the crank in any position). Previous owner bypassed the mechanical fuel pump and ran an electric on the firewall. It was shot, so i swapped that out with one i had on the shelf, blew out the carb (holley 2-barrel), swapped 4 out 6 chewed up spark plug wires with some random ones i had (need to find two more), re-did some chewed up wiring, poured fresh gas in and the bitch started right up. All kinds of s*** blew out of the tail pipe, smoked a little, then cleared up after a little time running. This thing is going to be fun.
Already looking better after the bath and new meats
Pulled the thermostat housing and found this mess
Housing. I cleaned it up and its salvageable
Now on to the plans for this thing. My goal to make it a back roads cruiser. That means i only need it to reach a speed of 45-55 mph. I plan on rebuilding what needs to be rebuilt to make it a nice driver.
1. Swap on fj60 brakes up front
2. Swap in a 60 rear while im at it (need to see if the 40 third member is compatible with the 60 shafts to keep the same gear ratio.
3. New seats (current ones are beyond scrap)
4. 31-33" skinny meats
5. Warn 8274 winch (love the look of this winch on a classic cruiser)
6. New booster and master cylinder
7. Profit?
Current issues that i am fighting.
1. The engine will only stay running with the key in the "start" position. After some research, it could either be the ballast resistor or the ignition. Both are now on order. Anything else it could be? I jumped the coil straight to the battery so it would stay running without me holding the key.
2. Some of the lighting works. Like i mentioned earlier, rats had lunch with the wiring. I plan on fixing as much as i can and cleaning grounds before i start replacing lights. The headlights themselves dont come on with the switch, but i confirmed they work by jumping it to the battery.
3. Trans is locked up i think. I cant get the shifter to go into any gear and it wiggles just a little bit. Cant even shift into neutral. I soaked it in Kroil and will pop the cover off to see if anything is blatantly wrong before i drag it around the yard to try and free it up. Do any mini truck 5-speeds adapt to the 1F? W56, r150, G52, etc? I can run a mini truck case and a centered IFS rear at that point.
Ive downloaded several FSMs to help me diagnose this beauty. This is my first Land Cruiser. I am deep into the first gen mini truck game so i have all kinds of parts to use, as needed. Cant wait to get it on the road again.
Sorry for the long winded first post.
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