Cleaning out an old shoe box and found these:
Picasa Web Albums - juane - FJ-60
I was originally going to attempt the conversion myself until I actually started looking at what was involved. Knowing I wanted a reliable and functional truck, and lacking Greg Wolfe's skill and confidence, I farmed the project out.
The conversion was done by Mr. Jerry Nichols in Colorado Springs whom I meet on the old TLCA form (pre Mud days). After much email banter back and forth working out details, Jerry and helper drove to Rio Rancho with a pickup and dolly and hauled the rig away. Notice the engine in the back of the pickup.
After at least 6 months, my Dad and I flew to Colorado Springs and picked up the truck which was still not quite done. Jerry picked us up at the airport in the rig, however, I remember staying up to the middle of the night helping to finish up last minute details, like fabbing the parking brake.
As you can see, his attention to detail was superb and included powdercoating the air cleaner, valve covers and other parts, a custom fuse panel, custom fan shroud and cross member, rear disk brakes, relocated the ARB compressor, made a nice air manifold and installed dual batteries.
I found the engine at the wrecking yard just east of American Toyota. It came out of a one ton Ryder rental van that was wrecked on it's first trip across the country. It had 1600 miles! I paid $2500 for the complete engine without tranny.
Jerry's bill was about $12,000 which included all the parts including a new NV4500.
Based on the photo dates, this happened in 1998.
Why did I get rid of this truck?
juane
Picasa Web Albums - juane - FJ-60
I was originally going to attempt the conversion myself until I actually started looking at what was involved. Knowing I wanted a reliable and functional truck, and lacking Greg Wolfe's skill and confidence, I farmed the project out.
The conversion was done by Mr. Jerry Nichols in Colorado Springs whom I meet on the old TLCA form (pre Mud days). After much email banter back and forth working out details, Jerry and helper drove to Rio Rancho with a pickup and dolly and hauled the rig away. Notice the engine in the back of the pickup.
After at least 6 months, my Dad and I flew to Colorado Springs and picked up the truck which was still not quite done. Jerry picked us up at the airport in the rig, however, I remember staying up to the middle of the night helping to finish up last minute details, like fabbing the parking brake.
As you can see, his attention to detail was superb and included powdercoating the air cleaner, valve covers and other parts, a custom fuse panel, custom fan shroud and cross member, rear disk brakes, relocated the ARB compressor, made a nice air manifold and installed dual batteries.
I found the engine at the wrecking yard just east of American Toyota. It came out of a one ton Ryder rental van that was wrecked on it's first trip across the country. It had 1600 miles! I paid $2500 for the complete engine without tranny.
Jerry's bill was about $12,000 which included all the parts including a new NV4500.
Based on the photo dates, this happened in 1998.
Why did I get rid of this truck?
juane
