MOOSE

[Corrugated Toy]

MOOSE: It's big, it's brown, it's ugly! How can you not love it!

Hello all! With help from my fellow MUD members, I recently made my second foray into the Land Cruiser world. You can check some of the pre-purchase pics on the following thread.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series-tech/455082-new-purchase.html

I am new to the FJ55 world, and have a lot of questions. To start I have a poll for opinions on color. I have been through nearly every page of the 55 forum and have narrowed my opinion down to 3 maybe 4. My choices are as follows:

1. Heath Grey/Cygnus White w/ Grey wheels

2. Nebula Green/Cygnus White w/ Grey wheels

3. Pollux Orange/Cygnus White w/ White wheels (Pumpkin)

 

[Corrugated Toy]

The MOOSE has landed!

The details:

1978 FJ55
1 owner
198,000Km
All original (PO stated that 4x4 was never engaged)
Ambi. rear doors
Full floating rear axle

It has some damage to the rear passenger (left) and the front drivers quarter. The front was a surprise as I was not made award of the damage before I purchased. There are a few rust area's (covered by grey tape), but it doesn't look too bad. The interior and under carrige look to be in great shape. I won't be able to see him until the end of the month after I arrive downunder, so you see what I see.

Future Plans:
Body work and paint
Lift with 33 x 9.5 BFG Mud Terrains
ARB Roof rack and bull bar
Winch ?
Snorkel?

Opinions/suggestions welcome.


Now for some pic's post purchase.

 

[Corrugated Toy]

Interior pics

Here's a few interior pics.

I am not familiar and/or observant enough to tell if the Moose has A/C. If anyone see's something that lets them know one way or another please post.

 

[Corrugated Toy]

More interior pics

The Drivers side seat has a tear/damage of some sort. I can't really tell how bad it is.

A few more of the interior.

 

[Corrugated Toy]

Floorboards

Following are a few of the condition of the floorboards under the mats.

 

[Corrugated Toy]

The worst of it.

My friend in OZ has said that this is the worst rust that she could find on the interior.

 

[Corrugated Toy]

Last but not least.

The last few that I have are of the under carriage. I don't see any problem area's.

Any one have suggestions on undercoating?

 

[Corrugated Toy]

More Under...

The last for a while.

Any idea's on what the yellow/greenish color could be?

 

[Fitzgerald]

Wow, that's what body mounts look like. Looks like a nice ride! No idea on the green tint.

 

[Pighead]

Does not look to have air conditioning.
Green stuff...Lichens/moss? I've seen something similar on the North-facing fenders of a 40 that sat for a while.

 

[Brewtus]

Sooooooper sweet find!


I'm jealous of the ambulance doors. Way cool!

 

[BC40]

Any idea's on what the yellow/greenish color could be?

My guess is lime green light reflection off something that it's parked beside.

IMO, the truck is nice enough that I'd keep it original and not do any repaint, or if any bodywork I'd stay stock colours. Especially if you consider ever exporting it stock will be higher value. Otherwise any of the 3 options you've narrowed down to look good.

 

[bigsal]

Jeeeze... Very clean... and ambi doors!!

No help on color as I would stick with original too.

good job on that find!

 

[bobm]

Original color and Duplicor bedliner for undercoating spray or roll-on

Thanks Bob.

 

[romegadave]

Nice ride....color depends on what you want to see each and every day (I like them all) as for the other stuff....depends on how deep your pockets are. I think everyone wishes to do more. Enuff of that....more pics when you get the time

ambi doors = drool!

 

[CarmMontana]

Wow that thing is sick. Love the ambi doors.

The green stuff is most likely something like this. I have used it before and it works really well.

Internal Frame Coating w/Spray Nozzle

Clean truck man!

 

[G-Cat]

Very cool...unbelievable condition! I voted for the orange...just for the rareity. I'd probably lean towards original paint...but the orange is cool.

Middlebury? My wife is from there...we get back a couple times a year.

 

[StevenS]

As much as I love Pollux Orange (and that example of the one in your original post) I'd have to say stick with the stock color. While brown isn't necessarily the coolest color out there - the PO did an outstanding job taking care of the truck and IMHO it deserves to stay original to that.

The green looks like moss to me. Looks like maybe it sat for a little while. Should scrub right off.

Be careful when first using 4wd in it. Be sure to get in there and lubricate everything very well. If it's truly never (or more likely, rarely) been engaged then there's a chance you'll have some issues with it. For a bad analogy, it's like grandma having a 64 GTO that she only drove to the grocery store once a month, and at 10mph under the speed limit. Once you put the hammer down on it, it's not going to respond the way you want it to, after getting accustomed to one style of driving. Cars do tend to adjust to the way we drive them. I'm sure the mechanics will chime in on this, I'm just waving a yellow flag here. Go through it really well and you should be fine. But again, I'd avoid getting in it right away thinking you can wheel the snot out of it.

Have fun, good luck, and KEEP IT BROWN!!! I'm sure you can come up with an interesting nickname for it - just watch a few South Park episodes for inspiration.

S

 

[Project Rusty Gold]

The last for a while.

Any idea's on what the yellow/greenish color could be?

It is the reflection of the grass if you look at the front pictures the pig is partly over the grass. So the sunlight is reflected by the grass giving an odd color.

 

[StevenS]

It is the reflection of the grass if you look at the front pictures the pig is partly over the grass. So the sunlight is reflected by the grass giving an odd color.

You're right! It's most apparent in the shot showing the truck from back to front. You can only see green on one side.

Cheerio, Mr. Watson. Mystery solved.