Build My First Landcruiser: 78' Frame Off Resofication

[DanS HJ-45]

I think I'm going to take a trip to Mark's offroad down in Burbank and try to source as much of this stuff as I can from him- figure it will be a much easier *thinking one trip solution* and less expensive than hunting things down one by one.

Thoughts....?

I read through your list and all I could think was that you needed to go visit Mark. He'll be able to think outside of the box with you.

As to the suspension: no it will never ride like a modern car. But with a good suspension they ride just fine (you know: the way a truck is supposed to drive). I personally like OME and I'll daily drive a 40 on OME suspension all day every day.

Dan

 

[Hugh Heifer]

How about removing a leaf from your spring packs to soften the ride? Otherwise OME is the way to go.
Get a Tuffy center console. It is worth it to hold your small important bits.
Steering issue is for sure a priority.
And what glass needs replacing? Door glass or windshield? I got my last windshield at Toyota before they went up about 100% in price. They are still cheep. If you need front door glass try to get it polished or try to get replacements on the forum.

 

[69 FJ40 ARIZONA]

wow

nice thread you have had great support more like a fan club lol did i just join guess ill find out lol enjoyed your story as some put... now good luck 2 me haha

 

[90 Weight]

How about removing a leaf from your spring packs to soften the ride? Otherwise OME is the way to go.
Get a Tuffy center console. It is worth it to hold your small important bits.
Steering issue is for sure a priority.
And what glass needs replacing? Door glass or windshield? I got my last windshield at Toyota before they went up about 100% in price. They are still cheep. If you need front door glass try to get it polished or try to get replacements on the forum.

front windows.... no glass atall in them- going to see what mark wants for a set and if not good to know people dump them here....i wonder about shipping though....

I have a dashman box for the tidbits, and the way the imbetween the seats area is set up I just need to weld on a bottom tray and itll be a custom tuffy...

 

[90 Weight]

no updates as the only garage I could bring the 40 to and work on for free was in Watts... Hopefully will be back to it Monday afternoon.

in the mean time- I was riding my bike down main street in santa monica and spotted this :




anyone know who the owner is? exciting to see another cruiser out this way.

 

[Hugh Heifer]

front windows.... no glass atall in them- going to see what mark wants for a set and if not good to know people dump them here....i wonder about shipping though....

I have a dashman box for the tidbits, and the way the imbetween the seats area is set up I just need to weld on a bottom tray and itll be a custom tuffy...

I shipped a rear 60 glass a while ago FedEx ground. It was easy, no prob. I am certain someone has some.

 

[90 Weight]

any of you socal guys know of a good junkyard I might be able to go looking for a newer 4runner power steering gearbox?

my box is looser than a ..........

looks like the new replacement is $230

 

[90 Weight]

This week-

Dropped the fuel tank down to fix the venting issue as well as the inaccurate gauge readout.

Turns out I was an idiot first time around and didn't realize that the bobber has a way adjustment on it....ooops. Fuel levels are all good now.

Venting issue- still a work in progress (have to test it out with CA style pumps) but should be alot better, rotated the vent from 12 oclock to 3.

TBI wiring harness has been pulled out as well as the return fuel line.

next on the list is getting the electric speedo sending unit to read and communicate with my gauge. Also, found out (via TLC in Van Nuys thanks) that spectre sells front window (doors) glass. $50 per side for used glass.

thats it for now.

 

[90 Weight]

Lots of New stuff/ideas

OK- this is going to be a big post/update...

I had been planning on going out of the country for a two month trip through Mongolia...just to clear my head, figure myself out a bit and come back ready to deal with the LA art scene (vomit).

I got to thinking, why deal with the language barrier, and all of the transportation issues when I could make an amazing, self discovery style trip out of the US in the 40!

SO, its official, in the beginning of June, I will be setting out with my girlfriend on a trial run of the bigger cross country trip. The trial will include roughly 5,000 miles in the course of 70 days. Starting in LA then heading along the coast through CA, Oregon, Washington, briefly up into BC, then down through Wyoming, Montana, Colorado, Arizona, and then back up to LA.

I think this will be a fun, and solid way to see what needs to be done to the cruiser for the larger year long cross country trip, and also if its something I am still interested in after 70 days of travel.

While no solid plans have been set, the idea is to highlight several areas (towns etc) that we want to really explore and get to know and then spend a 1-2 weeks exploring and volunteering to work in areas that we are not familiar with (ranch in montana, or maybe log or fish or whatever in wherever)... I figure this is the best way to get to know our country, myself, and the 40 - more details to follow as we narrow down interests.

And please, if you have any ideas/recommendations, whether it be for the truck, or our trip- post it up!

As far as the truck goes- it'll be seeing some exciting changes in the next few weeks.

The big problem with this trip is going to be getting the cruiser outfitted for a comfortable (for a 40) trip and make it happen on our budget....

I plan to put a roof top tent on (thinking a hardshell...Maggionlina). This way we can stop and sleep wherever, and have complete freedom. This will be the biggest single expense and so I have some ideas to get the cost down....I am pretty sure that these tents are still VERY expensive used, so I am thinking about contacting a few of the dealers who sell the tent (auto home I think is the big one) and offering to take professional promotional/advertising images (and HD video) of the tent in use and on the 40 throughout the trip- I was hard pressed to find any decent images of the tents and figure that this could be a good trade if I can get them to bite...

What do you guys think about the tent....I am leaning towards the maggiolina because it sounds like its the most weather resistant, solid, self contained and comfortable...I'm worried that if I go with a (much) less expensive soft shell tent, it will require a larger more level parking ground (because it will hang off the side)...that is unless I set it up to flop out over the hood and then enter via ladder that leans up over the front bumper (saw this setup using an eezi awn on a defender 90). Also wondering, do you think I need to make a frame or body mounted roof rack to support the RTT (think weight of two people in it) or is the fiberglass/top of hardtop strong enough to support....

Thoughts on it all?

The next big thing I am going to/have to change is the suspension- the truck is riding beyond rough, to the point of rattling off tight nuts and bolts, and needless to say would be impossible to make any sort of serious trip in. I met up with Dom the other night and checked out his (really effing rad) 40. He has the 4" skyjacker soft ride with the adjustable rancho shocks and it rides like a dream (seriously like a caddy) at the same height as my current setup. Dom is a really great guy and is going to help me diagnose the issue - we are going to first take his shocks and put them on my rig to see how that effects the ride....then if the springs are no good, I think I may go the same route he did. Really doesn't ride like a cruiser and would be a dream to roadtrip in.


Below are a list of the parts that I am going to be adding (read actively seeking at the best possible price). If anyone has any leads on the parts, let me know...I'll update the list as I find things.




THE LIST

Front Window Glass (check)

Door Locks (check)

Front Door Panels

Window Actuators (check)

Rear View Mirror

Misc Interior Lights

Dome Lights

Wipers

Wiper Motor (might have)

Tube Door Sliders

4+ Tire Carrier (probably will find a different way to take Jerry cans with us as this is not in my budget)

Jerry Cans (water)

Used Comfy Seats

Headliner

Heat (noise) Insulation

Seat Heaters (figure if I sell my seats I can make up for a chunk of the cost...)

Transfer Case Shift Boot

Lockable Center Consol

Ambi Door Lower Catch

AC Power Inverter

Wiring for Inverter

Aux. Lights

Car Radio & Speakers



Also, an important one which I will need some help from you guys with (idea wise).... Rear sliding cargo storage.....

Here are some ideas of what I think would be best- though I haven't found exactly what I'm looking for in picture form yet...






Allright. That's all for now. Let me know what you guys think.

Oh, and a fun side note- I have to pull all of this together within the next month and a half.... what is it with this cruiser and deadlines

Cheers,

eli.

 

[apeterson]

I would save money on the tent and just buy a regular tent... but that is just me.... not like you are trying to stay above the lions in BC...

also then if you stay a few days at a camp ground you can still drive your 40 around with the tent still up..

 

[90 Weight]

I would save money on the tent and just buy a regular tent... but that is just me.... not like you are trying to stay above the lions in BC...

also then if you stay a few days at a camp ground you can still drive your 40 around with the tent still up..

My worry with that is that we won't necessarily be in places all the time that are conducive to camping...and having to find and secure spots in every place we travel may be an issue....?

 

[pc4400]

I also wanted a rooftop tent, but couldn't afford it. Got a huge coleman tent at target. Not top o' the line, but it works fine so long as it isnt 10°F outside.
I did a similar excursion a few years ago. Here's some tips;

1. Be sure to camp around big sur
2. Don't make any wrong turns in san fransisco, seriously
3. Lot's of fantastic places in oregon and washington, start google mapping!
4. Go to all the usual utah spots, plus look for more.
5. have your papers with you when entering AZ ha ha!
6. Take tons of pics of the cruiser

 

[twoyotas]

wow, what a thread! I was glad to read you kept your rig. someone said you would have the rest of your life to deal with debt, and that is certainly true. Your new plan to tour the west in the 40 is awesome. Do it while you can.

those storage drawers can get pretty pricey new, you may try to find some used. as far as the RTT, they dont actually sit on the roof, so the weight on the fiberglass should not be an issue, when properly installed. they are expensive, and while they are convenient, I think I would save the money, use it for trip expenses. get a small to medium tent, and a good air mattress. a tarp between the tent and the ground will help keep ground moisture out, but travelling the west in summer, you may not even need to worry about that!

the trip will be a great experience. have fun, be safe! looking forward to following the story of the road trip.

 

[90 Weight]

those storage drawers can get pretty pricey new.

so I've noticed! Will definately be/am on the hunt for a used system orwill be buildding my own....

Pc4400- thanks for the tips. I've heard big sur/Monterey are not to be passed up!

PS. I know I haven't been as picture and video content heavy as I promised lately but bear with me...posting from my phone as my laptop screen went out the other night and may not be coming back to life for a few weeks. Cruiser parts vs. Laptop (read- livelyhood) fml.

 

[90 Weight]

quick daily update.

went under the cruiser today after realizing the last time I tightened up the tub was when I put it on (with one arm in a sling from those surgeries)....

3 missing body mounts and one missing tcase bolt!!!!

Needless to say, I was pretty shocked and horrified. Makes sense though because with my arm's all effed I didnt have all that much leverage. Spent the rest of the morning making sure every nut and bolt on the rig was tightened fully if needed and put in an order with Aqualu for some replacement rubber body pucks. Looks like the tcase is about an inch and a half out of alignment (as far as the bolt holes lining up) so I am going to have to put a jack under the case and coax it into position. probably will do this at the same time that I redo the suspension. :whoops:

 

[apeterson]

Dude those aluminum tub bolts are all plastic nut deals how did those come off. And u did not loctite everything else?

 

[90 Weight]

Dude those aluminum tub bolts are all plastic nut deals how did those come off. And u did not loctite everything else?

Yea, I had a few body kits laying around at the time and I must have mixed the correct nuts up in my head. (loose nuts and bolts floating around up there ha.) Used the ones w/o plastic. Lesson learned.

 

[TurboDiesel69]

I'd imagine that those body mounts softened the ride up substantially

no more 'bang, bangg, BANG BANGGGG, bang'

been there, done that


amazing project - my 40 has been on the go since a year before high school ended. In september I'm cutting it in half and welding in a new firewall, building a new frame, and adding repainting... oh and a clutch and rear seal/other goodies while I'm at it.


I've been in Poland for the last 3 months and have only seen one 70 - I hit up Portugal for 12 days and saw 6, which were all in imaculate condition.


Enjoy your trip, send me a pm when you make it to BC.

 

[Hugh Heifer]

Maybe some 6th Gen Celica seats? They go in easily I read. That is what I am going to use. I think you just need to put a piece of angle across the original mounts. Get a set for $100 and get them recovered with the heaters Shane has available....maybe

 

[90 Weight]

Hugh, I'll have to look into those!

Dude those aluminum tub bolts are all plastic nut deals how did those come off. And u did not loctite everything else?

aaron, what color loctite do you use. I went to get some from our local OSH but they have green blue and red....did you go for the über permanent version or the in-between?

Today- picked up font window glass (thanks Dom!) and installed the left side. It was a wrestling match but with the aid of a homeless man who stopped to give me a third hand (and a few scratches on the interior door paint ( ) I was able to get it in. Since I have been holding on to the runs for the past year the drivers side was a bit tweaked via a few metal kinks (pics coming soon) in the upper left and right corners. The passengers side survived the ride and snapped in without any trouble. I will be securing the pass glass tomorrow.

Also, the rig didn't start today. Lights come on so battery is good, but fuel pump doesn't prime and the starter doesn't make a sound....wiring gremlin or loose ground somewhere....better yet maybe just a simple fuse issue. Didn't look into it as I still have my daily laying around for sale.

I will be posting up a photo of my wiper motor tomorrow- it should be working as it did when I started the resto, just want to see where the loose wires are supposed to be soldered. I looked over coolermans diagram but it doesn't show the wires I am mixed up about.

Ordering my new springs tomorrow.

Cheers.