My First Landcruiser Project Journal

[sitesbyjoe]

Some updates.

Got both doors swapped out on the drivers side with doors from an 83 that are mostly rust-free.

Tried painting the drivers door myself with canned spray paint which was really stupid and came out like crap. Lesson learned and of course rustoleum gloss white looks nothing like 84 Toyota white-ish.

Having the different colored doors does add an oddly appealing Frankenstein effect.

 

[sitesbyjoe]

Removing the door with the rotten hole in it

 

[sitesbyjoe]

Painting the new door with rustoleum like an idiot. I did eventually take the window and everything out at least.

 

[sitesbyjoe]

So after I put the new door on, I had to hook up the speakers etc that were there before.

I don't know anything about stereo stuff.

 

[sitesbyjoe]

Crossover that splits the sound for the 2 speakers on the drivers door. Yes. 2.

 

[sitesbyjoe]

Woofer (bottom) and tweeter (top)

 

[sitesbyjoe]

Had to drill that hole in the drivers door.

So then I got everything back together. Unfortunately I ran into a couple issues.

I mentioned I don't know anything about stereos. I didn't have the right screws for the woofer on the drivers door so I just drilled new holes right into the metal and screwed the speaker in.

Bad idea.

The speaker kept shorting and there were even sparks! Wth? I didn't think speakers carried that much juice.

Then that same day an even worse thing happened.

I took the family for a glory ride in the reassembled rig. It's was over 110 out. We're in Vegas. I parked the truck in the sun and we went to get some frozen yogurt.

While we were inside I saw a spot in the shade open up so I told the family I was gonna move the truck to the shade.

It had been so hot that week that the truck looked like it might even overheat during my commutes! I'm pretty sure this was the hottest weather the truck ever experienced in its 32 years. It spent most of its year's up in Utah.

 

[sitesbyjoe]

I get out to the truck and go to open he door. Nothing. Nothing as in lack of springy resistance from the handle. The lock seems to work fine.

The door was stuck!

I went around and climbed in the passenger side. Same thing with the interior handle. No springy resistance. I can't imagine what the problem could be and I'm filled with sadness.

We eventually make it home and I stare at the situation in dismay. Looking the the door it looked like id never get the panel off with it stuck shut to see what's going on inside.

I of course start searching on here and find posts and read what's similar problems were and feel relieved to hear that others have made it through this.

I rolled down the window and managed to get the panel off. I was expecting to find the spring at the top of the lock mechanism broken or something. Like the others.

 

[sitesbyjoe]

The spring up top is a common reason for the door not responding. This is in locked position.

 

[sitesbyjoe]

Me pulling the part where the interior handle's rod would connect. Unlocked position. The rod at the bottom right of this pic connects to the door handle. See the little tab it would push? Well mine was stuck fast.

 

[sitesbyjoe]

I spent days fiddling with the door. I had the extra lock (from the previous doors) so I was able to take the extra one apart to see how it worked. This was really helpful.

I was able to narrow down the issue to an internal spring that wouldn't compress for some reason.

 

[sitesbyjoe]

View inside the door jam. I had gotten to the point where I had a pry bar in here and I was pushing on it while jiggling the tab on the lock.

Didn't work so I gave up for a or a week.

I just removed the passenger side seat so I had room to climb in and out.

Now I had a tri-colored landcruiser that I had to awkwardly climb in and out the wrong side of! Lmao!

 

[sitesbyjoe]

So this morning I called a guy that does body worn up he street to see if he can help. He said squirt wd40 on the latch itself.

Duh. I had not added any lube to the situation.

I went crazy with wd40 and PB blaster then waited a few hours.

Then I returned to jiggling and pushing with the pry bar...got it!!!!

 

[sitesbyjoe]

Here the mechanism. See the spring all distorted at the bottom right? It's not supposed to be like that.

 

[sitesbyjoe]

Turning it to the side you see the plastic has actually melted and you can see the spring shape pushing out. The spring was melted into place. I couldn't budge it! Certainly explains why he door was stuck.

The mystery is the cause. Wife says speaker. I disagree but know in the back of my mind that she's probably right.

 

[sitesbyjoe]

Tomorrow I hope to put the working lock in so I have a working door again.

I'm gonna leave the speakers out. Maybe it's time to get a professional involved...

Door also was hanging a little low. Hopefully I can fix that too.

 

[hj 60]

The FSM (part body) mentions the adjustment of doors, might be good to read.
Speakers is just two same quality length cables (to prevent difference in resistance) with some slack to open the window/door and never + and - different?

 

[sitesbyjoe]

I'll check the manual on the door adjustments

 

[87CRUSR]

Interesting door story. First I ever heard of such a situation....good kuck. Keep us posted.

 

[sitesbyjoe]

I got a new job up in Portland do its adios to Las Vegas!

We planned to put the FJ60 on a trailer and tow it behind the UHaul truck but the day before I'm supposed to pick up the trailer they tell me there's no trailers anywhere near Vegas.

So I'm driving the FJ60 from Vegas to Portland!

I was gonna order replacement belts and hoses but didn't since I was gonna tow it. So here's hoping everything goes smooth. We're going up through Idaho so not too many mechanics along the way.

Fingers crossed.

I've just had the FJ60 for about a year now and the truck has never experienced 110+ Temperatures before. It doesn't like that type of heat! Nearly overheated on me twice so far this summer.