New FJ60 Caretaker

[hank14]

Good evening.

For 2 painstaking years since selling my 99 UZJ 100, I have been axiously searching for another great Landcruiser. While the 80's crowd really had my attention, I couldn't look past the 87 FJ60 as what I really wanted to drive. So, I finally found the one for me.

Started it's life at Keyes Motors in Van Nuys, CA, then went through TLC4X4 and on to the second owner here in Texas, where it was a daily driver from 1997 until 2003. Sadly, it was replaced by a 100 series and driven on the weekends. After 3 years, the second owner decided to sell. He was pulled over in Austin by a certain former Texas A&M and Dallas Cowboys defensive player and current Cowboys assistant coach, who bought it on the spot and drove it back to Dallas.

His wife, not understanding the lure of the FJ60, decided she didn't want to have a manual transmission, so the second owner contacted me to see if I wanted it.

Here it is

 

[hank14]

87 Fj60

A few more pics:

 

[Dave-T]

Congrats! She's a beaut.

 

[hank14]

Manufacture Date: March 87
Mileage: 146,500
Color: Beige 4E9

The only aftermarket mod, other than maintenance and repair that I am aware of, is the 31 inch Michelin LTX Tires.

Driving it home, I noticed the temp and fuel gauges pegged out, so I need to pull the instrument cluster and clean the contacts.

I plan on a full tune up, servicing the front axle, and rebuilding the PS pump and having the PS gearbox sent off to West Texas Off Road for a rebuid ASAP.

My goal is to have it ready for a New Mexico Mountain Trip for Christmas.

 

[NocalFJ60]

Looks like a nice one. Enjoy.

 

[Dave-T]

I plan on a full tune up, servicing the front axle, and rebuilding the PS pump and having the PS gearbox sent off to West Texas Off Road for a rebuid ASAP.

Is this West Texas Off Road know and reputable at rebuilding toyota ps gearboxs? Be good to know, mine may need it someday.

 

[mtb_rider]

Nice work! Very clean looking rig. Enjoy and welcome to the world of 60's!

 

[kodey65]

Very, Very, Very Nice Cruiser. Keep us posted in the mods and keep posting those nice pictures of your FJ

 

[FJ60_cruiser]

congrats!! really clean cruiser and a great color, now you just need a lift and bigger tires

 

[Rigger]

I'm here to say you done good on that one. She looks like a well-kept unit. Congratulations!

 

[hank14]

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

The lift is definitely on the short list of things to do, but I'm going to drive it for a month or 2 AFTER I get all the PM done to see where she stands.

 

[hank14]

Is this West Texas Off Road know and reputable at rebuilding toyota ps gearboxs? Be good to know, mine may need it someday.

Here's the thread about Steering Box Rebuilds:

https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=120771&highlight=west+texas+road

They have gotten quite a bit of positive feedback on this forum.

 

[flowman]

Scott,

Congratulations...we could have twins (see pic of my Betty, with Michelins even!). She's in great shape...treat her well!

I took mine to GSMTR in 05, and the one thing I heard over and over was "nice truck, you're not going to beat her up on the trails are you?"

Enjoy!

Steve, 82 FJ60, Dakars, 31's, dents.

 

[hank14]

Hey Steve,

Betty is beautiful- the older sister to mine.

I ordered the 3 factory service manuals today from Toyota Publications at
1-800-622-2033.

 

[flowman]

Hey Steve,

Betty is beautiful- the older sister to mine.

I ordered the 3 factory service manuals today from Toyota Publications at
1-800-622-2033.

Thanks, I've been neglecting her for a while, but after driving her for a week I'm in love all over again! Did my first front axle service this past weekend...not her first, bc PO had obviously used a chisel or punch on the axle nuts.

 

[hank14]

I thought I'd bump my own thread after one year of classic cruiser driving.

It's been a good year, and like most have determined, more work than I expected. I am no where near where I thought I would be at this point. Trying to work on a 20+ year old daily driver without a secondary vehicle has been difficult, to say the least. I didn't get all the PO maintenance records until about 4 months after I bought the cruiser. There was a lot of work that had been done to her (over $8,000 in maintenance and repair receipts), but also many things that were still in need of attention. I am getting to those slowly.

I've worked through all the emissions, but haven't had it tested yet since I'm not in a SMOG county. I've done some cosmetic work- cleaning headliner, carpets, etc, but still haven't done much with the body.

Even my "rust free" cruiser had a very small amount of surface rust at one of the joints inside the back lift hatch.

This weekend I finally checked the compression- an excellent 150-160 across the board. I am going to rebuild the front axle (seals, bearings) tomorrow and Monday, then it's on to the clutch and transfer case rebuild.

I could easily drop another $5,000 into her getting her to where I want, but I'm trying to take things slowly and find deals on parts as I go.

I've grown up a Chevy fan, but after having an 89 Full Sized Blazer before this, and then driving an 01 Silverado lately, THERE IS NO COMPARISON in build quality. Cruisers are made to be maintained and to last. That's all I have to say about that. Thanks to mud for all the help.

 

[Heartworm]

Glad to hear that you are enjoying your cruiser after a year. I don't think that we are ever done with them. I assume that you are still keeping it stock for the most part. Overall, I like that strategy, but there are some mods that are definite improvements over stock.
1. OME Lift and shocks...much better ride
2. Tuffy console...place to put you elbow and store your stuff
3. Brighter headlights...many options available from plug in Sylvania Silver Stars on up
4. Be sure to watch out for the small oil galley plug on the passenger side of the head; failure could ruin your day.
5. Dynamat or the equivalent...quieter ride.

 

[JLH911]

Manufacture Date: March 87
Mileage: 146,500
Color: Beige 4E9

The only aftermarket mod, other than maintenance and repair that I am aware of, is the 31 inch Michelin LTX Tires.

Driving it home, I noticed the temp and fuel gauges pegged out, so I need to pull the instrument cluster and clean the contacts.

I plan on a full tune up, servicing the front axle, and rebuilding the PS pump and having the PS gearbox sent off to West Texas Off Road for a rebuid ASAP.

My goal is to have it ready for a New Mexico Mountain Trip for Christmas.

Did cleaning the contacts work for you, because it didn't do anything for me. I'm in the process of installing a mech temp gauge and plan on doing a write up on it.

 

[hank14]

Glad to hear that you are enjoying your cruiser after a year. I don't think that we are ever done with them. I assume that you are still keeping it stock for the most part. Overall, I like that strategy, but there are some mods that are definite improvements over stock.
1. OME Lift and shocks...much better ride
2. Tuffy console...place to put you elbow and store your stuff
3. Brighter headlights...many options available from plug in Sylvania Silver Stars on up
4. Be sure to watch out for the small oil galley plug on the passenger side of the head; failure could ruin your day.
5. Dynamat or the equivalent...quieter ride.

I did upgrade the lights, but not the light harnesses yet.

I am constantly checking the galley plug. I will do that the next time I check the valves or otherwise have the air cleaner assembly off.

The Tuffy console would make a wonderful Christmas gift, wouldn't it?

Most of those things are on my list of upgrades. The most difficult thing to manage is how one job leads to another- After rebuilding the front axle, I'm going to replace the clutch. Since the transfer case will be off, I might as well rebuild that.

And since you have to remove the seats to remove the tranny to replace the clutch, I might as well lay down some Dynamat and replace the seat foam, right?

x2 on the OME suspension. The only problem there is with 2-3 inches of lift, the 31" tires will look small, so I'll need some 33's. With 33's, I'll want to regear and drop in an H55 tranny.

And the obsession continues.

 

[hank14]

Did cleaning the contacts work for you, because it didn't do anything for me. I'm in the process of installing a mech temp gauge and plan on doing a write up on it.

I took the gauges off, and it has only pegged one other time on me since. Maybe coincidence, maybe not. I have been thinking about a clean way to install some mechanical gauges as well. I want to be able to return it to stock easily.

I need to put in a new speedo cable and choke cable- the speedo jumps around some, inspite of lubricating it, and the choke cable is a bit sticky.