New guy in Austin 81 FJ60

[81FJ60inATX]

Hey all,

New owner of an 81 FJ60 here in Austin, TX. This is my first LC, but I've owned several classics in the past... 1961 Ford Thunderbird, 1970 Harley Ironhead.. and did a ton of wrenching on those. Excited about getting my hands dirty on this one!

Plans are a mild lift, bigger tires, re-spray (color is a redish orange color I'm not in love with) and making sure the old girl can be used as a daily driver if needed. I took her in to Land Cruiser Specialists for a once over by some folks way more experienced than me, and it appears the leaky radiator will be the first thing to be replaced.

I know I'm going to have plenty of questions, and hope to meet up with some of the TX LC folks soon.

Cheers!

 

[FishTown]

Congrats!

 

[81FJ60inATX]

Thanks @FishTown!

 

[marketShark]

@81FJ60inATX Welcome and congrats! We have a good group of LC owners in town. Be sure to look at the local club page on MUD: TX- Lone Star Land Cruisers - Austin Chapter

 

[TexasBlue]

Nice FJ60. Paint some SS white stripes down the hood and it may go faster.....

Recommend repair your radiator if possible or replace with brass 4 row.

Welcome to the madness! Official Mud welcome.

 

[81FJ60inATX]

@marketShark just found that, thanks! I'll make sure to keep an eye out for happenings

 

[81FJ60inATX]

Nice FJ60. Paint some SS white stripes down the hood and it may go faster.....

Recommend repair your radiator if possible or replace with brass 4 row.

Welcome to the madness! Official Mud welcome.

Looks like its gonna have to be a replace, which I'm fine with... need it to not overheat when I'm out this summer with the AC blasting... hmmm, a stripe would add some HP, maybe it I add a wing for downforce as well...

 

[CaptClose]

That reddish orange color is called Freeborn Red. If it’s still single staged, buff and wax it to a glossy shine. You’ll love it. As it oxidizes, it turns more burnt orange. Popular in your town. In my opinion, Freeborn Red is one of the best colors and I get a lot of compliments on mine.

Radiator replacement you are looking for is the CSF 2708

Most guys do an OME lift and runn 33 inch tires. This is a good look and gives you a little more top end speed, but sacrifices a bit on the bottom end.

Looks like you got the factory roof rack up top. Get up there and make sure everything is sealed with silicone. If it’s not, your probably too late, but seal it up anyway. The roof rusts out quickly.

If that is truly an 81, I’ve heard that those are a bit of a rarity. You might think about restoring it to its original form. The PO blacked out the once chrome trim and put 62 mirrors on, and of course the bumpers are not stock.

All in all, it looks like you’ve got a great cruiser there. Congratulations!

 

[81FJ60inATX]

Radiator replacement you are looking for is the CSF 2708

You read my mind, I was just about to ask to make sure I was getting the right one. Thanks! I have my doubts that this is the original paint so probably not single stage anymore. Cheers!

 

[mattressking]

Glad you sold the ironhead, nobody likes those. Truck is cooler.

 

[davegonz]

Looks good and welcome. What part of town are you in?

 

[CenTXFJ60]

That reddish orange color is called Freeborn Red. If it’s still single staged, buff and wax it to a glossy shine. You’ll love it. As it oxidizes, it turns more burnt orange. Popular in your town. In my opinion, Freeborn Red is one of the best colors and I get a lot of compliments on mine.

Radiator replacement you are looking for is the CSF 2708

Most guys do an OME lift and runn 33 inch tires. This is a good look and gives you a little more top end speed, but sacrifices a bit on the bottom end.

Looks like you got the factory roof rack up top. Get up there and make sure everything is sealed with silicone. If it’s not, your probably too late, but seal it up anyway. The roof rusts out quickly.

If that is truly an 81, I’ve heard that those are a bit of a rarity. You might think about restoring it to its original form. The PO blacked out the once chrome trim and put 62 mirrors on, and of course the bumpers are not stock.

All in all, it looks like you’ve got a great cruiser there. Congratulations!

Here’s what an unsealed roof rack can lead to. BTW...love the fact it’s an 81. Don’t believe you’ll find many domestic 60’s from that year.

 

[POTATO LAUNCHER]

Word of caution. Sealing the roof or any other part with silicone caulk will actually speed up the rust process. Silicone will harbor moisture and cause more problems in the near future.
You will want to use a urethane or butyl rubber type sealant to prevent this.
With many years of installing autoglass under my belt I can share confidently.

 

[81FJ60inATX]

Glad you sold the ironhead, nobody likes those. Truck is cooler.

haha I miss that bike sometimes.. but I still walk with a limp from trying to kick start it when the battery died... and the back pain.. and then I enjoy my new Triumph

 

[81FJ60inATX]

Looks good and welcome. What part of town are you in?

Hey there! I'm out in the Four Points / 620/2222 area. Just a few miles from Hippie Hollow

 

[81FJ60inATX]

Here’s what an unsealed roof rack can lead to. BTW...love the fact it’s an 81. Don’t believe you’ll find many domestic 60’s from that year. View attachment 1583856View attachment 1583857View attachment 1583858

ouch... There are a few bits of rust around the drip rail, but nothing that widespread... another reason I am hoping to strip and re-spray... just to make sure theres nothing hiding under that paint. The more research I do, the more I love the fact that its an 81 as well.

 

[81FJ60inATX]

Word of caution. Sealing the roof or any other part with silicone caulk will actually speed up the rust process. Silicone will harbor moisture and cause more problems in the near future.
You will want to use a urethane or butyl rubber type sealant to prevent this.
With many years of installing autoglass under my belt I can share confidently.

Thanks! It's not my area of expertise so I'll take all the good advice I can get!

 

[davegonz]

Hey there! I'm out in the Four Points / 620/2222 area. Just a few miles from Hippie Hollow

Ah, I used to work at the 3M location there. I live off of Anderson Mill/620
(Anderson Mill Estates). @Unoman lives right down the street from you in Lakeway.

 

[81FJ60inATX]

Ah, I used to work at the 3M location there. I live off of Anderson Mill/620
(Anderson Mill Estates). @Unoman lives right down the street from you in Lakeway.

Nice.. ya Im right by the 3M. That big hill coming up 2222 is always fun in a classic car... should be getting her back from land cruiser specialists either this afternoon or monday and you'll see me bouncing all over that side of town

 

[davegonz]

Yeah, that was my test hill when I had my Cummins 4BT powered 62.