New Land Bucket Owner

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

L

LandRaper

Joined
Oct 15, 2005
Threads
6
Messages
26
Location
PA
I recently inherited a 1985 FJ60 w/ 198k and finally had a chance to drive it back home from GA after Christmas. I changed all the fluids, and installed new plugs, wires, battery, etc. before making the 650 mile trip to PA and only had few problems easily fixed with a new fuel pump, fuel filter, or duct tape on the trek home.

The body is in decent shape, but the rear springs are completely shot and inverted, the steering has about 45 degrees of slop, fluids are oozing out of nearly every seam in the truck, and I have to start it with a can of Gumout when the engine is cold. Some of the bells and whistles (parking brake, horn, windshield wipers, door handle, etc.) are non-functional as well, but it shifts fine, 4WD is good, and the engine runs well (once it's started) and doesn't overheat.

I plan on starting with a carb rebuild and new vac lines (FSMs are in the mail) and slowly get all the basics working so I can pass emissions and safety inspections in PA (bunch of commies) before I drop any cash on lift, tires, bumpers and other nifty expensive stuff. I would appreciate any advice on what stuff to work on first since I'm a Cruiser novice, although my bother (msummer) has been slowly memorizing every part of his 84 FJ60 over the past year. Sorry for the long post and thanks in advance.

Josh
 
bother???

I thought we was kin.




Oh yea, this thread is worthless without pics. :flipoff2:
 
Welcome to the fold.

If the engine doesn't use a bunch of oil or show other signs of being worn out you be surprized how well the thing drives once the details are worked out.

In addition to switching out the engine fluids, don't forget the transmission, transfer case and differential oils. Brake and clutch systems should be flushed, too.

There's probably a lot of life left in that truck...
 
Welcome to MUD. Get the little stuff out the way and you'll have a much better idea on what to do next for the optimal running motor. Use the search function liberally and you'll find everything you need to know in life:D
 
Here's a pic of the beast in it's current condition. Anybody want to make me an offer on those sweet custom wheels?
Land Bucket 3.webp
 
What size tires 31's? Your rear end looks like mine does with 33's.
 
They are 31x10.50's

The rear end was about an inch or so higher before he hit a mudhole at Dukes of Hazzard like speeds. Turns out it wasn't a nicely contoured mudhole.
 
LandRaper said:
Here's a pic of the beast in it's current condition. Anybody want to make me an offer on those sweet custom wheels?
Click to expand...


You dont like the rims? I have some that are very similar if not the same on the way. I got them for $40 + shipping.

What size are they? 15x8? Any more pictures?
 
looks like a decent ride man. Rims dont look too bad to me..
 
Just a personal preference thing on the rims. I would like to run 33x12.5 on black rock crawler rims with an OME lift since that seems like a relatively reliable and cost effective solution. I still have a lot of reading left to do, but from what I've read so far, going to 34 or 35s gets expensive/involved on an FJ60. This is third vehicle for me and I would like to build something with decent off-road capability (I don't plan on entering any extreme rock climbing competions soon) that still has decent handling (for a truck) so I can drive it on the interstate in case I wanted to drive a few hundres miles and go wheelin or drive it back to the GA homeland to play.

Once I get all the the basics working, I'd like to dechrome it some and add a ARB with a winch, lights and some kind of custom rear bumper. The paint on the hood is in really bad shape (looks like the PO went psyco with some 40 grit), so I'll probably just rattle can the hood black. This will definetly be a beater truck and I don't want to worry about an expensive paint job on the trails.
 
Welcome aboard!!
My only advice is to take care of all the NEEDS before you attack the WANTS. I was really suprised how many things the truck really needed before I could really look at lift and tires (actually I'm still addressing the NEEDS!).
Toad
 
Here's a pic of msummer and I in the GA homeland. He's flossin 31s on rockcrawlers and I plan on runnin 33s on the same wheels; after I fix all the major engine issues, fluid leaks, and other critital junk and stuff. I totally agree that fixing needs is the priority, what all did you have to fix?
Land Bucket 2.webp
 
My needs were cooling, steering, stopping (in no particular order) and smogging.
Safety first, so brakes were in order. then came protecting the largest, most expensive part, the engine. Thats where cooling came in.
Once those were accomplished then the steering (P/S pump and hoses) were in order. Its really a never ending list, but unless your wallet is fat and your days are free there needs to be a methodical, realistic approach. Mine won't be done for another 3 years and $15,000, and thats a conservative estimate!
Toad
P.S. Get to know CDan!
 
LandRaper said:
Here's a pic of msummer and I in the GA homeland. He's flossin 31s on rockcrawlers and I plan on runnin 33s on the same wheels; after I fix all the major engine issues, fluid leaks, and other critital junk and stuff. I totally agree that fixing needs is the priority, what all did you have to fix?
Click to expand...

there's something about the shot of those stockers that just kicks arse :beer: :beer: :)
 
LandRaper said:
I would appreciate any advice on what stuff to work on first since I'm a Cruiser novice,
Josh
Click to expand...

Since it's your third vehicle, no pressure on needing to drive it every day. Therefore in general, the approach I'd suggest is to pick a problem (and you've got a few to choose from!) do some research on Mud to see how others have dealt with it, and then fix it.

Then move onto the next problem.

Regarding loose steering, a problem that I had when I got mine...here's a post I started on what I learned. Maybe it'll save you some time.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=18543

Sounds to me like you've got a truck that hasn't had some of it's regular maintainance done. So you'll need to do some catch-up work. Once done, you'll have an increadibly reliable rig.

Welcome!
 
what they said, NEEDS first, WANTS second
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom