I brought JoJo the Cruiser home this week. For context, my truck is named Loretta because of the time in the song Get Back by the Beatles they go "Get Back, Loretta!". So I named the cruiser JoJo for when they said "Get back JoJo".
But thats not the point. I have been around Land Cruisers my whole life. My parents bought a '76 right after they got married and sold it when I was 14. My dad bought another '76 and restored it to factory. My brother has an '82 that he has turned into a Moab crawling beast. And that's what I want to do eventually.
It sounds like I know a lot about Land Cruisers, but I don't really. I'm just surrounded by them. I had been thinking about buying one for the last six or seven months and finally pulled the trigger - a '76 with a 3F from an '88. The 3F was re-built a few years ago, and has less than 300 miles on it. I have all the paperwork of any maintenance and service over the last 10 years. The machine runs great.
I asked my dad what he thinks I should do with it, and he said restore to fresh off the factory line. I don't want that, so I asked my brother what I should do (I want a Moab crawler) and he gave me some ideas, but also sent me here to learn more.
So my question is: what thoughts or conspiracy theories do you have for what I should do with this thing? I have found a local mechanic who I trust (has good ratings, plus his son plays on the baseball team I coach) that is willing to help build this out, and I plan to send JoJo out to have the body restored.
My thoughts are for phase 1, I can do something like:
- body and interior restoration (new panels where needed, etc etc etc painted to either dune beige - the factory color - or sky blue - my favorite color)
- Shocks
- Power steering
- Leaf Springs
- Radiator and any engine/transmission work my mechanic buddy thinks will make JoJo hum
For phase 2, in 5 years or so, I am thinking:
- Reverse shackles
- Spring over Axle
- New drivelines
- Bigger axles (from an FJ60 maybe?)
- And the biggest tires I can fit under it.
Its worth noting that I am not mechanically inclined, my garage space is limited, and my wife doesn't have the patience for me to do all this work. So i will be hiring out the body restoration and significant powertrain and suspension work. I will only be able to DIY what this site says is relatively easy.
So if you were in my shoes, with your knowledge, and enough money saved up start a solid Phase 1 with plans to make the Phase 2 articulating Moab machine of your dreams in five years, what would you do?
But thats not the point. I have been around Land Cruisers my whole life. My parents bought a '76 right after they got married and sold it when I was 14. My dad bought another '76 and restored it to factory. My brother has an '82 that he has turned into a Moab crawling beast. And that's what I want to do eventually.
It sounds like I know a lot about Land Cruisers, but I don't really. I'm just surrounded by them. I had been thinking about buying one for the last six or seven months and finally pulled the trigger - a '76 with a 3F from an '88. The 3F was re-built a few years ago, and has less than 300 miles on it. I have all the paperwork of any maintenance and service over the last 10 years. The machine runs great.
I asked my dad what he thinks I should do with it, and he said restore to fresh off the factory line. I don't want that, so I asked my brother what I should do (I want a Moab crawler) and he gave me some ideas, but also sent me here to learn more.
So my question is: what thoughts or conspiracy theories do you have for what I should do with this thing? I have found a local mechanic who I trust (has good ratings, plus his son plays on the baseball team I coach) that is willing to help build this out, and I plan to send JoJo out to have the body restored.
My thoughts are for phase 1, I can do something like:
- body and interior restoration (new panels where needed, etc etc etc painted to either dune beige - the factory color - or sky blue - my favorite color)
- Shocks
- Power steering
- Leaf Springs
- Radiator and any engine/transmission work my mechanic buddy thinks will make JoJo hum
For phase 2, in 5 years or so, I am thinking:
- Reverse shackles
- Spring over Axle
- New drivelines
- Bigger axles (from an FJ60 maybe?)
- And the biggest tires I can fit under it.
Its worth noting that I am not mechanically inclined, my garage space is limited, and my wife doesn't have the patience for me to do all this work. So i will be hiring out the body restoration and significant powertrain and suspension work. I will only be able to DIY what this site says is relatively easy.
So if you were in my shoes, with your knowledge, and enough money saved up start a solid Phase 1 with plans to make the Phase 2 articulating Moab machine of your dreams in five years, what would you do?
