Newbie numpty havin' a crack

[Jestafool4hzj75]

So I got myself a cruiser...
And now I'm in love.
I like to respect machines, I've worked with some great ones, and I always have cared for my cars, as well as using the heck out of them.
This is the first car I've owned that really deserves the love, time and money it asks for.
Thank you Toyota for designing and building the HZJ75. Thank you very much.

When I bought her I was driving a 1985 Hiace commuter, extra long, extra high and extra f@#$_d. The column shift was so sloppy it took a kind of zen presence to find any gear and you just had to be happy with the one you got. There was so much rust in the body that I swear I could have taken a leak on the floor while driving and not gotten a drop in the car with minimal aiming. The tie rods were so shot the front wheels would do a kind of shuddering wobble that spilt your drink when it went over bumps. Etc. Etc.

Needless to say, the cruiser test drive went well.

The price seemed low and the ad was a bit hard to undhad only been up for half an hour when I saw it, I thought I was onto a winner. I was there to inspect the next

 

[Jestafool4hzj75]

Sorry,

The price seemed low, though the ad was hard to understand, and the ad had only been up for half an hour; I thought I was onto a winner.
I was there the next morning to inspect, and the guy was very hungover, confirming my suspicions that he had been drunk advertising. For sure I was onto a winner!
It felt great to drive, maybe a little funny going into second and the Speedo was wobbling around and I guess there were a couple of little noises from underneath around the corners and over the bumps but wow, it's a truck!!
I talked him down a bit for some rust and drove away a happy man.

 

[Jestafool4hzj75]

That's where the adventure began...
It's been six months and 22,000ks.
So far I have replaced thermostat, shock absorbers, sway bar linkages, d shackle rubbers, tie rod ends, all wheel bearings, kingpin bearings, brake master, rear brake rotors, handbrake shoes, handbrake cable, Speedo cable, rear diff (reco), clutch inc master and slave, leaf springs, wiper motor, windscreen and a few other bits and pieces. I'm still not quite up to scratch with the PM, but she looks, feels and works much better now.
I've also done some body work and modified the tray to fit a big canopy box with a third battery and fridge.

I'm an amateur, and my cruiser might not be much compared to plenty of others on here, but I hope I'm allowed to consider myself in the "cruiser club"

 

[coldtaco]

pictures or it didn't happen

 

[thebill]

pictures or it didn't happen

Especially the peeing whilst driving and holding a drink part.

 

[Jestafool4hzj75]

The camera on my phone is terrible, but I'll find a way...

 

[JuanJ]

Hello,

Now that is an interesting "how I got it" story.

Welcome to the madness.

From your message it appears your truck is properly baselined now.


Pictures or it did not happen.





Juan

 

[roscoFJ73]

That's where the adventure began...
It's been six months and 22,000ks.
So far I have replaced thermostat, shock absorbers, sway bar linkages, d shackle rubbers, tie rod ends, all wheel bearings, kingpin bearings, brake master, rear brake rotors, handbrake shoes, handbrake cable, Speedo cable, rear diff (reco), clutch inc master and slave, leaf springs, wiper motor, windscreen and a few other bits and pieces. I'm still not quite up to scratch with the PM, but she looks, feels and works much better now.
I've also done some body work and modified the tray to fit a big canopy box with a third battery and fridge.

I'm an amateur, and my cruiser might not be much compared to plenty of others on here, but I hope I'm allowed to consider myself in the "cruiser club"

I bought a cheap FJ73 once with various parts in baskets . I cost me a lot to get it on the road, but it really felt like a new landcruiser. I also learnt a lot about them doing much of the work that didnt need special tools.
Some said I got done like a dogs dinner but I could have paid a few more thousand for a good one and probably would have had to replace major parts down the road anyway. Mine was like a new after a few months work and never broke down.

 

[Jestafool4hzj75]

I bought a cheap FJ73 once with various parts in baskets . I cost me a lot to get it on the road, but it really felt like a new landcruiser. I also learnt a lot about them doing much of the work that didnt need special tools.
Some said I got done like a dogs dinner but I could have paid a few more thousand for a good one and probably would have had to replace major parts down the road anyway. Mine was like a new after a few months work and never broke down.

Thanks, that's how I feel. It's been quite a journey, but I don't regret it.