Official SD Cruisers Introduction Thread

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

Thanks Noah, and for all who are wondering about the Fj80 and the squeeze (Pinyon Mountain trail in Borrego) ...

Fj80's do not fit! :( My buddy is an older guy who likes to play with cars and in this case sold the FJ80 to his buddy who owns a body shop.

He got about 4-5feet of body damage on BOTH sides of the Land Cruiser! Do not try... Unless you don't care about that sort of stuff!! hehe.

Thanks all, and I hope to meet you guys in the future! I am envious of all your creations!!!
 
Yeah, its just a short but sweet trail...

I'd rather get an FJ80 and build it up than go through the squeeze and heart attack hill... ;)

Personally do not like heart attack hill...i just feel like I'm going to flop and kill myself. heh
 
My Plum 72'

So here are a few pics of my 72' FJ40. Rebuilt from the ground up...

:beer::beer::beer:


I will post a few more pics when I get the chance.

List of Mods:

- 350 Small Block V8
- Fuel Injected
- Complete interior Rino Lined and carpeting.
- Complete new wireing
- 12k Winch (and Remote)
- Mitsubishi Starion leather Seats
- Custom GMC Automatic Tansmition
- VOD gauges
- 480W Sound System
- Air Compressed E-Brake
- 2nd Fuel tank with feed pump
- The list goes on...

Future Mods:

- Rear seats (jump seats)
- Fog Lights (Lower and Upper)
- upgraded stereo
- New Paint Job
- The list goes on...

I LOVE IT!!!

Elwin
Home
:beer:
my new toy 2.webp
my new toy 1.webp
my new toy 5.webp
 
Hi I'm Jefferson

I'm in Clairemont(behind the Mosque), Balboa & 805 area

I've had my 60 since Labor Day 2003, flew to Seattle on a one-way and drove it home. Bought it sight unseen(except for a couple o' pics) from a friend of a friend who was a trustworthy guy, had never even sat in a Land Cruiser before!

No regrets!

A few quick pics here, just a few that are in my Photobucket album, I have tons more

I'll use thumbs to be nice, just click on them for full-size pics:

Being picked up at the Seattle Airport, 1st time I laid eyes on it:



ooooh shiny!

Being home after the drive:



Pre-lift, with the kayaks loaded:



Post lift @ Superstition:



With the Mickey Thompsons, 33" TSL Super Swampers & Staun's Beadlocks(friggin' sweet)(33s didn't work well with stock gears) off the Blazer(more about the Blazer later):



Mods that MUST be finished this year:

32G Bronco fuel tank:



EFI 351W:



This is what's holding me up right now, must be done before I can tear in to the LC-----The Blazer

Started as a rolled 80(with a new crate motor, lockers and suspension done)(won't smog)(not mine--given to me), bought a 73 donor:



Did a cute little body swap: :eek:



Pretty much how it looks today:




now it's a 73(no smog) ;) :rolleyes: :beer:

Still hafta assemble the doors, some wiring work, build a roll cage(got a S & W Racecars 10 pt kit) and sell it!

My FJ60:

Stock, 250,000+ miles,

List of mods so far,

OME medium lift
4+ A/R shackles
Bilstein shocks(stock replacements-too short)
Extended sway bar links
Aussie Locker rear
15 X 8 steelies
32X11.50 Mud Terrains
Unity Spotlights
Hella headlights
Hella Aux lights
Cheap Taiwan Aussie Mirrors

Mods coming:

351W EFI-like a 5.0 but more(Cali smog legal)(already got)
Mark's adapters(already got)
H55F 5 speed(already got)
Big Shaft split case(with proper drive shafts)(already got all)
4.10 FF rear(already got)
FJ62 4.10 front(don't got)
PowerTrax front(already got)
4Runner Calipers & T100 M/C(already got)
Stock Chrome Steelies(just got today)
33x9.50x15 All Terrains(don't got)
FJ62 speedo & tach(already got)
32 gallon Bronco Fuel Tank(already got)(new freebie)

Thinkin seriously about a RTT

Want bumpers & winch(down the road)


My avatar is my son, taken when he was only 5 months, now he is 3 years and 8 months

Here he was last Valentine's Day(2008) near Plaster City:



He digs road trips!

Genuine Cowboy Hat bought in Nogales Mexico


About me:

I'm a Ford Parts Guy, was working @ Pearson, now @ Kearny Mesa

sorry


Kearny-Pearson Ford :rolleyes:



Born in Toronto of Australian parents(makes me Aussie I guess)
(about as pure Aussie as a white man can be)
moved to Rochester NY in '62
then to San Diego in '66
been living in Clairemont since Dec '67
Got married in July '03(Ya I waited long enough)
Carson James born in June '05

when he graduates high school I'll be 63 :rolleyes:


:beer: :beer:
 
Last edited:
Quick pics of a few more mods...

I wanted to post a few more pics of some of the little details that I love about my 72'. One thing I wanted to mention is that I am not a fan of my steering wheel, does anyone know where I can get one that is a little more stock looking. The one I have is off of a newer GMC truck. Anyhow, if anyone has any ideas I would love to hear you thoughts.:beer:

One pic is showing my shifter... I get a lot of questions about this. The other pic is just a fun look at one of my floor mats, custome made to look like my 72'.

Thanks,
Elwin:beer:
my new toy 10.webp
my new toy 11.webp
 
Alright, so I guess I'm up next. My name is Adam, born and raised in North San Diego, and I've caught the Cruiser sickness. The story of my newfound Cruiser addiction goes something like this. My first 4wd vehicle was an '01 Tacoma, which was a great truck. Functional and a lot of fun off-roading even though it was completely stock. Enter the wife. Short version of the selling of the Tacoma for a "family friendly" Accord was that part of that deal was that I was going to get another truck of my choice at a time to be named later. One of my best buddies had picked up an old Bronco that he started to work on, which then got me on the track of old classic 4x4 rigs. I have always been a fan of Toyota trucks, and I remembered the old Land Cruisers that were timeless classics, yet completely trail-worthy, but weren't something you saw all the time. I figured that a Cruiser was what I wanted. I knew my mechanical skills at that point were, how do I put this....lacking, as the most I had ever really done was an oil change and swap some spark plugs, but I wanted to learn how to fix things. I wanted a vehicle that was in mostly working order, late model with disc brakes, power steering, etc. so that I could drive it right off the bat without having to do any conversions, so I started looking around on eBay, AutoTrader, etc. In '06, I eventually ran across a late model '82 in Texas on Cars.com. I had the owner take it to a dealer to have it inspected, and ended up buying it unseen (other than photos and a dealer inspection report), and had it shipped. If I had to do it again, I would have gone for a pre-75 to avoid smog, and do the conversions I wanted, but hindsight is 20-20. When my son (who was two years old at the time) saw it, he named it the "Car-Car", which is what he still calls it today. The rig was pretty much stock, except for some 33x12.5x15 tires the PO put one. Other than that, it was in pretty decent condition with minimal rust.

I drove it for a while as is, patching minor things like the electrical hack job that was done on it, minor tune up things, etc. Took it camping a few times, and to Borrego, but I was tearing up the fenders with the stock suspension on the 33's on even the mildest of trails. So it was sitting in the garage more and more, which led some neglect once the carb started acting up since I didn't really know what I was doing mechanically. It really wasn't getting the love it needed, but once we moved to the place we are now, and we got settled in, I officially caught the Cruiser bug. I had to figure out why the carb wasn't running as well as it should so I started researching online. That is when I found the ih8mud site. Best and worst thing I found. Best, in the sense that I researched how to rebuild the carb, change out the manifold gasket, track down and fix vacuum leaks, track down and fix oil leaks, reset the timing, change all the fluids, rebuild the steering knuckles and front axle, center arm, etc., etc. so that it was running better than when I had gotten it; and worst, in the sense that the wife now hates the Cruiser because I spend waaaaay too much time on it now. But, she does now call me up to tell me if she sees a Cruiser around town.

My son and I ended up going up to Pismo for the first time in '08, and we can't wait to go back. That was a great experience, and met a lot of cool people up there and saw some pretty nice rides up there. It's also been great meeting some of the other Cruiserheads around San Diego County. I've spent some time talking with Dom and Chris about their rigs and picked their brains quite a bit, and appreciated meeting eveyone else and seeing everyone's rigs at Dom's place last month.

I just completed my first real "mod" on my rig. Everything else to this point has been deferred maintenance. I installed the MAF Safari 4" SUA lift on my truck, and I am completely stoked on it. I researched lifts for about six months as I saved up some cash, and I'm glad I went 4" instead of 2.5". The springs are still a little stiff, as I still need to fully break them in, but it is already a vast improvement of what I was running before.

Anyway, looking forward to wheeling and hanging with you guys in the future, and to further enjoying "the sickness" of owning a Cruiser.

Adam


Pic 1: When I got it:
Pic 2: My son who named it "Car-Car":
Pic 3: Updated pic with the new lift:
DSC01099_small.webp
DSC01749_small.webp
DSC02579_small.webp
 
Wow...

Adam,

I must say that the lift looks FANTASTIC!! Are you going to make it to the Borrego run on April 4th?

Elwin:beer:
 
Thanks man. I'm working on the hall pass to get out and wheel with you guys. Hopefully, we'll see you then. Thanks.
 
My turn. Call me JD. I’m a veteran ‘cruiser going back to my ’71 FJ40 back in college up in LA—2F engine, full Rancho suspension, 11x15s, soft top (but mostly just had the bikini on it), diamond plate quarter panels, double-tube full cage, and good ol’ sheepskin seat covers. That’s dating myself. Prior to that, it was a Datsun King Cab while at So Pasadena high school (remember those??). Elephant Hill between So Pas and El Sereno was the proving ground. Angeles Forest was fun too. I did a nice end over roll at Azusa Cyn, right after rebuilding the brakes and replacing gaskets/seals on the drive train. I picked up my ‘40 in 1986, and I brought it down to North County. I used it mostly just to tow my Hobie, although it came in handy when my buddy crashed his Hobie 18 at Camp Pendleton near Red Beach during the 95 El Nino. It was fun recovering it, then doing a little wheeling on those trails you can see off I-5…before the bugs and bunnies guys closed them. But I had to sell it when I moved to Mission Beach—no place to park it. I’m looking for it on this board…sand color, had minor body damage from the roll. I sold it to a Lt Commander with the deep submergence unit at NASNI. Not sure it is even in the county still. My other car was a convertible sports car, so no dirt for that thing. Mountain biking was my mud fun replacement.

Then comes the car show at the convention center just after New Years 2006. “Chula Vista 71 FJ40” and his brother took me there, and I had no idea the FJC was in prototype and ready for production. The specs sounded too good to be true. I was on the list for the first shipment arriving that March. I first got on the Mossy Toyota list, but they were going to tack on another $5k popularity surcharge, so I picked it up from the gold standard of Toyota dealers, Longo in El Monte. I drove it down that first Saturday, and man, did heads turn. I stopped at the 7-11 in Carlsbad for a 12-pack before meeting a friend, and I must have had 4 guys in 5 minutes come up to check it out. Certainly not old school, but A/C, sound-proof freeway speeds, and satellite radio in the middle of the Mohave Desert is a definite step up!

I’ve kept it basic. No carpet except a remnant piece for my cargo area. I got a dash board cover to hide that black plastic that is bound to crack with some desert heat (that’s a dumb idea). Got full Donahoe suspension, an ARB front bumper, custom rock rails, and still waiting to burn thru my stock 31s to get 33s. They gave me new tires after 5k miles for some kind of recall, but they wouldn’t let me buy up. I don’t commute with it much, but I’ve had it in Sedona the first month, Mammoth soon after, Moab, Pismo, Old Mohave Road, Indepencia for watching/pre-running a Baja race, Big Bear, and not gotten stuck even with the smaller tires. Being new to wheeling in SD, AB has got some awesome stuff, but I’m still learning. The season is sort of short out there too. I wish the local mountains had more open trails. But then again, they closed all my old trails in the Angeles Forest too, as well as closing down the open shooting range areas too.

Not enough time to enjoy the FJC. Love mtn biking, racing sail boats, diving and fishing on my sports fisher Twin Vee powercat (yeah, ****ed off all my sailing buddies when I bought that), hiking/backpacking, golf, traveling with my wife, and general beach going. I have an ’02 2WD Tundra to tow my Twin Vee around SoCal, and to pick up new parts to throw on the FJC (Icon lower control arms next!). New dad in 2008, so I can’t wait to get him up and out on the trail…after he learns to dig his own hole! I work for NAVFAC SW taking care of our Sailors and Marines. I need to make more time for the FJC. Hope to see you out there…

Some pics:
desert camp.webp
P1092478.webp
P1000576.webp
 
Better late than never

My name is Mike. My first cruiser was my dad's when I was 2 in Okinawa in 1972. He bought his 40 new with PTO winch & LH steer thru a military program. He shipped it here on a aircraft carrier and after many adventures around north county, stuck it on the beach on Camp Pendelton where the tide got it. He got more from salvage than he had into it (likely because he avoided import duties and shipping). I got my first 40 in '95 and after much time, money and adventure sold it in '02 to get something practical. I got over that bit of stupidity and now have an '85 fj60 and a '67 fj45lwb I bought off Cruiserbrett. I did a frame off on the 45 and now can't do the trails I want to so I am building up the 60 because I could not care less what body damage that thing gets, it just looks cooler. I enjoy getting together with anyone who is into cruisers, wheeling, and modifications.
MVC-019F.webp
DSC00827.webp
DSC01073.webp
 
Last edited:
OK. I'm new and old to the Landcruiser scene. I've owned FJ55's since 1983. I've had 4 of them. I bought my first(1971 FJ55) with a blown engine for $600 and pulled the moter and had a local guy in Huntington Beach(where I grew up) put a 305 chevy in it. It was a rust bucket. I ended up cutting the roof off and putting a soft top and roll cage in it. I took it to mexico and many other little trips for a few years. I found a 1972 with a clean body about 4 years later and decided to put my lift and motor in it. Once all that was done, it sat for a while. I had bought a new(in 1989) izusu Trooper and drove that on my trips. I ended up selling my 55 and was without a cruzr for a couple of years. In 1989 i saw something I couldn't pass up. Two FJ55's for sale in the local paper within 5 miles of my house. One had a V8 and some good body panels, the other(from a junkyard) had no drivetrain, but the body, floorboards were in great shape. It was just missing the roof skin. I decided to buy them both and put together another wagon. After some work, time and money, I once again had my FJ55. The one I put together back then is the one I currently owen and will own forever. I drove it everywhere. I move down to Carlsbad in 1995 and it was my only vehicle. Living near the beach has taken it's tole on my rig. I was driving back from Santa Crus last November and noticed a s*** load of landcruisers heading north. It got me pretty fired up. I found out it was the anual Surf-n-Turf gathering. It really motivated my to get my rig back in shape. I've since decided to do a frame off and modify the suspension. I'm in the middle of that now. Also, after seeing Dom's and MIke's FJ45,s, I had to get one. Now I also own a 1967 FJ45 LWB. It will be my project after the 55 is totally done. I've got some pics here. Glad to be back into it.
First Cruzr Home 2 1982.webp
Removing Top 1983.webp
At Home 1985.webp
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

dudemancool1904
Best dealer for service in SD?
Replies
2
Views
883
Mikeybro
Mikeybro

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 1 (members: 0, guests: 1)

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom