Replace FJ60 Rear Lift Gate with FJ62 Lift Gate?

[4Cruisers]

I'm in the later stages of switching over the wiring harness from my '89 FJ62 donor vehicle into my '86 FJ60 project vehicle. The initial plan was to move the internal wiring, along with the power lock mechanism, from the FJ62 rear lift gate to the FJ60 lift gate. Yesterday afternoon I started disconnecting the wiring for the FJ62 power lock, and noticed the spot welded bracket for the lock mechanism. The FJ60 doesn't have the bracket, and it looks like it could be quite a bit of work to remove it and reinstall it securely into the FJ60 lift gate. Also, it would entail pulling the power lock wiring from inside the lift gate (it's taped up with the clear plastic tubing for the washer system) and feeding it into FJ60 lift gate. Given that, I started to think about just moving the lift gate over in its entirety as one unit. Both lift gates are in similar shape, and the window defroster wiring on the glass shows continuity on both. I've already prepped and painted the front passenger side fender, front valence, radiator support, and both inner fenders with aerosol paint from automotivetouchup.com - so I've had some practice already and am pretty pleased with the results. There's not a lot of surface to paint as most of it's glass. I'm thinking it would be best to remove the glass and weatherstripping before painting, but haven't done this sort of glass work before. Is it pretty easy to do? I could always run it by the local glass shop a couple of trips and have them remove and reinstall the glass. Any thoughts or suggestions on way or another?

Here are some photos:

BTW, the rear of the FJ60 (on the right) isn't just supported by the jack stand, it just looks that way in the photo.

 

[g-man]

Personally I think that's a lot of work to have to remove the window to paint. Were you planning on replacing the weatherstrip anyway? I'd just tape up the weatherstrip and window, remove the wiper arm, tape up the wiper base, tape up the lock and bezel. Are you removing it from the 62 then painting then installing on the 60?

 

[4Cruisers]

Personally I think that's a lot of work to have to remove the window to paint. Were you planning on replacing the weatherstrip anyway? I'd just tape up the weatherstrip and window, remove the wiper arm, tape up the wiper base, tape up the lock and bezel. Are you removing it from the 62 then painting then installing on the 60?

I thought it would be a good chance to remove/reinstall glass, get my feet wet. Never done that before but may have to in the future. Was planning on touching up the paint on the FJ60 hatch anyway, before finding out about the rear lock fitment. The hatch is already off the FJ62 body, which now resides near Jimmy's barn @CenTXFJ60.

 

[CenTXFJ60]

I thought it would be a good chance to remove/reinstall glass, get my feet wet. Never done that before but may have to in the future. Was planning on touching up the paint on the FJ60 hatch anyway, before finding out about the rear lock fitment. The hatch is already off the FJ62 body, which now resides near Jimmy's barn @CenTXFJ60.

John, the rear and quarter glass are easy to remove and install. Some good threads on that as well or call me and I’ll walk you through it. Two reasons I like to remove it is you get a better paint seal (no risk of delamination along the edge) and the liftgate will be much lighter to handle while working with it. Good luck and let me know where I can help . Jim

 

[cruisermatt]

I painted mine without removing the glass and would highly recommend against that. Pull the glass, you’ll be glad you did later.

 

[LAMBCRUSHER]

I'm in the later stages of switching over the wiring harness from my '89 FJ62 donor vehicle into my '86 FJ60 project vehicle. The initial plan was to move the internal wiring, along with the power lock mechanism, from the FJ62 rear lift gate to the FJ60 lift gate. Yesterday afternoon I started disconnecting the wiring for the FJ62 power lock, and noticed the spot welded bracket for the lock mechanism. The FJ60 doesn't have the bracket, and it looks like it could be quite a bit of work to remove it and reinstall it securely into the FJ60 lift gate. Also, it would entail pulling the power lock wiring from inside the lift gate (it's taped up with the clear plastic tubing for the washer system) and feeding it into FJ60 lift gate. Given that, I started to think about just moving the lift gate over in its entirety as one unit. Both lift gates are in similar shape, and the window defroster wiring on the glass shows continuity on both. I've already prepped and painted the front passenger side fender, front valence, radiator support, and both inner fenders with aerosol paint from automotivetouchup.com - so I've had some practice already and am pretty pleased with the results. There's not a lot of surface to paint as most of it's glass. I'm thinking it would be best to remove the glass and weatherstripping before painting, but haven't done this sort of glass work before. Is it pretty easy to do? I could always run it by the local glass shop a couple of trips and have them remove and reinstall the glass. Any thoughts or suggestions on way or another?

Here are some photos:

View attachment 1405725

View attachment 1405726

View attachment 1405727

BTW, the rear of the FJ60 (on the right) isn't just supported by the jack stand, it just looks that way in the photo.

That sucks. I had the fj60 hatch prepped and painted when we did the fj62... I was gunna get the glass tinted before sticking it in. I would not have known till then myself... for me, I am poverty pack, but I had been looking forward to sticking oem lock actuator in there for keyless entry someday. Dang ol dang...

 

[gt7058a]

I hardly use the power unlock because it does all doors and I don’t like walking back to the driver door. I also usually use the key out of paranoia the actuator goes bad. I would skip the power hatch lock and focus on getting that thing to SAS.

 

[POTATO LAUNCHER]

Pull the glass John. Like @CenTXFJ60 said. Its not that difficult to do and the end result will be much better.