I rolled my 86 turboed 4runner in 2004 at Paragon. I soon realized that my 4runner that had served me well for so long had met it's demise without a straight panel on the entire vehicle and a frame that had become rather soft in the rear I sent it off to be parted out to Mike Fox because I couldn't bear to do it myself after having it for so long.
Then came looking for another rig. I had always liked the older crusiers with the open tops and good looks but didn't find that many cheep rigs on the east coast. I found a couple of mini trucks of various years. Then an email came over the YT list of an 72 needing some work but running. I was off running the next mourning I drove up to hew Hampshire a little less than two hours north to find a running but cosmetically challenged 40 series. The older gentlemen Clint had purchased it new. He told me of trips to new york and around the region it was his favorite toy for a lot of years. I bought it on the spot mostly because it ran and the rear deck was in almost mint shape.
Having just spent two years as a spotter in NEUROC with Foxfab4x4.com I had seen quite the collection of carnage both in the comp rig and competitors rigs so I was looking to make my next trail rig safer and hopefully perform well. I decided that I could shoehorn 37" tires under my cruiser without a lift after taking some initial measurement.
On the front of the crusier I simply slid the front fender up to the hood and made a filler panel to fill the hole that was left from moving the fender up. For the rear of the crusier the fenders were replaced with 12Guage sheet metal bent around by the rear of the cruiser by heating and bending around on the cruiser. For the inner fenders they are bent like the originals only taller up to the bottom of the rail for the top. The outsides are cut to look like stock but taller to clear the tires.
The rails for the original hard top but it was rather weathered and was held together by not much more than silicone and iron oxide. I purchased a used fast track and it leaks a little less inside but I can take it off by myself.
However I soon realized that although the rear floor was in great shape the drivers side floor was in poor shape and there such crusier rot problems. With a lot of help from a good friend Matt and some of his former crusier my tub looked like a cruiser again.
All of this work has been done in at lest part by a good friend of mine Matt. Thanks.
Up next is a set of sliders and a 2F to replace the original F motor that has 280K+ on it.
Then came looking for another rig. I had always liked the older crusiers with the open tops and good looks but didn't find that many cheep rigs on the east coast. I found a couple of mini trucks of various years. Then an email came over the YT list of an 72 needing some work but running. I was off running the next mourning I drove up to hew Hampshire a little less than two hours north to find a running but cosmetically challenged 40 series. The older gentlemen Clint had purchased it new. He told me of trips to new york and around the region it was his favorite toy for a lot of years. I bought it on the spot mostly because it ran and the rear deck was in almost mint shape.
Having just spent two years as a spotter in NEUROC with Foxfab4x4.com I had seen quite the collection of carnage both in the comp rig and competitors rigs so I was looking to make my next trail rig safer and hopefully perform well. I decided that I could shoehorn 37" tires under my cruiser without a lift after taking some initial measurement.
On the front of the crusier I simply slid the front fender up to the hood and made a filler panel to fill the hole that was left from moving the fender up. For the rear of the crusier the fenders were replaced with 12Guage sheet metal bent around by the rear of the cruiser by heating and bending around on the cruiser. For the inner fenders they are bent like the originals only taller up to the bottom of the rail for the top. The outsides are cut to look like stock but taller to clear the tires.
The rails for the original hard top but it was rather weathered and was held together by not much more than silicone and iron oxide. I purchased a used fast track and it leaks a little less inside but I can take it off by myself.
However I soon realized that although the rear floor was in great shape the drivers side floor was in poor shape and there such crusier rot problems. With a lot of help from a good friend Matt and some of his former crusier my tub looked like a cruiser again.
All of this work has been done in at lest part by a good friend of mine Matt. Thanks.
Up next is a set of sliders and a 2F to replace the original F motor that has 280K+ on it.
Last edited: