Well it's now my turn for ROTW. Money's been tight this year so I couldn't do everything I wanted. All-in-all the cruiser is looking a 100 times better, but still have a way to go. I'll start by saying that I'm no master fabricator/mechanic. My build has nothing to do with custom roll cages, LS1 conversions, etc.
As you can see in the first couple of pictures the cruiser has been in the family from day 1. We usually went to Utah in it, back when 55mph was the speed limit. It's been as far as Canada and never left us stranded. It's never had a problem that a wrench or hammer couldn't fix. The cruiser was our main transportation until the mid 80's. After that pop's only used it to-and-from work, less than 1 mile a day (seriously). In the 90's he hit a curb and launched the cruiser into a guard-rail.
She sat parked for a good 10 years. After his retirement, pops mentioned selling the cruiser to someone to was interested. NO freakin way I could accept that! So thus started my work.
1. Rebuilt steering gear box (armstrong steering). Impact with a curb broke the steering arm and steering gears.
2. Rebuilt brakes (pistons, new shoes, turned drums, SS brake lines, new master cyl) Breaks have ALWAYS been a problem with our cruiser since I was a child. I'm happy to say that the brakes
are astonishingly great. While most people simply upgrade to discs, Im happy to say that the OEM setup is
working well. Not too sure I would try rock crawly with them though.
stripping down old setup, degreasing and repainting...
Flexing new setup before bolting down rear shocks...
3. New suspension: Downey lift; deutch-tech shocks, new leaf springs and shackles. The shackles are slightly longer in the rear, I'm expecting sag eventualy since I have the hard-top, spare and aux fuel tank.
4. Had to spray to cruiser down with some rattle can rusty primer. I was getting sick of the multicolored primer spots. The original paint kept coming off when wiping down the cruiser.
I know I know, super redneck install, but it works! I got the wrong alternator (for a 2F) so I had to rid an adapter. It's so amazing what I can accomplish with a hammer and no patience!
5. Some electrical: new ignition thing, alternator, battery and plug wires. I still need to replace the wire harness. I got the wrong year alternator so I had to ghetto-up my install. But hey, it works. After doing this I was now able to get'er on the freeway (67mph). The cruiser had not been on a freeway since 1991, I was amazed to see this work.
New tires, yeah! Looks pretty good for a SUA set up.
http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc168/pc4400/pc4400-SFS.jpg
6. Tires: After seeing how hard it is to find rims with correct spacing offset, I decided to keep my white steelies (repaired one bent rim that rammed a curb). Slapped on some 33" Mud Terrains!
7. Cooling system: New water pump, new hoses, new thermostat and thermostat housing (hole rotted in mine). The cruiser ran a
bit hot espacially after running on the freeway. She is now much much better!
8. Distributor: I have done nothing yet. It is not stock, my dad installed early in the 70's. It's a Holly vacuum advance distributor.
9. Body: Just some hammering, bending and rattle-can painting. You may notice the rear windows are sliders, this is something my dad did in the early 80's. It was a pain, but they have never leaked.
The "What's Next" List;
1. Install new points and coil
2. Put locktight on my spark plugs (keep coming loose)
3. Get my SOR Seat covers installed. Just need to find an affordable shop.
4. Get my "Toyota" and "Landcruiser" emblems chromed or powdercoated.
5. Put my radiator shroud back on.
7. Rewire; Either a Painless harness or I'll buy spools of automotive 12ga wire in various colors.
8. Start saving for an engine. Most likely a 2F with a 4 speed, oh how I would love a 4 speed!
Garage helper, waiting eagerly for a test drive. Patiently waiting at his window.
Camping in Big Bear. It went down to 27 degrees. I had to use my karosene heater under the oil pan to get her to turn over. Yikes!
Memorable moments in the cruiser;
1. Using the PTO wench in the 70's to pull us out of a ditch in the snow
2. Pulling out Jeeps in many areas in Utah back in the day
3. Getting air jumping the cruiser at a construction site
I will post up some additional images later. Thanks for looking.
As you can see in the first couple of pictures the cruiser has been in the family from day 1. We usually went to Utah in it, back when 55mph was the speed limit. It's been as far as Canada and never left us stranded. It's never had a problem that a wrench or hammer couldn't fix. The cruiser was our main transportation until the mid 80's. After that pop's only used it to-and-from work, less than 1 mile a day (seriously). In the 90's he hit a curb and launched the cruiser into a guard-rail.
She sat parked for a good 10 years. After his retirement, pops mentioned selling the cruiser to someone to was interested. NO freakin way I could accept that! So thus started my work.
1. Rebuilt steering gear box (armstrong steering). Impact with a curb broke the steering arm and steering gears.
2. Rebuilt brakes (pistons, new shoes, turned drums, SS brake lines, new master cyl) Breaks have ALWAYS been a problem with our cruiser since I was a child. I'm happy to say that the brakes
are astonishingly great. While most people simply upgrade to discs, Im happy to say that the OEM setup is
working well. Not too sure I would try rock crawly with them though.
stripping down old setup, degreasing and repainting...
Flexing new setup before bolting down rear shocks...
3. New suspension: Downey lift; deutch-tech shocks, new leaf springs and shackles. The shackles are slightly longer in the rear, I'm expecting sag eventualy since I have the hard-top, spare and aux fuel tank.
4. Had to spray to cruiser down with some rattle can rusty primer. I was getting sick of the multicolored primer spots. The original paint kept coming off when wiping down the cruiser.
I know I know, super redneck install, but it works! I got the wrong alternator (for a 2F) so I had to rid an adapter. It's so amazing what I can accomplish with a hammer and no patience!
5. Some electrical: new ignition thing, alternator, battery and plug wires. I still need to replace the wire harness. I got the wrong year alternator so I had to ghetto-up my install. But hey, it works. After doing this I was now able to get'er on the freeway (67mph). The cruiser had not been on a freeway since 1991, I was amazed to see this work.
New tires, yeah! Looks pretty good for a SUA set up.
http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc168/pc4400/pc4400-SFS.jpg
6. Tires: After seeing how hard it is to find rims with correct spacing offset, I decided to keep my white steelies (repaired one bent rim that rammed a curb). Slapped on some 33" Mud Terrains!
7. Cooling system: New water pump, new hoses, new thermostat and thermostat housing (hole rotted in mine). The cruiser ran a
bit hot espacially after running on the freeway. She is now much much better!
8. Distributor: I have done nothing yet. It is not stock, my dad installed early in the 70's. It's a Holly vacuum advance distributor.
9. Body: Just some hammering, bending and rattle-can painting. You may notice the rear windows are sliders, this is something my dad did in the early 80's. It was a pain, but they have never leaked.
The "What's Next" List;
1. Install new points and coil
2. Put locktight on my spark plugs (keep coming loose)
3. Get my SOR Seat covers installed. Just need to find an affordable shop.
4. Get my "Toyota" and "Landcruiser" emblems chromed or powdercoated.
5. Put my radiator shroud back on.
7. Rewire; Either a Painless harness or I'll buy spools of automotive 12ga wire in various colors.
8. Start saving for an engine. Most likely a 2F with a 4 speed, oh how I would love a 4 speed!
Garage helper, waiting eagerly for a test drive. Patiently waiting at his window.
Camping in Big Bear. It went down to 27 degrees. I had to use my karosene heater under the oil pan to get her to turn over. Yikes!
Memorable moments in the cruiser;
1. Using the PTO wench in the 70's to pull us out of a ditch in the snow
2. Pulling out Jeeps in many areas in Utah back in the day
3. Getting air jumping the cruiser at a construction site
I will post up some additional images later. Thanks for looking.
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