Build Salted Pork fj55 family wagon build

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So update: Maine was awesome I saw one land cruiser of note. It was a early 80 series on Little Cranberry island that you have a little ferry barge to get on! I want to move up there one day. I gotta keep trying to convince my wife. Coming home My flight left at 6am and we got back to Ocracoke at 6pm yesterday.

When I got back all the parts I had ordered were waiting for me! So when I got off work I pulled the passenger rear tire off to figure out what was up with the brakes. I found the issue!! - Thats my brake pad off my shoe. When I pulled the very loose drum off the pads off both shoes just fell off. this is the second time I have seen this! happend on my fj40 too. It makes a nasty noise when It happens btw. I think this happened because the shoes were adjusted too tight or they were stuck from sitting. It was a battle pushing the 55 off the trailer with my dad when I first got it home and it felt like the brakes were on.

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the shoes were still on the cylenders though just missing the pads.
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Luckily I already ordered a set of pads and they were home waiting for me. it was a 15 minute fix. adjusting the pads took the longest amount of time. I love drum brakes - they are way more simple.

Took it for a spin it seems good now. I am going to inspect the drivers rear tomorrow too. If the pads look bad Ill replace them. The passenger side looked almost new other than the fact that they failed.

I also got my fuse block in the mail I will replace that tomorrow. my slave cylinder has a slow leak too and I think I am going to swap that out soon too.
 
I'm just about to reassemble both of my axles and ran across this diagram somewhere on the forum showing that the front springs on each side should go behind the shoes. My rear drums were not that way when I disassembled the axles, they were both on the front like yours, but that doesn't mean it's correct. Maybe someone here with more knowledge can verify if the diagram is correct. The '77 FSM I am using doesn't really address the spring orientation as far as I can tell.

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WarDamnEagle said:
I'm just about to reassemble both of my axles and ran across this diagram somewhere on the forum showing that the front springs on each side should go behind the shoes. My rear drums were not that way when I disassembled the axles, they were both on the front like yours, but that doesn't mean it's correct. Maybe someone here with more knowledge can verify if the diagram is correct. The '77 FSM I am using doesn't really address the spring orientation as far as I can tell.

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I Knew I remembered that from rebuilding fj40 drums! I have seen this diagram before. But I just put it back the way it was. The cylenders were correct to that diagram you posted. I may have to pull the wheel cylinders in the future because the rear cylinders adjuster was really tight and hard to adjust. I did eventually get it though. I think I have wheel cylinder rebuild kits somewhere floating around. I am going to pull the drivers side rear to replace the pads on that side too since I have them. Ill see if my springs are the same way.
 
Updates: I didn't get around to doing the brakes on the drivers side rear. I am planning on pulling the drum off this weekend.
These last two days are the first days I have actually been able to really drive the fj55! I have been shaking it down and a couple of things have come up for sure. The slave cylinder is leaking causing a soft clutch pedal sometimes and a hard time disengaging from gear sometimes. I ordered one from city racer and it will be here next week sometime.

I drove it for the first time on the beach though! it does what is says! it Land cruises the beach!
 
My in-laws have been in town for the week so I have not had a lot of time to dig into stuff. I did install the fuse block yesterday and that was 100% my issue with the headlights. Now my next project is to get the heater working. It will start getting chilly here in a few months! I heard it work 1 time and I know the motor is not bad. the one under the seat works but not the heater under the dash. It has to be an electrical issue. What is the common thing to go wrong with the blower motor? resistor? what would you all look into?

(I know the wire below "horn" needs some insulation on that splice. Its on my todo list.)


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the old fuse block:
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checking the surf yesterday.
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It appears that the ('6903-'7309) FJ55 front blower doesn't have a resistor. Later models did, starting in 09/73. So I'm thinking something more fundamental like a bad wire or a bad motor.

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WarDamnEagle said:
It appears that the ('6903-'7309) FJ55 front blower doesn't have a resistor. Later models did, starting in 09/73. So I'm thinking something more fundamental like a bad wire or a bad motor.

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Ill take a picture but I m pretty sure mine has a resistor. its on the outside of the assembly. and it does look a little crusty. Ill take a picture when I get done with some works stuff today. It could be an assembly from another cruiser too. Its not a bad motor as I heard it running. could be wiring for sure but I have checked most everything. Ill check the wiring behind the switch. I know the switch has a fuse in it too.
 
Roastchestnuts said:
Ill take a picture but I m pretty sure mine has a resistor. its on the outside of the assembly. and it does look a little crusty. Ill take a picture when I get done with some works stuff today. It could be an assembly from another cruiser too. Its not a bad motor as I heard it running. could be wiring for sure but I have checked most everything. Ill check the wiring behind the switch. I know the switch has a fuse in it too.
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I have reason to believe you know your stuff. My money's still on the resistor ;)
 
Looking at it closley I am on the fence if that resistor is factory with its wood spacer in there. I might delete on that. However that turns out it was not the issue. The fuse that was in the aftermarket switch was the culprit. I replaced it once and it was working I think maybe I bumped the wiring or arced it on somthing to blow the fuse when I installed the switch or somthing. It works on low and high speed now though.
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I didn't get anything done this weekend. it has been rainy and gross. I was going to weld in my muffler but I had some of the wrong fittings so I decided with the bad weather I might as well wait to do it. Well my slowly leaking clutch slave cylinder finally turned into a fill the resevior up every time I took a drive. Luckily the one I ordered should be here today if not tomorrow. I thought I could use the one I already had but it was a pre 1970 slave. apparently 1971 - is different. I ordered one from city racer last week at least. I also finally bit the bullet and bought fj40 front turn signals (I am planing on plaining down the mount flat to work or possibly using the mounts on the current ones) OEM Front Turn Signal Lights for '69 to '70 Land Cruiser FJ40 - Set of 2 - https://www.cityracerllc.com/products/oem-front-turn-signal-lights-for-68-to-70-land-cruiser-fj40 my front turn signals are just so brittle from age that the screws holding the lenses in fall out.

I got a shifter boot for the transmission and a ring. I am planning on using nutserts to bolt it down since its different than the old 3 speed. I also purchased a SOR tcase boot. its got that cool old SOR logo on it! Transmission Hump - Running Board & Tool Box - Specter Off-Road - https://www.sor.com/cat/116#40SeriesB part number 116-06A-SOR
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My trans tunnel has a spot to put a PTO lever. is there a cover you can get for that or any suggestions on how to cover that hole? I might just tape it up.
 
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svsisu said:
Man, it is going to be a long winter if this keeps up. March weather in August and September... at least it's not cold.
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Its going to be a long winter. Plus I gotta start welding up the rockers on this and It wont happen if its always flipping raining!
 
Id say this thing was ready to be replaced. It was leaking past the piston pretty severely. Not sure the brand of the part though. Does not look toyota. I replaced it with the city racer one. I think I have to adjust the rod still as now there is less tension on the fork and the spring is kinda loose. I am going to figure it out this afternoon I think.
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THis is the box the new one came in. Seems of good quality! City racer has it listed for 25$. Ill post a picture of it installed this afternoon.
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1960s tech from japan is the coolest! fun fact though although the camera in the picture was originally designed in the late 50s and sold through the mid 60s, this one was actually a really cool Remanufactured by Nikon camera in the mid 2000s. They remade supposedly about 2000 of these black Nikon S3 rangefinders for the year 2000. Its my favorite camera I own and certainly an heirloom camera!
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I am curious: It looks like the rear trunk space at one time the salted pork wagon had a 3rd row of seats. I have seatbelts bolted down back there and holes in the panels back there that looked like where it was mounted. I am guessing they were jump seats like the fj40. Anybody have any pictures of a third row? or information.
 
Roastchestnuts said:
I am curious: It looks like the rear trunk space at one time the salted pork wagon had a 3rd row of seats. I have seatbelts bolted down back there and holes in the panels back there that looked like where it was mounted. I am guessing they were jump seats like the fj40. Anybody have any pictures of a third row? or information.
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I know that 55s in the middle east market had 3rd row jump seats. Pretty sure that applied to all "Other Country" 55s.

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Roastchestnuts said:
I am curious: It looks like the rear trunk space at one time the salted pork wagon had a 3rd row of seats. I have seatbelts bolted down back there and holes in the panels back there that looked like where it was mounted. I am guessing they were jump seats like the fj40. Anybody have any pictures of a third row? or information.
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Do it!!!
 
MOTOV8R said:
Non US



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1979 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ55

Bid for the chance to own a 1979 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ55 at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #184,830.
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yeah that would be cool! Mine does not have that 2nd row split seat. But certainly looks like it had some sort of 3rd row. or somthing bolted in back there. I know @Shyrock and his new fj55 does have that spec above! I need to do some more digging on mine.

Ill see if I can get some pictures this evening.
 
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