September POTM - FJ55TLC

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fj55tlc said:
I took a picture of the adapter plate close up. Its hard to see since its actually installed, but here it is. The power steering pump, lines, and bracket are all from an FJ62. Simple and bolt on. Since I went with four wheel disk, I installed an FZJ80 brake master cylinder. Years ago my brake booster rusted out and I happened to have the big booster from a 1976. The two work well together but I did have to space the master cylinder out almost 3/8". There just was not that much adjustment on the booster shaft. I naturally run the rear brakes through a adjustable proportioning valve although the rear calipers being almost as large as front makes the proportioning valve adjusted all the way out or close. But it stops. Really well.
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Thanks for posting these pics.

I really like your approach to keeping it all Toyota!

I look forward to wheeling Pigs with you one day...
 
Nice to see an old Pig hanging in there. Mine is long gone, both from my possession and -- because it's the Midwest -- most likely from rust after I sold it:frown:
 
I would really like to go on a 4wheeling trip with another fj55. I think there should be a Colorado FJ55 run sometime.
The pig is hanging in there but that is because I did a bunch of rust repair. I am tired of rust repair and dont ever want to do it again. So I hope it stays away. (yeah right)
 
Just a picture of the pig with two of my favorite girls on out last trip.
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Just me again with more silly questions. Do you take yours on the highway alot? Just wondering how you deal with the road noise? Earplugs? My pig is noisy as all get out on the highway. I'm strongly considering going to a 40 inch mtr or bfg. Strongly considering as in if I had the cash to buy the tires I would have done it awhile ago.
 
I guess the noise on highway doesn't bother me. Most of the trails that we frequent are on the other end of highways around here and highways have taken us throughout the country. The boggers are loud and bumpy but above 45 miles per hour it all smooths out and it really isn't bad at all. More importantly the wife doens't think it is bad either. I would like to do some sound proofing to it in the future. My headliner is deteriorating from age and I would like to replace it. I have looked into the insulation that is used in tractors and heavy equipment. It is a foam that will adhere to the ceiling and covered with a vinyl. Not stock but I think it will look good. It is supose to be very high in sound proofing. The floor in it has already lined with bedliner and I think that helped too. I would love to get different tires also. The boggers are great off road exept when you get them in a loose and off camber position. We slid a bit off a trail last time out and it could have been bad if it were a drop off. I would like to get BFG Crawlers but then I would have to go to a 17" wheel. Maybe beadlocks.
 
The console itself is a big piece of sheetmetal with a 90 degree angle in the middle. So to anchor it I made a "C" shaped bracket that screws into the old sunvisor holes so I did not have to make any new holes and I can remove it and never can tell it was ever there. It also has a pin at the top of each end that goes through where the door weatherstripping is to secure the top. It is pretty simple really. I did have to install an aftermarket mirror because the stock one is mounted at an angle and putting it an a level surface made it so looking out the back window without ducking down was impossible. I also has to install visors out of a 4runner for the same reason.
 
fj55tlc said:
The console itself is a big piece of sheetmetal with a 90 degree angle in the middle. So to anchor it I made a "C" shaped bracket that screws into the old sunvisor holes so I did not have to make any new holes and I can remove it and never can tell it was ever there. It also has a pin at the top of each end that goes through where the door weatherstripping is to secure the top. It is pretty simple really. I did have to install an aftermarket mirror because the stock one is mounted at an angle and putting it an a level surface made it so looking out the back window without ducking down was impossible. I also has to install visors out of a 4runner for the same reason.
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Could we see some more pics of this set-up when you get a chance?

Sounds cool!
 
Thanks for all the encouragement! I apologize about not posting pictures of the overhead console yet. Been very busy. We are doing house projects. All new windows and slider door. The stucco should be done this week. The installers would not even start working until they could check out the 55. They would take all their breaks by it and put there lunch boxes under it to keep them cool. I told them if they did a crappy job that the pig would be the one hunting them down for revenge. So far it seemed to work.
 
Hello fellow pig bretheren. I apologize for being out of the loop as of late, but I thought I would share a bit of the work I have recently done to my 55. I grew tired of having several different kinds of switches in several different areas of my dash. I like the look and function of the ARB style switches so I have replaced all my switches for my aftermarket lights, fans, and winch with that kind of switch. I put all the light switches in the overhead console and the fans and winch switch beside my arb switches. Looks more conformed and professional. I also got the windows tinted finally. Its only 15% but since there is absolutly no tinting on the factory glass it does not look too dark and it sure keeps it cooler inside when the sun shines on it. I am still working on putting the rear winch together. I have the metal, just need the time. I will keep posting as work is completed. I am also going to clean it up so I can make a good impression when we take it to the Rising Sun Land Cruiser Rally in Denver next weekend.
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Today we went to the Rising Sun Toyota Rally in Denver. Drove up there and back home for about 140 miles. The Cruiser did great at 70 mph both ways. We couldn't believe that out of all the Land Cruisers up there, we were the only FJ55. Good day anyways. As you can see from the picture, our FJ55 kind of stands out a little bit.
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fj55tlc said:
Today we went to the Rising Sun Toyota Rally in Denver. Drove up there and back home for about 140 miles. The Cruiser did great at 70 mph both ways. We couldn't believe that out of all the Land Cruisers up there, we were the only FJ55. Good day anyways. As you can see from the picture, our FJ55 kind of stands out a little bit.
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You were the only 55 there?!?

Where did all those 100 series come from - wow!
 
There were a fair amount of cruisers there. I didn't keep track but I would say a couple dozen 40 series, same with the 80 series. Quite a few 60s and 100s too. There was a 70 series too. I was parked there before those 100 series Cruisers came. That is why I am facing the other way.
 
Thanks, I think it is time for an update. I have done some changes. I decided, after a little problem with the rear axle, to lower it. I made new spring shorter perches and shorter shackles. While I was at it I installed a Australian full float 60 series rear axle and chrome-moly axle shafts. It sits about 2 inches closer to the ground but I think I have it's stance perfect for where I want it. I had to machine the full float rear hub flanges down to fit them inside the tundra rotors because I kept the tundra front brakes that I had on the semi float rear axle. New shocks and kept the arb'ed 4.88 3rd member from the old axle too. I still need to finish the traction bar before it is trail worthy again and I made new rear brake line brackets to weld in also. For the front axle I decided to copy the Ruff Stuff threaded spring perch and run 3 u-bolts. So far I think it will work great. I love its lowered stance the the 37's still look like they belong. It is also more stable, not that it was bad before.
The other changes I made are on the inside. I permantly installed a Garmin GPS in the overhead console. I discovered that a GPS by the roof, mounted to a 1/8 inch piece of steel gets really bad satillite reception. So I added a boosted external antenna mounted on the roof. Works great. I also added a 7" screen on the overhead console opposite the GPS for a back-up camera. Installed a camera on the swing away under the spare tire and it makes backing into a parking space or down a section of trail a lot easier. And then I thought about mounting a camera to the front also. So I found a camera that does not have a reverse image or guide lines and put it under the winch. I put a double throw switch beside the screen. Push the switch up and it shows the front camera view. Push the switch down and it shows the rear camera view. Middle is off. So far I like it. I can spot myself with the front camera on some things.
I have several small projects to finish and some oil leaks still to fix, but overall I am making progress. I finally had to replace one of the Odyssey battries that didn't make it through the winter. My new Odyssey battery that I put in lasted 2 months and then would not charge more than 10 and a half volts. Found it had a bad cell. Battery Mart, where I got the battery through mail order, was very helpful in helping me return it. UPS was not. I might have well been shipping a bomb, but I got it done. I never want to do that again. I mounted a new high-lift jack base to the underside of the tonneau cover in the back also and new fire extinguisher mounts for the front and rear fire extinguishers.
I recieved a set of stainless steel sill plates from Bob. Very nice quality, Bob. The only thing I need to do is modify my weather strip. They don't fit under the sill plate. They are the factory door seals believe it or not, and need to be replaced anyway. I can make it work, many thanks, Bob.
Now the part that you all are going to hate. I dont have pictures yet. I will get pictures very soon and get them posted.
Thanks for reading.
 
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