That's a nice one. I remember seeing it FS on Anchorage Craigslist months ago. As I recall it wasn't cheap though!
Builds The Alaskan 62
- Thread starter thecadefire
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- #22
It was quite an expensive rig, but he came down around 12,000$ from the asking price you saw. Not sure why, was a blessing though... super nice guy
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- #23
Well the alaskan 62 turned 100 today, piece of my heart broke ; ) 
to a million more miles.
to a million more miles.
great picture!!Well the alaskan 62 turned 100 today, piece of my heart broke ; )
View attachment 1995754
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- #25
Thanks Zover! Of course, it turned over at the most busiest part of i5 so i was scrambling to get a pic lol
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- #26
Just did another oil change but instead of going back to the 5w30 Toyota oil, I decided to try out T4 Rotella 15w40. I used a Napa Gold Filter (1773) so the large can filter and also added in a bottle of ZDDP Plus for the extra zinc. It was one expensive oil change but I hope my engine likes it a bit more. It stays very mild here in Western WA so I am not too concerned with the 15w40 during the winter either.
**Change done at 100,575**
**Change done at 100,575**
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I use the 15w40 here in SE Alaska during all seasons too.
Where is the hidden rust on your 62?
Where is the hidden rust on your 62?
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- #28
Just some small spots, one behind the rain gutter trim, another surface spot behind the tailgate and some in the corner of the doors. Sanded them all down, degreased, and POR15ed over them. Then a bit of touch up paint and she looks almost good as new. Only other spot on the body is a rust bubble the size of half of a dime on the passenger fender. I’m just keeping an eye on it right now...
really the rig had little to no rust but I have just been anal about finding spots and fixing them.
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- #29
Didn't think this would come so soon but I found this bumper for a great price from a super nice local cruiser head (@SleekFJ62) here in the Tacoma area. It had a couple rust spots that I treated and repainted, and has a small dent in the middle that I need to pull but other than that its a beautiful bumper! I was originally looking for an old-style ARB bumper as I thought it would fit the 62 better, however now that I have the new style, I like the way the lines line up with the 62 and it looks a bit better in my opinion. Super excited for this one! I feel like I'm driving a tank now with all that metal upfront 
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- #30
Well today I finally got to put in some new speakers. Sounds much better and didn't take me too terribly long. Heres the full thread: Speaker Installation FJ62 FJ60 Write Up
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- #31
Not the most interesting post but I decided to take care of some rust spots on the cruiser the other day. She will be outside all winter so these things had to get taken care of before the weather changed. First pic is the rust bubble sanded down to bare metal (I used a Dremel tool) then coated three times with grey POR15 and then coated with touch up paint twice. Not perfect as I am not a body guy but it is hardly noticeable even in the sun.
I also went to NAPA and bought 4 cans of Fluid Film. Sprayed it in the bottom of all 4 doors and the whole undercarriage of the car. Trying to keep the rig "rust free".
I also went to NAPA and bought 4 cans of Fluid Film. Sprayed it in the bottom of all 4 doors and the whole undercarriage of the car. Trying to keep the rig "rust free".
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- #32
Nothing too eventful in the past few months. Got a new windshield, the old one had tons of chips and cracks from the hard winters in Alaska. I can see much better now 
The shop I had do it wouldn’t remove or install the chrome because they were afraid to damage it so I removed it all and re-installed it on the new gasket myself. Took me 5 min on the removal and almost 4 hours on the install. It was tough but I’m glad to save the chrome look!
My blower motor for my heater went out last week just in time for a bit of snow and cold weather here in WA and so I was driving for a week with a window down to prevent the windshield from fogging up haha. Finally got the replacement in from Napa, went with a Napa blower motor and it works great. Only cost around 50$ and I’m very happy with it.
The shop I had do it wouldn’t remove or install the chrome because they were afraid to damage it so I removed it all and re-installed it on the new gasket myself. Took me 5 min on the removal and almost 4 hours on the install. It was tough but I’m glad to save the chrome look!My blower motor for my heater went out last week just in time for a bit of snow and cold weather here in WA and so I was driving for a week with a window down to prevent the windshield from fogging up haha. Finally got the replacement in from Napa, went with a Napa blower motor and it works great. Only cost around 50$ and I’m very happy with it.
My son wants a 60, though he desires a manual. Otherwise, your looks to be the dream rig. Did you spend much $ on her?
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- #34
I have been fortunate enough to not have spent too much money after I bought it. Maybe 1,000$ total including everything from my used arb bumper to rebuilding my injectors. If your sons close to my age (20), I would honestly recommend a 62, even though it doesn’t have a manual. I think the 62 is a better rig for me, with the EFI, power windows etc. Parts of me does wish it was a manual, however i wouldn’t trade the 62s benefits for it. One day I’ll put in a 5 speed I think
My boy (19 yo) probably has $4k into his 3rd gen 4runner, not counting the purchase price. I’ll show him your rig.
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- #36
Well the cruiser left me stranded for the first time ever... I was about to hop on the freeway to head home from school when I noticed my temp gauge rising super fast to the red. I was able to turn around and park in the college parking lot. I found my alternator/water pump belt shredded but not yet completely broken and off the pulleys. With input from my cousin and another buddy I took out the battery, tray, fan shroud, loosened the alternator and was able to shimmy back on the shredded belt and hoped to make it home. I about made the half-hour drive back and the belt snapped a mile from my house but I was able to limp it home. I had no experience at all changing a belt, let alone how to try and salvage the broke one and put it back on in the dark stranded, no better way to learn than to get thrown into it lol 
Well the next day I ordered all new belts from the local Napa, and changed them all... Glad to have fresh belts installed, and it wasn't too difficult. The next project will be regreasing my hubs as my rig isn't going into 4WD.
BTW they don't teach you how to work on cars in college, or how to fix things yourself. I'm fortunate enough to have had my dad and friends that got me interested in fixing/building things so I could help myself and not have to call in a tow truck for a fix. I was struggling to break the alternator pivot nut which is on the end of a long bolt that was preventing me from loosening up the alternator pulley for slack (when I turned the nut it turned the bolt on the other side of the alternator). I was by myself, and nobody stopped to help/said they were all too busy to hold a wrench on the end of this bolt, so I rigged up a contraption with a crescent wrench and a socket extension stuck through the hole on the end of the wrench to catch on my exhaust manifold while I turned the nut from the underside of the car. It worked to my relief. That reminded me of something my dad always said, "country boy ingenuity".
Well the next day I ordered all new belts from the local Napa, and changed them all... Glad to have fresh belts installed, and it wasn't too difficult. The next project will be regreasing my hubs as my rig isn't going into 4WD.BTW they don't teach you how to work on cars in college, or how to fix things yourself. I'm fortunate enough to have had my dad and friends that got me interested in fixing/building things so I could help myself and not have to call in a tow truck for a fix. I was struggling to break the alternator pivot nut which is on the end of a long bolt that was preventing me from loosening up the alternator pulley for slack (when I turned the nut it turned the bolt on the other side of the alternator). I was by myself, and nobody stopped to help/said they were all too busy to hold a wrench on the end of this bolt, so I rigged up a contraption with a crescent wrench and a socket extension stuck through the hole on the end of the wrench to catch on my exhaust manifold while I turned the nut from the underside of the car. It worked to my relief. That reminded me of something my dad always said, "country boy ingenuity".
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- #38
Thanks so much man! So glad to be apart of this great community and to have connected with some nice people!Glad to have found your build thread! Love the history on this truck, and the attention it's now getting from you. Amazing find man, excited to see where this goes!
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- #39
Just a short post today and I’ve got more coming with much more interesting stuff but I’ve been meaning to put an auto fire extinguisher in my car. I picked one up at Home Depot and the mounting bracket. There’s a plastic plug that covers a spare threaded mounting hole at the base of the FJ62 seat that is the same size as the seat bolts! I drilled a hole in the extinguisher bracket and mounted it in with a bolt! I also bought that sticker for the blank fire extinguisher! 
I really want the Witsend one, but dang it's pricey. I think you're onto something here.. haha
