Builds The Alaskan 62

[thecadefire]

I definitely need one of these. I really want the Witsend one, but dang it's pricey. I think you're onto something here.. haha

Yes the witsend was way out of my budget and I like the fit of this and it cost me the price of the extinguisher, bracket and a 50 cent bolt haha. It doesn’t move around and is in a great spot for me to grab if I need it from the driver side!

 

[thecadefire]

WOW! It's been over a year since I've posted to this thread. Over the next couple days I will be making a few postings of what's been done over the past 14 months. A lots happened lol.

First off, I finally found a late 1980s Kaymar Tradesman roof rack that I have been looking for for a long time. I picked up the roof rack on the back of a FJ80 that my mom and I went to look at in Arizona. An FJ80 has been one of her dream cars and we found one. I stopped by corsetti cruisers in LA on the way back to Washington and I bought that Kaymar roof rack from him. I stripped down the rack as best I could and rattle canned it to stop the rust. One day I will get it all powder coated. Top pic is my mom in her new purchased FJ80 in Yosemite with my roof rack on top strapped down haha. Also included is how it looked after install on my 62. Bottom pic is the sanding and painting of the rack.

This was all from March of 2020 Wish I would have posted then but thought I would catch up this thread

 

[thecadefire]

In September of 2020 I did one of my favorite mods yet. My old halogen sealed lights were going out, filling with water and I couldn't see as well as I would have liked. I went ahead and ordered a set of LED headlights from @torfab . I was able to take the factory aluminum surrounding trim from the old headlights and put them on the new ones to maintain the classic look, while adding a ton of light! I also had them send me four relays that were directed plug and play minus the grounding wires which I grounded to some sheet metal on the front grill support. I also wired the headlights so that all four headlights come on upon low beam and that way I get four low beams and four high beams. So much better than what I had before and thanks to @torfab for the lights. Its tough to tell from the pic but I dont even need any other aux lights because these headlights have crazy output already. Eventually I'll get fogs but thats for another day.

 

[cps432]

Another one keeps kicking the dust! Awesome!

 

[thecadefire]

Another one keeps kicking the dust! Awesome!

Thanks!! It continues to live, fighting rust and gas milage one day at a time

 

[BHillteq]

Thanks!! It continues to live, fighting rust and gas milage one day at a time

I've asked my wife to put this on my gravestone. Haha

 

[thecadefire]

Finally added this winch onto my rig... Picked it up new in box for $275 from the local classifieds. Hooked it up and relocated the control box behind the back of my bumper with a zip tie and some silicone haha. Re-wrapped the winch under tension with the FJ80 in the background looking neglected haha. I debated on what winch to buy for a while but couldn't justify the price tag of a warn or even Smittybilt. So I opted to take the chance on a harbor freight winch because it got great reviews on youtube and for 275!? It can't be beat (especially with synthetic rope, wireless controller, series wound motor, and etc)! Came with super high-quality parts and I had to grind the sides of the fairlead about a 16th on each side to fit into the ARB fairlead spot... I also had to trim the bottom bumper fairlead lip where the fairlead sits because the lip was higher than the fairlead and it was starting to do damage to my rope so I trimmed that and it's perfect! I bought a few recovery straps and tree savers and I'm ready to go. Still need to pick up a snatch block, a couple of shcakles, and some front tow points from trail tailor but that's it...

 

[BHillteq]

Finally added this winch onto my rig... Picked it up new in box for $275 from the local classifieds. Hooked it up and relocated the control box behind the back of my bumper with a zip tie and some silicone haha. Re-wrapped the winch under tension with the FJ80 in the background looking neglected haha. I debated on what winch to buy for a while but couldn't justify the price tag of a warn or even Smittybilt. So I opted to take the chance on a harbor freight winch because it got great reviews on youtube and for 275!? It can't be beat (especially with synthetic rope, wireless controller, series wound motor, and etc)! Came with super high-quality parts and I had to grind the sides of the fairlead about a 16th on each side to fit into the ARB fairlead spot... I also had to trim the bottom bumper fairlead lip where the fairlead sits because the lip was higher than the fairlead and it was starting to do damage to my rope so I trimmed that and it's perfect! I bought a few recovery straps and tree savers and I'm ready to go. Still need to pick up a snatch block, a couple of shcakles, and some front tow points from trail tailor but that's it...
View attachment 2813364

Looks great!

 

[thecadefire]

I didn't think this day would come so soon but I sold one of my sport-bikes I had bought recked and fixed up and decided to put the money from that into an appreciating asset Went to @cruiseroutfit and ordered their heavy front and medium rear spring OME kit. Shipping was fast and great people there to recommend the perfect kit for your cruiser. I decided to do the install myself. Let's just say it was simple but brutal haha. I am a pretty good self-taught mechanic but I definitely like to take my time when doing something new. I really don't like doing work to my car when it's on jack stands either even when supported with blocks and etc. Driver side took me a whopping 4 hours, and the passenger another 3. Now the rears I thought would go fast because now I know what I'm doing!? Well NOPE haha! I couldn't get some of the shackles off because they were rusted on tight, and I couldn't get the driver-side rear shackles off because of my exhaust . So I took off the exhaust from the cats back (fighting rusty exhaust hardware) with the help of my awesome cousin (what a life saver) at midnight and finally installed the rest of the springs. The hardest part was aligning the center leaf spring pin with the center of the axle and getting everything aligned correctly. So working from 9:00 AM on a Tuesday to 1 AM on Wednesday was not what I had in mind but hey good stories and good times with my cousin and cruiser haha!

Here's the before and after. Not a huge difference but definitely noticeable. Stoked to buy new wheels and tires soon when @The FJ Company comes out with a wider rim for a 33" tire!

 

[cps432]

I didn't think this day would come so soon but I sold one of my sport-bikes I had bought recked and fixed up and decided to put the money from that into an appreciating asset Went to @cruiseroutfit and ordered their heavy front and medium rear spring OME kit. Shipping was fast and great people there to recommend the perfect kit for your cruiser. I decided to do the install myself. Let's just say it was simple but brutal haha. I am a pretty good self-taught mechanic but I definitely like to take my time when doing something new. I really don't like doing work to my car when it's on jack stands either even when supported with blocks and etc. Driver side took me a whopping 4 hours, and the passenger another 3. Now the rears I thought would go fast because now I know what I'm doing!? Well NOPE haha! I couldn't get some of the shackles off because they were rusted on tight, and I couldn't get the driver-side rear shackles off because of my exhaust . So I took off the exhaust from the cats back (fighting rusty exhaust hardware) with the help of my awesome cousin (what a life saver) at midnight and finally installed the rest of the springs. The hardest part was aligning the center leaf spring pin with the center of the axle and getting everything aligned correctly. So working from 9:00 AM on a Tuesday to 1 AM on Wednesday was not what I had in mind but hey good stories and good times with my cousin and cruiser haha!
View attachment 2834739
Here's the before and after. Not a huge difference but definitely noticeable. Stoked to buy new wheels and tires soon when @The FJ Company comes out with a wider rim for a 33" tire!
View attachment 2834738

View attachment 2834756

Good job! Easy but brutal is the perfect description! Looks good!

 

[thecadefire]

Good job! Easy but brutal is the perfect description! Looks good!

Thanks! It sure is haha! Glad I saved the install cost for sure!

 

[BHillteq]

I didn't think this day would come so soon but I sold one of my sport-bikes I had bought recked and fixed up and decided to put the money from that into an appreciating asset Went to @cruiseroutfit and ordered their heavy front and medium rear spring OME kit. Shipping was fast and great people there to recommend the perfect kit for your cruiser. I decided to do the install myself. Let's just say it was simple but brutal haha. I am a pretty good self-taught mechanic but I definitely like to take my time when doing something new. I really don't like doing work to my car when it's on jack stands either even when supported with blocks and etc. Driver side took me a whopping 4 hours, and the passenger another 3. Now the rears I thought would go fast because now I know what I'm doing!? Well NOPE haha! I couldn't get some of the shackles off because they were rusted on tight, and I couldn't get the driver-side rear shackles off because of my exhaust . So I took off the exhaust from the cats back (fighting rusty exhaust hardware) with the help of my awesome cousin (what a life saver) at midnight and finally installed the rest of the springs. The hardest part was aligning the center leaf spring pin with the center of the axle and getting everything aligned correctly. So working from 9:00 AM on a Tuesday to 1 AM on Wednesday was not what I had in mind but hey good stories and good times with my cousin and cruiser haha!
View attachment 2834739
Here's the before and after. Not a huge difference but definitely noticeable. Stoked to buy new wheels and tires soon when @The FJ Company comes out with a wider rim for a 33" tire!
View attachment 2834738

View attachment 2834756

Great work man, she looks great! I know that struggle all too well. You're better though, for having done it.

 

[thecadefire]

Great work man, she looks great! I know that struggle all too well. You're better though, for having done it.

Haha thanks man! You sure do, we are better for it 100%, and the money saved! I think my hands finally just healed up from all the dang nicks my knuckles experienced

 

[77CruiserDog]

I've been trying to find a roof rack for a while now for the 62 and stumbled across this old rack on offer-up for 20$. Turned out it was a super nice Quick-n-Easy cast Aluminum Rack. It was in terrible shape, so after bead blasting, light polish, and re-dipping the black rubber on the bottom, they look better than new. Most of the original hardware was so rusted they broke off in the aluminum, so I had to heat, and use penetrating oil to get them out. Overall wasn't expecting to put bars on the 62 but they look so good and era correct. All new stainless hardware too so no rust I hope.
View attachment 1920609View attachment 1920610

Funny, growing up our 60 and 62 both had this exact rack on it for hauling around an aluminum boat. Pretty awesome that you found these. Also funny, I'm in Bothell too! I'm sure I'll see your rig around one of these days.

Cheers,
Adam

 

[thecadefire]

Funny, growing up our 60 and 62 both had this exact rack on it for hauling around an aluminum boat. Pretty awesome that you found these. Also funny, I'm in Bothell too! I'm sure I'll see your rig around one of these days.

Cheers,
Adam

That’s so awesome! Imo thats the best looking rack for a 60’series!! I am starting a club called puget sound cruisers on Instagram if your on IG. I want to get some locals guys involved

 

[WSOPgold2012]

WOW! It's been over a year since I've posted to this thread. Over the next couple days I will be making a few postings of what's been done over the past 14 months. A lots happened lol.

First off, I finally found a late 1980s Kaymar Tradesman roof rack that I have been looking for for a long time. I picked up the roof rack on the back of a FJ80 that my mom and I went to look at in Arizona. An FJ80 has been one of her dream cars and we found one. I stopped by corsetti cruisers in LA on the way back to Washington and I bought that Kaymar roof rack from him. I stripped down the rack as best I could and rattle canned it to stop the rust. One day I will get it all powder coated. Top pic is my mom in her new purchased FJ80 in Yosemite with my roof rack on top strapped down haha. Also included is how it looked after install on my 62. Bottom pic is the sanding and painting of the rack.

This was all from March of 2020 Wish I would have posted then but thought I would catch up this thread
View attachment 2801380View attachment 2801381

your Mom looks so young...you even old enuff to drive?

 

[thecadefire]

your Mom looks so young...you even old enuff to drive?

I sure hope so

 

[Devils Paw 80]

...Here's the before and after. Not a huge difference but definitely noticeable. Stoked to buy new wheels and tires soon when @The FJ Company comes out with a wider rim for a 33" tire!


View attachment 2834756

Would this be a wider rim that looks stock? Has it happened yet?
Edit: I see their website mentions 16x6 wheels available in April of this year but they're in black (barf).