Builds The Rustbucket: 1988 HJ61 frame off project (2 Viewers)

[Prairie Swamp]

Thanks for posting an update. That sucks about work but I assume it provides Land Cruiser money so there you go!

 

[HoJo 61]

OMG what did I miss? Is this the khaki green machine all stripped down?

No, this is my second 61 stripped down. But i really hope to see the "khaki green machine" in the same position some day. It needs a ton of attention also.

Thanks for posting an update. That sucks about work but I assume it provides Land Cruiser money so there you go!

You are nothing but right. No job, no money income, no expensive Cruiser projects. It's simple as that.

 

[Samppahj]

We could combine our project threads. Same country, same cars, same s**t to deal with, both have parts from same donor car and both will have same color on bolts and nuts

But it´s excellent that you got the bummer beemer fixed and can now focus on the real thing!

 

[D21FJ60]

So what happened?

 

[HoJo 61]

Wooo.. it has been a year and a half since last update, what a shame!

And guess what, there ain't much progress on the HJ even now.
But something has been done meanwhile.
Frame is finished to the point it can be sandblasted, actually, half of sandblasting is done. But i ran out of sand and winter came in so that'll have to wait to next spring. Bummer.
Plus i have been hoarding parts. Actually @Samppahj has been hoarding them for me as he somehow manages to find everything i need. I have to take a road trip to his place and haul the van load of goodies to my place.

I'm repeating myself when i say work keeps me so busy i barely have time for this Rustbucket project, but so does my daily driver.
Looks like i haven't updated here since i had the E36 Bimmer. It has been sold long time ago and replaced with HDJ80.
Check out the thread: Growing the family -> HDJ80 VX
This thing has been somewhat troublematic, actually it is sitting in a garage right now, turbo blew up.
Then bought an E39 530D, drove it for 2 months but my sister wanted it so bad i had to sell.

This brings us to present and i'm dailydriving HJ60 with 12H-T engine swapped in and other mods.

Hopefully i'm back to building Rustbucket as soon as possible. I'm somewhat disappointed in this dead slow progression.
I have set many targets but none of them has been met. Frustrating. But i'm not giving up, things move on slowly, but surely.

I don't have many pics to share as i managed to break up my phone and lost some of them, but just boring rust fixes.

Making of frame "rivets".

Build a sandblaster.

 

[HoJo 61]

E39 530D i had for a while.

HDJ80.

And HJ60/61

 

[NeverGiveUpYota]

Build a sandblaster

Your awesome.

 

[HoJo 61]

Hello!

Guess what? I have made progress!
Not a ton but i'm moving forward, slowly.

Let's start what's up with the body.
It is on a rotisserie completely stripped up, everything that bolts to it has been removed.
Even all the factory sound insulation and undercarriage protection.
Both inner rocker panels has been replaced and floor panel patched.

I'm now working on right hand side outer rocker panel and wheel arch.
Had a little trouble with outer rocker panel(s) i bought from CruiserWorld, they are not even close to the original shape. Completely waste of money.
Well, local steel shop to the rescue, they bend me new panels using original piece of sill as a template. Perfect.
Sorry i don't really have any pics worth to show right now, i'll try to make some.

Then the frame.
It is finished up, sandblasted and galvanized.
Next up is a paint, but that has to wait to next spring, i have no access to warm place where you can use paint gun without making a mess.
Same with the axles and everything else, sandblast and paint next spring/summer at the earliest.

The plan now is to make the body, doors, fenders... everything ready to the point i can paint them once weather warms up.
That means i have 5 months to do all the metal work.
If you have been following this project, you may already know things don't always go to a plan.
So take this skeptically.


@Samppahj 's old rotisserie, he was kind enough to sell it to me once he didn't need it anymore. I just added the tires.

Sourced a set of original tires for show use if i ever end in one, again thanks to @Samppahj for the help!

PLUS, i want to add i have been hoarding more fancy rides.
BJ75 1986 3B/H55F lockers, winch, seats for 9. Rust.
E39 540i 6 gang.
HDJ has got some mods too, HX35, IC, 35 tires...

 

[Samppahj]

The plan now is to make the body, doors, fenders... everything ready to the point i can paint them once weather warms up.
That means i have 5 months to do all the metal work.

When summer comes you have everything so well set up that the car will be ready before you know it. Or was it so that the summer is over before you know it...

 

[HoJo 61]

When summer comes you have everything so well set up that the car will be ready before you know it. Or was it so that the summer is over before you know it...

Maybe the latter...

 

[TLC Norway]

Looking good, keep it up!!

 

[alex cortopassi]

Dear Hojo61 I wanted to congratulate you on the beautiful work you are doing on your project, really fantastic and very good! I also have an HJ60 and I have worked hard to bring it back to life. Please don't give up right now that you've done that awesome loom work. Unfortunately, while I was working on the Toy I fell and broke my ankle, but I didn't give up! I await an update next spring for the update I recommend.

In the meantime, I wish you a Merry Christmas.
Alex

 

[HoJo 61]

Dear Hojo61 I wanted to congratulate you on the beautiful work you are doing on your project, really fantastic and very good! I also have an HJ60 and I have worked hard to bring it back to life. Please don't give up right now that you've done that awesome loom work. Unfortunately, while I was working on the Toy I fell and broke my ankle, but I didn't give up! I await an update next spring for the update I recommend.
In the meantime, I wish you a Merry Christmas.
Alex

Hello! Thank you for the kind words.
It sure always sucks to broke a bone or something up. The pain and downtime working on Cruisers...
GREAT looking HJ60! You have all the chrome bling bling and a sunroof, wish i had those.

I've had great progress lately, right hand side sill and wheel arch are ready for sandblast and primer.
Weather has been quite crappy (snowing or raining) lately which prevent me from sandblasting outdoors.

But i wish happy Xmas for everybody!

 

[CenTXFJ60]

Dear Hojo61 I wanted to congratulate you on the beautiful work you are doing on your project, really fantastic and very good! I also have an HJ60 and I have worked hard to bring it back to life. Please don't give up right now that you've done that awesome loom work. Unfortunately, while I was working on the Toy I fell and broke my ankle, but I didn't give up! I await an update next spring for the update I recommend.
View attachment 2528046View attachment 2528050 In the meantime, I wish you a Merry Christmas.
Alex

Man that hood ornament is great. Did you add that yourself? sorry to hear about your ankle. Good luck with the healing process.

 

[alex cortopassi]

I am 75 years old and my recovery was certainly much slower than that of the young Hojo61 I'm sure, but I was a bit lame, but it's the same at my age, I won't be able to go skiing anymore but patience I'm too old now ...
Sure I certainly put the emblem that i love on it by myself!
Again Merry Christmas.