Build TLC-77 Old school, new member :)

[Lapocruiser]

Hi everybody!
I'd like to tell you a lifestory of my Land Cruiser 77
(sorry for my english)

It was born April 1991 in Japan. After few years people shipped it to Russia.
First 17 years it was absolutely ordinary PZJ77. 5- cyls 1PZ diesel, R151F gearbox, leafsprings and 215/85R16 tyres
It's owner drived it every day at work and back home....

 

[Lapocruiser]

I found it in 2008 and became a new owner next day. So the true life of PZJ77 started

The idea was to build a truck for light offroad expeditions
First i lifted a suspension and put 33 Silverstone MT (285/75R16)

 

[Lapocruiser]

The second thing after tyres is WINCH

Oldschool TLC needs oldschool winch. I believe the best winch is PTO winch. There are 2 types of Toyota PTO winches - steel (before 1990) and aluminium body (after 1990) We choose first one

BTW, it's not so heavy as it seems

 

[Lapocruiser]

Next one - front bumper and side bars

And then we made an offroad testdrive ...

...to be continued...

 

[jmylie]

Welcome to mud.

Nice looking truck. Keep the pictures coming.

 

[Lapocruiser]

Thank you! Let's continue

First mud shows the truck is not good for offroad. Unlocked axles, poor articulations. Small clearance. Leafspring plates which contects the ground everytime...

 

[Lapocruiser]

What should we do?

There are two ways to solve the problems in mud:

1. Traditional way. Suspension lift, body lift. 35-36' tires. Low gears, ARB difflocks, etc.

2. Another way. Take a Volvo portal axles

 

[Lapocruiser]

Reasons are following:

- Ground clearance +14 cm with same tyres
- Gear ratio 6:1
- Difflocks
- Durability
- No lifting needed. Propeller shafts and steering rods angles are good
- Easy to install - both trucks has a leafsprings
- Wheel base are similar too

OK, let's do it!

 

[Lapocruiser]

That's what we got

To be continued....

 

[FJBen]

Nice work, keep it coming.

 

[GTSSportCoupe]

Great build and pictures; thanks for sharing!

I think some of the best 70 series land cruiser builds are in Russia. I browse this site sometimes: Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 70-series. Opinions of the real owners on DRIVE2

 

[Lapocruiser]

I think some of the best 70 series land cruiser builds are in Russia. I browse this site sometimes: Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 70-series. Opinions of the real owners on DRIVE2

Yes, my 77 also there, at first place )) Toyota Land Cruiser 70. Opinions of the real owners on DRIVE2

 

[arnott1t]

very very cool

 

[Lapocruiser]

Thanks, guys! 🖐

So, first offroad testdrive in a deep taiga shows we choose right way!



Simex ET 36*12.5*16 very good in mud and not bad on the road. Road speed about 80-85 km/h is not very fast ))) But but it's offset by off-road driving

 

[Lapocruiser]

Next testdrive was a rally raid through Mongolia.

It shows a few weakness of axles mount.
First we broke self-made tie rod
It was repaired by mongol friends with the part of old bed frame and welding at the nearest village.

 

[Lapocruiser]

The second (and the last) damage were rear parabolic leafsprings.
It's died because of S-twisting by portals.

It were repaired by hi-jack, ropes and human brains

To be continued tomorrow....

 

[SNLC]

Ya portals put much more force on the components. It’s one of their downfalls.

Cheers

 

[Lapocruiser]

Also portals put less force to propeller shafts, axle shafts, main gears....

 

[FJ73Texas]

Thanks for providing one of the best threads w/ pics to read here on mud in a long time. Hope you keep it going.

Favorite pic is of what I assume is your Mongolian friend in front of the cruiser.

 

[Lapocruiser]

Yes, that were impressive moments!

This guy Sanjar has a ger not far from our crash point )) He ride his bike and took me to nearest village Sangino about 10 miles from there. We found a "repair service" (Dugui Zasvar in mongolian). But no one can speak Russian...
Than we came to gas station where worked old man. Fortunately he was a Russian language teacher at 20th century He translated all my words to welder guy st Dugui Zasvar. We found an old metal bed, cut a frame part and repaired tie rod!
BTW i used this "bed-rod" many monthes at home ))) Good work done! ))