VMJ73 Resto-Not (8 Viewers)

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I might have a truck or ten....
 
Another premature unwrapping from Santa Alberto's bag o' gifts....

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Almost...

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Thanks, Alberto!!

Rain washed away opportunity to paint last time, so returned to finish up:

Before

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After

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Gotta celebrate the small victories to maintain positivity and with only 30-45 minute intermittent segments to work on anything, they're all small.

If the real Santa is listening, what I'd really like is to shed the phone and responsibilities it creates, from Friday to Monday, a couple of times a year......or a couple of million cash and I'll shed the phone, forever.
 
They way I see it 4.56 sometimes it's too long with off road, and too short when doing HW .. I do also have 3:1 marks t-case reduction.
 
Nice truck man. Funny thread too. I just find it weird that Toyota keeps putting steering wheels on the wrong side. I'll be back for updates :)
 
Picked up a few eBay bucks for Christmas and before the wrapping paper hit the trash can, had it wisely spent on a few miscellaneous, 'non-acq in U.S.' goods from Oz, as well a few items from @ranma21 's eBay store.

Don't know about y'all (ain't judging, regardless) but disallow other's manhands fondling my knob, nor care for the unknown sticky residues deposited from their groping.

To insure of a pure as driven snow pristine-ness, ordered replacements from Ian, reaffirming an indescribable sense of confidence......

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even though my untouched knob is considerably smaller than the previous, manhandled it replaced.

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Do you have a pic of this?

Nothing more than the EPC generation...

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Oddly enough, it's shown on the BJ73, VM equipped, post '90, as well as HZJ, PZJ, KZJ 7Xs from '90 through 2007, yet it only exists in, what must be the last bastion of obscure Cruiser rarities, somewhere in Russia.

Of course, the same "shop" shows one of every part ever produced for every Cruiser that ever existed, so I don't feel my inability to speak Russian is keeping me from acquiring.
 
Hmm, seems I should still have that floating around somewhere.

If you happen upon, I'll make it worth your time and effort.

I can cobble something up, but prefer the more elegant, OE approach, obviously, preferring new, for simplicity.

Baffling that a part that was used for a long damn time, can be rendered unavailable.
 
Before banished to iPhoto trash bin.

The VM throttle cable had an odd firewall mount, unlike a BJ or HZJ, so Joe did what he had to for a cable.

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New cable, new brackets, mounts....

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Have since modified an 80 mount that, with forced persuasion, mounts to the head on the exhaust mani side.

Finished up the cooling system, short of heater core or any heater related piping internal the firewall.

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Hoses, shroud, resi, radiator, heater valve......bolts and washers.

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Can't seem to figure out the cables that control the heater operation, but get to when the dash comes out.

Water temp nor oil pressure gauge accurately read, this after attempting any and ever known combination of sender/senser.

This should be the same for the VM, but doesn't accurately register.

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Bunch of other minor odds and ends, but unworthy of documenting.

The coolest, from beno, which fixed a longstanding frustration, yet prompted another to replace.

New door tops to replace the rusted (and broke DS)

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Can't figure out what's pinching the DS glass rendering it immobile the last few inches of upward operation.

AlbertoSD personally delivered a gift from Joe K, and spent 4-5 hours realigning front panels and hood to get it kinda straight(er).

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Now I've more grilles than a '90s rap star....

Thanks Alberto and Joe.

Picked up a transfer case parking brake housing from @whitey45 and balance of components from Georg. Hopefully get the uses bits prepped and ready to swap the p brake from rear axle to TC in next few weeks.
 
Can't figure out WTF is wrong with charging/electrical system, as its been an issue since she arrived with the VM.

Starts 99.9% of the time, this Saturday the first no go, forcing a theft of the new 40 battery. It'll charge, but one battery must be pulling the other down, because when restarting after a brief period, it's showing low.

Don't know how others are wired, but the alternator connects to the PS + , PS + connects to DS +, DS + to starter.

1FZ alternator that, when tested, is putting +14 to the PS battery.

Two new batteries, simultaneously installed, lasted 5 months, before killing the PS, this weekend.

I know everyone is pro dual battery, but wondering if it's really necessary, considering climate and usage, since the forward placement of DS battery will be battling for real estate with the coilover, soon, anyway.

The ONLY time I've ever needed to winch excessively, is with @Fireman spotting (of course, I didn't have a winch installed) so don't know if that's justification to maintain two, or if one bad mo fo would be enough.

If two are a must, gonna have to figure out a way to mount both, and isolate, because this is getting old. Don't see why they wouldn't have been isolated, originally, considering one is only as strong as the other.

One? Two?

Have to figure out soon, to order correctly ordered + and - terminal posts, since this configuration seems to need oddities that aren't on the shelf at Sears.
 
Even I can't figure out what I can't figure out.... :rolleyes:

Went down a few shoes sizes a while back.

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Worse mileage than the 37s, but swapping thirds (VMs were 4.56 equipped) this week or next. Shifting into 3rd in the intersection, currently.

Introduced to the Pig.

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Pig is, by far, the fastest Cruiser in the lineup. I'd even pit against Mrs. D's for pinks.

Don't know how gears or the HZ turbo may change that, but will be seen soon.
 
Why go down to the 35's? And are those seats just reupholstered or replaced? They look killer.

And when are you going back to the original front grille? :flipoff2:
 
Why go down to the 35's?

Krawlers ain't the most comfortable tire for on road and the 35" KM2s will suffice for the light off road/on road usage this 73 will see.

In preliminary suspension design, it was determined the frame and rear tub would've cut just aft the B pillar to achieve link bliss and it's too clean a Cruiser to indiscriminately hack away at.

Pretty much, have attempted with every known Cruiser variant body on frame and aft the B poses too many limitations for both, so the solution appears to be a Cruiser truck-ish cab on a built frame......but another thread, another day.

And are those seats just reupholstered or replaced?

Replaced with new rear and barely used fronts from @joekatana's inventory, along with swapping fixed seats for sprung.

It's a completely different experience, one better suited for the smaller bodied. At no fault to the seat, since 6' and 220, I lose leg room as a drive progresses and have to lift up to allow seat to raise, periodically. Comfy, nonetheless.

Hoping Joe's expeditions abroad turn up the rest of the corresponding light gray interior components.

@joekatana ,

Rumor has it there's several R151F/RF1A Reduction Box/HF1A transfer cases running around your neck of the woods, in competition PZ or LJ 7Xs, one specifically said to be running Patrols.

If you happen upon one of these unicorns (crawler box or anything directly attached, not entire truck, as the limit there has been hit) bag it, tag it, and bring it on home.

And when are you going back to the original front grille?

Looking for chrome signals to match and once conditions warrant the 'turbo' badging.
 
[QUOTE="Delancy,

@joekatana ,

Rumor has it there's several R151F/RF1A Reduction Box/HF1A transfer cases running around your neck of the woods, in competition PZ or LJ 7Xs, one specifically said to be running Patrols.

If you happen upon one of these unicorns (crawler box or anything directly attached, not entire truck, as the limit there has been hit) bag it, tag it, and bring it on home.



Looking for chrome signals to match and once conditions warrant the 'turbo' badging.[/QUOTE]

Only one that might have that reduction box is that 2LT Trophy racer I mentioned to you before,let me contact him again and find out what has been done to it.
 

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