What have you done to your Land Cruiser this week? (50 Viewers)

[Jdc1]

Next time I'm out for a drive I'll run the torque app and track my RPM at 70 mph as you were not the first to ask.
Thanks for the kind words, it was a soul crushing slog at times, but for anyone doing a swap and rebuild like this, oh man is it worth it in the end.

I still have the top and doors to rebuild, Just to have them match, but they haven't been on it in years as this is a three season truck in heavy snow country.

I write this as I am having to jasco off several layers of primer and paint on the hood that I effed up pretty bad by not letting them cure properly.
I am so over body work lol

The struggle is definitely real. I am wondering if the ability to wind a 5.3 last 2800rpm will compensate for not going to an H55.

 

[pb4ugo]

The struggle is definitely real. I am wondering if the ability to wind a 5.3 last 2800rpm will compensate for not going to an H55.

My 1st 40, 350, sm420, 4:88's and 36's ran about 60mph at 2800 rpms. I could go faster at around 3k or whatever more, but driving on the highway over time It would end up around 2800 rpm. It was just comfortable crusing rpm.

My 2nd 40 has 350, nv4500, stk tcase, 4:11s and 33's. Imo, it's perfect and it will evetually get 35's. I tried stk 3.70:1 3rds and didn't like it. I could tell 35's would be too much. I think the h55 5th gear isnt deep enuff for a sbc or the like. I think the h55 is a 20% reduction which probably works great for the stk cyldr. The nv4500 is a 27% reduction.

I just wish I had a split case.

 

[Stiles]

You are my spirit animal.

They sell super dooper bright reverse lights, which work great for illuminating after sunset backwoods backups or jackasses to the rear

 

[charliemeyer007]

I use 18W spot/flood LED IP 67 rated lights from Amoron as my back up lights. I just got out some new ones last year that can flash and or turn yellow by turning them on/off quickly with the switch, IP 68 60W - they are NLA now were like $10

 

[fireflyr]

I’m in the middle of the same swap. 5.3/h42

It’s been kicking me in the nuts recently. I’m so looking forward to actual progress.

But every bolt is progress

I remember reading Reddingcruiser’s threads when I was doing my 5.3L conversion; he said just accomplish one thing every day. Every bolt is progress, and man is it worth it when you’re done.

At 70 mine runs at 2100 on 33’s, 4.10 gears.

 

[clrussell]

I remember reading Reddingcruiser’s threads when I was doing my 5.3L conversion; he said just accomplish one thing every day. Every bolt is progress, and man is it worth it when you’re done.

At 70 mine runs at 2100 on 33’s, 4.10 gears.

View attachment 3960094

I have to remind myself of this often. One bolt at a time

 

[RevISK]

I have to remind myself of this often. One bolt at a time

Eating an elephant and all that.

 

[POPO AGIE]

It is a processes and some parts needed are not available locally and then you have to get creative in your search to get what you need.
Tooling is another hurtle something comes up you need something to get that task done.

 

[Augustiron]

Yep, lots of problems to solve and get creative with. Lots of great info here on mud, but every project is unique based on the rig, the owners goals and skills.
I am pretty spoiled in that I've been working on cars and motorcycles most of my life, have a pretty well equipped garage and I've been a welder and mechanical engineer, so metal fab and problem solving come pretty easy to me., Even if it isn't the fanciest and highest end stuff.

In the grand scheme of things, this project went really fast and smooth I guess, but it's the largest I've ever done.
I drove it into the shop January 24 to pull the engine and had it running and driving out mid June, That includes stripping it, doing a ton of sheet metal replacement, body work and paint, along with the engine and transmission swap and fab and a lot of other part rebuilds, all solo.

I know a lot of these projects go on for years, I don't have the patience for that at all, kudos to you all.

 

[Augustiron]

I have to remind myself of this often. One bolt at a time

This is the mantra I used also...

"go out for a while and get something, anything, done"

even if it's just cleaning up and organizing or looking/planning/pondering.

 

[45Dougal]

This is the mantra I used also...

"go out for a while and get something, anything, done"

even if it's just cleaning up and organizing or looking/planning/pondering.

Pondering and planning is underrated.

You can save a lot of time and money by mooching around the workshop pondering - preferably with beer, but a mug of tea will also suffice (milk and two sugars please).

 

[clrussell]

Pondering and planning is underrated.

You can save a lot of time and money by mooching around the workshop pondering - preferably with beer, but a mug of tea will also suffice (milk and two sugars please).

If I worked on my landcruiser as much as I think about working on my Landcruiser I could have built 3 of them.

 

[POPO AGIE]

If I worked on my landcruiser as much as I think about working on my Landcruiser I could have built 3 of them.

I understand that. When I am off working I do a lot of screaming and researching parts. Order parts and come home to a pile of boxes in my home office.

This summer has been warmer then normal so the barn is at least as hot so don't spend as much time out there. In the winter I don't care so much how cold it gets I go out and start the tube heaters then I don't care and lose track of time if I am busy and sometimes have to turn off one heater because they radiate a lot of heat.

 

[RedOx]

I have to remind myself of this often. One bolt at a time

I think it's this way with any project and it's nice once you get some momentum going. The daily consistency adds up and it's always nice to see parts out of the acid bath or baggies of bolts disappear off the shelf and go back on the vehicle.

 

[65swb45]

Jessie, I actually don’t remember the name of the place. It wasn’t well researched. I just googled 1969 dune beige paint and pulled the trigger on a small amount of paint to do some touch ups.
I’ll definitely post a review (and name) once it gets here and I have a chance to try it out.

Followup

Got the 2oz ready-mixed paint with nail polish applicator and threw a couple of test spots down on the hood near the hood hook and spear:

 

[65swb45]

No primer. Wanted to see if the bare metal would affect the color

It’s called Pluto Beige, with a paint code of 1352. I’ll share the name after I have a chance to talk with them. Bottom line: I am satisfied with this

 

[70fj40]

Someone should have bought that rig when it was 20K. He will never let it go that cheap again. He is even touching it up now!

 

[RodrigzCrzr]

Someone should have bought that rig when it was 20K. He will never let it go that cheap again. He is even touching it up now!

Yeah it is funny how many great trucks people have passed up. With only a few blemishes but set up. Like Marks.
And then they buy something that needs a whole lot of work.
Don’t get it.