What have you done to your Land Cruiser this week?

[Jdc1]

Used a kit from

Straight Electric Power Steering Kit - ePowerSteering - https://epowersteering.com/purchase/product/straight-kit/?v=84de8e2b14bb

and some leftover parts to build a ‘71 EPS system. Not pretty yet but fits.

 

[Skreddy]

Used a kit from

Straight Electric Power Steering Kit - ePowerSteering - https://epowersteering.com/purchase/product/straight-kit/?v=84de8e2b14bb

and some leftover parts to build a ‘71 EPS system. Not pretty yet but fits.

View attachment 3975348

Every time I see a link for something I feel like I should click to see it, but part of me thinks Barry Wood is going to be on the other side of that link…

 

[Jdc1]

Every time I see a link for something I feel like I should click to see it, but part of me thinks Barry Wood is going to be on the other side of that link…

Covid left a lot of scars on us all….

 

[kenjera]

My buddy’s Harley softail has a few tank scars and seat scars from his nutty ex-girlfriend. She was full of rage and I do mean rage. He did’nt laugh it off either. I guess that’s how the restraining order was issued?

It’s not for him…..it’s her!!!

You always encounter 1 nutty soon to be ex... good for him on the restraining order... l had 1 ex who stalked me for 2 years...it wasn't funny at all.

 

[kenjera]

12 volt, spark plug, flat tire

View attachment 3975232

Humming...Misty to her fatal attraction....

 

[65swb45]

Used a kit from

Straight Electric Power Steering Kit - ePowerSteering - https://epowersteering.com/purchase/product/straight-kit/?v=84de8e2b14bb

and some leftover parts to build a ‘71 EPS system. Not pretty yet but fits.

View attachment 3975348

I can use the leftovers from that chopped box Jesse

 

[nabbasi]

Now that ive got the two major rust blisters patched up on the passenger rocker, it’s time to start thinking about filler and paint. When I bought the bottle of touchup paint, I also ordered a spray can of Pluto beige. A little light bulb moment made me realize that I shouldn’t assume that what is in the spray can will also be a match for the body, even though the bottle has been a home run so far. So, I decided to do a test yesterday.

I pulled out the two weatherstrip channels from the overhead bows yesterday, sanded them with 1200# and shot them with the can. Not the whole channel; just the exposed part. The part that has been shielded from sunlight wedged against the inner bow made for the fairest test of the color match. Two stage: two coats of color, two coats of clear.
View attachment 3975236

View attachment 3975235
Dead ringer. Couldn’t be happier.

What are you using for filler? I’m scared of cracks!

 

[Jdc1]

I can use the leftovers from that chopped box Jesse

I’ll see if I can dig it out of the pile- don’t be afraid to remind me if I get sidetracked. Have to get this truck out before the salt flies.

 

[65swb45]

I’ll see if I can dig it out of the pile- don’t be afraid to remind me if I get sidetracked. Have to get this truck out before the salt flies.

You won’t forget.

 

[POPO AGIE]

You won’t forget.

I can use the leftovers from that chopped box Jesse

I have a collection of parts that I removed for my repower.

 

[kenjera]

What are you using for filler? I’m scared of cracks!

l used an aluminium based filler underneath (approx 2-3mm) with abt 1-2mm ordinary filler, it'll flex with the tub and hopefully the outer filler won't crack...hope this helps.

 

[65swb45]

D

What are you using for filler? I’m scared of cracks!

Disclaimer: I am a mechanic, not an auto body guy. IOW, I have no professional advice on the subject.

I’m old school, and I haven't taken any time to school myself on improvements in the area, so bondo is still my go-to. I always try to get my metalwork as close as possible to finish level, so the filler is as thin as possible. Mig welders are absolutely awesome for that.

A tree had fallen on the drivers rear corner of the roof of my blue 45 at some point before I got it in 1994. It had a horrible wrinkle in it until 2001. I sawed the corner of the cab out, put 7 relief cuts in the metal that seemed logical in order to relieve the stress caused by the buckle, bent all the metal out and welded it all shut again. One skim coat of bondo and a rattle can respray ( @Land Cruiser Junky hooked me up with matching paint) and it was a done deal. I have wheeled the piss out of that truck for the last 24 years and you still cant tell it was repaired.

YMMV

 

[Homey15]

What are you using for filler? I’m scared of cracks!

Evercoat rage gold is my go to, haven't had a single adhesion or cracking issue in 20 years using it and it sands great.

 

[1911]

What are you using for filler? I’m scared of cracks!

There’s surely better stuff now as has been mentioned, but in a previous life I mixed, applied, grated, and sanded a metric sh!t ton of plain old Bondo. It works great, IF you: a) mix it right, and b) don’t put it on too thick.

If you use too much hardener, it will end up brittle. If you don’t use enough, it will never get hard. It’s an art that takes practice, to get the mixture that perfect shade of light green and to mix it all thoroughly and evenly, then get it on and in some semblance of the shape you need before it starts to set up.

 

[65swb45]

There’s surely better stuff now as has been mentioned, but in a previous life I mixed, applied, grated, and sanded a metric sh!t ton of plain old Bondo. It works great, IF you: a) mix it right, and b) don’t put it on too thick.

If you use too much hardener, it will end up brittle. If you don’t use enough, it will never get hard. It’s an art that takes practice, to get the mixture that perfect shade of light green and to mix it all thoroughly and evenly, then get it on and in some semblance of the shape you need before it starts to set up.

I had to relearn that yesterday.

 

[65swb45]

A little bling. Installed some stainless steel valve cover nuts that @cwags12 sent me . About the same amount of shine as my yellow zinc nuts, but I did note that they went on easier than the ones I took off.

 

[65swb45]

The two rust repairs are now the two straightest parts of my rocker panel!
I color sanded and feathered the two blocks of paint, but left the transition at the back of the door jamb obvious on purpose. Good enough for a trail rig.

Bolt on patina.

 

[flee]

A little bling. Installed some stainless steel valve cover nuts that @cwags12 sent me . About the same amount of shine as my yellow zinc nuts, but I did note that they went on easier than the ones I took off.View attachment 3975895

I am totally copying that hood support rod 'socket'!

 

[nabbasi]

Thanks for the tips and anecdotes. All very helpful tips.

I was leaning towards aluminum and then topping off with rage evercoat (if I ever get around to doing anything about the body). I’ve got some friends with some hammer and dolly skills, but understanding where to cut reliefs and massaging and shrinking metal just isn’t one of the ways my brain works.

I’ve got a decent amount of experience mig welding thin sheet metal (at least a few thousand stitch welds).

On topic for the thread, I lost my locking gas cap on Monday. I had some plastic and a bungee cord, which worked for the 50 or so miles I needed to drive the rest of the evening.

 

[Skreddy]

Evercoat rage gold is my go to, haven't had a single adhesion or cracking issue in 20 years using it and it sands great.

I’m by no means a body guy but the half dozen or so vehicles I’ve needed filler on (and another dozen motorcycles) I’ve always used rage gold.
I use thin, smooth cutting boards from the dollar store to mix it on and spread it from. Don’t mix too much because when it starts to kick, it’s done and just toss it. Better to mix a few baseball size batches than one big batch that hardens while you’re trying to work it.

With the thin cutting boards (like 1/8”) you can feel the heat from the chemical process. Pretty crazy.