It’s fun to live a little dangerously. I have a dedicated shakedown loop that takes me a few miles from home until the rig inspires confidence. Nerve wracking pulling out of the drive the first time.
What have you done to your Land Cruiser this week?
- Thread starter IH8MUD
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My first two years with Ruftoys was a wild ride. I took a bag of tools with me EVERYWHERE. It seemed like at least once a week I would be under the hood in the parking lot of the law school trying to get something working good enough to get me home again! My wife and my parents questioned my perseverance; my answer was always the same: it's a machine. It has a finite number of parts. Sooner or later this phase of working through deferred maintenance will end.
It took two years, but it did end. And by the end of those two years, I was sure that I would rather be a Landcruiser mechanic than an attorney. So I passed the Bar, hung my license on the wall, and started looking for a place to open Mark's Off Road.
BTW, next week will mark 40 years of my owning Ruftoys.
Was talking to a potentially new 40 owner and mentioned that Rome wasn’t built in a day…My first two years with Ruftoys was a wild ride. I took a bag of tools with me EVERYWHERE. It seemed like at least once a week I would be under the hood in the parking lot of the law school trying to get something working good enough to get me home again! My wife and my parents questioned my perseverance; my answer was always the same: it's a machine. It has a finite number of parts. Sooner or later this phase of working through deferred maintenance will end.
It took two years, but it did end. And by the end of those two years, I was sure that I would rather be a Landcruiser mechanic than an attorney. So I passed the Bar, hung my license on the wall, and started looking for a place to open Mark's Off Road.
BTW, next week will mark 40 years of my owning Ruftoys.
Mark- will be making an attempt at surfacing for air late next week and will check for the steering boxes.
Back in 1975, I did the same thing…I was no brilliant mechanic with skills above and beyond. Took every vintage motorcycle restoration a few blocks and did that over and over and over incase I had to walk home…. Funny that I never did
For the Land Cruiser I carried my 2 Toyota manuals, extra carb, stock distributor, wiring, duct tape, hi-lift jack, tools, flashlights galore and remember…no cell phones back then. My FJ40 was only 9 months old. I still carry two tool rolls but now extra cell phone charging cables.
For the Land Cruiser I carried my 2 Toyota manuals, extra carb, stock distributor, wiring, duct tape, hi-lift jack, tools, flashlights galore and remember…no cell phones back then. My FJ40 was only 9 months old. I still carry two tool rolls but now extra cell phone charging cables.
I'm not a person who gets starstruck but after reading about them for all these years, it was really cool to see your rigs in person.My first two years with Ruftoys was a wild ride. I took a bag of tools with me EVERYWHERE. It seemed like at least once a week I would be under the hood in the parking lot of the law school trying to get something working good enough to get me home again! My wife and my parents questioned my perseverance; my answer was always the same: it's a machine. It has a finite number of parts. Sooner or later this phase of working through deferred maintenance will end.
It took two years, but it did end. And by the end of those two years, I was sure that I would rather be a Landcruiser mechanic than an attorney. So I passed the Bar, hung my license on the wall, and started looking for a place to open Mark's Off Road.
BTW, next week will mark 40 years of my owning Ruftoys.
MatthewMcD
SILVER Star
Away we go! Removing the last 24 bolts that I haven't removed (Not counting the hard top). Removed the two rear heat shields and soaked and wiggled the body mount bolts. I'll let them soak for a few more days (and applications of heat and PB Blaster).
Found another wasp nest, I think this is the last one, hiding under the heat shield.
Found another wasp nest, I think this is the last one, hiding under the heat shield.
@MatthewMcD So that’s one of the magnetic induction heat tools? You’ve used it? If so, it worked? I can’t take the smell of PB Blaster anymore after 2 decades of soaking nuts and bolts…
By the way I saw this video on window track parts… I remember you did yours…I’d like to do mine
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By the way I saw this video on window track parts… I remember you did yours…I’d like to do mine
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MatthewMcD
SILVER Star
Yes, I bought it on eBay in 2020. I was using it to anneal brass...then I bought the FJ40 and found out what it is really designed for.@MatthewMcD So that’s one of the magnetic induction heat tools? You’ve used it? If so, it worked? I can’t take the smell of PB Blaster anymore after 2 decades of soaking nuts and bolts…
By the way I saw this video on window track parts… I remember you did yours…I’d like to do mine
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It does work, but it does not get you away from the smell of PB Blaster, or I should say you will have to get used to the smell of burning PB Blaster.
@knuckle47 Just watched the video, my only concern is he uses a flathead screwdriver, don't do that. Use plastic trim tools so you don't f-up your paint. I have a set that was, like, $5, but it included a 1" wide blade that was perfect for applying even pressure to get the keepers compressed and push them through the holes.
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I used a good bit of KROIL on my 1971 Cruiser when I first got it. I didn't/don't know much about auto mechanics but it worked well enough that someone who does asked me where to find it.
Kroil® Original Penetrant | 13 oz Can (Aerokroil with SprayTech™) - (SKU# KS132ST)
Loosen frozen metal parts the professional way, with Aerokroil with SprayTech™. Industrial-Strength penetrant dispenses every drop, from any angle – even upside down.
www.kroil.com
Kroil works very well (Project Farm). Rather expensive…but works. I also like PB Blaster.
But my all time favorite is a home brew called Ed’s Red. Primarily for cleaning weapons…guns/rifles but outstanding on rusted bolts. And a fraction of the cost of any other store bought stuff.
But my all time favorite is a home brew called Ed’s Red. Primarily for cleaning weapons…guns/rifles but outstanding on rusted bolts. And a fraction of the cost of any other store bought stuff.
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Have to say this evaporust works really well. I thought this fill tube was toast but decided to drop it in the 5gal bucket and see what happened. I had to scrub it with a wire brush a few times and left it in for days at a time. It is pitted but not severely. Some primer and paint and back in service it goes
If you watch it carefully; you will be able to remove rust from painted parts with it. Error on the side of too little time and it turns out really well.
I put the hardtop on for the first time in a few years. I took it down to fiberglass and metal, treated the metal with POR-15, then primed and painted with Petit EZ Poxy (boat paint). The inside of the lid has lizardskin heat and sound coating and a fresh liner.
The lid got scuffed while being stored in the garage, so I have to to some touch-up. No biggie.
I also added the gas hatch struts from City Racer for the rear lift door. They're great!
The lid got scuffed while being stored in the garage, so I have to to some touch-up. No biggie.
I also added the gas hatch struts from City Racer for the rear lift door. They're great!
Some POR-15.
And I put on a front brake line and front wheel...
And I put on a front brake line and front wheel...
I use the heck out if it. VW apron soaking.
This is way cheaper and the same stuff. A gallon makes 16 gallons.
There are some formulas for making your vitamin "C" powered rust remover @about 20% evaporust price. i think the battery charger method is way faster
Matt, was the boat paint just a matter of convenience, or do you recommend it for a particular reason?
nabbasi
SILVER Star
I had planned on using topside marine paint. It’s formulated for fiberglass (and can be applied with a roller and brush using the roll and tip method).