Drove a New 03 4-skinner... then a gutless 91 cruiser... the gutless cruiser with 200k was better than the new 4-skinner... picked up a 97 40th anny with lockers in 02 for 25k.
FINISH HIM!
FINISH HIM!
What Started your Land Cruiser Obsession?
- Thread starter Softride62
- Start date
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My buddy Ryan (xumFJ40) and I found a non-running FJ40 in a barn on a hunting trip one night. Spent the night drinking beer, working on the engine, and got it running. We were up 'til dawn wheelin' this thing through some rocks and cacti in Palo Pinto County, Texas and that engine just purred like a sewing machine. It was then that I learned what a 2F was and how tough these trucks are.
Sold my Jeep, sold my Bronco, and bought 2 Land Cruisers not long after.
Sold my Jeep, sold my Bronco, and bought 2 Land Cruisers not long after.
I was looking for a vehicle that was 4wd or awd that was capable of taking 7-8 people up into the mountains and was Japanese.
10 years ago the LC80 was about the only thing.
I started doing some research and found out that you can do performance mods like the Safari turbo system on the lcool80, etc... and I before I knew it I was sucked in!
If I knew about these rigs when I bought a Montero ('90) I would have considered getting a 60/62 instead then!
Back then I didn't know what the 55 looked like (My landlord had one and I had NO IDEA what it was!)
Time seems to fly when you have an addiction, unless you're waiting for your parts to arrive or something!
10 years ago the LC80 was about the only thing.
I started doing some research and found out that you can do performance mods like the Safari turbo system on the lcool80, etc... and I before I knew it I was sucked in!
If I knew about these rigs when I bought a Montero ('90) I would have considered getting a 60/62 instead then!
Back then I didn't know what the 55 looked like (My landlord had one and I had NO IDEA what it was!)
Time seems to fly when you have an addiction, unless you're waiting for your parts to arrive or something!
Wanted a wheeler. I was looking for a SFA rig with FI...the Crusier was cheap (relatively) and I bought it.Got involved in the community and started wrenchin and wheelin it and that was it.Not very glamorous, but that is how it happened. Chicago
I used to do archaeological fieldwork all over the Middle East. In Yemen in 1995, on our way across the southern tip of the Empty Quarter, our FJ60 blew a head gasket. We had to drive it gingerly the rest of the way, but it got us and all our gear across. Any lesser vehicle would have left us stranded in an awful place. A few days later, the local chop shop mechanic fixed the engine for us, no sweat.
I used to drive the team to and from site in that truck, and take it on the weekends out into the dunes for some wheelin' fun. I ended up doing my dissertation in Yemen, and over the next decade went all over the country in dozens of different 60s and 62s. Before long, they felt just like home to me.
So about ten years ago, there was an FJ62 for sale down the road from me in NY. Being a student, I didn't have enough money to spare the piddly $1000 asking price, and I've been kicking myself ever since for that lost opportunity. Finally, this last summer, I finished the degree. My wife, bless her heart, found a 1985 FJ60 at a good price not too far away, and told me to go get it. It was the best graduation gift ever! I still haven't driven it much, but now every time I go out the door, there it is looking all tough and funky and gorgeous, and it makes me smile just looking at it.
I used to drive the team to and from site in that truck, and take it on the weekends out into the dunes for some wheelin' fun. I ended up doing my dissertation in Yemen, and over the next decade went all over the country in dozens of different 60s and 62s. Before long, they felt just like home to me.
So about ten years ago, there was an FJ62 for sale down the road from me in NY. Being a student, I didn't have enough money to spare the piddly $1000 asking price, and I've been kicking myself ever since for that lost opportunity. Finally, this last summer, I finished the degree. My wife, bless her heart, found a 1985 FJ60 at a good price not too far away, and told me to go get it. It was the best graduation gift ever! I still haven't driven it much, but now every time I go out the door, there it is looking all tough and funky and gorgeous, and it makes me smile just looking at it.
It all started back when I was 18 years old (21 years ago!). I was looking to buy a truck and really wanted a Toyota 4X4. My parents who were going to help me financially with the purchase said, “No pickup trucks”. So a friend of the family sold them a 1984 VW Rabbit GTI and they gave it to me. Within a week I was in a bad accident (not my fault) and the Rabbit was totaled. The car was in my name so when the insurance company cut me a check to replace it, I went looking for a truck. All of the pickups that I was looking at were beat up and they were cramped inside (I am 6’2”). I remembered a couple of friends of mine from high school had Land Cruisers in their family and I always thought they were cool, so I started looking for one.
I found a 1974 FJ40 and from then on I was hooked. I drove that thing everywhere. I purchased a set of craftsman tools and learned how to wrench on that truck. I did everything from a farm rebuild to R&R the transfer case. I learned a lot and started to wrench on all my friends cars and trucks too.
I took it on many surfing trips to Baja, it worked as my prerunner for desert racing, and snow wheeling in the Sierras, etc. Gas seemed cheap so I did not mind driving it everywhere. I remember filling the tank on the corner of Venice Blvd. and Sawtelle Blvd. in west L.A. (Mar Vista) for 75cents a gallon. On a trip down in Baja I got a blow out in the front right tire on Hwy. 1 just north of Ensenada (where the huge cliffs are), the truck went into the drainage ditch and rolled over many times. The truck was totaled. It was heartbreaking but at least my passenger and I were uninjured.
While I was in college I was working and saving money to get another FJ40. When I was ready to buy I opened up my search to include FJ60’s. In 1989 I found a 1982 FJ60 with 60,000 miles and decided to buy it. I paid $7,500. The truck was super clean and very well maintained. I am the third (and final) owner of this truck. It was originally sold in Santa Monica at the old Len Sheridan dealership on Santa Monica Blvd. And came with a folder full of dealer service receipts for the maintenance. This is the same FJ60 that I drive today.
My FJ60 (The Dynosoar) has been everywhere with me. I drove it until the 2F would hardly move the truck anymore. At the time I was very involved with off-road racing (Baja) and I had been towing my race car with the 60. I decided to do a V8 swap to add power for towing. I found a TPI 350 from a 1991 Camaro and matched it with a turbo 400 trans. That was in 1995 (I wish there was a resource like IH8MUD back then!!!) I did all the fabrication myself.
The truck got its name from my first race car (Class 11: full bodied VW) It was green with a big dinosaur painted on the hood. This car was later painted light blue with black and white checker graphics. This has been the color scheme on all my race cars since 1994. Since 1993 my race team name was Dynosoar Racing. The name has stuck and the 60 will always be my Dynosoar.
Copied from my ROTW see link below
https://forum.ih8mud.com/60-series-wagons/190355-rotw-dynosoar.html
Dynosoar
I found a 1974 FJ40 and from then on I was hooked. I drove that thing everywhere. I purchased a set of craftsman tools and learned how to wrench on that truck. I did everything from a farm rebuild to R&R the transfer case. I learned a lot and started to wrench on all my friends cars and trucks too.
I took it on many surfing trips to Baja, it worked as my prerunner for desert racing, and snow wheeling in the Sierras, etc. Gas seemed cheap so I did not mind driving it everywhere. I remember filling the tank on the corner of Venice Blvd. and Sawtelle Blvd. in west L.A. (Mar Vista) for 75cents a gallon. On a trip down in Baja I got a blow out in the front right tire on Hwy. 1 just north of Ensenada (where the huge cliffs are), the truck went into the drainage ditch and rolled over many times. The truck was totaled. It was heartbreaking but at least my passenger and I were uninjured.
While I was in college I was working and saving money to get another FJ40. When I was ready to buy I opened up my search to include FJ60’s. In 1989 I found a 1982 FJ60 with 60,000 miles and decided to buy it. I paid $7,500. The truck was super clean and very well maintained. I am the third (and final) owner of this truck. It was originally sold in Santa Monica at the old Len Sheridan dealership on Santa Monica Blvd. And came with a folder full of dealer service receipts for the maintenance. This is the same FJ60 that I drive today.
My FJ60 (The Dynosoar) has been everywhere with me. I drove it until the 2F would hardly move the truck anymore. At the time I was very involved with off-road racing (Baja) and I had been towing my race car with the 60. I decided to do a V8 swap to add power for towing. I found a TPI 350 from a 1991 Camaro and matched it with a turbo 400 trans. That was in 1995 (I wish there was a resource like IH8MUD back then!!!) I did all the fabrication myself.
The truck got its name from my first race car (Class 11: full bodied VW) It was green with a big dinosaur painted on the hood. This car was later painted light blue with black and white checker graphics. This has been the color scheme on all my race cars since 1994. Since 1993 my race team name was Dynosoar Racing. The name has stuck and the 60 will always be my Dynosoar.
Copied from my ROTW see link below
https://forum.ih8mud.com/60-series-wagons/190355-rotw-dynosoar.html
Dynosoar
My story is pretty simple. I grew up with her, my parents bought her from Toyota of Dallas for $15,550, and kept her in good shape until I got my hands on her when I turned 16. And then I found ih8mud 
Lifted her from stock and put some new, larger shoes on her. And now I'm almost finished with my engine rebuild, and I'm only 18. Glad my Dad kept the Cruiser it's been a blast to have.
Lifted her from stock and put some new, larger shoes on her. And now I'm almost finished with my engine rebuild, and I'm only 18. Glad my Dad kept the Cruiser it's been a blast to have.
jvazquez53
El Tractor
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In 1976, I had a 1972 Jeep Commando. One of my friends had a brand new 1976 FJ40, mine was always breaking and getting stuck, his 40 was all the way around, it would go off road and come back, sometimes towing one of the Jeeps. After that I promised myself that as soon as I could, I would get a Cruiser.
I saw a restored tan 40 at this water and ice shop down the street about 8 years ago. Didn't know what it was at first so I looked em up on the web. Fell in love and started shopping for a 40. I almost bought one that was a total rust bucket a couple of years ago for 2500 bux and decided not to. Test drove another one with a 350 and the guy wanted way too much for it. Had my son and started thinking more practical. Saw a 60 for sale that was SOA. Fell in love all over again and finally bought one.
my addiction started with a 08 FJ cruiser Trail Team edition. I LOVED that rig, but after wheeling it for a while I noticed that the IFS was definitely not conducive for some of the rougher trails here in CO. Luckily I lost my job and was forced to get rid of my TT. I knew i wanted another yota, i knew I wanted a trail rig. I THOUGHT i wanted a 40, but my wife, 32 yo daughter and our 110# dog convinced me that I wanted a 60. I love this thing more than i loved the cruiser. I can actually wrench on her. Which, short of a few minor jobs on my 77 chevy monza, i had never done. Cant wait to get to the end of this road (ie when i THINK ive done all the mods i want)
Dad, he was one of the first cruiser gods
I was 15 and spotted a sweet Toyota "Jeep" for sale. Needless to say, I found out it was a 1974 FJ-40 and convinced my dad to let me buy it. I have had 3 FJ-40's, 5 FJ-60's, 1 FZJ-80, and 2 FJ-45lv's in the last ten years. The sickness is incurable. 
BTW: I still own 2 Fj-40's, 2 FJ-45lv's, FZJ-80, and 2 FJ-60's.
TK
BTW: I still own 2 Fj-40's, 2 FJ-45lv's, FZJ-80, and 2 FJ-60's.
TK
the very very first memory of a car i have is riding around in the back of my parents FJ60. i practically grew up in an FJ60.
for me, the obsession started at a very early age. I can still remember how upset I was when my dad went to sell our 83 FJ60 to get a GMC Youkon.
I remember he tought me how to drive a stick in our FJ60 when i was 8 years old up in our upper field above our house.
now, im back in a 60 and i love it! i'll be a Crusier head for life.
for me, the obsession started at a very early age. I can still remember how upset I was when my dad went to sell our 83 FJ60 to get a GMC Youkon.
I remember he tought me how to drive a stick in our FJ60 when i was 8 years old up in our upper field above our house.
now, im back in a 60 and i love it! i'll be a Crusier head for life.
Mark W
Yep, I really don't really care that much I guess.
It really started for me when I was running a trapline out on the Alaska Peninsula. It was a longish one for ne to cover after work every day. About 40 miles out and back on frozen river and creek. I would take my ATV if I wanted to make good time... full throttle power sliding through the oxbows from set to set. Bit when it was colder (-15F or lower) I would take a 1978 FJ55. Bone stock. I duct taped heavy plastic to seal the rig off from the area behind the back seat. That way my traps and bait and other gear could stay in back with the window down and the temps below freezing while it stayed decently warm up front. Just toss the carcasses in the back with the gear and move on to the next set. Running 80 miles in the dark most of the time in sub zero temps on the ice with no roads anywhere in an OEM Pig.... was almost mystic at times. The runs back to town with no stops is an experience I will always miss.
Dropping a front tire through the ice and hammering my highlift handle into the frozen ground with the OEM screw jack, to lay in the ice and drag the rig back up with a come-along is one I will remember too... but not wish to repeat.. I still have the jack around here somewhere... cracked the cast iron body using it as a hammer. But it got me out and got me home. Always did.
Mark...
Dropping a front tire through the ice and hammering my highlift handle into the frozen ground with the OEM screw jack, to lay in the ice and drag the rig back up with a come-along is one I will remember too... but not wish to repeat.. I still have the jack around here somewhere... cracked the cast iron body using it as a hammer. But it got me out and got me home. Always did.
Mark...
My parents were campers and off-roaders. We had a big red 68' Dodge PowerWagon. pto and everything growing up. I always wanted Cruiser, so my first new vehicle was Blue 1976 FJ40 that I owned for 11 years. She took me to so many cool places. Every time I see a 40 good memories come rolling back... But with a family (and DOGS!) we needed more room. Tried American trucks...But that was not so good. Too big and so many issues. My DD has been a series of six E350 diesels, they have thier place, just not off-road,IMHO.
I found a clean rust free 85' 60 almost 7 years ago. Added lots of $special parts, sweat and time to make her ours. We have more fun driving, camping and exploring in our 60 than any other 4x we have owned. My daughter always want to go in the Cruiser.
Plus we always get waves, smiles and questions where ever we go. No other vehicle I've owned got treatment like our 60.
Hard to beat a cool classic ride.
I found a clean rust free 85' 60 almost 7 years ago. Added lots of $special parts, sweat and time to make her ours. We have more fun driving, camping and exploring in our 60 than any other 4x we have owned. My daughter always want to go in the Cruiser.
Plus we always get waves, smiles and questions where ever we go. No other vehicle I've owned got treatment like our 60.
Hard to beat a cool classic ride.
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For me I grew up with a 1970 40, 3 in the tree. My dad bought it new in 1970. It was the first car I ever drove and I just loved it. My dad drove it everyday until an icestorm, total loss in 1994. There is no telling how many miles were on it. My dad is one that doesnt fix things until broken. It was all original, even the shocks. I have had several cruisers and am building on now just like dads old one. I love them.
when i was a freshman in college. my mom called and said my father had just towed a jeep home. it was a 72 40. now i have 4 or 5 40's, 4 or 5 60's, a 80 and currently building a 2FE H55 62
The God's Must be Crazy - saw it when I was kid, wanted a cruiser from then on - only car I've ever wanted. First was a 67 40, followed by an 83 60, an 85 60 and my my 88 62.
I love everything about them.
I love everything about them.
About sophomore year in high school (senior now), every day my mom would drive me past this white thing, every day I would say something about it, oh look its still there, that thing is cool, blah blah, one day my mom tells me she stopped and asked the guy about it, since it had been sittin with the for sale sign for some time, few weeks after I was driving around in a 1989 fj62, which turned out to go downhill somewhat fast, horribly gutless, not the usual cruiser gutless, worse 
. Well even with its problems I fell in love with it instantly, had to let it rest in the driveway (where it still is....for sale by the way ;p) I was sad to say the least, month or two go by with out a cruiser, then I see another one for sale along a main street, it was nice, little lift, 33's PERFECT interior, acquired it maybe a month after seeing it first hand, Tojo2 is born, since then I've fixed the rust, better sound system, kept the interior immaculate somehow, ARB bull bar, exterior bedliner and straight pipe under the drivers seat . I plan on having Tojo for some time and dont intend on selling him.
-Carl
. Well even with its problems I fell in love with it instantly, had to let it rest in the driveway (where it still is....for sale by the way ;p) I was sad to say the least, month or two go by with out a cruiser, then I see another one for sale along a main street, it was nice, little lift, 33's PERFECT interior, acquired it maybe a month after seeing it first hand, Tojo2 is born, since then I've fixed the rust, better sound system, kept the interior immaculate somehow, ARB bull bar, exterior bedliner and straight pipe under the drivers seat . I plan on having Tojo for some time and dont intend on selling him.-Carl
