Wish me luck!

[Off Duty]

Well, a few months ago the 62 was parked with a for sale sign in the windows. Fuel prices at $4.00/gallon and it getting a full 9.5 mpg, just wasn't cutting it

Since I travel daily approximately 150-300+ miles daily in my business and since the govt. doesn't pick up the tab on this one, I bought an 08 Scion XD

Great little car, like a go kart on acid, but still not the crusher.

Anyway, I had a few lookers and "wishers" (wish I had the money, space, time..blah blah blah...) but no $$$.

Fast forward to last saturday.

Heading over to a friends for a party and talking about finances, etc with the wife.

She say's " the Landcruisers paid for, why not just keep it, fix it up, and you'll have it for camping, fishing, kayaking and when the weather gets bad (hurricanes and such).

Say no more!!

Window signs came down, a new battery installed today and fired her up ...I'm in love again.

So here's the plan:

Vortec swap
H55 5 speed
complete interior (most likely custom with utility and comfort in mind) with L/R or Porsche seats. Maybe some customs seats if they fit the general idea.

Do the necessary body work and paint (probably change paint to white, blue or ??? (it's faded all to he!! red now)

The body is in good condition. A little surface rust and some bubbles around the rear roof line, but nothing my buddy (the body man) and I can't take care of

Roof rack
Storage inside and out.

... Wish me luck....

 

[mmmahhmatt]

Congratulations, you have chosen wisely! -M.

 

[bigDcruiser]

mine gets crappy gas mileage, usually 10-11mpg but there is no monthly payment so whadoicare. during the summer when gas was really high i road my scoot almost daily and damn near saved enough money on gas to make the payment on the bike. glad to hear you're staying in the community. now post some damn pics.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Good luck! I'm sure you'll feel it's a different truck after the 5 speed swap, let alone the vortec.

My vote's for white, but I might be biased.

 

[alkarich]

Great choice and what a loving, understanding wife. Those mods will be great. Have you toyed with the idea of a diesel transplant?

 

[TBIFJ40]

EXCELLENT choice!! Keep her (wife and the Toyota) forever!!!!!

 

[Randy88FJ62]

That's a huge change. Gee lets sell it to now I can do Vortec Swap... keep us posted.

 

[sirenmoses]

x howevermany on the pix, and congrats.


(this isn't the red OME 33's blown head I was trying to buy, is it?)

 

[D'Animal]

Congrats!

 

[Tinker]

The Vortec will get much better mileage & you can pick & choose the best seats for you. Best deal is to find some close to you as shipping can get expensive.

I was going to do old Audi Turbo Quattro (T44) sedan sport seats (my body has formed to them over the last 17 years), but when I got my '93 S4 with the Recaros that have the telescoping front bottom cushion for thigh support I fell in love.

So now I have 2 pairs of T44 sport seats just sitting there (next to my Land Cruiser parts pile), & a pair of the UrS4 Recaros for the Vortec Cruiser. Can't wait to get 'em installed!

 

[Nolan B.]

Any plans for OME? Bigger tires? Thats awesome that you're keeping it by the way. You won't regret it.

 

[Off Duty]

Thanks for the responses and encouragement.

alkarich,
I kicked around the idea for a while but it seemed like an expensive proposition and not much bang for the $$. Only positive I saw was the ability to use Bio-fuel, and I don't ahve the time or interest in distilling it.

Nolan B. OME already on board

Tinker, thanks for the information. I'll look into the Recaros.

Randy88FJ62

Yes it is, but there's a story behind it. The original plan to sell was actually mine. I got on the warpath to becoming debt free!!

Got tired of working my arse off just to pay the bills! Decided that since fuel was $4.00/gal and I wasn't going to drive it, to just sell it and the vette and anything else that I didn't need/want or have use for (had the kids worried on that one) and pay everything off!!!!

Get out of debt then buy another one or a 40.

Couldn't sell the beat because of the fuel prices and it sat...unloved for months.

If I'd had a resonable offer, we wouldn't be having this exchange right now.

We're doing ok on the debt bail out, the wife retired from her job at the hospital which has mellowed her out tremendously, and we just decided to keep it and start camping and kayaking and stuff again.

I won't go in debt on the rig and I'll pay cash as I go. When it's done, it's mine and won't owe anyone else a dime on it.

Figure it'll be better than most new rigs out here, mre dependable, better looking and unique...not your cookie cutter F150.

The wife? I don't have a choice. We've been married 28 years and together 30. She ain't goin' anywhere. Besides, it's cheaper to keep her (just kidding baby...I love you!)

Siren, it's not the one you were looking at. I'm in Florida and no one from the site responded IIRC. No blown head gasket here...newer stock motor installed jaut a few thousand miles ago

I'll get some pics of the elephant chaser up as soon as I can so you'll know what I'm starting with.

Sure wish I lived closer to Irvine....I know where I'd be headed next!

 

[mp_cude]

that vortec and h55 swap would go a million times easier if you trader your 62 for one of my 60's....both rust free and nice....think about it

 

[Off Duty]

that vortec and h55 swap would go a million times easier if you trader your 62 for one of my 60's....both rust free and nice....think about it

Tempting offer.

I think the swap will go fine as is though and I'll still have the power and auto locks, air and chit the 62 came with

Since I'm in Florida, it's really not going to be set up as a crawler type trail rig, but more of a "Florida" expiditionary type rig with the ability to get me to the camping, fishing and kayaking areas in comfort and reliability.

I've even second guessed my reasons for going 5 speed over the auto.

The biggest things we deal with regularly here is high water, fallen trees and such and mud....lots of mud

I figure the 5 speed will give me better economy on the road, and maybe a little better reliability in the muck than the auto?

What do you all think?