well i recently was offered this beautiful piece of technology out of the blue and wasnt really sure how much of a trainwreck i could be getting into. i've seen 4 others over on ih8mud and realized how rare these seem to be. its your typical rust wagon but have no idea the availablity of parts or interchangability between the 40 series, same drivetrain? what can i look forward to as far as replacement parts that will work? its been in the woods for awhile and will need a new brake system for sure as well as motor work etc.











any suggestions?

 

I'd save it! Is it cheap?

If you don't want it, I could come and get it. It looks like a big project

 

My Eyes

 

Man, as tempting as it would be, do you really have the time and money to do anything with it? Seriously, you're looking at hundreds of hours and tens of thousands of dollars to get it back into shape.

It comes down to: can you afford that kind of investment?

 

well, im going to drag it home and see what the damage is. I'd be doing all the work also. maybe farm out transfer case and motor freshening. other than that i've been a body shop flunkie for afew years and also done my fare share of being a hired wrench so nothing really scares me. the beauty of the fj is that the mechanics are as simple as they come.

 

yeha man.. im using my 4runner trail rig as a learning project about all cars.... its only time and money.. youll have a sweet ride and you might even make some coin..how much did you pay for it out there in B.C?

 

well i havent paid anything for it. it will end in a trade of some sort. alarm starter in a vehicle or maybe some wrenching on some other old junk. the p.o. of the cruiser has about 40 vehicles around the lot where the cruiser is. My boss got a 64 biscane well optioned for 50$ and some other 60's 4 door wreck that runs and drives for 100$

 

Oh man, I always have a soft spot for basket cases like that. I'd think about a motor swap, looks like it's been sitting for years with the valve cover off just taking in the weather. Glad your going to save the old girl, keep us posted.

Any idea what year it is?

 

save it, it's mostly all there

 

I think it would be kinda cool to swap the body on to a 3rd or 4th gen 4runner chassis

 

Drive train is very similar to the 40 series cruisers, body parts are hard to come by. Keep it.

 

i believe its a 66 but havent gotten the vins yet. i believe that year had the odd little round reflectors on the rear. not sure tho. ill have to see on Ih8mud

 

Oh, the humanity . . .

Just kidding. Man, if you have the time and coin to bring that truck back to life, my hat's off to you. You have the beginning photos of an incredible before-and-after album.

 

Oh man those are kick@ss... is that a factory PTO winch i see?

 

well little update i finally had time to get her out of the woods abit and to where it can be towed to my home. super easy and after maybe 15 years? the rear tires still had air and the fronts only needed about 15 psi lol.







uh oh the rear diff leaks!













i hope the two of them get along together.

 

Nice find. I'd say go for it and see what you can do.

 

Oh man, your lucky to get something like that. It needs a full restoration basically but it will be fun...right? lol
I think later on in life i will try to find an older Land Cruiser.
Don't get discouraged and keep at it.

 

Spring it over and wheel the piss out of it? Or bring it to the island...

Review Buckroseau's thread on mud if you have not already. Happy reading! You will need a couple days. http://forum.ih8mud.com/fj45-owners-...to-thread.html

By the way don't farm out the t-case, they are super easy. Post a build thread please.

 

haha no worries. i'm thinking get her nice and mechanically sound then wheel her abit on 33's. needs brakes and a motor plus some three on the tree linkage. Plus BACK WINDOWS!!!! holy i hate looking at that plywood!

 

Ya, I noticed the styling plywood...

Roof looks like it has had a little snow on it eh?

Might be worth getting a running doner for engine, 4 spd with a real shifter, tcase and axles (front disc). It may be better to find a front axle with half decent brakes than to replace the shoes and pistons on those front drums.