CA18_Sean's HJ75 Troopy - Build & Restore Thread

[ca18_sean]

1989 HJ75 Troop Carrier
2H Diesel H55F 5 Speed Manual
Aftermarket turbo (Turbo Dynamics)
OME Lift
TJM Alloy Bumper
630K KM's (no documentation, but seller informed me it was rebuilt once before)

I've wanted a troopy for years, but they've always been way out of my budget. Came across this being sold by AUStoUSA on ih8mud. It has some rough rust repairs done (all sheetmetal, no frame or suspension rust) and the miles are high, but the price was right. It's always a gamble buying vehicles sight unseen, but this thing is actually nicer than I expected. Drives, steers, and brakes very well. Doesn't drip oil in my garage. Rust is really not that bad. About the only problems are that the driver window was busted out during shipping and getting a replacement is taking some time (went though cruiserparts.net), and getting the registration paperwork from AUStoUSA is taking awhile. I will update if the paperwork turns into a major problem, but as it's not my daily and I don't plan on driving it for some time I'm just being patient with that. They seem like a pretty reputable importer so far.

Preliminary plans include:
-Upgrade tires to 255/85R16 Toyo Open Country MT
-Repair Rust - weld/patch/POR15 everything - planning on pulling all the windows and repairing any rust I can find
-Custom sliders for the side
-Custom drawers for the back
-Roof rack to hold my roof top tent
-Monstaliner the bumpers and sliders black, monstaliner the entire truck white or tan
-Enjoy it!

 

[ca18_sean]

Since I was unable to find a local tire shop willing to touch my OEM split rims, I took it upon myself to figure out how to get them apart and back together again myself. Bought a neat little bead breaking tool called a BeadBuster XB-450. Got new tubes and flaps from summit racing.

Then I test fit one of my new Toyo tires... looks AWESOME.

I can't mount them all up yet, the troopy BARELY fits in my garage with the stock tires, and I can't leave it outside because of the broken driver side window :/

So I dismounted the Toyo tire and took all 5 wheels up to be powdercoated. Dark Gray.

 

[ca18_sean]

The KPH only on the gauge cluster bothered me as well. I did some research and was unable to find an overlay that converted my gauge to MPH. I did however find that Canadian BJ70's have a dual KPH/MPH cluster, but finding one of those is turning out to be much harder than I though it would be. If anyone has a lead on a BJ70 being parted out, please let me know! I would like to grab some interior trim pieces as well... I need a glove box liner but I'm not sure if RHD and LHD use the same glove box.

So for now, I took apart an old 1st gen 4Runner gauge cluster I had in the garage and trimmed the speedometer to fit. Since the HJ75 gauge cluster lights up from around the gauges rather than through the gauges, I was able to just stack the new gauge face on top of the old one. My speedometer needle was damaged, so I switched to the 4Runner speedometer needle, but that wasn't a necessary step of the process. It looks pretty good, and seems to be working right, so this will do for now

 

[ca18_sean]

Just a couple pics I took in my driveway going to get the mail. It's the only driving I can do until I get my registration paperwork. Lol.

Hopefully I can get started on pulling the windows and rust repair soon!

 

[ca18_sean]

Mounted up my new tires and powder coated splits tonight. Turned out nice had to air down to get out of the garage... Lol

 

[ca18_sean]

Also pulled the drawers out of my 4Runner. I think they're going to fit perfectly with the back seat in the troopy. I couldn't test fit because my wife couldn't pick them up. Lol. Measurements look like it's just going to squeak in.

And finally a box of all the fun seals, bearings, belts, filters, etc. that will be installed as soon as she's registered and I can drive up to my shop. Much better doing that work on a lift in my opinion!

 

[xwazmtb]

Subbed can't wait to see the turn out of this project. I followed your 1st Gen 4runner build for a while and it turned out fantasticly.

 

[ca18_sean]

Thanks man! Got all my importation paperwork today from AUSToUSA and went to the dmv. Had to get a temp tag so they can inspect the VIN on the truck itself but they said all the paperwork was in order. Should be smooth sailing to getting it titled. Insured through USAA, they had no problem writing a full coverage policy. Gave them the Australian VIN and the year/make/model and I was on my way. Easy

 

[wreckdiver1321]

Great looking Troopy!

 

[Bretthn]

Awesome, can't wait to see more progress.

 

[Dances with Wolves]

Very cool! I wish I had the funds to pick up your 4runner. I'll put the word out to my Florida/Utah people to see if I can find it a good home.

 

[ca18_sean]

Thanks!

Having a hell of a time finding a replacement window. Apparently the 70 series sold in Canada came with different door glass than the troopy (fixed vs. folding windshield = different door glass), so ordering a new glass from Toyota USA is out of the question. I have Beno on ih8mud hunting one down for me though Japan, but overseas shipping a door glass is a hard thing to do. I also have a couple emails out to wreckers in Australia that sell on eBay to see if any of them want to send one to me, but we're still looking at international shipping a fragile item.

I do have a friend who cuts residential and decorative glass for a living who suggested we can make a template of my passenger door glass and have a piece of tempered glass made. Unfortunately he can't get bent tempered glass so I'm going to see how much of a curve there is on the passenger side tonight. We're hoping its basically flat... that could be a simple quick solution to my problem fingers crossed. I'm sure we can do the sliding rear window out of flat glass, so that problem is solved.

 

[ca18_sean]

I don't think a flat piece of tempered glass is going to fit. There's more curve to the front windows than I originally thought...

Thoughts?

 

[xwazmtb]

And is trying to contact a junk yard in Australia out of the question? I'm not really sure about this but maybe try to contact sleep off road here in Colorado to see what they think they are land cruiser experts they even have a 70 series truck out front of the shop and they might have an idea about a windshield.

 

[Bretthn]

I am back in Thailand the end of next month and would pack one back in my luggage for you if you found one and had it shipped to my office there. I spend a lot of time there and haven't seen any of these troopers over there to date though.