T-Minus One Week!

[60seriesguy]

Well, it's been eight months, some obstacles, and more $$$ that I'd originally planned, but it's come down to one more week of waiting for my old Land Cruiser's "extreme makeover". Intercooled Cummins 4BT conversion, rest of the drivetrain rebuilt, 40-gallon long-range fuel tank, upgraded brakes, upgraded electrical system, re-geared diffs with ARBs (front new, rear repaired), upgraded steering, new wheels and tires, new paint (new color), and some minor expedition-specific goodies!

Pictures will follow, I still have a laundry list of things to finish up on the old girl, plus I gotta button down the trailer project before the spring wheeling season is here!

Planning Utah and Baja expeditions for 2006, then Down to Darien 2007.

 

[HongerVenture]

Well, now that I'm drooling, you have me just as impatient as you to see pictures of your rig. You've GOT to post pictures once you have it back in your hands. FJ60's are beautiful rigs. My wife and I nearly bought one a year ago... it was immaculate. Unfortunately, it was an over-priced Toyota dealership trying to sell it. A private individual would have been much easier to work with and much more reasonably priced.

So yeah, give us pics as soon as you can. :wavey:

 

[upcruiser]

Yeah, this post is worthless without pics!

Sounds like quite the project, are you doing all of the work yourself? I love the 60's alot. I had an '82 that I did a mild build on and it was one of my favorite trucks. I'd love to pick up another some day. Sadly, here in Michigan, not many of them survive the salt and wet winters. Pretty sad.

Looking forward to seeing your 60.

 

[Scott Brady]

Henry,

This is very exciting. How long has the truck been out of service?

A diesel, solid axle, manual Land Cruiser = god among men!

 

[60seriesguy]

She's been out of service for 8 months, that's the longest idle period she's gone through since she waited patiently in Venezuela for importation to the US in '96.

I got pictures today, will post them tonight.

I'll be the first one to admit that the 80 series Land Cruiser is the best all-around expedition vehicle that you can buy in the US, especially when considering price vs. capabilities. But there is just something about the classic lines of the 60 series that I love, it's the last of the unapologetically utilitarian Land Cruiser wagons.

 

[Desertdude]

I know a lot of other folks feel the same way about the 60 series - when you see one in action all set up for the expedition trail you kinda drool over it - - :chowtime:

Looking forward to seeing the photos! -

:::

 

[BajaTaco]

OOOhhhhh! This is indeed exciting. And your trips sound equally as exciting. Can't wait to see pics and hear all about it.

Henry, I'm curious why your sig says "Exiled".

Darien? What are your plans (if you don't mind me asking)?

 

[kcowyo]

Henry, I'm curious why your sig says "Exiled".

I'm sure he can answer this question better than I, but I'll post a very relevant link to a page that Henry has set up. Might want to check out his Culinary page too - Exiled's Expedition Page

A Cummins in a 60.....sick :bowdown:

 

[60seriesguy]

"Exiled" is kind of a play on words, I'm originally from Venezuela but moved to the US in '94, became a US resident in '01, and will proudly file for US citizenship in three weeks, when I become eligible. By the time I moved to the US I'd pretty much decided I'd never move back, so my friends back home used to call me "exilado", or "exiled"

I also used to be very active in the US-based Land Cruiser community, but I had some personal/work issues that had to be taken care of and I pretty much dropped off the face of the Cruiser world. When I got back, I thought "exiled" sounded like a good moniker!

As for the trip idea, I work for Dell and earlier this year I spent five weeks in Panama on an assignment. While there I did some exploration on the side and some good contacts, so I decided that I would try to drive from Texas to the Darien Gap and back sometime in 2007.

 

[60seriesguy]

By the way, I've been meaning to expand on that article for years now and have about 100% more information, included a lot of updated stuff. I just need a place to host it...hint, hint!

 

[BajaTaco]

AHA! Good story! And conrgats on the citizenship! :ylsmoke: I guess there is some road improvement going on that will ease access to the Darien region, but I wonder how far it will actually go. Do you plan to get close and then go in on foot? Are you going to the "park" area?

 

[Hltoppr]

Hmmm, maybe after you have that conversion down....you'd wanna try an 80 series....

Can't wait for the write up!



-H-

 

[60seriesguy]

I couldn't resize down to meet the requirements of this site, so I posted a couple of teaser pics at:

http://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=71399

 

[BajaTaco]

By the way, I've been meaning to expand on that article for years now and have about 100% more information, included a lot of updated stuff. I just need a place to host it...hint, hint!

If Scott doesn't host it here, I'd be happy to host it for you at BAJATACO.COM - that is some fantastic stuff.

 

[BMAN]

Unacceptable! We need more pics!