L/Cruiser 197? S/W Restoration - A budget guide

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L/Cruiser 197? S/W Restoration - A budget guide

Post by JohanM »

During the early days of last year, a good friend of me has decided to test his girlfriends patience and went out to Buy a 2nd 1970's model Land Cruiser. :shifty: :thumbup:

This was was quite unique as it was a LHD imported version that has been converted to RHD. He bought the vehicle from a well known "specialist" in Pretoria. It was a white BJ 40 Land Cruiser with the Ambulance doors at the back.

After discussing the future of the vehicle I advised him to fix the mechanical faults first on the vehicle.

This is what it looked like when he bought it.
Before.jpg
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I was called in because I know a lot more about these old vehicle's than him to check the vitals......

I found lots of problems in the wiring
Damaged wiring.JPG
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We decided to rewire where nessacary seeing that most of the things in the vehicle did not work..... :shock: :shock:

After starting to take the front off to access all the wiring, we decided after a few beers, "well lets strip it down and restore it" :shifty: :shifty:

THis is what the engine compartment looked like when we opened it the fist time...... :o:
engine before.JPG
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We then started to strip the front end off completely as well as the roof, doors, and side windows at the rear....
Stripping process.JPG
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The roof is off..... :roll:
Roof repair.JPG
Roof repair.JPG (35.7 KiB) Viewed 3126 times
And then we set about stripping the mechanicals and wiring in order to start the process.....

We decided to strip the complete interior as well as it was rubberrized and I was suspecting lots of rust under neath it, because this was a Ex coast vehicle from Blouberg strand...
interior before.JPG
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Re: L/Cruiser 197? S/W Restoration - A budget guide

Post by Mr_B »

Cool Johan, I love that shape Cruiser... super cool... nice project!

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Re: L/Cruiser 197? S/W Restoration - A budget guide

Post by JohanM »

As we stripped it down and removing all the rubber from the inside we discovered that my theory was indeed correct about the rubber hiding some serious automotive cancer....... IT was widely spread.. :o:
Rust.JPG
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More rust.JPG
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Rust - Damage.JPG
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These pictures show some the extent to which it was badly rusted away......Even after removing lots of flakes and vrot pieces we still decided to to repair it to its former glory. :thumbup: :thumbup:

I carried on with the wiring repairs and eventually decided to remove the complete harness from the Tub and repair and rewire it as nessecary in order to get everything working again..
Messy wiring.JPG
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Sorting the wiring out before.JPG
Sorting the wiring out before.JPG (36.16 KiB) Viewed 3123 times
I spent a few evenings tracing most of the damaged wiring and faults on the vehicle before stripping the whole harnass out.

And here is the harnass and all the switchgear stripped from it, ready to be redone properly... :thumbup: :thumbup:
wiring harness.JPG
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Re: L/Cruiser 197? S/W Restoration - A budget guide

Post by JohanM »

We managed to get all the missing parts that was not fitted to this one from various places. We got orginal badges, new (2nd hand )Original door panels and door handles, a OE heater and ventilation ducting as well as weather strips for the windows with the chrome beading, Side marker lamps, new tail lights, and a lot of small stuff.

We also decided to have the hinges and clips eletroplated because 99% of the stuff was marked with rust spots/ no paint / chipped and generally looking bad.

Before electroplating
before hinges.JPG
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After
electroplating.JPG
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and the shopping cart of loose parts :thumbup: :thumbup:
Loose prts.JPG
Loose prts.JPG (33.06 KiB) Viewed 3121 times
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Re: L/Cruiser 197? S/W Restoration - A budget guide

Post by JohanM »

We spent many cold nights during the winter stripping and working on things.

We removed all the glass from the doors and side windows, made new floors where the old one was rusted through, did lots of minor comestic repairs in order to prepare the vehicle to be sanded down for its first primer coat. We did a lot of rust proofing during late nights...

The cold nights we were ensuring that we stayed warm enough by consuming large quantities of OBS & Windhoek Lager!! :twisted: :thumbup: :thumbup:
late nights repiars.JPG
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Taking the glass out.JPG
Taking the glass out.JPG (27.24 KiB) Viewed 3121 times
rustproofing.JPG
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Re: L/Cruiser 197? S/W Restoration - A budget guide

Post by JohanM »

After all the strippin work, we set about fixing small things and also finalizing the body to be sprayed with its primer coat.

WE fixed the fuel flap back to its original condition. We also set about making sure that all panels where ready and rust free.

The before fuel flap
Fuel flap before.JPG
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Cutting that ugly arm off and uncovering some more rust.... :shifty:
Fuel flap during remake.JPG
Fuel flap during remake.JPG (32.03 KiB) Viewed 3119 times
and the final one ready for its undercoat... :thumbup:
Flap ready for under coat.JPG
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We then rolled the car out, and started to sand the old paintwork down to ensure a flat, even and clean surface for the primer to be sprayed on.....

It felt kind funny, taking a orbital sander to the body of a car and sanding it down........ :wth: :wth:
body work sanded.JPG
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Re: L/Cruiser 197? S/W Restoration - A budget guide

Post by JohanM »

The big day arrived when we rolled out the sad looking vehicle, and started to spray it with a primer undercoat......It was a joy ful day seeing the transformation taking place.... One panel at a time..... :D :D
Bonnet primer.JPG
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Doors primer.JPG
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Grill undercoat.JPG
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Primer coat.JPG
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Re: L/Cruiser 197? S/W Restoration - A budget guide

Post by JohanM »

During the last days towards the gearing up for the spraying of the vehicle we decided to change the colour from boring white to the original red and white roof colour scheme that was so popular overseas.

We bought the paint, new spray gun, and all the bells and whistles. We set about spraying the vehicle the following weekend with the assistance from a qualified spray painter & panel beater. :thumbup: :thumbup:
Spray doors.JPG
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Spraying begin.JPG
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taking shape.JPG
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looking good.JPG
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inside after.JPG
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Re: L/Cruiser 197? S/W Restoration - A budget guide

Post by JohanM »

We celebrated with a braai and lots of drinks that evening as the spraypaint was really a success, turned out even better than expected and was looking really good. :thumbup:

We worked constantly at every possible opportunity in order to get this Cruiser running for its first maiden drive around Pretoria.

We did lots of detail work, and bought lots of Fenderweld and other shaper and sizes of rubber as we started to build the puzzle back into one piece....
Detail work.JPG
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Rubber seals fitted.JPG
Rubber seals fitted.JPG (33.79 KiB) Viewed 3113 times
Bonnet hinges.JPG
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Fenderweld fitted.JPG
Fenderweld fitted.JPG (28.01 KiB) Viewed 3113 times
Puzzle bou.JPG
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Getting it together.JPG
Getting it together.JPG (30.59 KiB) Viewed 3113 times
Engine.JPG
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Re: L/Cruiser 197? S/W Restoration - A budget guide

Post by JohanM »

The last weekend was a very busy and tense one..........Will this vehicle start again after being stripped to the ground and rewired, resprayed and nearly completely rebuild??? :roll:

The tension was mounting late on the Saterday afternoon, when I was given the instruction to start the vehicle, seeing that I had done the wiring and mechanical repairs..... :think: :think:

It did start after warming up the glow plugs, and was running with a sweet diesel noise from those old engines.....

THis is what it looked like when we took it for a drive around Menlyn and surrounding areas.....
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We spent nearly 4 months rebuilding this Cruiser, working mainly at night after work during the week and on certain Saturdays as our schedules allowed for it.

We spent roughly about 110K in total on this project which included the vehicle, all the extra labour, parts, new BF mud Tyres, New shocks, lights, paint, and all the loose bits as well as all the fuel for sourcing parts...... :shifty: :wink:

Today this Land Cruiser is know as Stompie, omdat hy so kort is...... :twisted: :twisted: :thumbup: :thumbup:

It was a lot of fun and lots of problems, but it was so worth doing it, we only drive around with this vehicle when I visit my friend up in Pretoria!! :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
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Re: L/Cruiser 197? S/W Restoration - A budget guide

Post by Scorpion »

Awesome! :thumbup: I LOOOOVVVE these old Cruisers. I plan on rebuilding my HJ45 this year, but I stil want an FJ40 as well.
1988 Hilex D/C 4x4 (Import spec), Lexus V8; Marlin Crawler; Custom Suspension: front and new 4 link in the rear; Disc Brake conversion rear; 35" Cooper STT tyres; Xenon lights; Custom bullbar;Next? Aircon; new front seats, redo the whole interior in nice soft leather, Respray, Double Lockers
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Re: L/Cruiser 197? S/W Restoration - A budget guide

Post by Family_Dog »

Well done Johan, a job to be proud of!


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Re: L/Cruiser 197? S/W Restoration - A budget guide

Post by 2.8 d/cab SFA »

wow u guys really did good job, i am impressed
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Re: L/Cruiser 197? S/W Restoration - A budget guide

Post by chopper »

Magnificent - well done!! :thumbup:
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Re: L/Cruiser 197? S/W Restoration - A budget guide

Post by wim »

Thanks for sharing ,seen a lot of these cruisers in New Zeeland and just loved them.Very nice job :thumbup:
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Re: L/Cruiser 197? S/W Restoration - A budget guide

Post by Numbnut »

Well Done!!!! :clap: :clap:

Stompie lyk AWESOME in rooi!!

I am always amazed to see to what lengths people will go to restore an old classic car or 4x4!!
When I look into myself I wonder if I would be able to do that, to be that commited to a project!
I'm one of those guys that get impatient very quickly that start at Step 1, move to Step 2 and
then wana jump to Step 15! Maybe one day I'l know what it feels like to actually commit myself
to such a restoration project, cause I love cars, and see a pile of rusted bolts and sheet metal
transformed into something that people will admire and compliment! Knowing and telling myself,
"Hey, I did that!", which I am sure Johan and his mate are feeling!

I take my hat off to guys like you!!! Congrats on a job well done!!
Everything Works Better When It Is Properly Lubricated...!!!
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Re: L/Cruiser 197? S/W Restoration - A budget guide

Post by JohanM »

Thank you guys for the compliments... :) :) :) We have been really enjoying the project last year, and yes I will do it again.... My SFA comes to mind when it reaches 25years old..... :shh: Only 4 more years to go.... :thumbup: :thumbup:
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