What should we do?

[17Taco95]

Me and 15 yo brother are about to get a Land Cruiser for $1200. WE are going to have about $3000 to put into it right away. It definitly needs some body work and engine work. Besides that I want some ideas that will start making this Cruiser into a capable off-road vehicle. I already have a Tacoma but from what I have heard there are some major differences. This project is going to be awesome but it being my 2nd vehicle and my bros first I definitly need all the help I can get. Thanks this board is awesome.

[tacoma87]

What type of land cruiser and what year is it.

[Paul]

What kind of Cruiser is it. FJ-40?

[17Taco95]

I am thinking it is a FJ-40, I will have the year of it tomorrow.

[17Taco95]

i think it is an 82 FJ-40. If this needs to be moved to the FJ section then no problem.

[coolcruiser]

It it goinng to be 100% off-road? or do you still need to drive to the trail?

[17Taco95]

Still need to drive to the trail. Its going to be my brothers daily driver but purpose rebuilt with off-roading in mind.

[Paul]

You should find some good info at www.ih8mud.com

[tacd44]

Me and 15 yo brother are about to get a Land Cruiser for $1200. WE are going to have about $3000 to put into it right away. It definitly needs some body work and engine work. Besides that I want some ideas that will start making this Cruiser into a capable off-road vehicle. I already have a Tacoma but from what I have heard there are some major differences. This project is going to be awesome but it being my 2nd vehicle and my bros first I definitly need all the help I can get. Thanks this board is awesome.

Gears, lockers, lift, winch, tools, friends to wheel with, etc.

The best advice is to wheel what you have, and get some experience with the FJ. Then, talk to as many people with FJs as you can find. Then, decide what you want to do based on these conversations & observations. Many people will tell you that there way is the only right way. You need to decide how to set up your rig.

[grumpy]

look here for some info also. toy land cruisers group. my neighbor has belongs and says its like here for tacos. lots of knowledge over there.
good luck and enjoy

[17Taco95]

Gears, lockers, lift, winch, tools, friends to wheel with, etc.

The best advice is to wheel what you have, and get some experience with the FJ. Then, talk to as many people with FJs as you can find. Then, decide what you want to do based on these conversations & observations. Many people will tell you that there way is the only right way. You need to decide how to set up your rig.
I'd love to wheel it before making any decisions but I am positive it would break down right away. If we can get it to somewhere that we can wheel decently I'd love to but it is old and wasnt taken care of. Since I am going to have to do work on it I might as well upgrade while I am under. I am basically trying to find out what order would logical. Putting a winch on first would be nice but wouldnt be too logical.

[tacoma87]

I think the best thing off the bat is to get it running really good. Then go from there to lift tires armor and so on. good luck

[churnside]

The cheapest way of getting a lot of lift for not that much would be to do a spring over axle. Look at IH8MUD there are tons of posts on all types of cruisers getting this done to it.

[calamaridog]

There are several good inexpensive kits available for less than $1000. Throw in an Aussie Locker for the rear and some tires and you've spent your $3000 in mod money.

[Gravel Maker]

Just a little time and some common sense. The first thing you want to do after the motor is at the very least Front Disk Brakes, get a Mini front axle and swap what you need to, Usually under $300 (cost of the axle), sometmes $100 (you need modern brakes if you use it on the road, PERIOD). With an SOA do a shackle reversal(cost of shackles and Spring perches, Ubolt Plates, & Ubolts) for the front, do the SOA on the rear too. If you can Scrape together a few more $ do a good High Steer while up front (Search 4X4LABS & Marlins forged), Luke at 4X4Labs makes a monster kit and Marlin makes Billet and Forged (Billet are more $ and weaker too!), get the forged from Marlin or the A50 Steel from Luke, either one is good but Lukes are behind the axle, out of harms way. If you are careful, can do the work yourself, and shop well (Pirate Classified) you can get where you want to be cheap.

Enjoy your wrenching :welder: :saw: :p

[LilJohn]

Take it offroad first. You will be VERY suprised what a stock FJ40 can tackle with 31 inch tires. I ran Fordyce and only mangled the stock front bumper a little bit as well as the stock running boards. Wheeling is 90% driver... learn how to wheel first, worry about all the goodies second ;)

After that and watching some of the other rigs wheeling, I decided on a spring over. A spring over can be done VERY inexpensively and done correctly. 100% get crossover steering at the worse when doing a spring over. When I did mine, it cost me a pair of shocks, new ubolts, new spring bushings, and a couple cases of beers to have a friend help me out. All said and done, it was ~$600 before the tires which included the driveshafts.

As for the shackle reversal, I've driven my cruiser both ways and I could not tell you the difference on road. I still FIRMLY believe all the people claiming "godly onroad manners" started with worn out busted parts and basically replaced those. Also, I wouldn't touch those dodge spring perches everyone else recommends for doing a spring over, they are the world's shortest spring perches and I FIRMLY believe that is what contributes to their exagerated axle wrap. Rubicon Express makes a VERY nice set of spring perches that are close to double the length.

If it doesn't have front disk brakes, simply bolt on the knuckles out from a mini truck solid front axle. VERY easy conversion to do.

PS is nice to do and I would HIGHLY recommend doing a scout steering box or Toyota IFS box. It makes the front of the cruiser look soo much cleaner than the standard saginaw conversion.

[Wes1977]

http://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=36084&highlight=mod

will give you lots of answers.

[Valkyrie]

Dan, John & Wes gave you some great advice. The only thing I would add is to get acquainted with these guys:Rising Sun Toyota 4x4 Club (http://www.risingsun4x4club.org/).

You will learn alot from the successes and failures of others, as well as your and your vehicles capabilities well before you spend a dime... and your spending will will be more prudent.

Good Luck!