1971 Toyota FJ LandCruiser

Scope of Work

If you’ve read the story of the 1949 Chevy 3600, you may remember the neighbor who first brought me into that restoration. Once the truck was finished, he asked if I could give his 1971 Toyota Land Cruiser a complete mechanical workover.
When he pulled up to drop it off, I could tell from the sound of the engine that things weren’t quite as they seemed.
A Chevy 350 cubic-inch V8 had been installed by a previous owner, but a number of issues had begun to surface and needed attention. Rather than simply addressing the obvious symptoms, I started with a thorough, top-to-bottom diagnosis to understand exactly what the Land Cruiser needed.
As has become all too common with older vehicles that have been modified over the years, the electrical system quickly became one of the first areas requiring attention. That was the starting point for uncovering the problems, sorting through previous work, and developing a plan to get this classic Land Cruiser running and driving the way it should.

The FJ needed a complete tune-up along with rust mitigation in the engine bay. The customer also wanted the entire vehicle thoroughly inspected to identify any previously unknown issues. Electrical problems and poor connections were causing reliability concerns, compounded by exhaust leaks, oil leaks, and corroded engine grounds. The customer also requested upgraded speakers and a subwoofer to improve the overall sound system.