Aussie with a 60 series in Miami Beach

[Nomad Effect]

Hey All!!

I'm missing Oz like crazy but due to the situation I can't see myself getting home any time soon so we're currently fixing up our Cruiser to travel around the states.

I've been working and living in NYC for the last 6 years but when the pandemic hit my girlfriend and I have had to relocate to Miami Beach. My 1st and 2nd cars were BJ40 and Fj40 LandCruisers in Sydney, Australia but nothing really prepared me for trying to fix up a LandCruiser in a driveway while dealing with Florida heat.

Here's a little walk around of the Cruiser:

And here's our latest adventure getting some new suspension installed. So good Aussie brands are selling over here!!

I hope everyone is well! I'm doing my best to keep across the news over there.

Hit me up for anything!

Ben

 

[Rod1949]

Nothing like working on your car in the driveway and making do with what you've got. That appears to be a 180 litre fuel tank in the rear.
The problem you have though is the steering wheel is on the wrong side.

 

[Nomad Effect]

I have to say it’s a lot easier working in the driveway in Miami than it was working on a car in NYC, we were super lucky though as we had a garage.

The gas tank is one of the few US made products I’ve grabbed for the car. I think it’s a 160 litre tank, 40 gallon. I will never understand the system of measurement in this country.

We’re having a guy make our rock sliders and bumper for us so I guess they’re technically US made but he’s such a legend and he calls me “mate” so he’s practically an Aussie.

 

[Nomad Effect]

I finally got the front springs and shocks in!! Pretty easy install compared to the back. I have no idea why cars rust so much faster in the rear across the states. Super happy with the way these went in!!

 

[discomatt]

Awful lot of work and $$ going into a rusted out car, have you thought about fixing all the rust first and not driving around in a rusted out tin can that will kill you as soon as its in any kind a decent accident or doesn't that bother you

 

[Nomad Effect]

Awful lot of work and $$ going into a rusted out car, have you thought about fixing all the rust first and not driving around in a rusted out tin can that will kill you as soon as its in any kind a decent accident or doesn't that bother you

Lots of work, not a lot of $$ considering. Including the price of the car we're at about $8,500.

Most cars don't handle decent accidents very well. Lol

All the rust is being repaired, frame is done and the body will be finished in about a week or two. She hasn't been moved in 2020 any all. She'll be totally clean when we take her on a shakedown run.

 

[a1bert]

Aussies have no concept about how bad rust in vehicles is in the Northern Hemisphere, 3 year old Alfa Rameos looking like swiss cheese, a 5 year old vehicle ready for the junk heap all due to salt spread on the roads, must admit galvanizing of the panels etc has increased the life span of vehicles (and safety) Remember the old Holdens with panel rust in the bottom of doors and behind the rear wheels
Australia had (has?)some of the oldest vehicle ownership in the world, couldn't figure out why until an article pointed out that rust in vehicles in other parts of the world was the reason. ie all the rust bucket Mercedes that came into Australia from Hong Kong that had sea rust in them
Am enjoying the videos, keep them coming

 

[Nomad Effect]

Aussies have no concept about how bad rust in vehicles is in the Northern Hemisphere, 3 year old Alfa Rameos looking like swiss cheese, a 5 year old vehicle ready for the junk heap all due to salt spread on the roads, must admit galvanizing of the panels etc has increased the life span of vehicles (and safety) Remember the old Holdens with panel rust in the bottom of doors and behind the rear wheels
Australia had (has?)some of the oldest vehicle ownership in the world, couldn't figure out why until an article pointed out that rust in vehicles in other parts of the world was the reason. ie all the rust bucket Mercedes that came into Australia from Hong Kong that had sea rust in them
Am enjoying the videos, keep them coming

Thanks so much for the feedback on the videos. We doubt the effort we're putting in sometimes.

Yeah I've owned a ton of old cars in Australia (1970 Mini K, FJ40, BJ40, Datsun 180B, FB Holden wagon etc.) and when I first started looking at cars when I had to move to NYC I couldn't work out why I couldn't find something that was a little older and more interesting. I ended up buying a 2005 Ford Escape to get out of the city on weekends but even that ended up with so much rust after 3 years of me owning it that the rear shock actually popped up into the trunk and I had to make some repairs. The salt and just general system over here does not help cars last. It's why people over here lease instead of buy for the most part as cars are pretty much throwaway items.

I'm so glad the LandCruiser is body on frame as I've done a ton of work to the frame rustproofing and repairing so I have the confidence to drive to South America if I want to.

If you're interested here's a video with some shots of me fixing the Escape. Go easy as this was one of my initial attempts at a Youtube video, I actually cringe and get embarrassed watching it back:

 

[Nomad Effect]

This is the 1st time I really tried to make a 'how to' instead of just a DIY video. We hadn't been able to find a good tutorial for the 1988 FJ62 Drum Brakes so we were just trying to share what we learnt, hopefully this helps someone:

 

[Nomad Effect]

Front discs are in and super rusty from the Florida humidity.

Here's a little step by step video we put together. I hope it helps a fellow DIY driveway mechanic

 

[Nomad Effect]

I think there is a little bogan/redneck in everyone and I am not at all ashamed to say that the sound of a custom exhaust system is what really brings mine out.

Check how good this sounds!!

 

[Nomad Effect]

This one is bound to be a little controversial. I know it's sacrilege to modify the body but it's going to be so much stronger and easier to maintain.

 

[Nomad Effect]

We have had so many people ask us when we were going to address the rust on the rear quarter panels of our car.

This one is for you:

 

[Nomad Effect]

This video for sure explains why our build is coming up to it's one year anniversary.

 

[Nomad Effect]

So this is probably the most real video I've made. I didn't cut out any of my mistakes and there were many.
For anyone looking to add Barn Doors/Ambulance Doors to their US spec FJ62, it is for sure doable without a ton of bodywork experience but it's not a quick job at all.

 

[tonza]

Aussies have no concept about how bad rust in vehicles is in the Northern Hemisphere, 3 year old Alfa Rameos looking like swiss cheese, a 5 year old vehicle ready for the junk heap all due to salt spread on the roads, must admit galvanizing of the panels etc has increased the life span of vehicles (and safety) Remember the old Holdens with panel rust in the bottom of doors and behind the rear wheels
Australia had (has?)some of the oldest vehicle ownership in the world, couldn't figure out why until an article pointed out that rust in vehicles in other parts of the world was the reason. ie all the rust bucket Mercedes that came into Australia from Hong Kong that had sea rust in them
Am enjoying the videos, keep them coming

The place where i started my apprenticeship used to deal in ex-government vehicles, getting them prepped or resale.
We routinely saw 12-18 month old Rangers and Landcruisers becoming statutory write offs due to rusted out chassis/seams/shells.
They were ex park ranger vehicles from Moreton/Fraser etc.



Also Nomad Effect loving the vids mate!

 

[Nomad Effect]

The place where i started my apprenticeship used to deal in ex-government vehicles, getting them prepped or resale.
We routinely saw 12-18 month old Rangers and Landcruisers becoming statutory write offs due to rusted out chassis/seams/shells.
They were ex park ranger vehicles from Moreton/Fraser etc.



Also Nomad Effect loving the vids mate!

I can believe it if they were close to any salt at all. Still it's super sad for me as I'd love to head back to Oz and buy an old cruiser and I don't want them eaten away before I get back.

And THANK YOU!!

 

[Nomad Effect]

Just a little update this week. We did get one of those cool, cheap Chinese snorkels installed though:

 

[Nomad Effect]

We finally started painting our Trail Tailor bumper and other accessories!! Feels like we're getting closer.

 

[Nomad Effect]

So this is for sure a true representation of how my days actually go working on the car.

And yes I really am so annoyed at the end of the video.