LJ70 Build Thread!

[AndyCook]

nice work Ben. sorry to hear you had the flu. my wife has had a horrible cold since boxing day. but so far i have escaped catching it,
good idea filling those arches in with foam, they can hold so much crud otherwise.

 

[Ben]

Thanks Andy.

Main reason for filling the arches with foam is so I can fibreglass over the backs and then stick them on the truck.

Originally their fixed on with metal brackets that always rust and promote rot in the panels. Their also prone to cracking and breaking when off road, so I'm hoping with them being stuck on they might be a bit more flexible and be stronger.

 

[Captainoversteer]

Wow,I ve spent the last 2 days reading this thread end to end. Well done Ben! 10 points for dedication,you are a true inspiration!
I now understand why you're taking the truck to OZ with you,after such a massive amount if work it would be a shame to part company?

 

[Ben]

Thanks Captain.

No dont think I could part with it.

I will inevitably end up with another cruiser at some point. Ideally one of the new double cab 70 series pick ups, or a 40. but I'd like to keep this one just as a toy, for the more extreme off roading!

Might even enter some competitions in it in the future.

 

[Ben]

Dave's blog from the trip the other day.

http://www.bits4vits.co.uk/store/laning-west-of-oswestry/blog_219.html

 

[Captainoversteer]

You also get my utmost respect for A,building your own bits,to suit your needs rather than just making a list from a catalogue and B, Using the truck to its full potential rather than spending all that time and money on a garage queen.
I think you are a LR owner at heart!

 

[Paddler Ed]

Had a look on ebay and Carsales the other day; found some FJ73's again... but they were $9k minimum. Also found some FJ70 on carsales, again not cheap. I think prices are stronger in the summer than they are in the winter; looking at these prices I could have asked for 10-12k for our FJ73, as it only had 151k on it...

There were a couple of FJ40's floating around for not a lot...

 

[Ben]

You also get my utmost respect for A,building your own bits,to suit your needs rather than just making a list from a catalogue and B, Using the truck to its full potential rather than spending all that time and money on a garage queen.
I think you are a LR owner at heart!

Thanks for the kind words.

Not sure about the Landrover bit though.

I'm really very anti landrover. Definitely one vehicle I will never own.

Had a look on ebay and Carsales the other day; found some FJ73's again... but they were $9k minimum. Also found some FJ70 on carsales, again not cheap. I think prices are stronger in the summer than they are in the winter; looking at these prices I could have asked for 10-12k for our FJ73, as it only had 151k on it...

There were a couple of FJ40's floating around for not a lot...

Yeah cars arnt cheap in OZ, especially when compared to UK prices.

But atleast they havnt been driven on salt covered winter roads all their lives.

I really need to resist the temptation to buy another cruiser when I get there.

 

[Paddler Ed]

Yeah cars arnt cheap in OZ, especially when compared to UK prices.

But atleast they havnt been driven on salt covered winter roads all their lives.

I really need to resist the temptation to buy another cruiser when I get there.

I found a couple of interesting cheapo's the other day; a Dustbin Pathfinder D21 for $3200 (But I don't want a Dustbin or an engine with a Carby again...) or you can pick up a Surf/4Runner for about the same, there were some early 2doors around.

I know I want something with a wheelbase about the same as my 73 had, so about 100", which restricts you a fair bit in terms of what's around; a 60 is too long, as is a troopy, a Bundy is too short (and is better drunk )... I will find something...

 

[Captainoversteer]

Thanks for the kind words.

Not sure about the Landrover bit though.

I'm really very anti landrover. Definitely one vehicle I will never own.




LOL! Not trying to offend
You've certainly inspired me,I was not planning on using a LC for any off road work but I can see it coming.
Best of luck for the future and may you and your 70 have a long,happy life together. It should definately last the test of time now,and the OZ climate will do nothing but prolong its life

 

[Ben]

No offence taken.

What cruiser have you got?

 

[Captainoversteer]

No offence taken.

What cruiser have you got?

Still looking for 'the one'.
Will be an 80,diesel,manual and not green. Will be loved,cherished and a little abused hopefully for many years to come!

 

[wobbly]

Ive been offered a job in New Zealand, starting asap, but we've decided against it, the other half has been watching back to back 'wanted down under' and doesnt fancy the climate. Wasnt an issue for me as the job was partly climate related. If it had been Aus. think it would have been a different matter, we'd be on our way!

Pete

 

[Ben]

Still looking for 'the one'.
Will be an 80,diesel,manual and not green. Will be loved,cherished and a little abused hopefully for many years to come!

Great choice.

Ive been offered a job in New Zealand, starting asap, but we've decided against it, the other half has been watching back to back 'wanted down under' and doesnt fancy the climate. Wasnt an issue for me as the job was partly climate related. If it had been Aus. think it would have been a different matter, we'd be on our way!

Pete

I've never been to NZ. Is the climate very different to OZ then?

 

[Graham]

Great choice.
I've never been to NZ. Is the climate very different to OZ then?

.
Hi Ben,

Having been to a few places in Aus, over the years, and a few places in NZ.

In my opinion, NZ is just like Lancashire/Cumbria area - bring your sheepdog "kind of areas"

If some way you could be time warped to places in NZ, and then take the blindfold off, you would swear you were in Lancashire area, with all the sheep and hills etc.

Gra.

 

[Ben]

I found a couple of interesting cheapo's the other day; a Dustbin Pathfinder D21 for $3200 (But I don't want a Dustbin or an engine with a Carby again...) or you can pick up a Surf/4Runner for about the same, there were some early 2doors around.

I know I want something with a wheelbase about the same as my 73 had, so about 100", which restricts you a fair bit in terms of what's around; a 60 is too long, as is a troopy, a Bundy is too short (and is better drunk )... I will find something...

This is very tempting.

Just a shame its a 4litre petrol.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Toyota-L..._Cars&hash=item337e74b1cc&_uhb=1#ht_526wt_932

.
Hi Ben,

Having been to a few places in Aus, over the years, and a few places in NZ.

In my opinion, NZ is just like Lancashire/Cumbria area - bring your sheepdog "kind of areas"

If some way you could be time warped to places in NZ, and then take the blindfold off, you would swear you were in Lancashire area, with all the sheep and hills etc.

Gra.

Hi Gra,

I've heard people say similar things.

I was wondering how the weather compares to OZ.

My sister is hoping to emigrate there so no doubt I will go one day.

 

[Paddler Ed]

I prefer Aus; GF prefers NZ... I found that I liked the complete contrast to the UK so much more (hence why I'm heading to Armidale in NSW to study), whereas South Island did feel like you were in the Lakes/Trough area. Didn't see much of North Island, we did a cheeky fly to Auckland for a couple of days and then back into Aus on a Tourist Visa instead of a WHM one, as our WHM had run out!

NZ is much cooler, and not as humid; if you look at distance from the equator, Christchurch is about the same as Lyon in France from memory, but doesn't have the land mass and Africa (which gives Mistral winds that come up the Rhone valley) to affect it's climate, so is a bit wetter.

 

[Ben]

Got sent this pic today from a trip a few months ago.

 

[wobbly]

Wetter.

Weather like the Lakes, but more extreme, sunny hot morning followed by snow after lunch.

Pace of life much better than UK, wages not fantastic but not had the same property inflation as Aus. It was a foreign office post, so wages were UK based, but no resident status, only a work permit arrangement, so if we went we couldnt stay when the role ended, and I dont have other skills to apply with.

Would go if it had been Aus but thats unlikely.

Tell your sis to do her homework, its not the same as moving to Aus, we were heavily influenced by a mate who has come back after 7 years in NZ.


Pete

 

[Paul_Humphreys]

Dave's blog from the trip the other day.

http://www.bits4vits.co.uk/store/laning-west-of-oswestry/blog_219.html

Could have warned you about the bit where they fell of the track. Thats why I miss it these days, unless its very dry. A couple of nice ones near there. As the where "the foresty machines" had driven, no, it was a Toyota and a few LRs about 2 weeks before. If I have the right place, it is not marked on a OS map. I found it a number of years ago and it was undrivable. I have a group of people who I pass the info on to and they "open" them up. First time they did that lane it took them all day!!