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LJ70 Build Thread!
- Thread starter Ben
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ModelMakerMan
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They stopped making them because they didnt work properly.
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Thanks guys. 
Thing is nothing else was stuck down in the container, none of the boxes etc.
I think as Dave said, the tyres must have just gone a bit soft.
Cant wait to drive it!!
I did start driving it up and down when I got it out of the container, but I dont think the people at the warehouse were too happy about that as some one came out and asked if I could drive it into the warehouse now.
I wanted to take it for a spin round the block.
Thing is nothing else was stuck down in the container, none of the boxes etc.
I think as Dave said, the tyres must have just gone a bit soft.
Cant wait to drive it!!
I did start driving it up and down when I got it out of the container, but I dont think the people at the warehouse were too happy about that as some one came out and asked if I could drive it into the warehouse now.
I wanted to take it for a spin round the block.
AndyCook
Well-Known Member
Whoo hooo fantastic to see your 70 arrive in Oz. 
My stupid tablet wont let me post the fleet if smileys i want to add
chuffed for you its arrived OK. Looking forward to more Epic trip reports.
All my trip reports at moment are on scottish skiing forums.
My stupid tablet wont let me post the fleet if smileys i want to add
chuffed for you its arrived OK. Looking forward to more Epic trip reports.
All my trip reports at moment are on scottish skiing forums.
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Scott
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Really pleased that the 70 and all your gear arrived safely. The 70 looks great basking in the Ozzy sunshine 
It's mad that after the adventurous life it's had so far, it's now half a world away and about to embark on even greater adventures!!
Hope all goes well with getting through customs and on the road
It's mad that after the adventurous life it's had so far, it's now half a world away and about to embark on even greater adventures!! Hope all goes well with getting through customs and on the road
Jimbo4x4
Well-Known Member
Awesome to see the ol' girl has arrived in good form 
got everything crossed here that all goes smoothly with customs, quarantine, and getting ready for the Aussie black-top (and dirt-top). Like everyone else has said, I can't wait to see some trip reports either! Gotta say mate I'm mildly jealous of your situation!
got everything crossed here that all goes smoothly with customs, quarantine, and getting ready for the Aussie black-top (and dirt-top). Like everyone else has said, I can't wait to see some trip reports either! Gotta say mate I'm mildly jealous of your situation!
Paddler Ed
Well-Known Member
Are you getting it complianced as a 2 seater or as a 4/5 seater? If you're wanting to put the seats in at a later date I'd get it done with the seats in the back, otherwise it'll go down as a 2 seater, and you'd need to get an engineers report to use it as a 4/5 seater... mind you I think you're supposed to get it engineered as a 2 seater as well if you remove the back seats, but that's a whole different bit, and less important.
My guess would be heat affecting the varnished marine ply floor. Nowt to worry about. Great to see your car again Ben, and that they didn't drop your container on the way. Congrats !
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Thanks guys.
So happy to have my truck here!!!!!!!!!!
Jim I bought a slab of TED last night. Tastes beautiful and always makes me think of you as I know your also a big fan.
Let me know when you and Laura are coming over.
Not sure Ed regarding 2 or 5 seats. I will be getting it on the road as a 2 seater, but brought the back seat as I had room and one day may wish to put them back in, which is very unlikely as I like having the drawer system in the back.
One option I have got is to put a front bench seat out of a 76/79 pick up in the front in place of the passenger seat and center console. That would give me 3 seats in the front and is what they have done with the 70 pick up on the farm here. They just got one from a wreckers yard.
Not sure I can make it to Birsville Paul.
Isnt it the Easter weekend?
I'm going away for 4 days with the DR4WD club. Your welcome to join us if you like.
Also I dont really want to be involved with 4WD Action anymore, not after what happened to Betsy.
Drop me a PM or give me a call if your interested.
I'm hoping mine will be on the road by then, otherwise I was going to ask if anyone in the club will tow it for me.
So happy to have my truck here!!!!!!!!!!
Jim I bought a slab of TED last night. Tastes beautiful and always makes me think of you as I know your also a big fan.
Let me know when you and Laura are coming over.
Not sure Ed regarding 2 or 5 seats. I will be getting it on the road as a 2 seater, but brought the back seat as I had room and one day may wish to put them back in, which is very unlikely as I like having the drawer system in the back.
One option I have got is to put a front bench seat out of a 76/79 pick up in the front in place of the passenger seat and center console. That would give me 3 seats in the front and is what they have done with the 70 pick up on the farm here. They just got one from a wreckers yard.
Not sure I can make it to Birsville Paul.
Isnt it the Easter weekend?
I'm going away for 4 days with the DR4WD club. Your welcome to join us if you like.
Also I dont really want to be involved with 4WD Action anymore, not after what happened to Betsy.
Drop me a PM or give me a call if your interested.
I'm hoping mine will be on the road by then, otherwise I was going to ask if anyone in the club will tow it for me.
Paddler Ed
Well-Known Member
I suspect you'd find it easy to sell/swap your single seat to someone who has a 1+2 set up; the 2 seat isn't that comfy (if it was the same as in our 73) for any length of time, even with one of you on it. We rarely ran 3 up in the front, but did from time to time (ie couldn't be bothered to get into the back)
What happened to Betsy? Is this Roo Systems or did she go on a photo shoot and get messed up?
What happened to Betsy? Is this Roo Systems or did she go on a photo shoot and get messed up?
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Spending the whole of January cleaning and packing everything paid off!
Quarantine inspectors passed all my stuff first inspection! 
Its not been cheap though.
£1800 to get the container from my house to Melbourne.
£2000 this end to get everything from the port to the bonded warehouse, inspected and cleared.
The port fees were huge! £400 to lift the container from the ship onto the warf.
Anyway..........................................
I am very happy to have all my stuff back. Got all my furniture and stuff in my room now, and this mornings mug of tea tastes much better out of my own mug!
We used one of the trucks from the farm to get everything yesterday afternoon.
It was very comforting to get that smell of chips as I drove her up and down with the quarter of a tank of 60% veg oil in her.
And finally home!
Took me 3 hours to unload the truck and stack everything in the corner of one of the barns.
Couldnt resist opening every box and seeing what was inside. It was a bit like Christmas as I couldnt really remember what I'd packed.
Fair dinkum I've bought some crap with me!
Was dark and late when I finally got my LandCruiser off.
Not particularly great timing though as the big event is on this weekend so were working flat out trying to get the course finished.
Weve got 540 riders competing!
Going to be working 12 hour days for the next few days to make up for the time off I've had off going to the bonded warehouse.
Friday I'm getting a road worthy certificate, and then I just need to drive to Vic Roads, the licensing authority.
They will check the chassis and engine numbers and issue me with my registration plates.
Fingers crossed everything goes to plan so I can drive to the DR4WD club 4 day weekend, next weekend.
So feeling really really happy this morning!
Its looking like my huge gamble of moving here, and then having to find work and some where to live, before the container arrives has paid off!
Now were back on cruiser related things..........................
I need a winch, fridge and split charge system.
Any suggestions on which split charge system to get?
Quarantine inspectors passed all my stuff first inspection!
Its not been cheap though.
£1800 to get the container from my house to Melbourne.
£2000 this end to get everything from the port to the bonded warehouse, inspected and cleared.
The port fees were huge! £400 to lift the container from the ship onto the warf.
Anyway..........................................
I am very happy to have all my stuff back. Got all my furniture and stuff in my room now, and this mornings mug of tea tastes much better out of my own mug!
We used one of the trucks from the farm to get everything yesterday afternoon.
It was very comforting to get that smell of chips as I drove her up and down with the quarter of a tank of 60% veg oil in her.
And finally home!
Took me 3 hours to unload the truck and stack everything in the corner of one of the barns.
Couldnt resist opening every box and seeing what was inside. It was a bit like Christmas as I couldnt really remember what I'd packed.
Fair dinkum I've bought some crap with me!
Was dark and late when I finally got my LandCruiser off.
Not particularly great timing though as the big event is on this weekend so were working flat out trying to get the course finished.
Weve got 540 riders competing!
Going to be working 12 hour days for the next few days to make up for the time off I've had off going to the bonded warehouse.
Friday I'm getting a road worthy certificate, and then I just need to drive to Vic Roads, the licensing authority.
They will check the chassis and engine numbers and issue me with my registration plates.
Fingers crossed everything goes to plan so I can drive to the DR4WD club 4 day weekend, next weekend.
So feeling really really happy this morning!
Its looking like my huge gamble of moving here, and then having to find work and some where to live, before the container arrives has paid off!
Now were back on cruiser related things..........................
I need a winch, fridge and split charge system.
Any suggestions on which split charge system to get?
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Now its light enough I got a couple of pics of my fleet!
Looking forward to being able to use my 70 for work, as my astra is getting filthy. Going to just use the astra at evenings and weekends, and obviously if my truck is off the road.
Might be driving my 70 later today!
going to call up this morning and get an unregistered vehicle permit!
Looking forward to being able to use my 70 for work, as my astra is getting filthy. Going to just use the astra at evenings and weekends, and obviously if my truck is off the road.
Might be driving my 70 later today!
going to call up this morning and get an unregistered vehicle permit!
Wow Ben, home sweet home at last... A cup of tea out of your own mug... Priceless! 
I totted your numbers up to £4,200 not bad really when you consider (with the shipping) importing all that stuff including the car.
When I was in Qatar in 2005 it was my intention to import into Romania the 10 month old 2004 3.0 litre petrol Mitsubishi Pajero with 7,000 km on the clock that I bought for €14,000 (cars in Qatar are nice and cheap). Did some research and found out that the import tax would be €8,000 plus mods for compliance
shock:wtf) appx. €2,000 plus "official" backhanders at customs €3,000 plus €2,000 shipping.... €15k !!! More than I paid for the car!!
I was so sick of the red (and brown) tape mentality of Romania that I kept the car for 18 months, sold it with 56,000 km on the clock for €12,500 and bought an 80 on my return to Romania in 2006. Never looked back!
The Pajero was a big comfy shiny capable car compared with my 80 which is like a draughty old shed in comparison. But, it's a brick built shed and I've never had such enjoyment out of a car in my life. She's my saviour and she'll outlive me I hope.
Great to hear your on track with everything now... except... where's the updates for the blondie album I'm keeping, eh?
Cheers!
I totted your numbers up to £4,200 not bad really when you consider (with the shipping) importing all that stuff including the car.
When I was in Qatar in 2005 it was my intention to import into Romania the 10 month old 2004 3.0 litre petrol Mitsubishi Pajero with 7,000 km on the clock that I bought for €14,000 (cars in Qatar are nice and cheap). Did some research and found out that the import tax would be €8,000 plus mods for compliance
shock:wtf) appx. €2,000 plus "official" backhanders at customs €3,000 plus €2,000 shipping.... €15k !!! More than I paid for the car!!I was so sick of the red (and brown) tape mentality of Romania that I kept the car for 18 months, sold it with 56,000 km on the clock for €12,500 and bought an 80 on my return to Romania in 2006. Never looked back!
The Pajero was a big comfy shiny capable car compared with my 80 which is like a draughty old shed in comparison. But, it's a brick built shed and I've never had such enjoyment out of a car in my life. She's my saviour and she'll outlive me I hope.
Great to hear your on track with everything now... except... where's the updates for the blondie album I'm keeping, eh?
Cheers!
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PS forgot to wish you good luck at the w/e, try not to shout "mind the paint" every time a horse goes over your jumps! Regards to the "fillies" !
Jimbo4x4
Well-Known Member
Wow, one man's entire life on a trailer lol. Great to see everything got passed! I know I'd be eager to take my truck for a spin if it'd just arrived - I'm sure I don't need to ask for plenty of pics when you take yours out
I personally wouldn't bother with a split charge system at all; simply run a live off your main battery to your leisure battery and put a heavy duty kill switch in the middle (big red plastic key style). That's all I've done with mine. Advantages are it's far cheaper than a proper relay, it's more reliable (you just need to remember to remove the red key when you turn the engine off), and if you happen to find you have a flat battery on the motor then just flick the red key to jump-start off your leisure battery (I use a large 120Ah car battery instead of a deep cycle one so I can use it for this purpose). No short-circuits when you submerge it, no mystery faults randomly occurring, it's keeping it simple and effective.
I'll be there in 5 years or so dude, keep a TED or twelve on ice for me ;-)
I personally wouldn't bother with a split charge system at all; simply run a live off your main battery to your leisure battery and put a heavy duty kill switch in the middle (big red plastic key style). That's all I've done with mine. Advantages are it's far cheaper than a proper relay, it's more reliable (you just need to remember to remove the red key when you turn the engine off), and if you happen to find you have a flat battery on the motor then just flick the red key to jump-start off your leisure battery (I use a large 120Ah car battery instead of a deep cycle one so I can use it for this purpose). No short-circuits when you submerge it, no mystery faults randomly occurring, it's keeping it simple and effective.
I'll be there in 5 years or so dude, keep a TED or twelve on ice for me ;-)
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