Some trucks come in needing a refresh. This one came in needing a second act. This 1990 Toyota FJ62 Land Cruiser rolled into our shop in Belle Plaine, Kansas, a classic 60 Series with all the right bones and none of the modern muscle, and rolled out a white, trail-ready V8 restomod built to go anywhere you point it.

The heart of the build is a Chevy 5.3L Vortec V8 mated to a 6L80E automatic, the swap that finally gives the FJ62 the power, reliability, and fuel economy the factory never did, without touching the iconic shape that makes people stop and look. If you have ever searched for what a real FJ62 V8 conversion actually looks like, done right, start to finish, this is it. The full build sheet is below.

From there we built it to live outdoors. Clean white two-stage paint over a body worked straight, then loaded for the long haul with our custom triple bar front bumper, custom rear bumper with tire carrier and ladder, rock sliders, an 8000 lb Warn winch, a Front Runner roof rack, and a 40-gallon long range fuel cell for the kind of trips where the next gas station is a rumor. Old Man Emu suspension, rear lockers with an onboard air compressor, and 33-inch BFG KO2 tires on black Pro Comp rims mean it climbs as good as it looks.

Inside, the cabin got the same attention as the driveline. Seats reupholstered in auto-grade vinyl, custom door and cargo panels, fresh carpet and sound deadening, and a Pioneer touchscreen head unit with navigation, backup camera, and Apple CarPlay. Vintage cab, modern command center.

Complete Build Sheet

Drivetrain and Performance

• Chevy 5.3L Vortec V8 mated to a 6L80E automatic, 65,753 miles on the powerplant
• New headers and full exhaust throughout
• New cold air intake manifold and low-profile oil pan
• Custom Champion 3-core radiator with new dual electric fans
• Custom wiring harness
• New spark plugs, wires, and shields
• Both driveshafts custom cut and balanced
• A/C converted to R134a
• New battery, plus dual deep cycle marine batteries
• Aftermarket tachometer

Suspension, Brakes, and Wheels

• Old Man Emu springs and shocks with steering stabilizer and greaseable shackles
• Both front Birfield knuckles rebuilt
• All new brakes: drums, shoes, inner and outer lines, calipers, and pads
• New rotors, master cylinder, and brake booster
• Rear lockers with onboard air compressor
• 5 new BFG KO2 33×10.5×15 tires on new 15-inch black Pro Comp rims

Body and Exterior

• Full undercarriage treatment
• Body work and paint in a 2-stage base coat/clear coat process, color change to white
• Custom triple bar front bumper, winch accommodating
• New 8000 lb Warn winch
• Custom rear bumper with tire carrier and ladder
• Custom rock sliders
• Front Runner roof rack
• 40-gallon long range fuel cell
• Rear trailer receiver with Anderson Plug wire
• 4 new Grote LED headlights, new grille and headlight bezels
• New windshield and seal, door seals replaced as necessary
• Reconditioned front and rear wiper arms

Interior and Electronics

• Seats reupholstered in auto-grade vinyl
• Custom door panels and cargo panels throughout
• Custom center console with 2 USB ports and blanks for future switches
• Armrest reupholstered to match interior
• New front seatbelt receivers
• New carpet and padding throughout
• Sound deadening over rear wheel wells and shifter tunnel
• Pioneer 7-inch touchscreen head unit with Bluetooth, navigation, backup camera, and Apple CarPlay
• New Alpine speakers throughout
• New dash overlay and new headliner

Want a V8 Conversion Like This?

This FJ62 has found its new owner, but we build trucks like this to order. If you want an LS or Vortec V8 conversion on your own Land Cruiser, or you want us to source and build one for you from the ground up, we handle the whole process and ship nationwide with free transport in both directions. See our FJ62 restoration page for more, or contact us to start your build. Call or text us at 316-633-9902.