New Guy, admits he is dumb and needs help.

[TurboSpec]

So I always thought Fj40's were cool so I got here in Florida and needed a car and then I saw a 1976 FJ40 on the side of the road and bought it.

So I really know nothing about 4x4's in general. I have no problem working on cars, I own a 1968 corvair and a 1972 VW bus so I am no stranger to having to fix my own cars and I am fairly competent. The problem is that I don't know jack about big trucks.

Here is what I know about my new toy:

1976
Front Disks
4.5" Under Axle OME lift
ARB pneumatic diff in the rear
I believe the front is stock
Thats all I can think of that would really be important right now. Anything else please ask me and I will find out.

So here is why I came here. I had no problems with it for the first month then I left the country for 1.5 months and when I came back I noticed a slight knocking sound coming from what sounds like the front/left. Maybe just the front though. It is fairly quiet and definitely is not related to the engine. It sounds like it is based on the speed that I am rolling ie, wheel, driveshaft, transfer case. I can only hear it at very low speeds 5-10 mph. I can also feel it in my foot as I drive. Above 15 mph is it too fast to discern between this sound and the engine / road noise. Also the engine/wind are louder than this noise.

Maybe I am being too sensitive, but I would rather be safe than sorry.

Also, I cannot tell if I am out of 4h and into 2h. How far forward is the knob supossed to go on the transfercase? Any suggestions on how to check this short of jacking up the truck and seeing what spins?

One last question.. Is there a good book to look at for procedures on this truck? Like for a VW you use the John Muir and for the Corvair everyone turns to Clark's for parts and a Haynes for procedures. Is there something similar to this for a Landcruiser?

Thanks in advance for your help,

Ben

[pappy]

The best book will be the factory service manual from Toyota.

Checking to see if it's in 4WD is easy. Make sure the hubs on the front wheels are in the "free" position. Then reach under the truck and try and turn the front driveshaft. It it won't turn, you are still locked at the transfer case. If it spins, you are in 2WD.

Welcome to MUD! Stick around awhile and I guarantee you will be an expert in no time.

[lunyou]

The factory service manuals like mentioned above are supposed to be the best thing available. They are very pricey though.

Welcome to MUD and sounds like you have a good start, ARB rear locker is a big step that I wish I could afford.

I don't like clicks that seem to be a function of rolling. Did anyone try and move your truck while you were out of country?

I am sure the experts will correct me if I am wrong but my truck which is a lot older than yours has the e-brake drum on the rear of the t-case. When test driving I didn't think the PO had it on and I broke it. The drum would spin until I reached a speed that just spun the broken drum the same speed as the driveshaft, at which point the clicking would stop.

I hope this isn't the case.

lunyou

[rusty_tlc]

I'd start by taking a good look around the front end. Then jack up one wheel at a time and rotate it try to wiggle it lateraly and up and down to see if you find anything loose.

The Haynes manual for the Land Cruiser is pretty worthless for any thing beyond the most basic repairs.

There are two TLCA chapters in FLA, Toyota Clubs are a great way to meet other cruiser owners and to find help.

Northwest Florida Toyota 4WD

North Florida Cruiser Heads

[theo]

Corvair: Geez, not only do you admit to owning a Corvair, you seem to be saying you actually like them! What part of "unreliable, poorly engineered, rushed through production, reactionary marketing, top ten worst American cars" have you banished from your conscious thought?

Welcome to Mud:

Oh yeah, the light clicking sound: I'm hoping it's something simple like a rock stuck in the tire tread, a loose wheel weight, a ding in the rotor. But you know darn well tain't so!

[MDH33]

If it sat for 1.5 months, are you sure you don't just have flat spots on the tires?

[matt.mcinnes]

Originally Posted by MDH33

If it sat for 1.5 months, are you sure you don't just have flat spots on the tires?

This is not as silly as it sounds.

Welcome to mud

[Weedhopper]

Don't listen to Theo !!! Corvairs are cool !!! I had a friend with a Spyder a long time ago and we all lived thru it. Welcome to MUD !!!

[Jerry D.]

Don't forget the Florida Land Cruiser Association (a TLCA chapter).

If you're near West Palm Beach, Orlando or Crystal River, there are members close by that may be able to help.

Jerry D.

[boysrus]

I'd vote for flat spotting too. Some tires seem to be worse than others.

I used a Haynes manual for quite a while before recently getting the Toyota FSM's. They're definitely better, but the Haynes got me through quite a bit of repairs.

Judging from your other vehicles, you'll also need to take note that the engine is in the FRONT.....

[Weedhopper]

And WATER cooled!!! Yeah I vote for the Toyota manuals, but it's handy to have a Haynes too.

[TurboSpec]

Awesome, thanks for all the responses.

I verified that I am in 2h, so that's one problem down. Thanks pappy.

I went out in a parking lot this morning and drove real slow to try to locate the sound and the more I listen the more it sounds like it is coming from the rear right. So I got to work and crawled under there to check for anything obvious. I really didn't notice anything but I'm sure thats not saying much. I checked for play in the rear drive shaft and there is a bit of play in it. How much is normal?

I also noticed an alarming amount of oil dripping from the transfer case. Maybe one drop every 45-50 seconds. I looked around the area and it seems to be dripping more from the rear than the front. I took some pictures and will post them in a minute.

It is not so much a clicking sound as it is a thudding or knocking.

By the way my corvair is an amazing car. Ralph Nader later retracted all the bad things he said about them in "Unsafe at Any Speed". He said he just attacked GM to make a name for himself and he chose them because they were the biggest American manufacturer at the time.

Thanks again,

Ben

[TurboSpec]

Here are three pictures of where it is dripping. The first two are the view looking forward and the third is looking straight up at where it appears to be leaking from. Possibly a bad gasket on the other side of that bolt?

Let me know what you think.

[CruisinMT]

thats a pretty common leak on these rigs. New gaskets and maybe a sleeve should cure it. Other members will have more info I've yet to replace mine.

[TurboSpec]

Luckily the fluid coming out looks real healthy. A nice golden brown, like new motor oil.

[pappy]

Rear seal would be my guess. Pretty easy to replace.

[TurboSpec]

So I will tear it down and replace whatever I need to. Is there someplace to purchase a complete seals kit?

Any good website or distributor of FJ40 parts?

In the mean time, until I have that Toyota Factory Service Manual I don't know jack about this truck. What kind of gear oil should I be feeding this thing and how can I check the level?

[Felix]

Do a search for "cruiserdan" He's a cruiser whiz and parts manager at American Toyota in NM. I don't know about your local dealerships, but I can call Dan and get the parts I need to my door faster (I'm in DC) and for less money than I could from the dealership down the street. He can tell you how to order the Toyota FSM, too.

90 weight gear oil for the tranny, t-case and differentials. You can check the level in the t-case by opening up the fill plug. It's on the drivers side of the transfer case, a few inches up the side. The oil level should be right to that fill hole. Just stick your finger in to check.

[FJ40Jim]

Get the complete T-case rebuild kit from Kurt at CruiserOutfitters.

You may also need to get some specific parts from C-dan, like e-brake shoes and various shims & snap rings.

[MTPCRUISER]

A couple of suggestions. Now that you're into the madness, buy a star to help support the site. You'll be able to post all the photos you want.

Parts are readily available. CDan is a good source, but don't forget about your local Toyota dealer. They still have a surprisingly large selection of parts for the older cruisers.

Welcome!

[AGreekBoy]

i bought a transfer seal kit from cruiserparts.net. it wasnt that hard to replace.

[bsmith123]

Welcome to MUD,


You got an ARB locker in the rear?--nice bit of kit from a P/O!

Slop in the ujoints will give you a clunking sound

post pics of the 40 when you can

I have the same leak to tackle but theres loads of info on here if you do a forum search

[JB740i]

Where are ya in Florida?

[cruiserfreek]

welcome to mud, soon ur pockets will be empty. u'll probably be trading ur two other cars for fj40 parts.

POST PICS OF THE RIG!!!!

[mikealeus]

Originally Posted by TurboSpec

So I always thought Fj40's were cool so I got here in Florida and needed a car and then I saw a 1976 FJ40 on the side of the road and bought it.

So I really know nothing about 4x4's in general. I have no problem working on cars, I own a 1968 corvair and a 1972 VW bus so I am no stranger to having to fix my own cars and I am fairly competent. The problem is that I don't know jack about big trucks.

Here is what I know about my new toy:

1976
Front Disks
4.5" Under Axle OME lift
ARB pneumatic diff in the rear
I believe the front is stock
Thats all I can think of that would really be important right now. Anything else please ask me and I will find out.

So here is why I came here. I had no problems with it for the first month then I left the country for 1.5 months and when I came back I noticed a slight knocking sound coming from what sounds like the front/left. Maybe just the front though. It is fairly quiet and definitely is not related to the engine. It sounds like it is based on the speed that I am rolling ie, wheel, driveshaft, transfer case. I can only hear it at very low speeds 5-10 mph. I can also feel it in my foot as I drive. Above 15 mph is it too fast to discern between this sound and the engine / road noise. Also the engine/wind are louder than this noise.

Maybe I am being too sensitive, but I would rather be safe than sorry.

Also, I cannot tell if I am out of 4h and into 2h. How far forward is the knob supossed to go on the transfercase? Any suggestions on how to check this short of jacking up the truck and seeing what spins?

One last question.. Is there a good book to look at for procedures on this truck? Like for a VW you use the John Muir and for the Corvair everyone turns to Clark's for parts and a Haynes for procedures. Is there something similar to this for a Landcruiser?

Thanks in advance for your help,

Ben

Are you sure you have an OME 4.5" lift? I thought they only make a 2.5" lift. Welcome to craziness and post some pics!