[RattSki]

Just wanted to say Thank God I found this site! My old man has had this FJ sitting in his driveway for at least 6 years ever since my little sister "forgot" to put oil in it and cracked the heads. He finally got tired of me pestering him to let me rebuild it and told me to come and get it. I'm no mechanic by any means but love taking stuff apart and putting it back together. Just wanted to thank everyone ahead of time that offers advice and helps me through which I'm sure will be some pretty stupid questions. I can't wait to get started. Cheers.

[jerbear]

Welcome
This is the place to learn. Check the FAQ's. Post some pics(mandatory). Let me be the first to give you the official Mud welcome

[Coolerman]

Welcome to MUD!

Pull that motor, set it aside for parts or possibly later rebuilding, and post up in the wanted section for a good used 2F engine. For what you will pay for just a rebuild kit, you can have a running motor. Later, if you decide to rebuild it, it will still be there.

Good Luck!

[77HesterSue]

Welcome! Let's see that 81!

[RattSki]

Thanks for the welcome. The rig has been sitting quite a while so I'm sure it needs lubed all over the place. I was hoping to tow it from Pocatello Idaho to Boise Idaho which is about a 3 hour drive. Does anyone have an opinion as to whether I should lube the axles or not before towing or would they still be ok after sitting that long? I really don't want to have to rent a car hauler. The FJ has a tow bar mounted on the front so I can just hitch it to my Tundra and away I go.

[BJ44V]

If you can pull it from the spot in the driveway with no binding...I say go for the long haul. However, I'd have to say IMO I'd trailer it. Honk as you pass my place in Mt. Home.

What color?

[RattSki]

Right now it is white with blue and silver pinstriping. I think you are right on the hauler. It just isn't worth the risk of seizing something up on the way home. Althought I could lube it when I get to Poky. I'm not worried about the rear axle other than finding a replacement gasket on short notice but I'm not sure what to do with the front axle. Like I said, I'm no mechanic and this is my first ever rebuild so I'm as green as it gets.

[sls019]

Welcome to MUD! Enjoy the tech& search functions. You will find answers to all your questions.

[Michael Hanson]

Welcome! It will cost twice as much as you think and take twice the time. Mike

[delta21]

Originally Posted by Michael Hanson

Welcome! It will cost twice as much as you think and take twice the time. Mike

You sound like my wife

[Michael Hanson]

Smart lady. Mike

[RattSki]

Haha my wife told me the same thing. Something along the lines of "I know you and you are going to get impatient when two years from now it isn't done yet." I'm just anxious to get started and I've already learned a lot just from the FAQ..... Guess I'll find a hauler......

[RattSki]

Does anyone know where I can find a good manual with exploded views for the 81?

[RattSki]

Friday is the day. Can't get here soon enough! I have a brother in law and his son who are both senior mechanics in Sacramento giving me different ideas. One says stay stock and you will have more hair when you are finished and the other who does more off roading has other ideas. My question is if I stay stock with the engine, tranny, and axles what kind of lift and tire size can I get away with before it would be a good idea or necessary to upgrade? More stupid questions to follow after Friday. Thanks for any advice. Pics to follow.....

[dargreg]

I,ve always done Old Man Emu suspention ,gives you 2 1/2 to 3 in lift and greasable shackels still, good if you decide to soa ( spring over axel) for the newbe

[Michael Hanson]

Stay stock and pick up a good used engine.2 cents Mike

[FF LC FREAK]

Originally Posted by RattSki

Friday is the day. Can't get here soon enough! I have a brother in law and his son who are both senior mechanics in Sacramento giving me different ideas. One says stay stock and you will have more hair when you are finished and the other who does more off roading has other ideas. My question is if I stay stock with the engine, tranny, and axles what kind of lift and tire size can I get away with before it would be a good idea or necessary to upgrade? More stupid questions to follow after Friday. Thanks for any advice. Pics to follow.....

Do with it what you want. However, think it through first. Decide if you want a daily driver, mild wheeler, hardcore wheeler, etc. Then, build it for that purpose. You can get away with a 4" lift and 33s without any major drama unless you really pound on it. Even with a SOA and 35s and the stock engine you should be okay. Beyond that, you are going to start breaking stock axles/birfs pretty easily. But, a lot just depends on what types of trails you run and how aggressive you are with your right foot.

As far as a manual goes, there is no substitute for the FSM. For an 81, there are several. It is expensive to buy them all, but it is well worth it. $OR lists all of them here - Specter Off-Road Land Cruiser Parts - Page 221 Toyota O.E.M. Manuals - but there are cheaper places to buy them. There is a Toyota literature distribution place you can get them for cheaper. Do a search on here (I'm too lazy right now) and you should be able to find it. Don't forget to look through the FAQs and Tech links too. There is tons of info on this site!

Good luck!

[destin]

Congrats and welcome.

Would love to see some photos

I would lean more towards keeping it completely stock.
But that is just me

pics pics pics !

[KY Longhunter]

Originally Posted by RattSki

Does anyone know where I can find a good manual with exploded views for the 81?

RattSki ~ I have an '81 that I'm working on. Shoot me your email address in a PM and I will see what I can come up with on FSM..

[BDSeff1fitty]

when they say double it, they aren't joking. i didn't believe it and well i have tripled it now! but i did change build plans a little bit. i had no clue how to do much when i started, now im welding, grinding, and getting into mild fabrication

[RattSki]

Thanks for the info everybody. I'll have pics Sunday after I get back home from picking it up. Let the dismantling begin. Anybody have a good system for keeping track of parts they have removed, bolts, etc to make sure they get everything back where it belongs?

[FF LC FREAK]

Originally Posted by RattSki

Thanks for the info everybody. I'll have pics Sunday after I get back home from picking it up. Let the dismantling begin. Anybody have a good system for keeping track of parts they have removed, bolts, etc to make sure they get everything back where it belongs?

Ziplock bags and a black felt tip marker.

[CruiserStuff]

Originally Posted by RattSki

Thanks for the info everybody. I'll have pics Sunday after I get back home from picking it up. Let the dismantling begin. Anybody have a good system for keeping track of parts they have removed, bolts, etc to make sure they get everything back where it belongs?

Take a bajillion digital pics of EVERYTHING before you start and as you go......you can't take too many from different angles, etc, for when you put it all back together.

[RattSki]

Well she is in a lot worse shape than I thought. I've seen less holes in swiss cheese compared to the tub. Also, it wasn't just the heads that are cracked but the block as well. There was also a mouse living in the glove box . So long story short, entire new tub, new engine, and a whole lot of $$. Can't wait . I was too tired to post pics last night after I finally got her in my garage so I'll put them up tonight.

[RattSki]

Here are some pics of the damage.

[bsmith123]

"I'm no mechanic by any means but love taking stuff apart and putting it back together."

You're in luck! You've just purchased the cure for that
(& disposable income!)

Have a look at every pic and mod out there and get a picture of what you like and it will save you in the long run if you can avoid changing your mind as you go along

SOR.com is great for exploded views of parts
Search on Coolerman and check out his site for schematics

plan on 8-10k and 1-2 years to get it where you want it

When buying used parts make sure you have thoroughly researched year/model compatability as there are a lot of different configurations out there and it is not always obvious
in this case Mud is your friend so post up the question before you buy

Also realize that bits and pieces will eat you alive if you buy a motor try and make sure you get everything you can complete---pulleys, alternator, water pump, brackets and so on. The thing is sometimes you can spend more buying the bits and pieces than you did for the major item

Check out the nuts and bolts spreadsheets on the site (coolerman and a few others) and get some bench stock built up. You will be snapping and drilling out some bolts and there's nothing worse than making good progress then being on hold for a dang bolt!

[D'Animal]

Welcome to MUD



First off, not putting oil in it will not crack the head.

Do some actual diagnostics on it and find out why it is not running. Is the motor seized? Get a big mm socket and turn the motor over. (I can't remember if it is 46mm or 54mm.)



I would write down everything you want to do to your rig. Make "The List" and set a realistic budget and time line. You will see several builds/restorations on MUD done completely different than the next.

I would strongly recommend not pulling it down to the frame and start a restoration, etc. One thing most often overlooked is the start date of some of these build threads. Some of these rigs have been under the knife for over 5 years and are still not ready to drive around the block. Some have beautiful roll cages and rock sliders but the engine is on an engine stand. The money spent for the cage and sliders could have been spent on the engine, etc.

This is just my opinion but, if you are going to do an engine swap, do it and get it driving.
Save up your money and then go after the brakes.
Save up your money and then go after the suspension modifications.
Save up your money and then go after the power steering.
Save up your money and then go after the roll cage, etc.
Save the body work for last. It will require the most skill and the skills you have learned doing the other mods will come in very handy.


Congrats on the purchase!

[KY Longhunter]

I agree with D'Animal on getting the mechanical stuff straightened out first, drive it for awhile and decide what mods you would like, and then go after the body work.

Ask me how I know

[D'Animal]

I'm gonna guess the same way I know.

Originally Posted by KY Longhunter

Ask me how I know

First hand experience.

[RattSki]

Ok haven't posted in a while. Been busy yanking stuff out, bagging it, labeling it, taking pictures because my memory sucks haha. Anyway, I'm going to replace 3/4 of the tub. From the cowl forward everything looks fixable with maybe the exception being the fenders. I'm ordering a 3/4 tub from Heritage but it comes in two different pieces. I guess my questions are, where exactly does the cowl seperate from the tub, where exactly do the two parts of the tub seperate, and what is everyone's opinion of the best way to seperate them?

Next set of questions are when the parts come in what is the best method for piecing everything back together? I have no problem buying a MIG welder that can do onesided spot welds and buying a regular spot welder but am looking for advice. Thanks in advance.