This is my first post; just joined. Two weeks ago had my younger brother's 1997 FZJ80 shipped to me from Montana. He passed away too soon and this was his hunting/fly fishing rig. Now it's my legacy vehicle to remember him by and to fix up so my grandkids can drive it in his memory. Has 244,500 miles on it and he had it serviced regularly. I've committed to putting it in proper mechanical shape and then quasi-restoring it inside and out. I know I'll probably spend way more than it's worth but it's not for sale so I don't really care. But, of course, I don't want to be stupid either.
So far I've spent about $2,000 having my local tire/brake (non-LC expert) guy replace shocks, rotors, brakes, etc. Repacked wheel bearings but did not replace them. And another $1,700 having the rear differential bearings redone by a local transmission guy (non-LC expert) to try to quiet a howl that starts at 50mph and is only present when there's power to the drive train (i.e. goes away when you let off the gas pedal). That didn't cure it so now I'm being told it must be in the transfer case.
Also, when I got it back from the brake/shock guy I noticed I now have the clunking sound in my front left wheel when it's turned. I read the thread on the Birfield knocking and, while I'm a rookie at all this, I suppose that I have to replace the Birfields now. Correct?
Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated.
So far I've spent about $2,000 having my local tire/brake (non-LC expert) guy replace shocks, rotors, brakes, etc. Repacked wheel bearings but did not replace them. And another $1,700 having the rear differential bearings redone by a local transmission guy (non-LC expert) to try to quiet a howl that starts at 50mph and is only present when there's power to the drive train (i.e. goes away when you let off the gas pedal). That didn't cure it so now I'm being told it must be in the transfer case.
Also, when I got it back from the brake/shock guy I noticed I now have the clunking sound in my front left wheel when it's turned. I read the thread on the Birfield knocking and, while I'm a rookie at all this, I suppose that I have to replace the Birfields now. Correct?
Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated.