Recent content by retiredranger

This thread has been very informative. Lots of different ideas and good discussion about accomplishing the locking of the engine compartment. Finding this website is a fortunate event for me, especially since it is winter and I'm in the midst of installing or replacing about $3000 of parts on my...

Most of the wilderness areas in the Sierra Nevada are heavily used. A use limit, in the form of a daily trailhead entry quota, is in place for most of the areas. This is accomplished by limiting the number of people that permits can be issued for at a given trailhead each day. That number is...

Wasn't me. Don't get me started on a discussion on that topic as I'm sure I'm in a very small minority on this website. I'm not much of a world traveler, I"ve only been out of the U.S. twice, once in British Columbia and once in Tijuana, Mexico. The longest distance I've been from home...

Absolutely true on the first comment. I have quite a bit of experience with locks used on gates, cabins and many other types of facilities located in very remote areas on National Forest land. I tend to make everything as secure as I can when I'm doing it. I also worked assisting a locksmith...

lostmarbles, it's already the 1st of February in New Zealand? I know that you are located west of the International Date Line in the southern hemisphere and celebrate New Year's sooner than we do, but didn't realize you are a whole month ahead!!!;)

I'm really surprised that an aftermarket parts supply company like Cool Cruisers of Texas or Specter Off-Road has not come up with a solution. I think there is quite a demand for a hood lock. I recently completed the installation of a two battery system. I now have a great deal of value under...

I just found this site a couple of months ago and I'm finding it an excellent source for learning. The "build" threads are fascinating and very helpful. When I read about others who have a similar amount of mechanical experience as I have take on a full restore, including some who did their...

I would recommend the conversion to electronic ignition. No more points or condenser to worry about. Your dwell meter won't be needed again. You can get rid of the igniter and the ballast resistor when you buy the internal resistor coil. My 1977 FJ-40 was not idling very well and I could not...

Finished the Two Battery System I completed the installation of the two battery system and the electronic ignition at about 6 p.m. the night before we left for our Christmas holiday with family in Arizona. The FJ-40 had been in our garage for about 2 months and with snow on the way I wanted to...

If the engine does not start or continue to run easily once you set the timing using the procedure I wrote up, could it be a issue with the points? Some issues with the points can appear to be fuel problems when they really aren't. A difference of a degree of dwell will result in a difference...

Take a look at where the number one spark plug wire is connected on the top of the distributor cap. Make a mark on the engine block along the line from the center plug on the distributor cap to the center of the number one plug wire connection. I suggest you use a grey sharpie to make this...

I'm a newbie to this site, but not to Land Cruisers as I've owned my 77 FJ-40 since it was new. Is possession of the original factory glove box light a real plus? I still have mine and I don't think I've ever used it. I put in engine lights a couple of months after I bought it. I don't think...

I don't have any kids, but my nephew is one heck of a mechanic. When I turned 50 six years ago my wife and I had a family trust written up. I told the lawyer that I wanted to put my 77 FJ-40 in the trust and she replied that cars are not usually put into trusts. I told her I was the original...

Just over the hill and south from you! I've now included enough information in my signature line so you can answer the question via QRZ! As for the shunt, it doesn't show one on the schematic. The reason I'm running a battery isolator is for the alternator to be able to sense which battery...

I have more stories about interesting vehicle situations using "green rigs" as we called our U.S. Forest Service vehicles. I tried not to get in the same situations with my 40 that I had to put my green rigs in. The 40 has not been vandalized and has never been stuck, given the exceptions I...