Recent content by TejasMerl

Would love to join but can't this week - teaching a final week of classes at UT in the evenings.

Yes! Hi! It's been a while since I've been on Mud but lately I've been digging into the archives a lot more for tips so I thought I'd post back. Will share photos soon! Hope your red beast is running well!

I bought Merl, a 1983 FJ60, off of a rancher in Universal City, Texas. She was the first FJ I found on the internet in my price range, and the first that I test drove (I know, I know). I didn't take her to a mechanic because I was so in love - the previous owner had a few Land Cruisers and had...

Hi again! So it's been awhile and it's time to give some updates (2 years of updates) to Merl's build story! Here's where we left off, and also where we are now: First of all, THANK YOU to all of the folks that chimed in with recommendations when I was dealing with a slew of vacuum leaks...

There IS a land rover motocross...I wonder why not an LC? I will be there oogling the lego car and Merl will be parked in Lot A

What tires do you run? How do they handle on the passes / mixed snow and ice?

As a newcomer to most of this stuff, I have a few thoughts to add: I don't use facebook (a lot of younger folks are also starting to step away from it) and I don't check mud very often, so I didn't even know there was a meet-up. I have 2 neighbors, 2 colleagues AND 2 friends that also drive...

Looking for new, used, oem, or nos rear bumper ends for my 1983 FJ60. Someone backed into me and cracked mine. Not looking to spend over $60 but will negotiate. Shipping to 78701. Thanks in advance!

Wow - thank you for your consideration of my issues and the incredibly detailed help you've provided! Over the weekend I ID'd the vacuum leak - turns out that when the previous owner had the smog kit removed, they plugged the vacuum intake with silicone which had degraded and begun leaking...

F************* I'm in so far over my head. Thanks for the tips.

The plan was to call AAA. We packed a big box of beer and a frisbee to entertain ourselves in the event of a breakdown.

I haven't done the valve & compression retest yet. The coolant is not leaking, no puddles. Now I'm worried that the radiator is dying.

Thanks y'all for your input. I think these are separate issues and I'll try to diagnose as such: 1. Vacuum leak, hose leak, something leaking 2. Carb imbalance - fuel mixture, or vacuum leak 3. Spark plugs, timing

Another question for the forum: This last weekend I drove Merl out to far west Texas and back - 900 miles - just to see if she could do it. And she did, admirably, and the drive was incredible. But a few things did not go exactly as I'd hoped and now I need some advice on what's going on...

Thank you all for the encouraging words! I got myself a lockable center console to store the small and important stuff – hoping that this was a one off experience but realizing I should be more diligent about storing gear and tools. Edit: I'm doing a few small mods to the console before...