Builds 1969 FJ40 named Mavis (1 Viewer)

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Dang. I actually fixed a thing.

I loosened both copper terminals, which were cranked on there hard, which tilted the contacts, and retightened them to a lesser torque, while ensuring the contacts stayed level. Popped it on the rig and it fired up right away.

If you look at the contacts, you'll see the output has uniform arcing while the input has 1 or 2 very slight pits.

Instead of returning my core starter to Toyota, I am motivated to rebuild it with me new found knowledge and put it on Zeke, as he has an el cheapo direct drive starter right now.
Bingo boingo, you learn something every day eh?
 
Bingo boingo, you learn something every day eh?
That's the best part of wrenching on these old rigs. Every new thing you do comes with knowledge and understanding you didn't have the day before. After a while, you don't just own your ride, but you truly KNOW it, and have a relationship with it.
This is how Tsukumogami starts, and get stronger with time. You share bits of your being with your machine each time you put some time and effort into it, and it begins to take on a sentience of its own, or at least seems to.
A well used and well wrenched Land Cruiser will become a family pet if you do it right.
 
That's the best part of wrenching on these old rigs. Every new thing you do comes with knowledge and understanding you didn't have the day before. After a while, you don't just own your ride, but you truly KNOW it, and have a relationship with it.
This is how Tsukumogami starts, and get stronger with time. You share bits of your being with your machine each time you put some time and effort into it, and it begins to take on a sentience of its own, or at least seems to.
A well used and well wrenched Land Cruiser will become a family pet if you do it right.

I agree with this. In fact, I drive some literal minded people mad with my interpretation of the "Washington's Axe" paradox. No matter how many times you replace the head and the handle, it remains Washington's Axe as long as it has provenance and is an axe. It's purpose imbues itself with its identity. This FJ40 is such a hodgepodge of random parts, yet it is still itself. And now it's imbued with me.

Bingo boingo, you learn something every day eh?

I continue to get such good info and advice on this forum. Thank you.
 
Tomorrow we play with grandkids all day, and hopefully tomorrow night I can get back to figure out the clutch. I removed the shield today and checked it out and while it looks ok, I seem to recall that the bearing was pretty stiff on the shaft.

(Insert inappropriate joke)

While I got it loose and thought I'd lubed it sufficiently, I suspect that might be an issue again. Of course, it might be warped, but I need my lovely bride to step on the clutch pedal while I'm under it to see what's it doing.
 
I had an issue with a new clutch plate was sticking to the flywheel (I think it was a tad too large of diameter) It would not disengage so I just started it in gear and took it for a drive and it loosened up and worked fine for years.
 
I had an issue with a new clutch plate was sticking to the flywheel (I think it was a tad too large of diameter) It would not disengage so I just started it in gear and took it for a drive and it loosened up and worked fine for years.
I see that the clutch plate is moving properly, but the clutch material isn't lifting completely off the flywheel, despite moving full travel.

Maybe the clutch element is too thick?

Tomorrow is a big day at a literal shooting match.

Hannah, my smoke pole and I are gonna see how we measure up agin the other fellas.

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I would bet if you would just drive it for a couple of miles it would be fine. Good luck at the match tomorrow you make some nice rifles.
 
I see that the clutch plate is moving properly, but the clutch material isn't lifting completely off the flywheel, despite moving full travel.

Maybe the clutch element is too thick?

Tomorrow is a big day at a literal shooting match.

Hannah, my smoke pole and I are gonna see how we measure up agin the other fellas.

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On the subject of the clutch, it might be sticking due to rust or grime impeding free movement (I recall you had to use a bar on the relase/throw out bearing earlier on). Drive it in ideally high gear (one to one), you can put it in low range if brakes are not there, and depress the clutch pedal fully to see if it does not break free or clearance itself. Beats taking out the box again and you have nothing to lose at this point.
 
How did the match go?
 
Next up will be fixing the front brakes on this rig.

Right now it has drums all around, with leaking coming from the front two. The back drums look new from when it was parked last.

Looking for options on a disk brake conversion, I think. I don't hate drums, but I've heard that the overall cost for overhauling the drums will be close to the cost of a disk conversion.

So far, I've found the JT Outfitters drum to disk conversion with proprietary backing plate and stock parts, swapping in a disk equipped FJ40 front axle, or taking a front axle from another Toyota product.

I haven't really researched the latter two.

I'm going to keep the brakes manual, as none of my cars have power brakes. Don't see the need for them.

I know I'll be into another brake master cylinder, proportioning valve and new lines for a disk conversion regardless. I "think" someone converted this to 10mm fittings, but I could be wrong.

Willing to learn from others' experience here....

Edited to add: I do have a disk converted FJ55 front axle housing sitting here doing nothing. Don't know how compatible that is, but will check it out.
 
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I'd do factory disc's. At some point you should service the knuckles anyways. The 55 frt end should work. The driveshaft bolt patterns might be different from yours.
 
I think most all frt ends can be converted to disc, except for maybe the ball and claw. You'll need everything from the knuckle out to the hub, along with birfs. There are 2 different knuckles, large pattern(79 & later) and small pattern (78 and earlier) both will work. Go to FAQ'S and scroll down to frt ends. There's good info in that section.
 

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