1981 BJ4 3B Diesel Restoration Prep Advice Needed

[JDCruiser]

Hey guys,

Well I am getting set to do a medium level restoration on my 1981 BJ42... I have to replace the entire rear deck of the truck and front floor... Will also be doing some frame rust repair and other mtc opportunities such as a full brake job and fluid purge...

I am very unfamilar with Diesel engines (just fell in love with their torque and awesome sound) and not sure what I need to do to prep the engine for not running for about 6 months... There is a good chance that I will need to drop the gas tank for the rest or at bare miminum purge the tank and lines so that it is safe to grind and weld in the area (not dumb enough to trust my little bit of skill)...

Any suggestions for what I should do to prep the engine or any of the systems... Any suggestion on the gas tank, should I drain and drop or just drain the system out... if so what will be the impact to priming it back up again...

 

[brownbear]

A full tank is best IMOP. But there is nothing to do to the engine. Shut it off, re-start when done. Mine sat for 3 months shy of 3years with only a couple starts. I would not be concerned.

If you think you're going to be be three years or extended in a moist environment you could do the whole oil fog the engine thing. But I don't feel you need to.

The diesel fuel doesn't go bad in 6 months. Even 5 years old diesel doesn't change. The only issue with diesel in storage can be microbiological growth in the fuel. Your fuel will start looking dirty and almost have barnicals in it.

Since your welding above the tank I would remove it. So drain it and cap the lines. I think a 5/16 bolt fits inside the fuel line then you clamp it tight. Leave the fuel in the lines IMOP.

If you want to drain them still cap them with the bolts.

 

[Eric Winkworth]

The sleeves are chrome/nicksil so they aren't very proned to rust like some engines.... Although I am a firm believer in fogging out all my 2 stroke snowmobile engines...

 

[roscoFJ73]

Hey guys,

Well I am getting set to do a medium level restoration on my 1981 BJ42... I have to replace the entire rear deck of the truck and front floor... Will also be doing some frame rust repair and other mtc opportunities such as a full brake job and fluid purge...

I am very unfamilar with Diesel engines (just fell in love with their torque and awesome sound) and not sure what I need to do to prep the engine for not running for about 6 months... There is a good chance that I will need to drop the gas tank for the rest or at bare miminum purge the tank and lines so that it is safe to grind and weld in the area (not dumb enough to trust my little bit of skill)...

Any suggestions for what I should do to prep the engine or any of the systems... Any suggestion on the gas tank, should I drain and drop or just drain the system out... if so what will be the impact to priming it back up again...

I wouldnt do anything. It takes some work to get it to burn,try it.
One of the reasons I like diesels is it so much safer refuelling on the trail

Priming it wouldnt be a problem. If the primer pump is in good condition it will pull fuel all the way from the tank.
I think it says it must do it within 30 pumps