Builds 1985 BJ70 Story and Modifications (2 Viewers)

[AlbertoSD]

Road back to the "Flotante" area

 

[AlbertoSD]

We found a lot of fallen trees on the way back and Romano was our go-to-guy to use the chain saw.

One of the FZJ71 was running hot and we had to do multiple stops to let it cool down.

 

[AlbertoSD]

Finally that night we made it to the "Flotante" area and the next day we got to "La Paragua" (civilization) again.

 

[AlbertoSD]

Omar provided me with the photobucket link below for ease of viewing of some of the photos if someone care to see them:

http://s1077.photobucket.com/albums/w466/omarluis1984/canaima sept 2012/

I give full credits of the photos to Omar, Fernando, Robert, and Robert's dad (Mr. Celestino).

Now back to work on the BJ70

 

[crushers]

 

[Gun Runner 5]

Great story and photos. I am embarrassed to admit my HJ75 in setting in a garage under a car cover. . I did use it to haul the garbage off last week.

 

[hzjoe]

look like a nice trip,very nice picture and very good rigs,

 

[Puerto Rico 4x4]

Great pictures !! siento envidia de la buena

 

[Devils Paw 80]

The write up and photos of your excellent adventure is greatly appreciated. You mentioned that all trucks were running locking differentials front and rear. Were they used quite a bit in the jungle, and what kind (ARB, Toyota e-locker)?
Did you have any problems with them, and does your group have a preference for brand or type of locker?

 

[boozewz]

Outstanding trip!

You guys really put those cruisers through its paces....Reminds me in some way of those Camel Trophy events.....Toyota really needs to find a sponsor and do a similar event but with 70 series cruisers!

 

[singletrackjunkie]

Awesome pics and write up. Thanks for sharing. Definitely a bucket list worthy trip.

 

[AlbertoSD]

The write up and photos of your excellent adventure is greatly appreciated. You mentioned that all trucks were running locking differentials front and rear. Were they used quite a bit in the jungle, and what kind (ARB, Toyota e-locker)?
Did you have any problems with them, and does your group have a preference for brand or type of locker?

Thanks!!

Yes, all the trucks had ARB lockers front and rear, except the silver one that had ARB rear and the new TJM locker in the front (same principle, air locking differential, just the actuator is different).

To be honest, at some point most had some troubles with the lockers.

1.- Iker's rear ARB was not engaging from the very beggining. There was an internal leak on the 3rd member itself that prevented the ARB to lock. We tried to fix it before entering the trail but it didn't work. They got them to work once they pulled the 3rd member to fix the failed bearings.

2.- The air hose that fed the front ARB on Omar's truck got disconnected at some point (at the 3rd member connection) and then the fitting was cracked and we were unable to re-connect the airline. On the way back, the rear ARB also quit engaging due to a leak in the rear airline.

3.- Fernando's ARB's were working great except the last day (on the way out) when his front ARB quit engaging. It sounded like a leak in the hose as the compressor never quit running.

4.- As far as I remember Robert's ARB's worked all the way (there and back).

Finally, yes, the lockers were used quite a bit. They really help the vehicles get through some sections of the trail with ease.

Hope this helps!

 

[AlbertoSD]

Awesome pics and write up. Thanks for sharing. Definitely a bucket list worthy trip.

Thanks, Brian!!!

It was honestly a lot of work and a lot of fun!!!...very rewarding to see Angel Falls

 

[Elbert]

great adventure...thanks for posting.

 

[OGBeno]

I'm absolutely jealous.


This is what I dream of doing with any Land Cruiser!

Epic and phenomenal adventure.

Any room for next year's trip? I'm low maintenance and can wrench.

 

[izula]

Beno- how about we test one of those Proffitt's creations??? I'll have 3 months off, can co-pilot, throw a mean bucket of water, and I've got the jungle machete thing down! You would be surprised how useful a tool the machete can be! It is all in the wrist.

 

[crushers]

is Beno bringing his new female friend?

 

[AlbertoSD]

I'm absolutely jealous.


This is what I dream of doing with any Land Cruiser!

Epic and phenomenal adventure.

Any room for next year's trip? I'm low maintenance and can wrench.

I will check with the guys

This trip is a true statement of the quality and reliability of Land Cruisers.

 

[NM Frontier]

That was AWSOME! Can't figure what was best the BJ70 build or the jungle trip, excellent work sharing this!

 

[AlbertoSD]

I started to work back on the BJ70 after the trip to Angel Falls. Started to work on putting the interior back together and work some issues with what I thought to be the primer pump.

When I started the BJ70 for the first time after the head install, it was hard to start (as expected) since I had to bleed the injector lines and get all the air out. Once it started it ran smooth and it iddled fine.

However, when I tried to start it the next day, it was again hard to start and seemed like it has lost its prime. My primer pump was leaking when I opened to bleed it so I bought the BOSCH replacement and replaced the primer pump (thinking it was the cause of the hard starts).

To change the primer pump in situ, you will need a 24-mm crow-foot if you have the factory primer pump. The space is very limited and there is no way to get a regular 24-mm wrench in there. I bought a metric crow-foot set as the BOSCH pump required a 17-mm wrench.