Backup cameras..... : )
1986 BJ73 - Spanish Import to US - Under New Management
- Thread starter elkaholic
- Start date
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elkaholic
Left turn ...freakin wipers!
- Thread starter
- #262
Since I have a little time on my hands, I am cleaning up a few things that have bothered me. First on the list was the mounting of the front bumper. It is essentially an ARB bar that the top hoops were removed from.
As it stood, the bar had 6 10mm bolts attaching it to the frame, but there were plenty of other holes that lined up. The winch had obviously been used as the synthetic line was dirty and poorly spooled. But I did not trust the bolts that were in place for a hard pull. I looked on the ARB USA site but cold not find the fiting instructions for the bar. An e-mail to ARB service garnered the install instructions attached.
I could see that I was missing two 10mm bolts and the two 12mm bolts that go vertically through the bar and frame. An order from McMaster Carr and Fastenal had new hardware on the way. I also took the opportunity to install tow hooks so I have a recovery point on the front.
Basic pull bolts and replace for 6 of the 10mm bolts. For two of them, I had to fish nuts into the frame and use a wrench to hold them while I tightened the bolts. The RH 12mm bolt was a simple fit. On the LH frame horn, there was a captive 12mm nut inside the frame on the top. I drilled the nut out to 1/2 inch so the 12mm bolt could pass. Anti-seize was liberally applied to bolts screwed into captive nuts.
Before Pics
LH Side showing missing 12mm bolt
LH side showing missing 10mm bolts. Note there are no cap[tive nuts in the frame here so I added nylock nuts for installation.
RH Side showing missing 12mm bolt
As it stood, the bar had 6 10mm bolts attaching it to the frame, but there were plenty of other holes that lined up. The winch had obviously been used as the synthetic line was dirty and poorly spooled. But I did not trust the bolts that were in place for a hard pull. I looked on the ARB USA site but cold not find the fiting instructions for the bar. An e-mail to ARB service garnered the install instructions attached.
I could see that I was missing two 10mm bolts and the two 12mm bolts that go vertically through the bar and frame. An order from McMaster Carr and Fastenal had new hardware on the way. I also took the opportunity to install tow hooks so I have a recovery point on the front.
Basic pull bolts and replace for 6 of the 10mm bolts. For two of them, I had to fish nuts into the frame and use a wrench to hold them while I tightened the bolts. The RH 12mm bolt was a simple fit. On the LH frame horn, there was a captive 12mm nut inside the frame on the top. I drilled the nut out to 1/2 inch so the 12mm bolt could pass. Anti-seize was liberally applied to bolts screwed into captive nuts.
Before Pics
LH Side showing missing 12mm bolt
LH side showing missing 10mm bolts. Note there are no cap[tive nuts in the frame here so I added nylock nuts for installation.
RH Side showing missing 12mm bolt
Last edited:
- Joined
- Jun 21, 2011
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- Website
- trail-tailor.com
Wood shims and duct tape are a lot less labor extensive.
- Joined
- Jun 21, 2011
- Threads
- 234
- Messages
- 21,836
- Location
- Redding, California
- Website
- trail-tailor.com
Looks like this one was drilled out on the top one, Probably stripped out and easiest fix for the PO. Lowers are just a hole, no nuts.
J
elkaholic
Left turn ...freakin wipers!
- Thread starter
- #269
Time for a few more updates ....
Thanks to help from @wardharris for a knuckle rebuild kit and @beno for some related OEM parts support, I can say that the front and rear axles have been restored to better health and the correct Aisin hubs from this post (https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/19...er-new-management.823346/page-13#post-9677486) have been installed. I do not have any pictures of the messy knuckle rebuild or rear axle service (including rear wheel bearing service) that was done because I farmed it out to the guys at Toyota techs in Fort Mill, SC while I took a short road-trip. I can say that the timing was good since the long-side inner axle seal had failed and gear lube was making it out through the dial of the AVM hub. Also, the rear wheel cylinders were just starting to leak, so they were replaced with new Aisin parts via a local Toyota dealer. All fasteners and wheel bearing adjustment nuts and washers were replaced as well as the wheel studs with Mr. T originals (the truck had at least 5 different length wheel studs).
After 3 days in the shop and a significant chunk out of my bank account, the truck was back on the road. I did not realize how bad the trunnion bearings were until driving it at highway speeds again. It has the directional stability it should have now 
That done, I set about to fix a small something that had been bothering me. At some point in the past, the hubs and rear brake drum had been painted silver ... they are now black after three coats of engine enamel. I could not find a satin, so these are now amonth the few shiny things on the 73.
Before
(apologize for the craptastic iPhone pic)
During
And After
More to come .....
Thanks to help from @wardharris for a knuckle rebuild kit and @beno for some related OEM parts support, I can say that the front and rear axles have been restored to better health and the correct Aisin hubs from this post (https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/19...er-new-management.823346/page-13#post-9677486) have been installed. I do not have any pictures of the messy knuckle rebuild or rear axle service (including rear wheel bearing service) that was done because I farmed it out to the guys at Toyota techs in Fort Mill, SC while I took a short road-trip. I can say that the timing was good since the long-side inner axle seal had failed and gear lube was making it out through the dial of the AVM hub. Also, the rear wheel cylinders were just starting to leak, so they were replaced with new Aisin parts via a local Toyota dealer. All fasteners and wheel bearing adjustment nuts and washers were replaced as well as the wheel studs with Mr. T originals (the truck had at least 5 different length wheel studs).
After 3 days in the shop and a significant chunk out of my bank account, the truck was back on the road. I did not realize how bad the trunnion bearings were until driving it at highway speeds again. It has the directional stability it should have now
That done, I set about to fix a small something that had been bothering me. At some point in the past, the hubs and rear brake drum had been painted silver ... they are now black after three coats of engine enamel. I could not find a satin, so these are now amonth the few shiny things on the 73.
Before
(apologize for the craptastic iPhone pic)
During
And After
More to come .....
God, I love full floating rear axles!
Great work Sam.
Great work Sam.
Very nice .......
elkaholic
Left turn ...freakin wipers!
- Thread starter
- #272
The next small project was towing / recovery. Before i start hauling the 73 on my flatbed trailer behind the RV, I needed the ability to spot my flatbed trailer. The truck came with a European hitch that proved impossible to find a 2 /16 ball to fit. It also had a recovery loop bolted through the rear bumper and rear cross-member.
Enter this little puppy http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008CE0CW2 - a pintle hitch with a 2 5/16" ball. It bolts right to the bumper / rear cross-member and gives me what I needed. I think I spent 15 minutes on this small add.
Enter this little puppy http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008CE0CW2 - a pintle hitch with a 2 5/16" ball. It bolts right to the bumper / rear cross-member and gives me what I needed. I think I spent 15 minutes on this small add.
elkaholic
Left turn ...freakin wipers!
- Thread starter
- #273
New Shoes
After some debate, I finally got the 73 some new shoes. I considered staying with the same size on my existing wheels, but decided to loose a little weight and change sizes a bit. I had 238/85R16 BFG ATs on 16x7 steel wheels with 3.5" of back spacing. They gave a fairly stiff ride but are a decent combination and look appropriate on the 73.
A simple before shot ...
I ended up ordering 5 American Racing AR23 wheels in 16x8 with 4.45" of backspacing and 4 Goodyear DuraTrac tires in 265/75R16 in a load range C. These tires are almost the same diameter but slightly wider with a revs per mile of 1 different from the BFGs I had. As an added bonus, the wheels and tires weigh almost 20 pounds less than what I had been running. With the backspacing issue, the spacers had to go back on.
So now for an after shot ...
\
Comparisons follow ....
After some debate, I finally got the 73 some new shoes. I considered staying with the same size on my existing wheels, but decided to loose a little weight and change sizes a bit. I had 238/85R16 BFG ATs on 16x7 steel wheels with 3.5" of back spacing. They gave a fairly stiff ride but are a decent combination and look appropriate on the 73.
A simple before shot ...
I ended up ordering 5 American Racing AR23 wheels in 16x8 with 4.45" of backspacing and 4 Goodyear DuraTrac tires in 265/75R16 in a load range C. These tires are almost the same diameter but slightly wider with a revs per mile of 1 different from the BFGs I had. As an added bonus, the wheels and tires weigh almost 20 pounds less than what I had been running. With the backspacing issue, the spacers had to go back on.
So now for an after shot ...
\
Comparisons follow ....
elkaholic
Left turn ...freakin wipers!
- Thread starter
- #274
Comparison shots ... all are before / after
Overall, the track width has increase a bit. I did not measure it, but some quick lame brained math would indicate an increase of between 2 and 3 inches. Overall, I am pleased with the results from a driving perspective ... the tires are quiet and ride quite nicely. I am still getting used to the stance. The pizza cutter stance looks better, IMHO, on these trucks, but the stance I have now is growing on me.
I acquired a spare locally, so I also reduced the weight on the rear door by about 20 pounds.
Overall, the track width has increase a bit. I did not measure it, but some quick lame brained math would indicate an increase of between 2 and 3 inches. Overall, I am pleased with the results from a driving perspective ... the tires are quiet and ride quite nicely. I am still getting used to the stance. The pizza cutter stance looks better, IMHO, on these trucks, but the stance I have now is growing on me.
I acquired a spare locally, so I also reduced the weight on the rear door by about 20 pounds.
Fat is where it's at....
I'll try that line on my doctor during my next physical. : )Fat is where it's at....
You have a 3B and you can hear rattles?Almost forgot one thing I added while changing tires and wheels. This little sucker added to the tire carrier mount, stopped 99% of the rattles from the rear doors .... I guess it is a necessary item
View attachment 1072805
