1986 BJ73 - Spanish Import to US - Under New Management

[Gun Runner 5]

When my wife forces me to go to Walmart (and yes "forces" me is the key word here), I ride around until I spot a Jeep (Which isn't difficult considering every doctor, lawyer, teenage girl and middle aged women drives one) and I then park right beside said Jeep. I consider this a public service because I am showing the Jeep masses what a real 4x4 looks like.

 

[elkaholic]

On a tech note, the success of the Gen2 LED is such that I have reduced the onboard fire ext. count from 4-5 to 1

I have found, however, it is excellent at blinding the minions at Wally World, much more so than the stock 24V headlights ...

 

[cruiserdan]

You could probably weld with it.

 

[elkaholic]

Probably so ... a welding shield is required for direct views

 

[Gun Runner 5]

Rob should have additional "Gen 2" lights ready to go any day now. We will light up the world one Cruiser at a time. : )

 

[jfrench]

When my wife forces me to go to Walmart (and yes "forces" me is the key word here), I ride around until I spot a Jeep (Which isn't difficult considering every doctor, lawyer, teenage girl and middle aged women drives one) and I then park right beside said Jeep. I consider this a public service because I am showing the Jeep masses what a real 4x4 looks like.

As a BJ74-driving member of one of the groups mentioned above (hint: NOT teenage girl) I'm mildly offended to be lumped in with rest, despite the truth in your statement

I'm trying, one jeep lover at a time, to do the same as you. Know that at least a few of us understand what a real 4x4 is

 

[wardharris]

Here's a shout-out to @elkaholic for getting the 7X community some press. Chapter news in Toyota Trails Jan-Feb issue, folllowing the exploits of the Charlotte gang. Well done!

With a few things completed, the truck was ready for the reveal at the October CLT get together of ONSC. (yes, the truck is in the picture ...)

 

[elkaholic]

Thanks Ward .. last time I was in print was a cover shot for a trade mag 17 years ago or so ... we won't discuss what kind of vehicle I was driving at that time ...

I will say it was a 4x4 and I was crossing on Golden Spike Trail ....

 

[wardharris]

Well, we all make errors of judgement when young. I learned to drive in/on a CJ2A and then inherited one from an uncle at age 15. This was so far back in the dark ages that I got a set of hubs from Arthur Warn at their old Seattle factory (his grandson was a friend from school).

It took me 15 years to correct the Jeep condition through purchase of a new FJ 40. Older, wiser, etc.

 

[elkaholic]

I've been meaning to post a brief update here ... This one will be very light on pictures.

While returning from the ONSC Christmas get together, I started noticing a pretty substantial drive line vibe off throttle at ~90kmh or better. Below 70, all was good. I got off my a-- and got under the rig and started shaking parts, expecting to find the rear output of the transfer or the pinion to have a bit of radial runout ... nothing. Then I grabbed the drive shaft and shook it and noticed the transfer case companion flange "wobbled" on the output shaft.

I pulled the drive shaft and was greeted with a pretty large cascade of oil out of the flange where the nut is. The nut was fairly shiny indicating a new part. When I checked for play the output shaft was good, but the flange rocked on the shaft. The nut was staked correctly, but loose. I buttoned things back up and figured I would check the oil levels. I found that I could not remove the fill plugs as they appeared to have been put on with an impact wrench ..

A quick call to @beno got a few parts coming to me to R&R the transfer output seals. While I have no doubt I could have R&R'd the seals myself, I have never been into a split case and would have no point of reference with respect to what the shafts / flanges should look like. I took the truck to a local shop I trusted and let them handle it. A few $$$ later, and the consensus was that the rear output flange retaining nut had been installed finger tight then staked, but that there was not any excessive wear on the shaft or flange . They also agreed with my suspicion as to how the fill and drain plugs were installed since three of the four had to be cold chisled out.

Way longer than I intended, but the truck runs much smoother now and I dodged a bullet on this. It appears I caught the issue before any real damage was done ...

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Good catch Sam, that could have gone bad real quick if left alone.

 

[wardharris]

Things we learned today:
1) Sam has wrenches, knows how to use 'em
2) He also knows when to call in the professionals
3) Beno sells parts
4) It is not what you pay (% discount), but what you get (timely service, the right part and excellent technical support)

Good work, keep the Spaniard on the road!

 

[cruiserdan]

Beno IS parts. I created a monster.

 

[elkaholic]

Good catch Sam, that could have gone bad real quick if left alone.

Yeah. I am glad it was a $ repair rather than a $$$$ repair. When I first found the issue, I was concerned about the "pocket bearing" (for lack of a better term - circled in red) where the front and rear output shafts ride on each other. It was one of thgose things that if I had to go well into the case, I would have felt obliged to rebuild the entire thing ... and then comes the "while we're in there" bit ...

 

[wardharris]

Beno IS parts. I created a monster.

We should do a calendar of Toyota/Cruiser parts guys. Kind of like "hot firefighters"

You guys all have six pack abs, right? Great fundraiser...

 

[wardharris]

Yeah. I am glad it was a $ repair rather than a $$$$ repair. When I first found the issue, I was concerned about the "pocket bearing" (for lack of a better term - circled in red) where the front and rear output shafts ride on each other. It was one of thgose things that if I had to go well into the case, I would have felt obliged to rebuild the entire thing ... and then comes the "while we're in there" bit ...

Congrats on the bullet dodge.

$600+ for parts at list.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

In my experience, that pocket bearing, or mini needle bearing, or front output pilot bearing, rarely, if ever, fails. The overall split-case rarely fails. The Achilles heel of the entire case is the idler shaft retainer plate (thrust washer/plate thing) and bolt. If the bolt shears, or falls out, then the case grenades real quick. Otherwise, keep fluid in it and you'll be good nearly forever.

 

[elkaholic]

We should do a calendar of Toyota/Cruiser parts guys. Kind of like "hot firefighters"

You guys all have six pack abs, right? Great fundraiser...

I could have gone without that mental image ... and it's lunch time here

 

[elkaholic]

In my experience, that pocket bearing, or mini needle bearing, or front output pilot bearing, rarely, if ever, fails. The overall split-case rarely fails. The Achilles heel of the entire case is the idler shaft retainer plate (thrust washer/plate thing) and bolt. If the bolt shears, or falls out, then the case grenades real quick. Otherwise, keep fluid in it and you'll be good nearly forever.

Agree ... just the play on the rear shaft was so odd. None whatsoever radially when pushing up/down or side-to-side at the case, but when the load was placed on the drive shaft, everything moved. It was not until I isolated the flange that I realized what was going on. At that point. I was more worried about spline wear on the flange or output shaft.

 

[cruiserdan]

We should do a calendar of Toyota/Cruiser parts guys. Kind of like "hot firefighters"
You guys all have six pack abs, right? Great fundraiser...

More like abs made from six packs, lots of them....