Builds 1995 full resto build

[SNLC]

Hey Cruiserheads!

This build thread will document a full restoration on a 1995 FZJ80.

This Cruiser came to us from Texas. The owner liked another 80 build we did and wanted the same level of detail and quality. We briefly discussed a v8 swap but pretty quickly that just went to full refresh on the 1FZFE.

There is nothing really fancy planned in this build, just a full refresh with some upgrades and goodies.

This is a 6M1 Cruiser with tan leather. It had about 175,000 on it upon arrival at the shop.

First order of business was to test compression on the 27yr old 1FZFE.

Cheers

 

[sogafarm]

Ring wear on the 150 psi cylinder?

 

[SNLC]

Really nice compression on this engine which had never been rebuilt. Just that #3 being a concern and while not showing real low the spread being nearly 30psi was concerning.

The owner wanted to avoid the new short block route if possible due to the low mileage and overall feeling that the engine was one of the more solid things on the Cruiser. Still that spread is to much. I don’t recall if we did a leak down test because this was months ago. It certainly could be a valve causing #3 to be a bit low.

Anyways out with the engine and trans/tcase!

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

On the shop floor, we have done these with nearly 400,000 on them and this one was not nearly as nasty as those in terms of funk all over it.

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

Tear down pics, it appeared to me to be pretty untouched and original. I do believe the head was replaced at some point though because it lacks the tag with the vin# on it.

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

Pretty typical stuff here, nothing out of the ordinary.

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

I had kind of planned to simply do fresh crank and conrod bearings plus rings. Check the bores and crank to make sure it was good. Also needed to check the top of the block for true, that was when we found a problem.

It was only out by one thousand but it was still out of spec. So I knew at this point the block had to go to the machine shop.

These are really the only bearings showing wear, two conrods and the #4 crank bearing.

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

Plug wires pretty old.

I tore down the block and gave it a quick check with my bore micrometer.

I sent a load of parts out for hot tanking, this is after that.

Block went off to the machine shop at this time.

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

While the block was out for machine work I had a bunch of aluminum parts vapor honed and then clear cerakoted. I also had the exhaust manifolds coated inside and out.

Oh ya we also had the manifolds (intake & exhaust) surfaced for true mating surfaces.

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

Leading up to the build we have purchased an very large pile of parts for the full refresh of the Cruiser.

The valve cover got powder coated and turned out beautiful.

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

Also while the block was at the machine shop we gutted the dash and did a full refresh on the HVAC system. HVAC system got all new parts.

We are powder coating the dash support bar Toyota left raw.

HVAC refresh

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

Turned out the block only needed to be decked, polish on the crank and a light hone.

Here it is with a 1HDFT we are also building. The 1FZFE head got all new valves, springs and related parts.

Pistons after hot tanking.

A bit if carbon still on them.

I almost had these vapor honed but decided to simply clean them up by hand instead.

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

Gapping rings before dropping them in.

The short block assembled beautifully, real happy with it.

Prepping for paint.

Painted and assembly underway.

That is where we are at now with the build. Lots more to come!

Cheers

 

[logicbyondreaso]

Very nice work!
Regarding the missing vin tag - is the truck original to the owner or does it have one or more? A supercharger could have been bolted on at some point that required the tag to be removed?

 

[SNLC]

Very nice work!
Regarding the missing vin tag - is the truck original to the owner or does it have one or more? A supercharger could have been bolted on at some point that required the tag to be removed?

No S/C ever on this engine.

When the head is original they have a tag on the RHS with the vin# of the Cruiser that is riveted on. If the head has never been replaced or only rebuilt the tag will be present. If the tag is gone as well as no rivet holes in the head it indicates the head has been replaced at some point. New heads don't come with the tag or provisions to rivet one on.

Cheers

 

[TYM4FUN]

I love watching your work.

 

[robnicko]

This is a really great thread and workmanship to boot.

cant wait to see the end result 2022 Fzj80 by the looks of it

 

[scottryana]

This is my favorite kind of thread, great work!

 

[SaturnAscends]

This is a really cool thread, thanks.


How common is it for the block to be out of spec? I thought that was relatively rare, must've been overheated badly for that to happen, or maybe ran with dirty coolant?

Also, how would this typical bearing an conrod wear manifest if you just ran it like that? Would it eventually cause knocking, or show up in an oil analysis? I was just wondering since I hadn't seen many people touch their bottom ends unless they had a knock.

 

[SNLC]

This is a really cool thread, thanks.


How common is it for the block to be out of spec? I thought that was relatively rare, must've been overheated badly for that to happen, or maybe ran with dirty coolant?

Also, how would this typical bearing an conrod wear manifest if you just ran it like that? Would it eventually cause knocking, or show up in an oil analysis? I was just wondering since I hadn't seen many people touch their bottom ends unless they had a knock.

Yes it will eventually cause knocking. This engine could probably have gone another 100,000+ though with good maintenance. My 95 it was conrod bearings that took it out. 200k and was knocking badly. Poor maintenance or low oil I believe was the cause.

Cheers