Builds 1997 FzJ80 - Let's Begin a Baseline! (4 Viewers)

[DirtyPepper]

5/28/28 and 5/27/23
UPDATE: IGNITION SYSTEM, Front Carpets, & WellVisors Part III

WellVisors

After much back and forth, I finally settled on the Wellvfisors brand of window covers / deflectors. They have several little clips to install in the weather stripping and then you secure them with small, tiny, plastipc pushpis. They hold amazingly well but the clips are a pain to line up AFTER you set the visor with the tape pulled. Very easy install but frustrating. Also, WellVisors doesn't add any instructions...you need to go out to Youtube for an instruction video. Thankfully, they have an install using an 80 series.

They turned out real nice...I like them, but I have a bit of a blind spot on the driver side while turning left, which I'll need to get used to / adjust for.
They are really thick plastic, and about 5 pounds overall (1.25 lbs or so each) - will they get cracked on the trail? Probably...but for now, they look good and give me some added sun protection.

This was purely a personal creature comfort update for $65 via WellVisors

 

[DirtyPepper]

Ordering the PCV valve, grommet, hoses, and probably the o2 sensors tomorrow.
It's not much to update, but it's something to say "it's done" from the list.

I've also been thinking about R/R the starter and alternator...they both appear to be stock - but while they are not giving me any issues, I'm hesitant.
If I remove them now, they would be just PM.

 

[TLC94LS]

Did you ever do the head gasket?? I read most of the post. You’re so close to magic mileage. When it goes it goes and may ruin every pics done. I know it may be daunting, but man, great truck, I bought mine with a blown motor at 310k. Don’t think most make to that long. Great truck!

 

[DirtyPepper]

Did you ever do the head gasket?? I read most of the post. You’re so close to magic mileage. When it goes it goes and may ruin every pics done. I know it may be daunting, but man, great truck, I bought mine with a blown motor at 310k. Don’t think most make to that long. Great truck!

Thanks! I appreciate your comments! And that you've read through all of my posts!

To answer your question...No, I haven't done the HG, and I have no idea what the PO did.
When I took it to my LC specific shop, they mentioned it runs smoother than a lot that they've seen.
I think the PO took care of the engine, but let everything else slide. I mean, it had different, non-matching tires (AND different sized) when I purchased it.

I'm sending the oil out for analysis...meant to do it on my last update but got side tracked. If it comes back with a hint of HG issues, I'll go from there.

Buddy of mine had his '96 that had 525k miles on it...he bought it as a lease return in 1999 with 24k miles on it...so he's put just at 500k miles...and he's never done the HG.

My brother has a '97 with ~340k miles...no issues with the HG. He's the 2nd owner also and purchased it around 50K miles.

I'm TECHNICALLY the second owner of mine...and by that, I mean, the original owner sold it to a flipper...or he just needed the money. He had it for less than a month. I paid $2,300-ish in 2016 with (then) ~199k miles

I'm taking good precautions on the cooling system...I replaced the entire cooling system last summer and I'm not losing any water anywhere; I check the coolant level before hitting a trail and I use a monitoring system via my phone. I'm hoping I don't have any issues any time soon

 

[avdeveloper]

Thanks! I appreciate your comments! And that you've read through all of my posts!

To answer your question...No, I haven't done the HG, and I have no idea what the PO did.
When I took it to my LC specific shop, they mentioned it runs smoother than a lot that they've seen.
I think the PO took care of the engine, but let everything else slide. I mean, it had different, non-matching tires (AND different sized) when I purchased it.

I'm sending the oil out for analysis...meant to do it on my last update but got side tracked. If it comes back with a hint of HG issues, I'll go from there.

Buddy of mine had his '96 that had 525k miles on it...he bought it as a lease return in 1999 with 24k miles on it...so he's put just at 500k miles...and he's never done the HG.

My brother has a '97 with ~340k miles...no issues with the HG. He's the 2nd owner also and purchased it around 50K miles.

I'm TECHNICALLY the second owner of mine...and by that, I mean, the original owner sold it to a flipper...or he just needed the money. He had it for less than a month. I paid $2,300-ish in 2016 with (then) ~199k miles

I'm taking good precautions on the cooling system...I replaced the entire cooling system last summer and I'm not losing any water anywhere; I check the coolant level before hitting a trail and I use a monitoring system via my phone. I'm hoping I don't have any issues any time soon

I'm waiting for my blackstone labs report to come in the email. I was told it should be ready by Tuesday of next week.

 

[TLC94LS]

Sounds like a plan, my worry is engine parts and blocks, are just becoming harder and harder to come by. So, Ive been stocking up some parts while I can get them. I also just put an LS in mine. The feasibility of rebuilding a LC vs a GM nowadays is dramatically different. Beautiful truck!

 

[DirtyPepper]

Wow...I haven't updated since May on my baselining...

Knuckle Rebuild - still pending, BUT, I did purchase new birfs via @cruiseroutfit a couple of weeks ago (arrived); I don't know if I have to replace them...I'm not hearing the standard "click" indicating they NEED to be replaced, BUT, since I'll be in there doing the knuckle rebuild (also all parts from @cruiseroutfit), I figured I might as well. If for no other reason than peace of mind...because who wants to rip the front end open again right after it's done?

PCV Valve and hoses - Purchased via Partsouq...they arrived 9/25 while I was in Leslie Gulch...this small task will be updated this next weekend.

OEM Battery Holder - Purchased via Partsouq...arrived arrived with the PCV Valve and Hoses

I added a Yakima rack (FREE) and Rhino Rack Sunseeker Awning (Costco $79) about a month ago as a creature comfort as well as a 5lb Flame King propane tank

I'm looking into replacing my brake master cylinder and booster as my brakes are super soft - might just be a bunch of air in the lines. I have never flushed the fluid out; I didn't know I needed to so that's now on my list of things to do.

Here's a most recent pic of me at the entrance of Leslie Gulch in Oregon.

 

[clx16]

On the PCV valve. the rubber grommet might fall apart and in.... be ready for that with some good tweezers.

For the brakes.... you should def flush, but you might actuate the abs while you do it and clean all that crap out of there too while you are flushing. I would do that before replacing anything as the ABS unit seems to get air trapped in it.

first time bleeding mine... the fluid came out green.....

 

[DirtyPepper]

Update for 4/19 and 4/22 (Shop Work)

Well, what started as a full brake system fluid flush and check turned into an unexpected safety fix for the knuckles, seized calipers, wheel bearings, and rotors.

So...I made an appointment for my rig sometime back...

THE ISSUE(s):
Brakes were super mushy.
Now, I've owned her for about eight years and put almost 30k miles on in that time...brake fluid was super dirty so I opted to see if having it flushed would fix my "mushy" brakes. Also, when coming into a parking spot and turning SLOW, the brakes would go to the floor for a moment. So, I figured a fluid change and full flush was in order. At worst, I thought, I'd be looking at a dying booster or master cylinder.

Front brakes had massive amounts of air in them and the rear bleeder valves were frozen shut. Even heating them up didn't help at first and once cracked, needed to be replaced. The fluid was changed/flushed but with it still in the air, the LC shop tech did his due diligence and checked a few other things...he grabbed the PS front wheel and gave it a tug...

...and immediately said, "Hey, your wheel bearing is loose. That's bad"

And yeah, it seemed to have about a 1/4 to 1/2 inch of play...yeah, that's bad. So, he said he'd pop the wheel off, tighten the bearing, repack real quick and then I should be good. But when he got into it...it was apparent the issue was much, much worse than he thought it would be.

The parts were the right size, but very sub-standard. So sub-standard that there was an etching around the bearing AND there was a full crack through the bearing...which made it a literal ticking time bomb. As he dug deeper into it, he found that someone had been into the front end and brakes before. I explained it wasn't me and he knew it wasn't because i would have used the proper parts.

So, what was initially a full brake fluid flush and bleed turned into the full knuckle rebuild with Birf replacement (Which I had already been planning and had parts for), spindle replacement, and new calipers and brakes all the way around.

The new calipers and brakes:
On the rear...the calipers were about 80% frozen/seized which apparently caused a huge scar/gouge in the rotor...so, new calipers, brakes, and rear rotors.

This would explain my low acceleration and then IMMEDIATE slowing when coming off the freeway...which I thought was normal because she's just so heavy to begin with.

Front brake lines were almost 30 years old and severely cracking, so, she received new brake lines, also.

It was like Christmas morning for her!
But at the same time, a visit to the urgent Care facility.
Which turned into a visit to the ER...

Front End Knuckle Rebuild:
I had been planning on having this rebuilt but it just didn't happen. When I made an initial appointment with my shop, I already had all the parts but I had to have a surgery so it pushed it back more. Everything came from @cruiseroutfit - the full rebuild goodie box filled with Koyo bearings and Sumo rebuild kit, 555 Tie Rods and Japanese Birfs (the tie rod kit wasn't needed as the factory ones were good, so I'm saving those for a later date). New spindles (Japanese, updated) were installed also.

Gotta love the team at LCNW for seeing the problem, catching it, and getting it squared away. I wasn’t expecting it, but everything was on the list to fix anyways…so instead of staggering it little by little, it’s done all at once. Because, ho’boy, was it a major safety issue. Like, BAD.

Now, it’s all done right.
All high end Japanese parts; Sumo rebuild kit, Koyo bearings, Aisin calipers, Toyota 80 series brake pads, etc.…we discussed using 100 series pads but went against it in the end because of a few needed modifications which I was advised against.

Despite the bit of a gut punch to the pocket book, I’m really glad to know she was in such good hands. And I know I dodged a possible catastrophic bullet because if you look at the bearing, it’s split straight through.
.
So, the old gal was repaired, buttoned up, and returned to me on Monday...I've been driving her since and I have to say, I have a lot more acceleration and the braking is great now. She's ready for some serious adventures this season. And with these issues taken care of in one hit, it clears the path for armor and other updates which I’ve been wanting to do.

And like my dad always said when I was a kid in the garage, “I don't care that everyone else's car looks nice or has a fancy stereo...you make sure you’re mechanically sound before you start doing all the fun things…”
.
Full Front knuckle rebuild
Front Wheel bearing replacement (x2)
Front spindles replaced (x2)
Birfield replacement (x2)
Calipers replaced (x4)
Rear rotors replaced (x2)
New brake pads all around
New brake lines
.

 

[DirtyPepper]

More pics from the Front End repair...

 

[DirtyPepper]

 

[FMC80]

Feels good getting things tight, neat, and wrinkle-free doesn’t it. Now it’s time to keep it that way. Enjoy the improved ride!

 

[DirtyPepper]

So...It's been a while.

Added the OME 2.5" lift
Started putting together/fitting the homemade drawer/cargo system - the side areas will be enclosed for additional storage. Ultimately, it will be carpeted on top to match the oak leather interior.

Next: Updating the Coolant Temp Sensor due to a p0116 Error code (Thermostat is only ~2.5 years old)

 

[DirtyPepper]

Another small update!

Recently added the ARB front bumper and Apex Badlands 12k pound winch!

She’s growing up now!

(These pics don't show it, but the side ARB marker lights ARE installed and working...they weren't when the pics were taken)

PENDING:
—————-

O2 sensors
Thermostat sensor replacement
Power steering rebuild/update
Dashmat