Builds 1997 FZJ80 to HDJ80 1HD-FTE + H152F (6 Viewers)

[Godwin]

It’s all downhill from here. That thing is gonna be bombing around North Florida with a canoe on its roof before too long.

We'll make a river trip happen this year.

 

[SNLC]

That drivetrain is worth more than a majority of the vehicles on this entire forum, 200 series included.
This thing is going to be awesome. Possibly one of the best 80 in the US.

Don’t tell Joe Rogan!

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

New OEM manual trans diesel 80-series radiator.

Old heater core replaced with new OEM while we in here. It’s was a bit cruddy but not real bad.

Worked on assembly of HVAC system today, it got some new parts and all new door/duct foam.

Cheers

 

[TurboDennis]

Nooooo! All this money spent and you're going with Chinese A/C O-rings?

 

[SNLC]

More assembly of HVAC unit, it sure is bulky.

By days end we got the center part (with the heater core) installed.

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

Fresh heater core pipes ready to go.

I mentioned to John this might look good if it was color match red. He is having none of it.

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

Nooooo! All this money spent and you're going with Chinese A/C O-rings?

First up we are only changing what needs it. We didn’t receive new OEM o-rings, I only have a half dozen or so in my stash. Should we have canceled today’s work due to o-rings? That is a call you have to make sometimes but that wasn’t the call made today.

Cheers

 

[SteelHunterFJ80]

More assembly of HVAC unit, it sure is bulky.

View attachment 2597571View attachment 2597572View attachment 2597573View attachment 2597575View attachment 2597576

By days end we got the center part (with the heater core) installed.

Cheers

Looks new! What exactly did you replace? Besides the heater core.... was the core new?

 

[SNLC]

Spent a fair amount of time today figuring out all the little parts we don’t have and need. Also worked on the engine a bit.

VSS installed.

Steering box and pump plumbed.

Since it is an EGR delete FTE I looped the EGR cooler lines, RHS back of block.

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

Looks new! What exactly did you replace? Besides the heater core.... was the core new?

Heater core, evaporator, thermistor, resistor, ect.

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

HVAC system all refreshed and installed.

There has been some major drama with somethings shipped to Aus but it looks like we may finally be done with this sh*t show. It’s needed because it is our FTE engine wiring loom and pedal and ecu and ya!

We decided we want to fire up the engine before wrapping our dash harness. So there is a fair amount to do before that, including getting our wiring back from Aus.

John has made some other decisions about the build that really does push this truck to that top tier category but I will either let him mention that or let the pics do the talking when we are doing the work.

Cheers

 

[thatcabledude]

I’ve never seen such a beautiful dash bar.

 

[SNLC]

I’ve never seen such a beautiful dash bar.

All it took was a rust free Cruiser and some powder coat.

Cheers

 

[thatcabledude]

All it took was a rust free Cruiser and some powder coat.

Cheers

Jeez! I thought it looked like PC, but figured it was just a real good spray bomb job. I should’ve known better!

 

[jomelo]

@thatcabledude trying to keep the spray bomb to a minimum. Not saying everything is getting powder, but the mentality has generally been everything gets replaced with new OEM. If that’s not available then it gets rebuilt to as close as new as possible. Every once in a while something may need a little spray bomb but that’s usually only if it would not stand up well to the heat applied after powder. Btw it looks like you are just around the corner from me. We should link up when this thing is back.

In other news, we finally learned the donor (HDJ80) harness cleared customs in AUS. Thrashlux has been working on the FTE harness but needed the donor harness to make it all work. Problem is that UPS has been sitting on it for weeks. We were told the duty needed to be paid on it but could not actually talk to a person who knew what was going on. Allegedly, the customs invoice had not been prepared and every time we called we were told it would soon be ready and they would let us know. Day after day went by and it just got to be comical at the end. Finally, after about three weeks someone finally handled the situation and it was released this morning. Hopeful it gets delivered soon because that’s the final puzzle piece.

 

[thatcabledude]

Btw it looks like you are just around the corner from me. We should link up when this thing is back.

Absolutely! I was already planning to ask. Lol

I’ve got my eyes on Scheel-Mann seats (back issues) and would love to at least sit in one before spending that amount of coin.

 

[jomelo]

Absolutely! I was already planning to ask. Lol

I’ve got my eyes on Scheel-Mann seats (back issues) and would love to at least sit in one before spending that amount of coin.

@thatcabledude we can make that happen. Even have a couple of different models you can try out. The Vario F is probably my favorite for the 80 series. You can do the XXL version if you are tall.

 

[jomelo]

The donor HDJ80 engine harness has arrived safely in Australia. It will be mated to the FTE harness that I already acquired and fashioned in a way that will allow added length due to the harness differences between RHD and LHD setups. The FTE harness and ECU came from a manual transmission 79 series so it will cooperate nicely with the H152 and is overall a fairly simple setup. The 79 harness does not have the immobilizer and we are deleting the EGR emissions components. Getting close.

 

[SNLC]

Cheers

 

[jomelo]

It’s really coming together.