Build 1st FJ40, '76 - SMOKEY - Puttin’ her Back Together

[FishTacos]

That's beautiful. Great work VV.

 

[Rainman]

Looks great Scott!

I'll bring mine right over...

 

[Weber Sarge]

Uh , done means installed , lol .
Looks good though.
Sarge

 

[Phares]

Looking very nice. Keep building the dream!

 

[Vae Victus]

Uh , done means installed , lol . Looks good though. Sarge

Thanks guys. ( to you Sarge. ) What is nice is that the eBrake drum is NOT sticking on the new pads. It was initially, so somehow I assembled the guts correctly the second time.

I thought I was really going to have to fight with those pads....

 

[Vae Victus]

Began to tear down the engine. Clutch and bell housing first.




Clutch showing proper orientation of the disk

Glad I helped Rainman with his first. It was my only other experience on a cruiser but its already helping me.

 

[Vae Victus]

Ok, 15 minute rule. Do I remove the flywheel to get the bell housing off? (If you can't find the answer in 15 minutes, ask. It's been 45).

 

[DAD2SIX]

Ok, 15 minute rule. Do I remove the flywheel to get the bell housing off? (If you can't find the answer in 15 minutes, ask. It's been 45).

Yes. There are bolts behind the flywheel that hold the bell housing on.

 

[Vae Victus]

Do I leave the flywheel on and loosen the crankshaft nut first, then remove flywheel?

If I remove flywheel, if engine is on a stand, how do I remove crankshaft nut? Will impact get it?

 

[Vae Victus]

Do I leave the flywheel on and loosen the crankshaft nut first, then remove flywheel? If I remove flywheel, if engine is on a stand, how do I remove crankshaft nut? Will impact get it?

Answering my own question - I'm leaving on the flywheel until I get the crankshaft nut loose (and determine if I'm going to loosen it). Ordered a 46mm 6-point socket, and a 3/4" (male) to 1/2" (female) socket adapter.

I got the air tool out and got after the flywheel nuts. Just wanted to break them all free. This worked well.

Since it got to a balmy 35 today, I got started taking off her front shoes. Had the air tool out and went to town on those. Pretty disappointed with the air flow from my California Air compressor, but is didn't expect it to run an air ratchet very well.

Things went pretty well until I hit the last lug nut on the first wheel. Locking nut! Curse, crud, phooey, snap!




I hate locking lug nuts

Turned to MUD, and had 2 ideas to try in a few minutes of research. Tried pounding on a socket, to no avail. Then got the big guns out and welded a socket on. Had to try a couple of times as the nut didn't want to accept the weld (this was the little welder, so it struggles with heavy thicknesses). Ground down the nut a little to expose some clean metal, reduced the diameter of the socket so it matched the nut and mated the two.



Socket welded to nut

First one came off with the air ratchet, but the other side was not budging. I had to get the big Dewalt Hammer Drill out, which did break it loose finally.


Dewalt Hammer Drill and Sears Air ratchet


All this for a lug nut


Look ma, no shoes

 

[vtgbeemer]

Did you look in the glovebox for the wheel lock socket? I have missed your posts. Glad to see you back at it.

 

[sggoat]

It's extremely more satisfying building your own Special Service Tools-

Did you look in the glovebox for the wheel lock socket? I have missed your posts. Glad to see you back at it.

 

[shipmag]

When you start on the crank nut dont forget to bend the nut keeper away from the nut. A 1 13/16 socket works also.

 

[Vae Victus]

Did you look in the glovebox for the wheel lock socket? I have missed your posts. Glad to see you back at it.

The cupboard was bare!


No lug nut key. Just mouse poop. Wet.

Heck, it only had a total of 18 lug nuts on the entire vehicle. Rears had no locking nuts thankfully.

Glad to be back at it. Been dreadfully busy. 2 daughters in 2 different plays this week, in different places. Son is at TN Tech for a basketball game tonight. Only reason I had time today was I saw BOTH plays yesterday.

 

[Phares]

Your tenacity and ingenuity is admirable.

 

[Vae Victus]

When you start on the crank nut dont forget to bend the nut keeper away from the nut. A 1 13/16 socket works also.

Thanks ShipMag. I'll look closer. The crankshaft nut is in bad shape. I'll need a new one.

 

[Vae Victus]

Taking full advantage of the 65 degree day.

Removed fuel pump, distro, oil filter, side panel. Amazing that distro only has one bolt.


Only one hole on engine block for distro?

Side panel - broke one bolt. None of the bolts were even properly right.


Fairly clean inside.

Removed crankshaft nut. Bent back the ears, hit it with the hammer drill (note the 46mm socket), and Shazam! Came right off.



Crankshaft nut success

Removed flywheel and bell housing




Flywheel looks clean



Bell housing and pilot bearing

Speaking of pilot bearing - my eBay find a few months back paid off. The used tool I bought was actually a SST pilot bearing puller. Hot Dam(n)!







$36 find on ebay

Great thing - I've never done this before, never even seen the pilot bearing before today. But it just *looked* like the tool when I stumbled across it. I'm very pleased that something was actually easier than it was supposed to be (crankshaft nut too).

Thought I drained the oil - but had not. Oops. Almost a disaster. Got it drained. Engine tilt bar came in handy.


Tilting at windmills

Removed valve cover





Looks clean

 

[subzali]

Shoulda tried the bread trick for the pilot bearing - even cheaper than $36!

Sent from my iPhone using IH8MUD at 85mph in an FJ40

 

[Rainman]

Doing a good job Scott. I've been happy with the warm weather too and getting lots of items scratched off the list. Take a break on Wednesday though (dam cold...)

 

[Vae Victus]

Messed with the frickin' engine stand for about an hour. Clearly it wasn't designed for a straight six.

Does this look like it is supposed to?








.

The lower right was the one I'm concerned with.