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

[sterling]

Hey Vae what polishing kit did you use,that valve cover looks great!

 

[Vae Victus]

Nice work! How long did that take?

@hotpoker01

Hey Vae what polishing kit did you use,that valve cover looks great!

Hey guys, the polishing was done with this compound kit, 3 buff wheels, and a couple of Roll Lock abrasive disks to get the first layer of crud off the cover.

Compound $13 - Enkay 149-C 6 pc. Polishing Compound Kit, carded Amazon.com: Enkay 149-C 6 pc. Polishing Compound Kit, carded: Home Improvement

Buffs:
For use with black or brown compounds: 50-Ply 6-inch Heavyweight Stiff Cotton Canvas Buffing Wheel with Mandrel - Fits Drill, Die Grinder Amazon.com: 50-Ply 6-inch Heavyweight Stiff Cotton Canvas Buffing Wheel with Mandrel - Fits Drill, Die Grinder: Home Improvement

For use with Brown or White compounds (for second/final polishing) (need a couple of these): Dico 527-40-4M Mandrel Mounted 4-Inch Spiral with 1/4-Inch Mandrel Amazon.com: Dico 527-40-4M Mandrel Mounted 4-Inch Spiral with 1/4-Inch Mandrel: Home Improvement

If you are anal and want to go further, need a softer buff, using brown white or rouge: Enkay 164-C 4-Inch Polishing Buff, 1/4-Inch shank, carded (2-Pack) Enkay 164-C 4-Inch Polishing Buff, 1/4-Inch shank, carded (2-Pack) - - Amazon.com

I used my air tool angle grinder with the roll lock 3" and 2" medium grit discs to start, then went with the big yellow buff with black compound. Don't touch the compound to the spinning wheel for more than a second or two or you will gunk up the wheel and it won't cut. Also, I learned that my air tool spun too fast making things too hot while buffing, taking much too long. A corded or cordless drill or Dremel with speed controller would be better (slower).

Look up "how to polish aluminum" Here's a pretty good guide - http://www.caswellplating.com/buffs/images/Buffbook.pdf

Total time - probably 5 hours of focused work. Still need to touch up in between some of the inlets that have tight angles. Need some Dremel bits that are small that I can buff with.

FYI - I'm a huge roll lock or Rolock fan! The 3M discs are expensive but they do last 4-5 times longer than the other brands. I have an assortment of them and have used the crap out of them. Check them out ifnyoubarentnfamiliar. I got a 1", 2", and 3" backing wheel and bought 2" and 3" discs. I like putting a larger disc on a smaller backer so you can use the edge in tight spots.

 

[Vae Victus]

And a tip of the oil can to my departed friend VtgBeemer who I am thinking about today, and whose build we unfortunately never got to read about. He passed in Feb 2015 without my knowing it.

to Craig

 

[Rainman]

And a tip of the oil can to my departed friend VtgBeemer who I am thinking about today, and whose build we unfortunately never got to read about. He passed in Feb 2015 without my knowing it.

to Craig

I only met him twice I think but we shared time over some beers. He was a part of the now infamous Middle TN Cruiser Guys (or something like that) that meet regularly almost. None of us actually knew he was gone until we tried to gather us all up again two months ago. We'll toss one down for him on Friday when we meet again.

I'm the only one of the 6 of us without a Cruiser but most of the others know that some amount of zebra striped Cruiser blood still runs in my veins. Good on ya Scott for posting the cheers...

 

[RWBeringer4x4]

I'm certainly sorry to hear this! Obviously didn't know him the way you guys did but a shame to lose a member of the cruiser family nonetheless...

 

[Vae Victus]

I'm pleased to say that I'm slowly chipping away at putting the 2F back together. I reminds me of the Aerosmith pre NCAA finals concert they showed on TV the other night - really old, but still will sound good when it's back together!

Now if I could just find the oil pump.... Arg!

 

[Vae Victus]

Edit - I think I have this figured out.

---
Engine gurus -
When reassembling the engine head to the block, I'm at the step of putting the timing gear on. The FSM tells me to set cylinder number six at top dead center/compression. But with just the block and the head together and no camshaft in yet how can I tell that the piston is in the compression stroke? Can I just feel in the spark plug hole for when it's pushing air out, or without the camshaft in can I tell which is compression in which his exhaust? I don't think I can because the valves cannot be opened to let air out.

Is there a mark on this timing gear once I attach it to the shaft that shows that? See fig 3-85 below. Should I pull the head back off the block and insert the camshaft and timing gears first?

 

[Vae Victus]

Progress one tiny step at a time (stealing 30 minutes here and there)

 

[Vae Victus]

New timing gears and new cam shaft. Have to check and make sure the timing is on compression before calling it "done."

Used old bearing races to drive on the gear.

 

[oldschool4wheeling]

Looking good!

 

[Vae Victus]

More progress. Oil pump cleaned and checked. Lifters, rods, valve rockers all installed. Smoothed the rocker faces.

Lifters and cam shaft are new so all the valves are under tension at the moment - I foresee some break in time and several valve adjustments in my future! I'll do a rough, cold adjustment to at least get the valves closing like they should.

Took some time and sand blasted the side cover after grinding on it for over an hour. Taped up the oil passage well (enough). Got a coat of primer on it before needing to get to bed.

 

[65swb45]

I panicked for a moment when I saw the bolts for the cam thrust plate in the block. I zoomed in and saw the thrust plate on the cam.

All is well.

 

[adistler1]

I only met him twice I think but we shared time over some beers. He was a part of the now infamous Middle TN Cruiser Guys (or something like that) that meet regularly almost. None of us actually knew he was gone until we tried to gather us all up again two months ago. We'll toss one down for him on Friday when we meet again.

I'm the only one of the 6 of us without a Cruiser but most of the others know that some amount of zebra striped Cruiser blood still runs in my veins. Good on ya Scott for posting the cheers...

I went out to Craig's house one day while he walked me through some turn signal gremlins. I have got to say that the truck he built was one of the most beautiful vehicles I've ever seen. He was absolutely methodical. The paint was perfect. What he couldn't find, he machined himself. It was remarkable. We only met on a few occasions but you could tell he was a great guy. He's certainly missed in our group of friends.

 

[65swb45]

Edit - I think I have this figured out.

---
Engine gurus -
When reassembling the engine head to the block, I'm at the step of putting the timing gear on. The FSM tells me to set cylinder number six at top dead center/compression. But with just the block and the head together and no camshaft in yet how can I tell that the piston is in the compression stroke? Can I just feel in the spark plug hole for when it's pushing air out, or without the camshaft in can I tell which is compression in which his exhaust? I don't think I can because the valves cannot be opened to let air out.

Is there a mark on this timing gear once I attach it to the shaft that shows that? See fig 3-85 below. Should I pull the head back off the block and insert the camshaft and timing gears first?

View attachment 1435573 View attachment 1435574

Did you figure this out?

The compression stroke is not differentiated from the exhaust stroke UNTIL the camshaft is installed.

 

[Vae Victus]

Did you figure this out?

The compression stroke is not differentiated from the exhaust stroke UNTIL the camshaft is installed.

That's what I assumed, and that if I put #6 at TDC, and lined up the marks, it would be right. I didn't have time to adjust the valves so they don't leak to confirm my assumption. (Leak due to new cam and new lifters being longer than where the valves were wear-adjusted previous to the rebuild).

Fascinating to a newbie! Thanks for checking - and I did put the bolts in the thrust plate!

 

[Vae Victus]

I went out to Craig's house one day while he walked me through some turn signal gremlins. I have got to say that the truck he built was one of the most beautiful vehicles I've ever seen. He was absolutely methodical. The paint was perfect. What he couldn't find, he machined himself. It was remarkable. We only met on a few occasions but you could tell he was a great guy. He's certainly missed in our group of friends.

I did think about where his truck went more than once. But how callous! "Hi ma'am, I know your husband is dead, but do you know what happened to his truck?" There's just no way to not sound opportunistic.

 

[adistler1]

I did think about where his truck went more than once. But how callous! "Hi ma'am, I know your husband is dead, but do you know what happened to his truck?" There's just no way to not sound opportunistic.

I tried sending her a message via Facebook offering my condolences and how much I appreciated his help but never heard back. When I saw the truck I asked him what he planned on doing with it and he said "probably parking it at the Toyota dealership up the road."

 

[Vae Victus]

My rebuilt engine has a Felpro gasket kit. I've seen comments to avoid especially the head gasket and use Toyota. Any comments? It's already installed but I'd rather redo it now before installing it.

However, those comments were 10 years ago, and Felpro has had time to improve their products.

 

[Michael B]

Original Toyota is always best Scott.

 

[cruisermatt]

My rebuilt engine has a Felpro gasket kit. I've seen comments to avoid especially the head gasket and use Toyota. Any comments? It's already installed but I'd rather redo it now before installing it.

However, those comments were 10 years ago, and Felpro has had time to improve their products.

I've put 7000 miles in six months on my Fel-pro headgasket.