2F Refresh

[InTheFace]

340k

• InTheFace
• Oct 25, 2016

2F

• InTheFace
• Oct 25, 2016

The F is for fresh

1984 FJ60. I am the second owner. Still running great after 340,000 miles. Desmogged with JimC carb and dizzy, but decided to be prepared for the inevitable. I bought a wrecked '85 that had a factory replacement block cast in '88. The head is off of an '87.
Block machined and bored .020 and crank polished. Head surfaced and fully serviced.
ITM pistons/pins w/NPR ring set
Toyota connecting rod bearings
Clevite main bearings
Toyota thrust washers
Melling stock cam and timing set
Durabond cam bearings
Joint Fuji lifters
Toyota Gaskets
First time ever digging into a 2F. Seemed like a daunting task while acquiring parts and prepping, but I feel like it was pretty painless once I got started. Making sure to set aside the appropriate amount of time for each task and maintaining a very clean work space made assembly process go smooth. The FSMs and Ih8Mud are your best friends. Total cost of rebuild with machining and parts came to $1575. I'm going to keep running the motor that I have in for a few more months before plugging in the fresh one. Then I'm sure the stress will come with the first run and probably the next couple thousand miles! Fun project and I'm glad I took it on.

 

[HemiAlex]

That's very fair. I spent a bit on simply refreshing the head after a burnt exhaust valve and I can tell you, it feels very strong for a near 300k motor. You picked good parts and I bet you match the factory miles.

You'll have enough left in that truck for another lifetime.

 

[gregnash]

Did the top end refresh at the beginning of the year and she is running strong now. These motors are great, not super fuel efficient or speed demons but definitely good, strong and reliable motors. Part of me wants to swap out the engine when the time comes to something that has a bit more power but really there is plenty there for what I do and I can pretty easily cruise down the highway at 70mph in my 4spd. If anything the next major upgrade would be to drop a 5spd in it and run her till I die.

 

[HemiAlex]

I think I'll pick up another 2F and the rebuild parts for if and when it dies. They're coming up dirt cheap recently.

I think we all should be on the lookout for hard to find and niche items for this chassis for when nothing is made anymore. I try to buy all the Aisin and Advics as well as OEM parts that I may need down the road.

I'm going to try my best to keep putting as many miles on it as I can. Just for bragging rights.

 

[gregnash]

I think I'll pick up another 2F and the rebuild parts for if and when it dies. They're coming up dirt cheap recently.

I think we all should be on the lookout for hard to find and niche items for this chassis for when nothing is made anymore. I try to buy all the Aisin and Advics as well as OEM parts that I may need down the road.

I'm going to try my best to keep putting as many miles on it as I can. Just for bragging rights.

If I had the garage space and money I would probably do the same but build a 2F-E or grab a 2F and through a TBI setup on it to have a nice fuel injected start. Other than that, the 5spd would pretty much remedy any issues for me.

 

[SHERMAN FJ62]

$1500 doesn't sound that bad. what do you think the overbore will do for engine performance.

 

[gregnash]

Think you would have to find one of the guys that has done it and actually kept the engine for a while. Talk with some of the guys in the 40 section as that seems more common there than it would in the 60. Ultimately if someone is working on their 60 they end up swapping the engine for something newer and with more power, e.g. going to a SBC or LS engine.

 

[CuCruiser]

I'm still on the honeymoon with the 2F but I have to say that I think I love it, warts and all. So easy to work on. But an engine designed to be reliable above all, with a parts availability problem, is pretty ironic. They are kinda almost like a collector car that way. I hope we enthusiasts can keep them going for years to come.
I would like to do exactly what InTheFace did in a few years. $1500 sounds really good.

Hope it goes without a hitch for you!

 

[White Stripe]

340k

• InTheFace
• Oct 25, 2016

2F

• InTheFace
• Oct 25, 2016

The F is for fresh

1984 FJ60. I am the second owner. Still running great after 340,000 miles. Desmogged with JimC carb and dizzy, but decided to be prepared for the inevitable. I bought a wrecked '85 that had a factory replacement block cast in '88. The head is off of an '87.
Block machined and bored .020 and crank polished. Head surfaced and fully serviced.
ITM pistons/pins w/NPR ring set
Toyota connecting rod bearings
Clevite main bearings
Toyota thrust washers
Melling stock cam and timing set
Durabond cam bearings
Joint Fuji lifters
Toyota Gaskets
First time ever digging into a 2F. Seemed like a daunting task while acquiring parts and prepping, but I feel like it was pretty painless once I got started. Making sure to set aside the appropriate amount of time for each task and maintaining a very clean work space made assembly process go smooth. The FSMs and Ih8Mud are your best friends. Total cost of rebuild with machining and parts came to $1575. I'm going to keep running the motor that I have in for a few more months before plugging in the fresh one. Then I'm sure the stress will come with the first run and probably the next couple thousand miles! Fun project and I'm glad I took it on.

Did you have the crank and rods balanced? That will make it run smoother and should make it last even longer.

 

[InTheFace]

Did you have the crank and rods balanced? That will make it run smoother and should make it last even longer.

I had the rods machined back to spec but no balance on the crank. I would have liked to have the crank balanced, but I was quoted $300 for the balance so I passed.
Engine/machinist sourced the piston assy and cam bearings. They pressed the bearings I did the piston set up.
Timing gears were from CarID
Lifters from fjparts.com
Cam and Main bearings from Northern Auto Parts
Toyota parts from local dealer.
Engine shop quote to do everything was $3500 assembled
My goal was just to get a simple, reliable engine back to at least original performance specs.

 

[Homey55]

Crank and rod balance is not critical for in-line motors as all of the motion is straight up and down vs. side to side in a v-6/8. It's probably a "nice to have" but not necessary for a budget build.

 

[cruiser enthuiser]

Cool project. I have a lot of respect for guys that rebuild these things. I bought a 2F many years ago with the intention of rebuilding it like you've done. Tore it all down and then started feeling overwhelmed and abandoned it. But who knows? I'm a little older and my mechanical skills have improved (slightly) maybe I'll try again. And $1500+ seems very reasonable.


Cheers

-Ed

 

[Speen Shaytan]

I recently got back into getting my 60 on the road. I have dreams of a brand new old truck when all is done with it and an engine overhaul like this is definitely on the list. A couple buddies almost had me convinced a 2JZ swap would be ideal, but I like simple and reliable. But that turbo sound is pretty cool...

 

[Klonky99]

Okay fellas, question. I'm painfully close to getting my rig back on the road, but I need the little freeze plugs in the ends of the rocker shaft. Does anyone have a part number or know what size plug that is?