jdfording,
I'm not sure what you mean by Cam Cap. Are you planning to remove the oilpan or ?
I'm not sure what you mean by Cam Cap. Are you planning to remove the oilpan or ?
5/71 FJ55 field rescue
- Thread starter jdfording
- Start date
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- #42
Cam plug. Oilpan is removed. I've removed everything behind the block.
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- #43
After I pulled the last bolt on the bellhousing today I had an epiphany...Why the hell didn't I just pull the engine to begin with?? 
I've pulled the xfer case, tranny (as 1 unit) flywheel, clutch, rear main, oil pan and the bellhousing. Whats the rule? If you have to do more than 3 major things to an engine...pull it!
I think I'm going to go ahead and do that. I can change all the seals/gaskets much easier and not have to be crammed under the cruiser the whole time. I figure with the engine out I might as well do the head gasket also. I'm pretty sure it's leaking. I found water in the bottom of the oilpan and have done 2 oil changes since I started working on it. Both times the oil and filter looked like chocolate milk. I haven't really driven it since I started working on it though, so it could be moisture from sitting so long but I doubt it.
When I pulled the bellhousing the bottom corner of the side cover panel looked suspect.
I'm pretty sure this is the major leak I was having. The cam plug cap was covered in silicone sealant and also looked wet. Gonna change it anyway.
I've pulled the xfer case, tranny (as 1 unit) flywheel, clutch, rear main, oil pan and the bellhousing. Whats the rule? If you have to do more than 3 major things to an engine...pull it!I think I'm going to go ahead and do that. I can change all the seals/gaskets much easier and not have to be crammed under the cruiser the whole time. I figure with the engine out I might as well do the head gasket also. I'm pretty sure it's leaking. I found water in the bottom of the oilpan and have done 2 oil changes since I started working on it. Both times the oil and filter looked like chocolate milk. I haven't really driven it since I started working on it though, so it could be moisture from sitting so long but I doubt it.
When I pulled the bellhousing the bottom corner of the side cover panel looked suspect.
I'm pretty sure this is the major leak I was having. The cam plug cap was covered in silicone sealant and also looked wet. Gonna change it anyway.
Oh Man, here you go. Rod bearings, water pump, head rebuilt, might as well get the cylinders honed out and put in new rings.
Clean and paint, everything, good to go!
Clean and paint, everything, good to go!
- Thread starter
- #45
Separated the xfer case and tranny today to change all the seals. Still waiting on gaskets.
Rear bearing cap. It's a bit worn but I can't afford to replace these right now.
Flywheel and clutch look fine. Going to change the pilot bearing and throw out bearing too.
Split!
New seal installed
Gaskets won't be here till Thursday then I can start putting this "pig" back together.
Questions:
How do you remove the pilot bearing? Friend said to pack grease in the hole and use a socket in the hole to pop it out?
How do you remove and install the cam plug? Do I need to use sealant on it?
Any tips on installing the side cover and keeping it from leaking? I ordered a new gasket. Do I need to use sealant with it as well?
Rear bearing cap. It's a bit worn but I can't afford to replace these right now.
Flywheel and clutch look fine. Going to change the pilot bearing and throw out bearing too.
Split!
New seal installed
Gaskets won't be here till Thursday then I can start putting this "pig" back together.
Questions:
How do you remove the pilot bearing? Friend said to pack grease in the hole and use a socket in the hole to pop it out?
How do you remove and install the cam plug? Do I need to use sealant on it?
Any tips on installing the side cover and keeping it from leaking? I ordered a new gasket. Do I need to use sealant with it as well?
I've used a standard pilot bearing puller, used the grease method and used strips of wet newspaper, not so messy. I've read about using bread, anything you can push in there and doesn't compress much. Remember, you have to get it all out, after the bearing is out.
Pictured is my pilot bearing removal tool. It is real easy to use, and not as messy as people say.
1st fill cavity with grease
2nd insert tapered tape bolt
3rd whack w/ hammer
done
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- #48
Pulled the pilot bearing today with a bolt and grease method. Woked great.
Cam plug, bellhousing, rear main seal and oil pan installed. Oil pan sucked...probably the worst job I've done so far on the 55. There were many curse words and thoughts of selling during that.
Drive shafts, tranny, xfer case, speedo cable, u joints and seats left to do...plus some things I'm probably forgetting...
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- #49
Parts came in today. Replaced all the seals and gaskets on the tranny. Pilot bearing installed. Installed the rear dif cover and gasket. Flywheel is installed and the clutch boot/fork. All new fill/drain plugs in the tranny, xfer case and diffs. Some of mine were badley stripped to the point of almost not coming out.
This weekend I will replace the side cover gasket on the engine, replace all the gaskets on the xfer case. Install the clutch and backing plate. Hopefully get the tranny installed.
Still need to finish the ujoints and install the driveshafts. On the home stretch...
Question:
When I pulled the bellhousing my clutch fork boot was pretty much gone along with the spring that connects the fork to the bracket near the clutch slave cylinder. Which bolt does that spring bracket go on? The forward or back bolt on the slave cylinder?
Mine is on the forward bolt but it seems like the spring is really stretched to the max. Anyone have a picture of how the clutch fork boot and spring are supposed to go?
Replaced all the seals and gaskets on the tranny. Pilot bearing installed. Installed the rear dif cover and gasket. Flywheel is installed and the clutch boot/fork. All new fill/drain plugs in the tranny, xfer case and diffs. Some of mine were badley stripped to the point of almost not coming out.This weekend I will replace the side cover gasket on the engine, replace all the gaskets on the xfer case. Install the clutch and backing plate. Hopefully get the tranny installed.
Still need to finish the ujoints and install the driveshafts. On the home stretch...
Question:
When I pulled the bellhousing my clutch fork boot was pretty much gone along with the spring that connects the fork to the bracket near the clutch slave cylinder. Which bolt does that spring bracket go on? The forward or back bolt on the slave cylinder?
Mine is on the forward bolt but it seems like the spring is really stretched to the max. Anyone have a picture of how the clutch fork boot and spring are supposed to go?
- Thread starter
- #50
Got a lot done today. Tranny and xfer case is in and serviced. Ebrake is back on. Thank god I had another set of hands to help install these. The tranny is heavy. I took them out as one piece but put them back seperated. Was much easier.
Engine side cover is next. Hopefully this will solve the last of my oil leaks. Ujoints will go in tomorrow and other than filling the diffs with fluid I can start her up.
Got my plates today also. Took a while but my title should be sent soon. The thing that made this easy is I got lucky because the vehicle was never registered in Colorado.
Still waiting on my speedo to be rebuilt from Classic Cruisers my bucket seats and FJ55 seat bracket from Corbeau.
Engine side cover is next. Hopefully this will solve the last of my oil leaks. Ujoints will go in tomorrow and other than filling the diffs with fluid I can start her up.
Got my plates today also. Took a while but my title should be sent soon. The thing that made this easy is I got lucky because the vehicle was never registered in Colorado.
Still waiting on my speedo to be rebuilt from Classic Cruisers my bucket seats and FJ55 seat bracket from Corbeau.
Moving right along on it. You ever find out about your clutch spring and where it goes. I've got a 69, that I could slide under, tomorrow and see.
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- #52
I moved the bracket to the rear bolt. Worked perfectly.
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- #53
The day started off great. Made a lot of progress. Filled the diffs, pulled the engine side cover and started installing it. Had 1 bolt that wouldn't start and come to find out it was broken off. Couldn't get it out with an easy out so I just installed the cover and used some permatex over the hole. It was an upper hole next to the pcv valve tube. Looks like it was broken already. There were some signs of rust behind the panel around the pcv valve tube. Could water be getting in here because the bolt is broken or is it a head gasket?
Got the cover on and filled with oil. The bottom rear corner of the cover started leaking. Tightened the lower corner bolts and seemed to stop leaking. Started the engine and thats when all hell broke loose.
I think I have more leaks now than I did before I started. The lower part of the side cover is leaking in like 3 places. Theres oil dripping down the inside of the bellhousing on the drivers side. Oil is basically pouring onto the exhaust pipe. The 2 bolt heads on the bearing cap are dripping.
Called it a night but I'm probably going to be pulling the tranny again...I'm so frustrated right now. Anyone wanna buy a leaky FJ55?
Question:
What is the small silver cap left of the cam plug cap. I installed a new cam plug but didn't mess with this cap. When I pulled the bellhousing there was some silicone gooped on this plug and the cam plug. Is it a water jacket or something? If this is leaking it might be why the inside of the bellhousing is wet on the drivers side. Or is it possible my engine block is cracked? Feels like I'm starting over...
Got the cover on and filled with oil. The bottom rear corner of the cover started leaking. Tightened the lower corner bolts and seemed to stop leaking. Started the engine and thats when all hell broke loose.
I think I have more leaks now than I did before I started. The lower part of the side cover is leaking in like 3 places. Theres oil dripping down the inside of the bellhousing on the drivers side. Oil is basically pouring onto the exhaust pipe. The 2 bolt heads on the bearing cap are dripping.
Called it a night but I'm probably going to be pulling the tranny again...I'm so frustrated right now. Anyone wanna buy a leaky FJ55?
Question:
What is the small silver cap left of the cam plug cap. I installed a new cam plug but didn't mess with this cap. When I pulled the bellhousing there was some silicone gooped on this plug and the cam plug. Is it a water jacket or something? If this is leaking it might be why the inside of the bellhousing is wet on the drivers side. Or is it possible my engine block is cracked? Feels like I'm starting over...
$40-$50 bucks gets you a tracerline dye kit. could be very handy
- Thread starter
- #55
I think I found the leaks. The one on the drivers side was the water jacket plug next to the cam plug. I should of resealed or changed this plug the first time but didn't.
Pulled the bellhousing and all the fun that entails and put JB weld on it. You could see that all the oil running down the block was right at that plug. Checked the rear main and the cam plug and both were dry. Pulled the engine side cover and noticed the bottom of the cork seal pushed up during the first install and caused all those leaks.
Got the bellhousing, flywheel, clutch and cover back on. Will install the tranny/xfer case and the side cover tomorrow. Hopefully all will be good.
I'm getting quite good at removing the bellhousing though.
Question:
During the clutch cover install I broke a bolt...always the last bolt off in the flywheel. Will the remaining 5 be ok? Everything looks tight.
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- #57
I could get new plugs but I really need to get this out of the shop it's sitting in. I'll keep an eye on it and if it starts leaking again I'll change the plugs. If I ordered plugs I'm looking at 3 or 4 days for shipping and I can't wait that long.
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- #59
Anyone have any tips on getting the side cover on the engine installed without it leaking? I've put this thing on 3 times and the back corner leaks everytime.
I ordered some Gasgacinch for the next attempt. Last time I used a cork seal and put the sealant on the panel side only. Still leaked...
I ordered some Gasgacinch for the next attempt. Last time I used a cork seal and put the sealant on the panel side only. Still leaked...