70 FJ40 sat for 11 years, won't start

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H

Haybelly

Joined
May 13, 2013
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Hello, I'm new here. I did a dumb thing 11 years ago and parked my Cruiser and just left it after the clutch went. It's from California, I bought it when I was living there in '96 but had it shipped to where I live now in NJ when I moved back in '01, so it is pretty much rust free and was my daily driver.

I finally met a guy who likes to work on cars so he agreed to help me get it started again, as I don't know much about working on cars and I don't have a lot of money. We found out the distributor is not stock and is from a 50's-60's GM truck??? or some such after 15 minutes of searching through parts books at the auto store. Weird. I still have the original one in a box of old parts but we went with new points, cap and rotor for the one that's in it. We also got a new battery, plugs and wires, oil, gas and air filters and removed the gas tank and drained it. The Cruiser is stock except for a Rochester Quadrajet, family cage, wagon wheels and the distributor.

We've been working on it for two weeks and can't get it started. Unfortunately the guy helping me is young and has never seen a carb or dist before, let alone never even heard of the old Land Cruisers. We know the fuel pump doesn't work but it still won't start after pouring gas into the carb. I looked up fuel pumps and found CCOT and Specter both have them and I don't know if I should go with one of them or if there's a better place? I researched on this site the problems we're having and the only other thing we haven't done is clean the jets on the carb. When we replaced the fuel filter it was full of gunk.

We know there's spark everywhere but the engine won't engage at all. So we're flying blind on a few things and could use some help.
 
Photos would help. I am not sure a GM dizzy would mate to the Toyota cam correctly. Others here may know more about that.

Check with your local Toyota dealer on the fuel pump, you my be surprised.

Shawn
 
I tried to read the static time thread but my eyes crossed, I'll show it to my mechanic friend. As for the Toyota dealer, I'll try them first for the fuel pump though around here they looked at me like I had three heads when I asked about getting another key made. Besides them, would CCOT or Specter be the place to go? Or someone else?

I know my Cruiser was running with this dizzy for years. It ran strong and had no problems other than the clutch and a tapping from the engine (which we will have to address later) when I parked it. The dizzy looks exactly like the stock Toyota but is a little bigger. They said it was a Mallory. I'll get pics tomorrow.
 
In addition to posting pictures of what you have, a better description of what is going on would help. Assuming the engine turns (i.e., isn't seized), here are a few questions and suggestions:

1. Does the starter work (i.e., is it turning the engine)?
2. You say "We know there's spark everywhere but the engine won't engage at all." Not sure where "everywhere" is, but have you tested the coil? Do you have spark at the coil lead?
3. If the carb sat for 11 years with gas in it, it probably needs a bit of work -- i.e., a good cleaning and likely a total rebuild.
4. If you've removed the gas tank (you don't say if you cleaned and reinstalled it?) and you don't have a working fuel pump, it isn't going to run for long by pouring gas into the carb. I'd suggest you address your fuel issue first, then turn to the ignition issues (including timing, as suggested by others).
5. What are your plans for the truck? Are you looking to eventually restore it? Or just get it running and drive it as is?
 
Fish, I'm in Burlington. Thanks for the offer.

Greg, the starter works, it makes that rrrrr sound when we turn the key (I'm sorry that sounds so dumb what can I say?). We got a new coil and there is spark there. As you said, the next thing is to take the carb off and clean it up. A learning experience for my mechanic and I. We removed the gas tank, drained it, replaced it and filled it half way. It was pretty clean inside. We blew out all the gas lines.

I want to make the Cruiser a summer and fall driver as the top is off for good. I don't have plans to do a total restoration. Here it is next to my other parked and abandoned car, a Honda z600.


yxOHsKc.jpg


Rochester carb

EcWp0ty.jpg


Weirdo dizzy

wXo0ri1.jpg


The dash is awful, I want to fix that and I have another gauge cluster to put on that has no rust.

tGmjZH4.jpg


Still have the original plate frame from the Berkeley dealership.

42Dwj3I.jpg


If anyone knows Ron at A Breath of Fresh Air don't tell him about this CA - NJ girl-owned Cruiser being parked for 11 years as he'd probably come and take it away. He refused to let me bring it here in the first place.
 
That sounds like a real problem you are having, I will come and take it off you hands for you. Seriously that is one nice solid looking cruiser.

Is the motor turning over (rotating) with the starter.

Pull the dist cap off and make sure the rotor inside it rotates when you turn the engine over with the starter.

Are you getting a spark at the spark plug wire end?
Have you checked your compression?

A little gas down the carb should give you a sputter if you have compression and spark.

Next big thing would be the timing, you said it ran when parked, so I would assume no one has pulled or moved the distributor since it was last running, if they have then it might be way off on its timing.

There is no reason this should not be simple to get running. As for the carb you can get a gallon can of carb dip from the auto store, take it apart put it in the gallon can and let it soak for a hour or so, take it out wash it down use compressed air to blow out all the ports and re assemble with a new carb rebuild kit. I did that when mine had been sitting for many years, now it starts and idles great. I have used my one can of carb dip to rebuild many carbs, especially for my mowers. It is only about $30.
 
back in the day that chevy dissy was a common swap and i thought i was the only one running a q jet on a 6 banger.did you do a compression test or lube the cylinders before you tried to start it .ive had them start after 20 years of sitting but it sounds like your on the right track .main thing is spark at the plugs when you pour the fuel in .also fuse holders corrode and lose contact.
 
Well I'm only 30 miles away, just outside princeton. If you want a hand don't be afraid to ask.

It sounds like you are doing the right things. In my opinion that carb should go on ebay and you should buy an Aisan carb from trollhole or a good used one from another mud member. This assumes you can get it to turn over and catch with the fuel down the throat method first. These trucks just run better with an OEM carb that is in good shape in my experience.
 
I can't believe it's this hard to start either, we must be doing something stupid as we've poured gas down the carb and there is no difference. The engine is doing nothing. We have not checked compression or did anything with the engine except change the oil, filter and spark plugs. My mechanic friend is just starting out and doesn't have many gadgets yet.

Fish when can you get here? I'd LOVE to have someone with experience with older cars take a look at it and help me with it before I have to send it away to someone for a lot of money that I don't have.
 
Compression won't really matter at this point, you just want it to fire up. Time it by eyeball, at TDC#1 make sure the rotor is under sparkplug wire #1 in the cap, then time it by ear, with the key on, you should be able to hear the spark jump when you rotate the dizzy. Fill the float bowl manually and pour gas down the throat, crank the engine while rotating the dizzy slightly.
How much voltage are you putting into the rig? Sometimes I jump 2 or 3 batteries and a charger all at once.

Edit: Also check your "Engine" fuse in the fuse block, or jump 12 volts to the coil...
 
You'll never get it to pass NJ emissions testing.
Stay right there and I'll come & get it.
 
Cleg said:
You'll never get it to pass NJ emissions testing.
Stay right there and I'll come & get it.
Click to expand...

This is pure unadulterated bu!!$h!t.

Everyone should stop trying to buy this truck. Even if you are joking.

When you do get it running just get "QQ" plates. Never have to go through inspection that way and never have to re-register it. Might even make your insurance less expensive.

Any luck yet?
 
Fish Taco, unwind your sphincter, it's a joking way to pay you a compliment and say you have a nice cruiser... Take it as the compliment it is intended as...

Cal-
 
Man A Fre sold a distributor and carb swap in the 70s using a full centrifical chevy distributor and a webber or rochester carb. They had a split intake for the 4 barrel. I have the distributor and 2 barrel webber on my 72 along with the header they sold at the time. If you have spark at the plugs it should pop with a little gas down the carb. (if the engine hasn't run for a while I like to use 2 stroke mix cause it will lub the rings a little and it's usually in a small can that makes it easy to pour)

I'm in New Hope, PA by the way. About 20 miles as the crow flys.
 
Last edited:
Caladin, very loose sphincter here. You should buy this rochester carb so haybelly is forced to put an aisan back on this 2f. It would work great with your engine. Then you can get a cj7 body and make the transformation complete:flipoff2:

I thought haybelly may have been insulted by the playful joke offers to buy her truck. She is a new member but she read them for compliments so my comment was unnecessary. Thanks for talking me back off the ledge:flipoff2:

In all honesty that green 40 you got looks like a pretty sweet ride.
 
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