85 60 full desmog, sniper, & tuned headers - questions and progress

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

Joined
Jul 14, 2010
Threads
17
Messages
104
Location
Bountiful, Utah
Okay. I know there are a few threads out there and I've read them but still have questions - and will likely have more as I progress with the project. Here's what I'm doing:

After running great for years, my mostly stock '85 FJ60 has started running poorly. I figured 50 years old, ethonol fuel, etc. - time and conditions have taken a toll. With a lot of parts not available anymore, and to simplify and improve reliability, I decided to do a total desmog and switch to a sniper. I've had a set of tuned headers that I bought at a great price several years ago but have been sitting in my garage. I thought I'd put them on since I have most everything off.
I've purchased a ton of parts that should be replaced "while I'm at it." (hoses, etc.)
I purchased a Mosley Motors sniper kit and the sniper from them too. These arrive this weekend.
So far I've removed all the smog stuff, the vacuum cannister, vacuum lines, carb, and both manifolds. I am a grade C mechanic who can replace most things, can follow instructions and service manuals okay. I can service knuckes. I have no training. This is going to stretch my abilities.
I plan to take the intake and headers to a machine shop to ensure they are flat and of equal thickness for successful mounting.
I'm looking to reduce the vacuum lines to only those that are needed for best operation.
Questions I have so far:
  • On the intake manifold, firewall side, there is a thing that sticks up that has cooling fins/discs on it and two vac lines out the top. Do I need it? If not, does anyone have a recommended method of plugging the hole?
  • On the intake manifold, radiator side, there is a stubby thing with three vac lines coming off of it. Do I need this? If not, does anyone have a recommended method of plugging the hole?
  • There are three vac line nipples on the distributer (planing to use the stock distributer for now), one on the cap, and two on the metal thing that sits on the side (an inner and outer nipple). Which do I use for vac advance? What happens with the other two?
  • I've read the VCV, PCV, charcoal canister, vacuum advance, and brake booster are all I need to consider for vacuum lines - is that right?
Thanks - I'll provide updates. I'm sure I'll have more questions.

As I disassembeled things, I was shocked at how many little things were broken. Wires melted. Plastic vacuum things broken. Hoses crumbling. A manifold bolt totally missing. Kind of impressed it was running at all.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top Bottom