Thanks for letting us know what we're look at for a priceline. Excited to follow your work!
88 FJ62-Vortec 5.3L Re-Power & more....VIDEO ADDED
- Thread starter NCFJ
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
I put mine (scan gauge II) right under the dash, nearest the driver. No holes drilled, uses industrial grade velcro strip. keeps stock toyota gauge cluster, and gauge is easily read from drivers position.
I try to snap a pic for you...
NCFJ
Supporting Vendor
- Thread starter
- #64
Adding a scan gauge in addition to gauges is what you have done. You previous post stated
Why not use a scan gauge or other pcm based gauge cluster instead of the autometers? Instead is what threw me. No photo needed as I was under the impression you had used a cluster to replace the stock gauges.
I'll continue to use the Autometer gauges and add or exchange items at the customer's request. The important issues to me is that the customer is happy with the product he or she receives and that the motor can be ACCURATELY monitored. Stock gauges are far from accurate.
Why not use a scan gauge or other pcm based gauge cluster instead of the autometers? Instead is what threw me. No photo needed as I was under the impression you had used a cluster to replace the stock gauges.
I'll continue to use the Autometer gauges and add or exchange items at the customer's request. The important issues to me is that the customer is happy with the product he or she receives and that the motor can be ACCURATELY monitored. Stock gauges are far from accurate.
hard to beat the utility of autometer....I've used their stuff for a long time. The beauty of analog is that you can tell at a glance what is going on, generally they are easy to read. I've tried others too like scanguage and others that tap into the the OBD2 port, they work and you can access many functions and variables depending on the vehicle. But I for one am old school and like a nice set of analog gauges and autometer makes some good ones, yes there are other brands and and other options. I've been tempted to trash my OEM cluster and setup for all analog autometer stuff, once you do a engine swap and various other mods....your left and right limits seem to loosen up a bit. I've never been a fan of a gauge that simply shows hot vs. cold without being able to determine the temp in F.
NCFJ
Supporting Vendor
- Thread starter
- #68
The body and frame have been separated and the frame has been pressure washed. It will now be stripped to the bare frame, paint stripped and painted gray like the frame picuted below (my 80). Two LCs in the shop now with bodies off.
All body parts and interior from the silver 1986 FJ60 are for sale. PM if interested
All body parts and interior from the silver 1986 FJ60 are for sale. PM if interested
Last edited:
Wildly efficient work on that body and frame separation. New 60 frame looks great! Can't wait to see it coated with the HFS signature grey!!
Great work. This is in my long term plan
Just got back from a road trip with my brother in law. We took his Silverado which has a 5.3 Vortec, and after riding in a vehicle with it (and the cost of diesel having skyrocketed) I'm leaning heavily towards this when my 3FE reaches the end of its life. Definitely going to be following the progress on this swap so I can get a good idea of how much to budget and if it's something I'll realistically be able to do myself (which I'd like to, primarily for budget but also for the bragging rights).
Stan, that is not bad. I have been looking for another diesel to replace my BJ60 but diesel is thirty to forty cents more a gallon than regular and the newer 5.3s are returning mpg numbers not too far off. Short by maybe 3 mpg. The motor is included in this price, yet? Have you done an install using the newer 5.3s with cylinder deactivation? I like the AM gauges as well. SG is cool for very specific numbers but for quick glance, like driving down the road, gauges cannot be beat. Having to scroll and read a small pixelated LCD readout is a bit of a pain.
If the OBD port is left open, you can run both.
NCFJ
Supporting Vendor
- Thread starter
- #74
For those that do happen to like aftermarket gauges, check out how many design variations are available with just Autometer alone
http://www.autometer.com/cat_gaugeseries.aspx#color_tab-tab
http://www.autometer.com/cat_gaugeseries.aspx#color_tab-tab
I am a fan of Smiths gauges (I have owned a few MGs, etc...) and those Cobra gauges are where it is at. Reverse sweep speedo too. Oh so nice.
You are a fan of Smiths gauges? Oh you're that one guy I heard ofI was in to Austin Healys in my youth. Sold my last one when I married at 23.
I did not see the reverse sweep speedo, cool
Yes I am. I am a British car fan. '58 MGA, '72 MGB GT, '79 MGB. Worked on them in a specialty shop for over a decade. I own Cruisers because Rovers only have looks going for them. Nothing else. Even have a couple of old Smiths watches...
What is the turn around on the swaps? I am trying to decide between a 60 and a 73.
NCFJ
Supporting Vendor
- Thread starter
- #78
The motor is included in the swap, I've not used a motor with cylinder deactivation. I'd like to. I think that this overall platform is just plain hard to beat. The Vortec line is available across the line, obviously the newer, lower mileage motors bring premium dollars. The 5.3L motor is a workhorse with all the horse power and torque you'll normally need. The 6.0L and 6.2L are just upping the displacement with some other changes as well. The big question is, how much HP and TQ can the stock axles really take on an everyday basis?
The new frame is painted
Nice clean frame right there. Why not powdercoat though?
