Builds 94 FZJ80 - Let the Adventure Ensue (1 Viewer)

[baldilocks]

@baldilocks what did you do for your rear sway bar bracket?

As far as what??

 

[FMC80]

As far as what??

My sway bar brackets are oriented on the side of my frame rail. The ones that came in my kit are oriented underneath the frame rail. I don’t have captive nuts underneath. Apparently that is a 95 and newer thing. Not sure if I need to get different side rail mounted ones or if I can add rivnuts? I’d have to get different sway bar links too if I go that route.

 

[PNWTreeOctopus]

Yet another reason the 93-94 flavor is the most special.

 

[baldilocks]

My sway bar brackets are oriented on the side of my frame rail. The ones that came in my kit are oriented underneath the frame rail. I don’t have captive nuts underneath. Apparently that is a 95 and newer thing. Not sure if I need to get different side rail mounted ones or if I can add rivnuts? I’d have to get different sway bar links too if I go that route.

A few years ago I welded a short section of “C” channel to the bottom of the frame and moved the sway bar link down that way. I used only the lower hole in the frame and 3/8” bolt and nut through the piece I welded on.

It drops only the distance between the frame bolt holes (whatever that is). It’s not really the correct amount for my 5” lift but that helps keep the bar and end link up higher so as to not get beaten up so badly on rocks. I’ve still managed to bend my links a couple time.

 

[FMC80]

A few years ago I welded a short section of “C” channel to the bottom of the frame and moved the sway bar link down that way. I used only the lower hole in the frame and 3/8” bolt and nut through by be piece I welded on.

It drops only the distance between the frame bolt holes (whatever that is). It’s not really the correct amount for my 5” lift but that helps keep the bar and end link up higher so as to not get beaten up so badly on rocks. I’ve still managed to bend my links a couple time.

Okay right on. Thanks for the info. I have never welded anything before so I won’t start now but will look for another solution. I may just get beefy new sway bar links and throw in some kind of a rivnut or something in the bottom holes. I want to keep it simple.

 

[FMC80]

Oil pump cover o-ring: Flatter than my girlfriend from first grade.

Old vs new. Ahhhhh feels so fresh and so clean.

Got the crank seal installed and finished up the harmonic balancer install. The new torque wrench I bought made it too easy. Tomorrow: water pump and more suspension bits.

 

[PNWTreeOctopus]

Did you throw down for a 300ftlb + torque wrench? My local hardware store sells one that’s about $750, which does eat up the budget. The Amazon ones are tempting, but hard to tell if they are nearly accurate enough. Could you kindly fill us in on the choice you made?

 

[FMC80]

Did you throw down for a 300ftlb + torque wrench? My local hardware store sells one that’s about $750, which does eat up the budget. The Amazon ones are tempting, but hard to tell if they are nearly accurate enough. Could you kindly fill us in on the choice you made?

So I spoke to Aloha Jen a few times about tools and she mentioned her husband buying this torque wrench off Amazon: Amazon product ASIN B00PX16Z4QI ended up buying that one after calling 6-9 different places on island to rent one with no luck. Seems decent and they claim -/+ 4% accuracy. The reviews are all over the place but by and large, they were positive enough for me to buy it.

 

[FMC80]

Remember a few posts back when I wrote I’m mildly to moderately stupid? Well the following is proof-positive of my claim.
Tonight I decided to install all three belts and get after my radiator install. Well once I unboxed the radiator, some very glaring details stood out to me. I had no radiator supports. The radiator I removed from the rig was an AC Delco or something and looks like the PO may have removed the original bracketed to install this off-brand rad. So another set back and I only ended up installing my water pump instead.
While I’m awaiting parts, I have my brake lines soaking in PB Blaster so I can R2 those once my final brake line comes in. In other news, I got a couple oil cooler lines coming in from Dubai so I can install those with plenty of room since the rad is still out. I have the rest of the parts on order provided the Toyota dealership in the states can get them but it usually takes them 2-3 weeks to send me my s***. Oh well, my ETIC bumped once already so for now I’ll just keep cleaning and inspecting and pushing along with my brakes and suspension. Onto the pics from tonight:

This is a rando pic of somewhere downtown this past weekend during our pub crawl for my buddy’s day of birth. I don’t have much memory from that night and I’m not as young as I once was.

 

[PNWTreeOctopus]

So I spoke to Aloha Jen a few times about tools and she mentioned her husband buying this torque wrench off Amazon: Amazon product ASIN B00PX16Z4QI ended up buying that one after calling 6-9 different places on island to rent one with no luck. Seems decent and they claim -/+ 4% accuracy. The reviews are all over the place but by and large, they were positive enough for me to buy it.

Thanks! More helpful info.

 

[FMC80]

Forget everything I wrote up there. I was wrong again. In my frustration I didn’t realize all the mounting hardware was compatible from my old rad to my new rad. I slept, woke up, talked to Chris (Slow95z) and just as I was talking to him I had clarity. He helped me out and is a great guy. I was about to drop $100 on new hardware based off poor parts illustrations and limited experience.
All that to say, when I get frustrated, I can lose sight of the obvious.
Anyway, back to building up my cruiser today after work.

 

[FMC80]

Lately, like many of you I’ve been working at work and then coming home to work on my cruiser. I’m not complaining. It’s great and therapeutic. Sometimes it’s not, sometimes it’s frustrating but overall I feel empowered. I was definitely fearful of breaking into my cruiser for fear of screwing something up. More so because the cruiser was driving so well. In the back of mind though, I knew preventative maintenance was due and in the case of my PHH and other lines, overdue.
The fam is out of town so it’s just myself and my pups who hang in the garage with me as I curse and bang my knuckles bloody. The last couple days have been slow but steady. Here are some pics of the progress:

The radiator is in. The belts are tightened—tightly. New water pump and all new lines and bolts and nuts all torqued to spec.
Took my 27yo steering damper off and replaced it tonight too.

Needed a pickle fork to separate the ball joint. Rented one from the ‘zone.

finally, Cruiser Outfitters sent me some Slee sway bar drop brackets since the ones in my kit required a different set up. These will do just fine for my use.

Gotta paint them black....signing off, goodnight mud

 

[PNWTreeOctopus]

Obviously I can't speak for everyone, but from my perspective I think the amount of baselining awesomeness you have accomplished in the last 10 days is something to feel great about. It really hard to take it apart and make it not drivable then deal with the little fitment issues like those brackets etc. Keep it up! I'm stoked to see the next Hawaii LC picture, but its pretty rad to see that engine bay full of new parts and looking ready to do another eleventy-hundred thousand miles!

 

[baldilocks]

I could not have written that more accurately. I also find satisfaction in busted knuckles. Wrench on...

 

[FMC80]

Obviously I can't speak for everyone, but from my perspective I think the amount of baselining awesomeness you have accomplished in the last 10 days is something to feel great about. It really hard to take it apart and make it not drivable then deal with the little fitment issues like those brackets etc. Keep it up! I'm stoked to see the next Hawaii LC picture, but its pretty rad to see that engine bay full of new parts and looking ready to do another eleventy-hundred thousand miles!

Thanks Greg, appreciate the support. BOLO for a small pkg coming your way. Hit me up because I forgot to explain what I stuffed in the box (sts).

I could not have written that more accurately. I also find satisfaction in busted knuckles. Wrench on...

Thanks Steve, glad we share the same love for wrenching on cruisers. In other news, my spousal unit wants a LC as well when we leave HI in a year. She said she’d prefer one a bit newer. I’m looking now in case I run into a decent deal. I’m not sure if she’ll get a 100 or 200 series but my heart is leaning toward the 200. I prefer 2017 or newer but we will see what’s out there.

 

[baldilocks]

My wife would like a 200 but she wants me to pay her monthly gas bill. Haha And so she is still driveling her turbo Santa Fe.

 

[PNWTreeOctopus]

You gotta love it when the whole family is into the cruiser thing. Pell keep your 80 series if you can. Sure seems like they are becoming very difficult to find. I remember feeling like an idiot for paying around $9k for mine, but im pretty sure I couldn't really get near any 80 series for much less than that now. The point is there are at least two drivers in your household so obviously you need at least two Land Cruisers....right? FWIW this argument hasn't been entirely effective at my house, so uhh good luck?!?

@FMC80 I'll keep my eyes peeled for a pineapples with vacuum line taped to it!

 

[baldilocks]

In January 2016 I paid 4500 for my 93 out in the Oregon high desert. At that time 4500 was about 30% lower than CA prices. I live in central CA for 30 years.

Since then I’ve spent untold dollars and she has contracted many experience marks. I’d say she must be worth a cool million....

 

[PNWTreeOctopus]

In January 2016 I paid 4500 for my 93 out in the Oregon high desert. At that time 4500 was about 30% lower than CA prices. I live in central CA for 30 years.

Since then I’ve spent untold dollars and she has contracted many experience marks. I’d say she must be worth a cool million....

Im just going to say that prices obviously jumped up %100 at the time of my purchase...certainly not that I got lusty after a lifted cruiser with sweet bumpers and a rack that had lots of maintainiance issues for which I way over paid cause it looks cool and id never get my wife to spring for a lift and bumpers and a rack without first owning them.

 

[FMC80]

I just convinced my wife the old suspension is old and unsafe so it obviously needed to be replaced with a lift. “Just think fo the kids babe. This is for them, not me”. Doesn’t make sense to stay with stock because...well because lifted trucks are more fun for the kids of course.