Hey there, new to the fj40 club. Just bought a 71 fj40 FULLY STOCK over a month ago. Heres the condition of it when i got it:
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Well, this was it after a few modifications..
First, the front rear and back left drums and the master cylinder were locked up tighter than Alcatraz. I went ahead and converted it over to JT Outfitters 4 wheel disc brake conversion. Worked out great, has awesome stopping power, very pleased.
Second, i was having some serious engine problems. After checking the points, I rebuilt the carburetor myself and was not able to pull the bearings out of it (small little steel balls) so i skipped them, drank a beer, and reinstalled the carburetor... wouldnt start without dumping fuel into the carb, so i said f&%k it, sent it in to be rebuilt by a professional. Got the carburetor back, which might i add still has a sticking choke, meaning the manifold gets stuck open/closed, i found a loop hole by backing of the choke after i pull it and it snaps back into place. In the mean time i replaced the radiator, for good measure.
Got the carburetor reinstalled and got it running pretty rough. I decided to do some troubleshooting, I checked the points again, adjusted the timing, i took the fuel line off and turned over the engine, got plenty of fuel. I replaced the plugs and showed some signs of improvement. I sprayed starting fluid around the base of the carb and didnt get any change in idle. I plugged all the vacuum lines with golf tees while it was running.. no change. I checked the plug wires to make sure they were in the right order, all good. Still runs like the ridge line of the rocky mountains...rough.
At this point i did my best to adjust the mixture/idle screws and i had it running decent. I mean decent as, would die if i eased on the throttle, would accelerate if i pumped the throttle hard and got the RPM's high. Started driving it(for the first time, and after i get it into second gear i could lug the engine by going slow and accelerate out which had good performance, im talking acceleration from below idle in second. When i decelerate i get a popping and unhealthy sounds.
Long story short i winged it from Fallon Nevada to Las Vegas Nevada (450 miles at 55 mph) she performed excellent after i learned how to man handle the throttle. I was decelerating though Hawthorne (army base) and they pulled me over because they thought i was firing weapons as i decelerated into town...
As i neared the end of the trip i noticed, at high RPM's in, started to get an abrupt jerking, as if i was pumping the throttle... so i resorted to accelerating and decelerating back and fourth for an hour...Stumped!!!
Here i am in vegas (my home) and im real motivated to get it running smoothly, im so close!
SO
1. I changed the plug wires, no difference.
2. I did a pressure test where i plugged a pressure gauge into each plug hole at once and turned the engine over for about 8 seconds until the gauge reached anywhere between 70-80psi. Singled out no burnt valves...(i think)
3. Decided to upgrade the dizzy to protroniox(electric) from SOR, threw a flamethrower coil in, new dizzy cap, new dizzy rotor. I started getting some backfiring out of the carb when applying throttle so i knew i needed to check the timing again.
4. Adjusted the timing and got a much better idle and no more backfiring.
5. leaned out the mixture all the way and screwed it in 5 turns
The idle is really good - i dont hear any missing or backfiring. Guess what?? apply slight throttle and it fights to stay running if it keeps running at all. But i give it heavy pumps and it jumps up to high RPM's i cant keep it at a constant high RPM, wants to die, i just have to keep pumping it to keep the RPM's high.
So i drive it again and it accelerates great, through all 3 gears. I let off the throttle and it starts missing worse than a blind kid pitching a baseball. (which it has always done)
I am so f&%&ing mad at this point, ive changed almost everything..
Burnt valve? needs valve adjustments? new vacuum hoses? Thats all that i got left.
I feel like Tom Hanks on a raft with a volleyball... Stranded with a useless toy.
SEND HELP
Imgur: The most awesome images on the Internet
Well, this was it after a few modifications..
First, the front rear and back left drums and the master cylinder were locked up tighter than Alcatraz. I went ahead and converted it over to JT Outfitters 4 wheel disc brake conversion. Worked out great, has awesome stopping power, very pleased.
Second, i was having some serious engine problems. After checking the points, I rebuilt the carburetor myself and was not able to pull the bearings out of it (small little steel balls) so i skipped them, drank a beer, and reinstalled the carburetor... wouldnt start without dumping fuel into the carb, so i said f&%k it, sent it in to be rebuilt by a professional. Got the carburetor back, which might i add still has a sticking choke, meaning the manifold gets stuck open/closed, i found a loop hole by backing of the choke after i pull it and it snaps back into place. In the mean time i replaced the radiator, for good measure.
Got the carburetor reinstalled and got it running pretty rough. I decided to do some troubleshooting, I checked the points again, adjusted the timing, i took the fuel line off and turned over the engine, got plenty of fuel. I replaced the plugs and showed some signs of improvement. I sprayed starting fluid around the base of the carb and didnt get any change in idle. I plugged all the vacuum lines with golf tees while it was running.. no change. I checked the plug wires to make sure they were in the right order, all good. Still runs like the ridge line of the rocky mountains...rough.
At this point i did my best to adjust the mixture/idle screws and i had it running decent. I mean decent as, would die if i eased on the throttle, would accelerate if i pumped the throttle hard and got the RPM's high. Started driving it(for the first time, and after i get it into second gear i could lug the engine by going slow and accelerate out which had good performance, im talking acceleration from below idle in second. When i decelerate i get a popping and unhealthy sounds.
Long story short i winged it from Fallon Nevada to Las Vegas Nevada (450 miles at 55 mph) she performed excellent after i learned how to man handle the throttle. I was decelerating though Hawthorne (army base) and they pulled me over because they thought i was firing weapons as i decelerated into town...
As i neared the end of the trip i noticed, at high RPM's in, started to get an abrupt jerking, as if i was pumping the throttle... so i resorted to accelerating and decelerating back and fourth for an hour...Stumped!!!
Here i am in vegas (my home) and im real motivated to get it running smoothly, im so close!
SO
1. I changed the plug wires, no difference.
2. I did a pressure test where i plugged a pressure gauge into each plug hole at once and turned the engine over for about 8 seconds until the gauge reached anywhere between 70-80psi. Singled out no burnt valves...(i think)
3. Decided to upgrade the dizzy to protroniox(electric) from SOR, threw a flamethrower coil in, new dizzy cap, new dizzy rotor. I started getting some backfiring out of the carb when applying throttle so i knew i needed to check the timing again.
4. Adjusted the timing and got a much better idle and no more backfiring.
5. leaned out the mixture all the way and screwed it in 5 turns
The idle is really good - i dont hear any missing or backfiring. Guess what?? apply slight throttle and it fights to stay running if it keeps running at all. But i give it heavy pumps and it jumps up to high RPM's i cant keep it at a constant high RPM, wants to die, i just have to keep pumping it to keep the RPM's high.
So i drive it again and it accelerates great, through all 3 gears. I let off the throttle and it starts missing worse than a blind kid pitching a baseball. (which it has always done)
I am so f&%&ing mad at this point, ive changed almost everything..
Burnt valve? needs valve adjustments? new vacuum hoses? Thats all that i got left.
I feel like Tom Hanks on a raft with a volleyball... Stranded with a useless toy.
SEND HELP