Aug. 85 FJ60 build "The Cruiser"

[LittleRedWgon]

Also purchased a 4 door quiet crap pack...huge difference.
Measured the decibels prior to install..can't wait to see what this does for the ride!

 

[LittleRedWgon]

Started on the Rear seat belt conversion...luckily, my posts were threaded and can easily take the rear shoulder belt conversion!
just gotta do some cutting and modifying to the area to hold the belt winder...cut it out and did some welting around the raw edge. now just gotta bolt these bad boys in and find a trim kit to conceal!...Oh yeah, added a oh s*** grab bar to the Glove box too!

 

[LittleRedWgon]

My new Hella Horns!
was a good choice, and a quick mod!...got em on Amazon for under $45. Got the wiring harness and plugged her right in! Loud AS HELL!

 

[MACFJ60]

Nice progress and welcome to MUD. [emoji1589]

 

[LittleRedWgon]

Nice progress and welcome to MUD. [emoji1589]

Thanks!

 

[LittleRedWgon]

The cruiser with her bonnet off and radiator pulled.

My backyard garage setup... enjoying the sunshine.

Getting her stripped part by part...

Cheap labor... they trade scrubbing for ice cream.

The soaking bucket....

Been away for a while.. work and family.

I have spent the past year planning on next steps and order of things as well as saving up cash... so this past weekend I started the massive project to replace the spewing power steering pump with a Saginaw conversion, replacement of the AC compressor that is shot, new Alternator, starter and Distributor.

I am also replacing all hoses that I can, and the water pump, thermostat, vacuum lines, and the trashed heater core behind the dash... All new belts, plugs, wires, oil and fuel filters, manifold gaskets/insulator, manifold to exhaust gasket and radiator flush.

While that is all going on, I am doing a deep steam clean of the engine and bay, upgrading to a dual battery system, a power antenna upgrade, inclinometer addition for fun, tie rod ends upgrade and a camber/shim fix.

Phew... should be fun, looking forward to it. Will post images along the way.

 

[LittleRedWgon]

A tired, dirty, broke, old AC Compressor....

A Bosch alternator the PO had put on... wrong pulley size, swapping it out with a new one!

The culprit that has spewed fluid for years all over the engine bay....

That's a dirty fan.

Oh yeah, replacing this guy too.

 

[LittleRedWgon]

First wipe down on valve cover....and gasket check... yeah, it was bad. Thinking of a coat of Hi-temp paint???

Thermostat housing bottom all polished up and ready..

Thermostat housing all ready to go..just a lot of scrubbing.

This thermostat was toast, look at that gasket. The other one was worse.

Here is what's left of one of the gaskets

 

[LittleRedWgon]

What is left of the water pump gasket.... just dust.

A scrubbed up power steering pulley that's ready for painting

Brittle as hell... the other one on the thermostat housing turned to dust when I took it off. This one is trashed too.

Air filter gasket was put in wrong and was folded over and bad.. trying to let it flatten out in the sun. Will see if it works.

I think that this needs changed too...

 

[LittleRedWgon]

A little Baking soda mixture on the battery side to stop all acid...gonna polish up and prime rusty spots and paint.

Think I should replace this?... haha.

Water temp sending unit needs replaced too..its bad and connectors are shot.

The start of the old Hose graveyard ! Pretty cracked, brittle, over tightened/ wrong sizes and collapsing....

Other side of thermostat... needs some love.

 

[LittleRedWgon]

So, I got the carb off and quickly saw the dreaded crack... not a surprise really. I was gonna be surprised if ther was not one.

So now, what to do?

After getting some input from @LAMBCRUSHER, @Output Shaft and @Spike Strip (thanks, guys!). I have determined that I'm gonna get the manifold block off plate from Cruiser Outfitters. Just called this morning and got hooked up from Kurt @cruiseroutfit ... he was awesome.

I found a local machine shop recommendation from @murf and got hooked up there too... I love MUD. Thanks guys.


Here is the crack, post clean up! Pretty big.

Her are a few shots right off the engine.

 

[LittleRedWgon]

Some images of the carb take off and what I found...

Trashed and broken insulation plate...

Pretty bad shape..

There was not even a nut on this manifold post!!!! hahahahah. One of a few spots where the valve cover gasket was leaking and oil was built up all over block and manifolds.. also just one spot where the manifold gasket was trashed and leaking.

Exhaust manifold after I pulled the intake manifold

All that was left of top gasket... bottom was completely gone.

 

[Spike Strip]

I'd get the crack welded also, just for peace of mind, if you can find a machine shop that'll do the whole thing at once: resurface, weld, etc...

Use some high-temp RTV (orange or the brush on copper stuff), when you put it back together.

 

[LittleRedWgon]

I'd get the crack welded also, just for peace of mind, if you can find a machine shop that'll do the whole thing at once: resurface, weld, etc...

Use some high-temp RTV (orange or the brush on copper stuff), when you put it back together.

Great tip. Will do, the machine shop I have has done one for another MUD member, so that is good.
Much appreciated man, I am sure we will be chatting again. Have a good weekend.

 

[LittleRedWgon]

Pulled off the manifold and this is what was left of the exhaust gasket...hahahha.

Manifold gasket has two distinct areas that are blown and worthlessness...crappy performance is starting to make more sense now that I see it all. I'm really enjoying this. Never thought I would be able to do this... thanks to MUD and all its members.

Little dirty... but the T will shine soon.

Christmas here today in April... got my rebuilt Carb in!... now I got one to ship off and get rebuilt for my oldest daughter who asked me if she could get a blue fj60.. awesome, might as well pass the sickness on. Better then the alternatives that she could be in to..

Also got my new batteries for the dual battery system set up. Optima red top and yellow top. All parts are coming together while I'm working on the tear down and clean up.

 

[Spike Strip]

FWIW, these guys know cruiser well and they have a MUD section on the website. In Tucson.

Home

 

[LittleRedWgon]

Exhaust manifold right off the Red wagon...Got a connection that is gonna sand blast her before I get her machined smooth and square and flat.

Needs a little love , oil from the vale cover gasket leak.

Heat shield bolts from when there used to be a heat shield....also, the springs an connection is shot here.... anyone got a tip how to get the Horns off easy?

Missing a nut... not sure if this is still doing it's job. @Spike Strip , do you have suggestions on how to check this?.. it's pretty squeaky and not sure it's effective as is. Seems like all the parts are discontinued too.

 

[LittleRedWgon]

FWIW, these guys know cruiser well and they have a MUD section on the website. In Tucson.

Home

Thanks! how'd you know I was gonna need this? hahah

 

[LittleRedWgon]

FWIW, these guys know cruiser well and they have a MUD section on the website. In Tucson.

Home

Oh, and how the hell do I get the horns off the manifold?

 

[Spike Strip]

They're just slip fit. Squirt a little penetrant in there.