Just another update, and maybe pics.
i had a 3000km outback trip planned. About a month before I got my trusted mechanic to have a check of it and tune the engine, because I still did'nt think it was perfect.
He immediately said the Disti was faulty. It had some movement (you could wiggle it) which is bad, and he could hear misfires. He recommended electronic conversion of the toyota disti (he had dont this to plenty of other old model cars). He also recommended NOT to get a non-toyota disti. So the Disti was sent away to Victoria for another guy to do the mod.
When it came back, the 60 was perfect. Completely smooth Idle. 650rpm. The issue of misfire at 1800rpm was gone. The issue of occasional stall at idle had gone. It even felt a little pepier.
So the Trip. In short Almost Perfect.
- The Carb draining issue came back, but not only after hours of driving, and I figures a way to minimise the issue.
- Engine worked great. New electronic disti took all the mis-fire issues away. it hums along
- Steering was perfect, no wobble at all, but its a bit busy to drive. If a bump, puts the steering off, its not self-centering. Those big 33" tyres need to always be pointed straight.
- Engine Temps were perfect, never shifted, Oil also ok.
- Air-con worked, Heater Worked, and even demist worked. Its not perfect, but workable.
- Speed was ok. It can sit on 100 or 110 easily
- Getting the 100 is another issue. it takes some time.
- Overtaking is non-existent. At 90K, need to go back to 4th gear to get some speed. You can do it, just need a lot of road
- Hills are crap. (remember the 60 was fully loaded up, fuel, water, camping people etc). 60km up hills in 3rd gear
- Fuel economy also Crap. I based myself on 350-400km for a tank of fuel, but in reality filled up whenever it got bellow 1/2 if I could. On two occasions got down to 1/8th tank left, and filled up with about 72L of fuel. Fully Loaded up. Roof-Rack with Swag on room, almost acting like a sail. This was all driving as well. Anyway, thats what it is.
- Comfort. OK. Plenty of room, but took a day or so for legs to get used to the space. Going to look at a knee-bad for clutch foot though! it got a bit stiff with no room to stretch out. Wife was happy in passenger seat. BMW electric seats worked great.
- Noise. Well. All the sound-deadening is great. Cant hear road noise at all. BUT engine noise and wind noise. Downside with roof-rack is they are noisy. Its not bad, you dont need to shout, but when I got back into my volkswagon, I re-started the engine 3 times because It was so quite.
- Radio. The Sony AV1000 was flawless. Apple-Wireless connected first time-every time (I have an add-on USB wifi adapter). However, door speakers, useless. Rear-speakers, cant hear due to all gear in back. I can see why the high-roof has roof mounted rear speakers. I think I'm going to do the same, and bring them to just behind front row.
- UHF. Worked well, but I only had the stuby antenna, as the long one was packed under the fold-down sears under all the gear. The external speaker was good, but again I think these need to be mounted high. Only really line-of site, which was fine.
- 12V. The festival I went too was 5 days, and the damn carb drained itself. Starting after 5 days, needed the help of the booster, but it then started straight away. did'nt touch the 2nd battery as rear power failed due to anderson plug issue. All camping was on external Lithium battery box and solar, which worked well.
The trip was great. All camping bits worked. I lost some power to the rear, but that turned out to be an anderson plug coming loose. I cable-tied them all together now. I slept in the back of the Landcruiser. I had a single mattress, which fits when you remove the rear seat. It was 4 deg outside, but quite warm inside, only needed sheet and blanket.
This was first major test for the cruiser. I had nearly $1000 of spares (alternator, starter etc), did'nt need any of them. I now know it can be trusted. It's comfortable. It keeps up with everyone else. I know its fuel range. All good for the next adventure.
