Builds Beaten, built, 80 series rebuild thread (8 Viewers)

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This is a really great turbo, I think you will be very happy with it. The only thing I saw that was a little misleading is that the CEL will function but you might have a CEL light so if that is a concern for emissions that could be a problem.

I need to mention right now (should have already) that there would have been a slim to none chance of doing this without the awesome knowledge and input from @scottryana. Thanks buddy.
 
This is a really great turbo, I think you will be very happy with it. The only thing I saw that was a little misleading is that the CEL will function but you might have a CEL light so if that is a concern for emissions that could be a problem.

I was just out working on the supercharger remove and it occurred to me that the MAF will be history. That alone would bring a CEL. I don't need the light to function but not sure I can make it if I wanted.

If the factory ecu did have all of its inputs and was seeing good O2 readings, while "thinking" it was in control, it seems it could be made to not throw codes. Don't know yet.
 
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It can be made to not throw codes, by feeding it the signals it is looking for. Things like the right O2 signals, injectors, MAF etc, and Haltech makes a box to do this, but it would take some pretty significant time logging and figuring out what exactly the stock ECU is looking for.



I was just out working on the supercharger remove and it occurred to me that the MAF will be history. That alone would bring a CEL. I don't need the light to function but not sure I can make it if I wanted.

If the factory ecu did have all of its inputs and was seeing good O2 readings, while "thinking" it was in control, it seems it could be made to not throw codes. Don't know yet.
 
Time for some thread updates.

My supercharger is now gone. Despite many saying that I am crazy for talking it off I just am certain I would like a modern turbo that can push a bit more boost. My committment to Solid Axle Summit in Ouray was looming to close to risk the build so the truck went back NA for the summer. To my surprise , with 4.88 gearing it is still quite spirited. In the mountains was a different story though.

I have had very little time to work on the truck and my idea of all maintenance done well before the event faded away. Luckily I planned to have a couple of goof off days in Colorado before I HAD to go. Two nights before my planned leave I noticed a spot on the ground under the truck, gas leak! So much for plans.

I had it full of fuel so draining via the plug was effective but very messy. Once drained, I dropped the tank out pretty easily.
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That night I washed the inside with 409 cleaner and hot water power washed it after that to clean out the gas.

Next morning it went in the sandblasting lineup and I discovered there were a couple of small rust holes in the upper rear corner.
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After welding them up, I coated the tank in satin black powder coat then sprayed it with a few coats of bedliner in a can.
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Installation was pretty uneventful and smooth. Filled back with gas all good and ready to roll.
 
The remaining items were grease throughout, a new steering column seal, and transmission fluid exchange.

The seal was super easy thanks to the threads here on mud.
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The old seal was kinda worn!
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Everything going pretty well. Last big thing was trans fluid. Again followed the mud threads on how to do it. I had the lines in a bucket from the cooler with marks to dump 3 quarts, then stop and fill until I had fresh fluid around 12 to 14 quarts pumped out.

Hit the starter and not a drop of atf. Wtf?

I unhooked lines all the way back to the transmission and still zero fluid flow, even revved up and pulling the throttle cable wide open. Not good.

I opened the drain to dump the 4 quarts in the pan and got brown stinky metallic nastyness in my oil catch pan. Way not good.

After laying on my shop floor in despair for a while, I decided to weigh options.
#1 take a chance and go because it was still running and shifting perfectly- no way

#2 get the 40 ready to roll and take it - a good idea but hadn't done any of the many maintenance items for the long drive or get the trailer ready to pull the gear

#3 swap transmissions

I had just been to my buddy's salvage yard to pick up the locker axles he pulled for me out of the only cruiser he had. Fortunately the transmission/t case assembly was laying on the ground when they picked the truck up because I had previously bought the engine and pulling the axles left the trans laying there. My buddy said I might as well take that too since I was the only one who bought parts off the truck anyway. Good deal, nice guy, and a spare for someday.

This made #3 a real possibility. I was on vacation, I had close to two days to spare (goof off time) so what the heck. I starting pulling stuff apart and went to my powder coat shop and looked at the spare trans. Kinda crusty but there. I did a quick hot power wash and pulled some redundant parts. Did a quick load up of the Toyota transmission with my Toyota forklift into my Toyota 100 series. Seemed appropriate. The transmission had around 200,000 on it and hadn't run in at least a dozen years but not looking this gift horse in the mouth.

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Next morning I had the old trans ready to come out so I quick fabbed up a cart using snowmobile dollys, a tub I whipped up for hauling chainsaws, tools, and beer on my tractors 3 point, and some blocks. I ran the truck up on the hoist and set it down on the cart, unbolted, and lifted the truck up. My shop ceiling is low so it barely fit but it did.
Out with the old and in with the new (ish).
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Friday afternoon one of my buddy's came over and helped me. By 11 o'clock I fired the truck up.
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I went on a 2 mile test drive - shifted nice, reverse worked, all good. I forgot to check low range til I got to the trailhead in Ouray, oops. Fortunately it shifted perfectly. My buddy brought some appropriate beer to celebrate with
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Next morning I did the fluid exchange on the new trans and it worked great. The old fluid looked great too.
All that was left was to pack all my gear, clothes, food, dog and head out. Hit the road at 4:15 Saturday. I was racing to meet a big group from Texas/Alabama coming across the southern US. The truck ran perfect the whole way without issue.
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I did a quick rest area snooze on I-80 and headed for Colorado Springs. My faithful companion was ever vigilant.
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I came to a stoplight on the west side of town Sunday afternoon, about to make a right to head to Woodland park and the whole gang I was going to try to catch was sitting at the same stoplight. Perfect timing. A nice parade to our Sunday destination.
 
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Nice group to roll with
 
Solid Axle Summit was great and the people I met are already like old friends to me. Can't wait for next year.
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I still would like to squeeze in one trip to Michigan's Upper Peninsula im my 80 since I haven't been once this year. It is a pristine place and I am bummed to have not gone yet.

After that, tear down engine and get that big Borg Warner EFR turbo on there!
 
I forgot to note that I swapped in some new RCV axles before the trip. I wanted to do a part time kit as well and had that t-case right in my face too but not time to do it. Maybe this winter.
 
Here's a nice piece of motivation sitting in a box waiting to sing.
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I've been bad about keeping up. I keep finding more stuff. I left the truck sitting on blocks after the supercharger tear out because I wanted to try the new BFG Km3's out. I really like them. They howl a little on the highway but not bad for an MT. Nice response on the highway, great off road. I ran 20 psi in Colorado and I got up "the wall" on Poughkeepsie with little trouble. Probably the hardest thing I've climbed.
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I also couldn't handle the poorly done white vinyl job I did so off it came. Glad I did it.
 
I got cocky the other day and tried to make it down a trail that is only barely passable when it's really frozen(and it isn't). Lockers on and buried. My winch is dead again because the relay box gets moisture in it and fails. I got my daughter to head out and winch me out with her 80. Had it out and tried to rush and went off the side of the trail, back in the muck. More winching. This time I managed to peel the rear flare off.:bang:

It was fun anyway so all good.

I had been meaning to post up a picture of the truck with the roof rack coated in "evo grey" to match the side trim. The light silver worked with the white wrap but looked wrong with the original Desert Dune color. I'm really glad I went back to original refinished wheels, original paint, and the rack color it has now.
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Fun! I like the green on that 80. More pics?

Land Rover green of all colors! I've always liked it and my daughter loved it when we were picking colors. It was a weekend paint job and came out pretty good considering the short time frame to get it done .
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Man, I have neglected this build thread! Time to give it a jump start, sort of. One of the biggest pieces missing to finally building my turbo setup is ordered and is on the slate to be built mid January.

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I have gone round and round deciding on making my own manifold or not. No time, and this one will be sweet.
Mine won't need the wastegate port with the 8374 Borg Warner EFR.
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I got cocky the other day and tried to make it down a trail that is only barely passable when it's really frozen(and it isn't). Lockers on and buried. My winch is dead again because the relay box gets moisture in it and fails. I got my daughter to head out and winch me out with her 80. Had it out and tried to rush and went off the side of the trail, back in the muck. More winching. This time I managed to peel the rear flare off.:bang:

It was fun anyway so all good.

I had been meaning to post up a picture of the truck with the roof rack coated in "evo grey" to match the side trim. The light silver worked with the white wrap but looked wrong with the original Desert Dune color. I'm really glad I went back to original refinished wheels, original paint, and the rack color it has now.
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Do you happen to have any close up pictures of the Evo Gray color rack?
 
Do you happen to have any close up pictures of the Evo Gray color rack?
I found one from when I was working on a hi-lift mount. It only has 4 latches and 4 cross bars as it is an r&d rack but it is in Evo Grey. The second picture doesn't do a lot of good other than show the Evo Grey matches the grey in the 40th anniversary/Collector Edition side trim dark gray really well.

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