Bizarre Issue with a '76 FJ40 - Help is appreciated!

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Are you sure it's a Toyota dizzy? Not an old Delco.

If toyota, points or no points, 76 should be points

What is the carb? Is Aisan, check ICS, a bad one or ground will make a motor stop running at idle, but wit choke out it should run.

What sorta starters are you using? The old type or a newer (81-90) gear reduction style?
 
CHCP said:
The 76 Fj40 has a stock 2F engine with domed pistons, not flat. The dizzy was semi or full electronic not points and condenser. By what you have said it sounds like you are running a F-155 engine, is the PCV valve on the front of the engine or at the rear? I'm wondering if the person who did the engine interchanged parts from a F and 2F. If the valve train is misaligned it could also cause a lockup, just a thought. First, I'd load test the battery as I have had brand new batteries fail a load test meaning that the voltage looks good but there is a problem with ampacity, if the battery checks out then I'd take my DC clamp-on ammeter and check the current flow of the cable from the battery to the starter, probably also using a remote starting switch. If there is current flow and the starter is good its most likely engine related. I've never tried running a F engine dizzy on a 2F so I don't know if this would cause the need of shimming your dizzy? Trollhole would be one to ask about dizzies, shawnfj40 about engines, bj40green about electrical and pin_head, 65swb45, cruiseroutfit about everything! Good luck!
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I'm old and prone to forgetting (Edit: misremembering). But, I thought '78 was the onset of domed pistons and electronic ignition...
 
Solace in Solitude said:
I'm old and prone to forgetting (Edit: misremembering). But, I thought '78 was the onset of domed pistons and electronic ignition...
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Not sure on the electronic ingnition but my 2-'75 has domed pistons.
 
76 is points for sure, 77 not sure, 78 small cap electonic
 
I should have known not to make definitive statements, I've done it before and paid the price.
Coolerman to the rescue on dizzys.
This is what I like about mud!!!

Specter Off Road catalog and technical reference shows Semi-electronic ignition from 9/73 to 9/77
Haynes states electronic ignition starting with California models 1974 and later
Chilton states that Toyota in 1975 introduced transistorized ignition system

my mistake was to think that semi-electronic dizzies had signal generators, but they had points.
learned something here. Now I have to find out about flat vs domed pistons.

not trying to take away from your problem bagochips76
 
Have you checked if the truck is charging ?
You said it did this and you put a new battery in it and it started and ran
Driving and died just gets a click from starter almost sounds like a dead battery
What's the amp gage do when you try and turn it over or with lights on how bright are they
Or do you have a multi meter to see how much voltage is in batt and what it drops to with trying to crank it
 
Think your starter solenoid is sticking--intermittent
 
I have read and addressed all of the recommendations above but the saga continues. I had to put it on the back burner for a bit. I got back at it this evening hoping that it was an issue with the distributor somehow binding up the motor. I pulled the dizzy and it had no impact. I put on the remote starter switch and every time I click it, the motor turns a very small amount. I can click it 10 times and see that the crank is turning by way of the fan belt/fan and alternator turning. When looking down the dizzy hole with a flashlight and hitting the starter, the crank turns but the camshaft does not. I'm thinking that I have broken teeth on the cam gear or a broken camshaft. Guess its time pull the pan.
 
Remember the cam shaft turns half the speed of the crank you might not be able to see the movements
Drop the distributer back in and mark where rotor is pointing and try it
I would
#1pull the spark plugs out check their condition leave them out
#2 confirm with a socket or wrench on crank that the engine is free or not
#3 stick the dist back in see if it turns with the crank
Skip this step if engine it dosnt turn with wrench
# 4 if it dosnt turn with wrench remove fan belt and try it I have had a car come in for a won't turn over It was a seized altenator
#5 still tight have someone hold the clutch in and try turning it with wrench on crank to eliminate seized trans
#6 still not easy to turn start taking it apart
If easy to turn in any of these steps start figuring out why starters won't turn it over
Timing gears in these are pretty robust and the only way I could see teeth being damaged is if a bolt came out of the cam and jammed the gear
 
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With a wrench(with 3 ft of leverage) on the crank, fan belt off and clutch pushed in, it won't turn. Something has the motor bound up. I can't say that it is totally seized because when I bump the starter it will move slightly. After additional observation, the cam shaft is turning when the motor is bumped with the starter. Time to take it apart.
 
Man that's a bummer, let us know what you find.
 
Read @spotcruiser's post #22 again, before you tear it down.

Maybe the dizzy is binding... You seem to have some sort of dizzy problem anyway, because it doesn't seat properly.

Maybe try another dizzy that does seat properly, before you tear it all apart...

Good luck!!
 
No Danny, he pulled the dizzy and can't turn the engine over by hand. I think he probably ended up running the engine without oil during that last run where it died on him.

Solace in Solitude said:
Read @spotcruiser's post #22 again, before you tear it down.

Maybe the dizzy is binding... You seem to have some sort of dizzy problem anyway, because it doesn't seat properly.

Maybe try another dizzy that does seat properly, before you tear it all apart...

Good luck!!
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spotcruiser said:
No Danny, he pulled the dizzy and can't turn the engine over by hand. I think he probably ended up running the engine without oil during that last run where it died on him.
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Guess I missed that he tried turn g it over by hand with the dizzy removed... Never mind. :cool:
 
spotcruiser said:
No Danny, he pulled the dizzy and can't turn the engine over by hand. I think he probably ended up running the engine without oil during that last run where it died on him.
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I did not run the engine without oil. Oil pressure was good when I ran it.
 
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