BJ74 Newbie, oil pressure

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J

jblueridge

SILVER Star
10 Year
Joined
Aug 12, 2014
Threads
275
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3,357
Location
Near Charlottesville, VA
It was cold raining and foggy last night so I figured it was a good time to take my 88 BJ74 out and about on the mountain above the school where I live and work. I really love the way these trucks just go through anything! So much lighter and more nimble than my Ford truck too.

The oil pressure never came up very high, but I've read on here that the gauge might be little better than an "idiot light". I bought some Rotella oil, filter and a mechanical gauge just to see where I'm really at.
How often is it actually something bad like Big End Bearings?

I also need to poke around and find out why the heat never goes off. When I push the cable actuating lever back and forth there is a good bit of resistance. I'll get a helper and see if I'm actuating the valve at all.
I can't get the thing on the road until I get the windshield fixed; giant crack will make it flunk Virginia Inspection. Not really looking forward to dealing with knuckleheads at Dep't of Motor Vehicles anyway.
I'll post photos when the weather clears.
 
1) The oil pressure gauges have a long history of reading on the low side. (Usually not an issue)
2) The heater controls use a number of plastic components that are easy to break and hard to replace so be gentle with the controls.
 
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Glad the oil pressure will probably not be a problem. I'll go easy when looking at the heat. Maybe just wire it shut if I have to. I did that on my MGB years ago.

Our school has a computer controlled laser engraver than can cut thin wood and plastics. I have seen videos online of people using them to cut then heat/bend plastics to make complex shapes. Hopefully if some little thing breaks I can create a new part. We got a 3-d printer just today. That also will open up new possibilities.
 
I'm living proof of breaking those plastic components. Mine was really hard to move and eventually just popped. I'll link you to my posts when I had to replace it. The cables can get really stiff and I tried to lubricate them a bit, but I'm still worried I'll break the bloody thing whenever I move it.
 
That would be great. I'd like to learn more about what I'm getting into.
Thanks!
 
My heater control is the same way. I replaced one of the plastic pieces with a small bolt, but even then I only move it twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall.
 
My shop has actually replicated the plastic pieces and can repair the heater controls in a "more permanent" fashion.
My controls now move very smoothly.
 
Gun Runner 5 said:
My shop has actually replicated the plastic pieces and can repair the heater controls in a "more permanent" fashion.
My controls now move very smoothly.
Click to expand...
Can you expound on this? Are the plastic pieces available to be purchased from them somehow?
 
Yes: so tantalizing I'd like to hear more.
 
theferg said:
Can you expound on this? Are the plastic pieces available to be purchased from them somehow?
Click to expand...
I'll be in Europe for a few days but I will check with the shop when I return on Monday. I know in the past people have shipped their heater control units to the shop and they have repaired / fabricated the necessary parts and shipped them back.
 
jblueridge said:
How often is it actually something bad like Big End Bearings?
.
Click to expand...
13BT engines have huge bearings , they do not wear out unless you do something really stupid. They are larger than a 3B ,there is a 4WD Monthly video on utube that shows the conrods from each engine side by side.
 
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