Builds Bluebonnet - 5.3/H55 FJ40 (3 Viewers)

[SipLife]

Its been a while but if I’m correct you check for the bubbles in the sight glass on top of the dryer, lots of bubbles means low refrigerant.
If it gives low temps/enough pressure you’re fine.

Yep, sight glass has few bubbles and a milky white tint to it that hasn't cleared up yet.

 

[SipLife]

Added more refrigerant and an oz of PAG to the system today. Was 100 Ambient, got low side to 50 and high to 320 psi. Compressor cycled a few times. Drove it and city driving temps went up roughly 8 degrees to 204. Will see how it does on the highway but I’m expecting it to drop back down to 197ish.

4 degree caster shims went in too. Big difference, notice it on sharp turns and winding roads. Also seems to hold a line firmer when braking.

 

[SipLife]

SAS 6 was awesome. Logged 2100 miles in Bluebonnet. Only had two issues. Power steering box started leaking like a sieve from the input shaft. Also new starter motor gave me trouble on the way up and down. Would crank up fine, but after a long run if I shut it off it wouldn’t crank back up. If I waited 30 minutes for it to cool it would fire back up. Was able to get by with a few hammer taps until it crapped out on me 2 hours from home. Swapped a new one in and it’s holding up so far. Found out there should be a factory heat shield over the solenoid. Going to grab one at the scrap yard and see if that helps too.

 

[Zjohnsonua]

Rob nailed it with that last photo.

 

[RiggityJ]

Liam, great meeting and checking out a fellow capri blue 40 at SAS6. I’m even more impressed with your rig after reading through your build thread.

 

[SipLife]

Liam, great meeting and checking out a fellow capri blue 40 at SAS6. I’m even more impressed with your rig after reading through your build thread.

Thanks Trevor, great meeting you as well. Looking forward to a SAS7 reunion.

 

[clrussell]

Read through the build this morning. Great work!

Love the ls/ Toyota combo. Even better it’s a patina rig

 

[SipLife]

Home from college till the 17th, knocking out some maintenance on the 40.

Fuel pump mounting flange seal blew at SAS. Thinking the tank wasn’t venting fast enough with the altitude change. Was running an oem cap with a hole drilled. Any suggestions for an aftermarket vented cap? Running no cap for now.

Swapped to a Denso fuel pump while I was in there. Walbro was reliable but too noisy. New pump is whisper quiet. Thanks @Zjohnsonua for the rec. Part #950-0226.

Walbro:

Denso:

Connectors between the two are also interchangeable.

Denso (left)/Walbro (right):

All sealed back up with new OEM fuel sender as well.

Power steering box has been puking for awhile. Decided to rebuild myself. Fairly easy, hardest part was feeding the ball bearings back into the worm gear/power piston assembly.

 

[SipLife]

Got heat and defrost up and running due to the colder weather recently. For those looking for the correct flow orientation between the LS/Vintage air setup I’ve added photos below. The 5/8” is the outlet and the 3/4” is the inlet on the water pump side. Both heater fittings at the firewall are 5/8”.

 

[thatcabledude]

Nice work dude

 

[jim land]

So you delete the 3 vent hoses with separator and check valve?

 

[jim land]

This

 

[SipLife]

So you delete the 3 vent hoses with separator and check valve?

Yep I deleted it and ran the vent from the mounting ring assembly up to the filler neck.

 

[dogfishlake]

Nice work Liam. So let me know when you are ready to start taking my steering boxes in for you rebuild service

 

[SipLife]

Nice work Liam. So let me know when you are ready to start taking my steering boxes in for you rebuild service

Thanks Pat. Let me put some miles on my rebuild first. Have seen others rebuild their units only to have them leak again after a year. Would hate to do any work for others that isn’t up to TEQ standard. So far leak free

 

[Michael B]

Happy birthday Liam!

 

[dogfishlake]

Thanks Pat. Let me put some miles on my rebuild first. Have seen others rebuild their units only to have them leak again after a year. Would hate to do any work for others that isn’t up to TEQ standard. So far leak free

Well let's just say I have seen your work, as well as the mentoring from that cool bald fella that seems to be around a lot. I trust you.

 

[SipLife]

Happy birthday Liam!

Thank you Micheal. Had a great evening with the family and a Texas Ribeye. No better way to celebrate my 20th.

 

[middlecalf]

20th eh? Congrats on that milestone. I remember those days.

No I don’t

 

[Michael B]

20th eh? Congrats on that milestone. I remember those days.

No I don’t

Me neither Paul!

Liam, you’re only 20 once. So do right young man.