Builds BNG Cruzr - Journey Back to Dirt

[FJACS]

That compression test sounds pretty good to me for an unknown motor. It’s still within the acceptable range suggested by Toyota. Consistency between cylinders is more important than the higher number.

And if the test was done when the engine was below operating temperature, even better.

 

[jackhossross]

That compression test sounds pretty good to me for an unknown motor. It’s still within the acceptable range suggested by Toyota. Consistency between cylinders is more important than the higher number.

And if the test was done when the engine was below operating temperature, even better.

Thanks for the confidence - I need to build a plan so I can start striking things off the list.

 

[jackhossross]

Alrighty, so wheels didn't get shipped until yesterday (some superb customer service) haha - but no big deal.

I need to get the lift installed and plan to do it this weekend. Picking up the last of the 5 boxes from the UPS store tomorrow and will drive home and throw the truck up on jack stands.

I also got my Haynes Repair Manual and will work to fly through that as soon as possible to get familiar with the truck. I'll schedule an alignment for Monday morning.

JR

 

[jackhossross]

Drove the truck down to Denver today from Boulder. Until it reaches operating temp, takes awhile to shift.

Smelled some oil burning today when I got out of the truck, probably from the leaking rear seal. The dog loves the thing, big ol' smile the entire way down.

Working through the Haynes repair manual, and picking up the last box for suspension today on the way home from work. I will attack that this weekend after getting the truck onto jack stands tonight and going through DIY threads on here.

JR

 

[jackhossross]

Hey guys - noob question.

For the life of me (no directions included) which leaf springs go in the front of the vehicle?

I currently have the burliest of the pairs in the front, with the arrow (designates the side that faces the fixed mounting point) facing backwards.

Pic to be included ...

 

[89BIGBLUE]

I think those go in the rear.
My kit had the “thickest”, or the packs with most springs for the rear.
The pack with the lesser springs to the front.

 

[NeverGiveUpYota]

I’m thoroughly impressed. Look at the noob go!

 

[jackhossross]

I’m thoroughly impressed. Look at the noob go!

Hahaha oh man - I’m not going anywhere fast. Made the mistake of letting the solid axle rotate on me ... just dropped it pretty much all the way.

 

[NeverGiveUpYota]

Dropped it? That sounds really bad. I can’t picture it w/o photos. This girl is very much a noob too... esp w/ the big stuff. Carb, distributor, steering gear box, all easy to handle. Suspension parts are overwhelming!

 

[jackhossross]

Haha it’s not too bad - It is 3.5” off the ground so that I can adjust the (forward tilt - not sure what to call it) of the front solid axle.

I’ll be posting pictures tonight of the last two days .. not much to show for 8 hours worth of work thanks to needing to cut out both rear pins on the front suspension.

 

[jackhossross]

I think those go in the rear.
My kit had the “thickest”, or the packs with most springs for the rear.
The pack with the lesser springs to the front.

Thanks for the reply - I had a feeling.

 

[jackhossross]

Alrighty - posting from my phone because I’m too sore and tired to go downstairs to get my computer.

Weekend started off great - grabbed the last box from UPS after leaving work early and driving the FJ from Boulder to Denver and back with the pup. It was all-time.

First some pictures of the goodies on Saturday morning:

Then some of the undercarriage and general condition:

Leak got worse after long drive from Denver. Will need to address this.

Front shackle bolts came off with 28oz hammer, PB Blaster and a little oil n’ vinegar.

Then this is where s*** when sideways ...

 

[jackhossross]

I ended up battling with the rears for the rest of Saturday and first half of Sunday. Had to buy new blades for the Saw-zall, picked up a Bosch grinder and smashed my middle knuckle on my working hand really good. Nice and swollen.

This was miserable. Horrendous. Beat me to a pulp.

It was a reminder of why it is hard to work on such old vehicles. It also taught me how simple these trucks are and what makes them so special.

After I got both front "leafs" off - I put the incorrect leaf on the front driver side which I didn't realize (thanks 89BigBlue) until the evening. Luckily I only did one and I will remove it Tuesday after work.

However, the front solid axle has completely rotated on me, making it extremely difficult to reattach the U-Bolts to the leaf springs. This was a battle within itself, one that hasn't been won yet. I did drop the axle pretty much to the floor so that I can rotate it freely. I am going to remove the incorrect driver front Leaf on Tuesday after work after cutting the correct ones free Monday night. I need a night off from working on the truck.

So the first weekend was a mess, beat me to a pulp - but I learned a lot about the truck and how it works, so hopefully I will be that much more capable when there is a need for a field repair.

There is a god though - when I was at Home Depot, returning the grinder I borrowed then never used, an FJ62 pulled up with a For Sale sign on it - listed at $18k. Looked to be in worse shape than mine, similar mileage, and mod-free. Made me happy at the idea that I haven't sunk the ship with this one and that there is a brighter future ahead.

Cheers and Beers Mud -

JR

 

[jackhossross]

Oh yeah - and why is the thread called BNGCruzr?

Plates I run on my cars - its an inside joke from my college buddies and I. It has stuck for me.

 

[Prairie Swamp]

Looks like the ATF hosed all over the front axle did you a favor upon disassembly.

 

[jackhossross]

Looks like the ATF hosed all over the front axle did you a favor upon disassembly.

I need to replace the Transmission Cooling Hoses running from the OEM Cooler to the Transmission. I think I am experiencing a leak at the front and the back.

 

[LCQ]

This was miserable. Horrendous. Beat me to a pulp.

It makes for great memories down the road! I bet most of us have had that feeling swinging a hammer into shackle pins that aren't budging. Then we move on to mapp gas torches, and possibly a real torch one day. Just put my OME on my 62 last month, so I know the feeling. Ping me if you get stuck, I might have been there.

Keep up the good work!

 

[NeverGiveUpYota]

Hey and mistakes just make us learn better. I put the wrong caliper on my passenger side this weekend. I was so gung ho and in the groove after making my first brake line, I didn’t even notice the bleeder on the low side.
Congrats on a full weekend of wrenching.
Feels great huh?!
I’m exhausted but still loving it regardless. What I say; it’s a better addiction than drugs and alcohol. Rocking confidence builder for sure!
FYI, if you haven’t caught on yet, I’m a chick doing all this in her driveway w/ zero air tools.

 

[jackhossross]

Some progress!

I am now utilizing three different jacks - which is allowing me to negotiate the solid axle into the proper position with forward tilt. I only had time to get the front-driver side after removing the incorrectly mounted rear leaf spring following my created thread on 60 series conversations. Thanks to all of those that contributed and continue to.

Tomorrow night I will get the front passenger side complete, then PB Blaster the s*** out of the rear shackles and pray that they just break off and I don't need to cut them off.

 

[Kleatus]

Nice progress so far!
If you haven’t taken the rear springs off yet, one thing I have learned to do with leaf springs is to tackle them one side at a time - don’t remove them both at once. This way the axle stays “relatively” in the right spot due to one spring holding it up and you can move the “free” side around with jacks, etc. as necessary to line up the new leaf.

Keep up the good work, there are answers here enough to get you through about anything so long as you’re willing to work at it!