BRS 77' (1 Viewer)

[powthief19]

Hey Mud,

I've been working at my project for quite a while now and i've been doing a ton of lurking/reading on this board for the past few months pretty heavily. I figure it's about time i put up a thread.

A few years ago i purchased this off Craigslist for about 3K with the first few extra funds I generated from my firearms business, hence the name BRS.

For some reason (work, firearms business, family, Ultra4, etc) i decided i didn't have time for the project so i ended up selling it to a person down in Palmdale, CA. The day I sold it my oldest daughter (4 years old) balled her eyes out because she was so sad i was selling it. It was pretty gut wrenching to watch her be so sad over something I hadn't really grown attached to yet.

For one reason or another, the person i sold it to called me a year or so later asking if I'd like to purchase it back. He said he did a ton of work to it and said it was pretty much ready to daily drive... boy was he full of it!

Anyway, things calmed down quite a bit as I brought on a few partners with my firearms business, i quit Ultra4 racing, and so now I'm focusing on my family, my insurance job, and my 77' FJ40!

I want to thank each of you for the posts I've been referencing daily for the past few months... and hopefully you'll help me with the pile of questions i'll have!

I'd like to be able to daily drive it and enjoy the hell out of it where we live in Gardnerville NV. Plans include:

a whole pile of stuff to make it fun and reliable!

 

[powthief19]

These photos were taken the day i picked it up from the guy i bought it back from. September 2015. I was so stoked he did 'all' the body work as I don't have any experience with body work... i was pretty stoked to have it back and my daughters even more so!

 

[Vossie]

nice looking rig and, bezel

 

[powthief19]

So far since I've had it back I've been able to do the following:
-New Rear differential, Shawn at River City Differential in Sacramento traded me some gun parts for it!
-New Drum Pads, etc
-Rebuild front axle w/ new seals, felts, wipers, brakes, etc
-New Door handles from SOR

Currently the motor is out to the local machine shop for a total rebuild. I was able to rebuild the t-case, and tonight was working on finishing up the rebuild on the transmission.

Here's a few photos of the motor from the machine shop. Hopefully it will be ready for pick up this week.

 

[powthief19]

nice looking rig and, bezel

That's the first thing I 'fixed' when I got it back!

 

[powthief19]

On reassembly of the transmission, i'm running to a few questions.

1. I feel like i've seated the rear output bearing as far onto the shaft as possible using my stand it up and support the input side and wack it method as well as my rig-a-ma-jig SST. However, the output bearing with the output shaft inside of it will 'walk' back and forth .075. The bearing is not a press fit into the house at all...(when i took it apart no tools were needed as the bearing just pulled out) Once I put the Rear Bearing Retainer, will this limit this movement? Is this movement OK?

2. On the input side, it looks as if the snap ring isn't flush with the case, should I 'give it a wack' and push it on further? See the last photo for this question.

Your help is appreciated!

 

[Vossie]

That's the first thing I 'fixed' when I got it back!

good on ya any plans past the engine? keeping stock or doing any mods?

 

[powthief19]

photo of the input side gap:

 

[gator25]

Cool truck, welcome. Well at least you wont have to mess with the body.

 

[powthief19]

good on ya any plans past the engine? keeping stock or doing any mods?

keeping it stock. Once I get 'bored' of it, i'll probably do a diesel swap down the road when I have more free time (when my kids go to college in 10 years!)

 

[White Stripe]

My gut tells me it's normal, but I would wait until others chime in. As far as the motor, consider having delta cams grind you a little better profile cam for the 2f while u have it apart. It's not much money to have done. Also seriously consider installing rear disc brakes. It will make it a safer and more enjoyable driving rig. Other than that I think your well on your way to having a nice 40.

On reassembly of the transmission, i'm running to a few questions.

1. I feel like i've seated the rear output bearing as far onto the shaft as possible using my stand it up and support the input side and wack it method as well as my rig-a-ma-jig SST. However, the output bearing with the output shaft inside of it will 'walk' back and forth .075. The bearing is not a press fit into the house at all...(when i took it apart no tools were needed as the bearing just pulled out) Once I put the Rear Bearing Retainer, will this limit this movement? Is this movement OK?

2. On the input side, it looks as if the snap ring isn't flush with the case, should I 'give it a wack' and push it on further? See the last photo for this question.

Your help is appreciated!

View attachment 1420544

View attachment 1420545

View attachment 1420546

 

[powthief19]

My gut tells me it's normal, but I would wait until others chime in. As far as the motor, consider having delta cams grind you a little better profile cam for the 2f while u have it apart. It's not much money to have done. Also seriously consider installing rear disc brakes. It will make it a safer and more enjoyable driving rig. Other than that I think your well on your way to having a nice 40.

Thanks whitestripe. I put the motor in the hands of a good friend of mine, he's done a few 2F's before but i did have to remind him of the oil galley fix that i read about on here!

Good call on the brakes...

All the play in the transmission goes away once the covers are bolted on but I don't want to have any issues.

Anyone rebuild a few of these experience the play in the output shaft and the gap in the input bearing?

 

[powthief19]

A few pics from the machine shop this morning. Apparently the motor has been torn into at least 3 times.

Looks like their waiting on a camplate before they can start putting it back together.

 

[powthief19]

So i just read through the 'my wife ran over my transmission' thread and looks like he had the same issue with the ouput shaft moving in and out. I'll just put the cover on and hope for the best! (unless someone else chimes in!)

 

[gator25]

@White Stripe is right on Delta Cams, I sent ours to them. They resurfaced the lifters and reground the cam. Had them grind to their RV specs. Runs good on the stand. Might want the shop to deck the block while your at it, to make sure its flat and square.

On the input shaft, your retainer ought to keep it from walking back and forth. Is there a lot of slop there? Might try taking a center punch and hammer to the inside surface where the bearing sits to tighten it up. Probably going to get slammed for that, beats the hell out of buying a new case or spending money.

 

[White Stripe]

Another thing is think about having the crank and rods balanced. It will help it run smoother. They aren't well balanced in Stock form.

 

[gator25]

Another thing is think about having the crank and rods balanced. It will help it run smoother. They aren't well balanced in Stock form.

Right on, made a lot of difference on ours. Had it balanced and the flywheel. Think the shop charged $295.00 its worth it! Spins smooth, guy that did the work told me he's never had to take that much weight off since he's been doing it.

 

[powthief19]

Another thing is think about having the crank and rods balanced. It will help it run smoother. They aren't well balanced in Stock form.

From what i understand, the crank was rebalanced, the cam was re ground, along with the lifters. They also decked the block to account for the change from domed pistons to flat. There isn't/wasn't one part of the motor that i said 'it's fine...' I was more like, "well i'd rather do it now than have to do it again in the future".

 

[powthief19]

@White Stripe is right on Delta Cams, I sent ours to them. They resurfaced the lifters and reground the cam. Had them grind to their RV specs. Runs good on the stand. Might want the shop to deck the block while your at it, to make sure its flat and square.

On the input shaft, your retainer ought to keep it from walking back and forth. Is there a lot of slop there? Might try taking a center punch and hammer to the inside surface where the bearing sits to tighten it up. Probably going to get slammed for that, beats the hell out of buying a new case or spending money.

there wasn't much 'slop' side to side at all, the output shaft (along with bearing) simply would walk .075 in and out. I put the covers on w/ some new gaskets and some Right Stuff, now there isn't any 'in and out' walking...

 

[powthief19]

Got the transmission back together...it was a challenge but I'm glad I did it. Huge thanks to Mudrak for the great deal in the output shaft and tcase Input gear.

I got sick of fighting the shift lever spring with channel locks etc so I tigged a small piece of square tube on to the collar for something to grab on to. Works pretty good.