burning oil

[mustardjerp]

I'm new to this board. I bought a partially restored 1977 FJ40 in October. It has an appetite for oil-about a quart per 2 tanks of gas. I had my friendly neighborhood mechanic check the compression for me today. Unfortunately, he had left by the time I got to the station. But he left the numbers for me. The highest cylinder was 70 and the lowest was 50. I don't know if he put any oil in the cylinders. It does smoke a little (white). My contract for the FJ requires the seller to reimburse me 1000 bucks if it requires a rebuild within a year. What is the normal compression? Any thoughts on where to go from here?
Jerry

 

[Poser]

" normal " is relative to a lot of variables that are not listed in your info...


145-170... not 50-70...


Oh, and you are going to be out far more than a grand if it really is as bad as you say...


Good luck!


-Steve

 

[folsom50]

With that low of compression numbers and the amount of oil use, a rebuild may be needed. Foul alot of plugs? A new PCV valve may cut some oil use. 50 lbs of compression is just a tad low, a ring job may get you by for a little while.....but that's just me trying to be positive.

 

[mustardjerp]

cost

Thanks for the reply. How much more than a grand? Should I considera 350 conversion or rebuild the 2f? What about buying a lower mileage 2f? I appreciate the input.
Jerry

 

[folsom50]

$2,000 would be more in line with a rebuild, as long as you have a good machine shop that you're familiar with and can trust. As far a buying a lower milage 2f, it can be done. I would look for one in here over going to the junk yard though. Find one that was pulled for a SBC swap.

 

[CruisinGA]

You cannot do a SBC conversion that will perform as well as a rebuilt 2F for less money than a 2F rebuild.
A rebuilt 2f can haul ass.

not to mention when rebuilding the factory motor it is all very straightforward, and can happen very quickly. (day to pull, time in between depends on machine shop, another day or so to reinstall)
SBC swap cannot happen that fast.

My first choice by far would be to rebuild the motor thats in in. Maybe deck the head and bore it out a little. Steve is right, no way a rebuild is happening for $1000. The parts are just too expensive.

 

[mustardjerp]

Thanks for the info. I guess I'll be ponying up a little dough but it will be worth it in the long run. One last thing, it has a Weber carb on it. Should I keep it or go back to the original while I'm rebuilding it?

 

[FLYINGLOW]

I did rings and valve seals on my 2F a year or two after I got it, it was going through 1 quart per tank of gas. After that it made it to oil changes every time. The bores weren't great, but they weren't terrible either. If your bores are really worn, you will need alot more than rings. It all depends on $$$$. I have done a rebuild since then, but it worked for a couple years till I had $$.

 

[72cruiser]

either way...most will say go back to aisin. that's where i'm headin when i have the money to get jim c. to rebuild mine.

i'm also lookin to rebuild my 2f sometime in the next .5-1.5 years, and have been lookin at stuff, and it's expensive....


malphrus

 

[60wag]

Use the stock carb and I totally agree w/ the 2F rebuild comments above.

 

[FLYINGLOW]

count on a cam, lifters, pistons and a cluch. Hell, thats over a GRAND right there. I thot it was to depressing to total up all my reciepts after doing mine..... and I did all the assembly. I bought stuff slowly for a couple months before hand so it wasn't so much when I did it. I also rebuilt a motor I bought from a friend to limit down time.

 

[Rice]

I'm not buying it. Cylinder pressure can be that low but not without some other signs ... like blowing a PCV through the hood. More to the point, it sounds highly suspicious that the pressures were all that low but all that close to each other in addition to only burning a quart every 2 tanks.

Have someone else, or you can do it, check the pressures again. Be sure to use a different guage (the parts store will loan you one) and be sure the carb is set wide open.


How much smoke and when does it happen??? Are you losing coolant or is the level unchanged?

Rice

 

[mustardjerp]

It smokes while it is warming up and then I mostly notice puffs of smoke after I release the clutch when shifting gears. It doesn't leave a trail of smoke. It also seems fairly torquey but all I have to compare it to is my LX450. I have not had to add any coolant.
Thanks