May the force be with you. Mike
Buying an fj40 plan to drive it 850 miles home what should I check?
- Thread starter forestderp
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Good luck on the trip..sounds like a great adventure...one thing I didn't see, no I'm not really crazy, panty hose..in an emergency you can twist them and make belts to run essential things like waterpump..I have done this before and it's good for about 10/15 miles if you take it easy..necessity is the mother of invention...
- Thread starter
- #63
A piece of rope can do the same thing, or a cutout from a t-shirt.
One time I was riding my old race prepped bike and hit some road debris out in the country (I was derping pretty hard) and it busted up by lower plastics pretty good, I tore the bottom hem of my tshirt off and used it to tie up the plastic and it lasted the 2 hours left of my ride.
Well thought out. You are obviously not a rookie when it comes planning. Keep us up on the ad venture!
I did this a few years back. My only mechanical failure occurred when the a/c compressor seized and took out the alternator belt. If it has an aftermarket a/c, just remember that the stock size belt will be the wrong size. I would pick up spare belts before you head back home.
Also, don't forget a license plate! I forgot mine, but the previous owner was kind enough to lend me one of his.
Sound-isolating headphones are very nice in this situation to block out the road/wind noise and enjoy some tunes. Keeping a new to you vehicle on the highway for so many miles will get your body, especially neck and shoulders, a bit tense. Not having to deal with so much noise will help a lot.
Good luck and have fun!
Also, don't forget a license plate! I forgot mine, but the previous owner was kind enough to lend me one of his.
Sound-isolating headphones are very nice in this situation to block out the road/wind noise and enjoy some tunes. Keeping a new to you vehicle on the highway for so many miles will get your body, especially neck and shoulders, a bit tense. Not having to deal with so much noise will help a lot.
Good luck and have fun!
Back in the sixties Toyota had a pretty complete tool packed in every cruiser. A few things you might think about. A little bit of loose wire and few wire nuts. Then a small pair of wire cutters. I guess you could use a rock in place of a hammer. Might think aboutr buying a cheap grease gun and grease once your there. Then grease the U joints and tie rod ends. Make sure the adjustable wrench is large enough to remove the diff fill plugs so you can check the oil. I normally flat tow but the same would apply to driving it. I lift end front wheel off the ground then spin and rock the wheel to check the front wheel bearings. I also keep checking the wheel bearings for heat while driving. Even if a vehicle has been used regularly, if it's just been local short trips it not the same as driving for hours at higways speeds. Around town low oil in a diff or a dry U joint don't have the time to heat up and fail like on the highway. I would also throw some small ear plugs. While music is nice it will also drown a sound of a part failing that could maybe adjusted but now failed. There is a thread in a the 60 series section about a guy who rear diff lock locked up. He hear the noise but just keep driving. From what he has said it sound like the nut in the pinion came loose. May have been able to stop tighten it and not have had it fail. This is a new cruiser to you listen to it and get to know it. This also brings driveline bolts. I find alot of times a racketing wrench or sockets don't fit. Might not hurt to bring a couple 14MM box end wrenchs. This may just be me though. Since I flat tow I alway remove the rear driveline to have fewer things turning.
Good luck and have a safe trip. Enjoy the adventure.
Good luck and have a safe trip. Enjoy the adventure.
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I would keep the flat tow option in mind....luckily most mechanical issues give you some warning before going south....probably just enough time to get to a car rental and pony up the bucks.
Contrary to Eddys opinion, I had towed my FJ40 with 180 hp Silverado pick up with no issues for many years. Obviously, I did not have many hills to tackle with that setup. Later I Flat towed my Jeep TJ with a Yukon Denali for the full 10 years that I owned it...no issues. I attempted that with my FJ Cruiser once with less optimistic results...too short and scary
The one last bit of advice would be to pack some rescue tape...Amazing stuff (look at the link)
Welcome to Rescue Tape!
Here is the rundown...I get mine at Amazon
Rescue Tape . . .
• Is Self-Fusing!
• Incredible 950 PSI Tensile Strength!
• Insulates 8,000 Volts per layer!
• Withstands 500° F Degrees of heat!
• Remains flexible to -85° F! (-60° C)
• Creates a Permanent Air-Tight, Water-Tight Seal in seconds!
• Never gets gummy or sticky like electrical or duct tape - No messy cleanup!
• Has an unbelievably long shelf life!
• Is extremely versatile!
• Resists Fuels, Oils, Acids, Solvents, Salt Water, Road Salt, UV Rays
Rescue Tape has infinite uses!
Here are just a few suggestions:
• Keep it on board vehicles & equipment for emergency hose repair!
• Seal leaky hoses, pipes, tubing, lines, & fittings
• Neaten up lines and extension cords in stowage
• Wrap tools and handles for a GREAT non-slip grip
• Wrap wiring harnesses and custom split-looming
• Waterproof electrical connections and terminals
• Use it as an emergency fan belt!
• Make emergency O-Rings
• Wrap hydraulic fittings and other exposed metal connections to help prevent corrosion
• Works even over wet, dirty, or oily surfaces!
• Use it as a tourniquet or emergency wrap over bleeding injuries
• Wrap it around ANYTHING that you want secure, and it will never leave any sticky residue!
Good luck!! Take pictures for us...
Doc
Contrary to Eddys opinion, I had towed my FJ40 with 180 hp Silverado pick up with no issues for many years. Obviously, I did not have many hills to tackle with that setup. Later I Flat towed my Jeep TJ with a Yukon Denali for the full 10 years that I owned it...no issues. I attempted that with my FJ Cruiser once with less optimistic results...too short and scary
The one last bit of advice would be to pack some rescue tape...Amazing stuff (look at the link)
Welcome to Rescue Tape!
Here is the rundown...I get mine at Amazon
Rescue Tape . . .
• Is Self-Fusing!
• Incredible 950 PSI Tensile Strength!
• Insulates 8,000 Volts per layer!
• Withstands 500° F Degrees of heat!
• Remains flexible to -85° F! (-60° C)
Rescue Tape . . .
• Never gets gummy or sticky like electrical or duct tape - No messy cleanup!
• Has an unbelievably long shelf life!
• Is extremely versatile!
• Resists Fuels, Oils, Acids, Solvents, Salt Water, Road Salt, UV Rays
Rescue Tape has infinite uses!
Here are just a few suggestions:
• Keep it on board vehicles & equipment for emergency hose repair!
• Seal leaky hoses, pipes, tubing, lines, & fittings
• Neaten up lines and extension cords in stowage
• Wrap tools and handles for a GREAT non-slip grip
• Wrap wiring harnesses and custom split-looming
• Waterproof electrical connections and terminals
• Use it as an emergency fan belt!
• Make emergency O-Rings
• Wrap hydraulic fittings and other exposed metal connections to help prevent corrosion
• Works even over wet, dirty, or oily surfaces!
• Use it as a tourniquet or emergency wrap over bleeding injuries
• Wrap it around ANYTHING that you want secure, and it will never leave any sticky residue!
Good luck!! Take pictures for us...
Doc
- Thread starter
- #68
I actually have one of those tool kits almost complete for my 70 fj40 that I am restoring. Good call on the box end 14s. Funny story happened to me once when I was 17, we moved from NW Arkansas to this barren town in northern minnesota for my dad to manage a hardware store there, I had just broke a cv joint in my car a couple days before the move date so I had to leave my car behind. A couple months later I had a friends shop fix the car and I took a bus down to pick it up (interesting experience as it was slightly after katrina hit and I ran into a few mis placed people in kansas city with a 3 hour layover). Picked the car up was working great, lent it to my brother to run some errands and the transmission broke something and locked upBack in the sixties Toyota had a pretty complete tool packed in every cruiser. A few things you might think about. A little bit of loose wire and few wire nuts. Then a small pair of wire cutters. I guess you could use a rock in place of a hammer. Might think aboutr buying a cheap grease gun and grease once your there. Then grease the U joints and tie rod ends. Make sure the adjustable wrench is large enough to remove the diff fill plugs so you can check the oil. I normally flat tow but the same would apply to driving it. I lift end front wheel off the ground then spin and rock the wheel to check the front wheel bearings. I also keep checking the wheel bearings for heat while driving. Even if a vehicle has been used regularly, if it's just been local short trips it not the same as driving for hours at higways speeds. Around town low oil in a diff or a dry U joint don't have the time to heat up and fail like on the highway. I would also throw some small ear plugs. While music is nice it will also drown a sound of a part failing that could maybe adjusted but now failed. There is a thread in a the 60 series section about a guy who rear diff lock locked up. He hear the noise but just keep driving. From what he has said it sound like the nut in the pinion came loose. May have been able to stop tighten it and not have had it fail. This is a new cruiser to you listen to it and get to know it. This also brings driveline bolts. I find alot of times a racketing wrench or sockets don't fit. Might not hurt to bring a couple 14MM box end wrenchs. This may just be me though. Since I flat tow I alway remove the rear driveline to have fewer things turning.
Good luck and have a safe trip. Enjoy the adventure.
So I am about 900 miles from home, on a tight budget and kinda thinking life sucks, I also had an 86 jeep cherokee that I had managed to break doing some off road excursions in arkansas that just needed the radiator fixed, so I did the honest thing and worked a week or so to earn the money needed to buy the radiator and have the gas money etc to get home. Well the starter was having issues (turned out to be a relay but at 17 I was not as well versed as I am now) fixed the jeep roll started it with my brother, which wasn't too bad and departed on my journey about half way through missouri I took a wrong exit and was way off course and the rear end locked up and snapped all the drive shaft bolts.:whoops: Being ill prepared with no cell phone and a really tight budget I ended up walking with my brother several miles to a truck stop... Had the jeep towed to a repair shop and my friends mom came to pick me up several hours later. And I was back in arkansas for awhile.....Missing highschool lol (actually kinda surprised they let me get away with that).Moral of the story jeeps kinda suck, but also now I am much more prone to avoid walking in the middle of nowhere with no plan and limited funds.
the experience definitely changed my perspective on some things.
I would keep the flat tow option in mind....luckily most mechanical issues give you some warning before going south....probably just enough time to get to a car rental and pony up the bucks.
Contrary to Eddys opinion, I had towed my FJ40 with 180 hp Silverado pick up with no issues for many years. Obviously, I did not have many hills to tackle with that setup. Later I Flat towed my Jeep TJ with a Yukon Denali for the full 10 years that I owned it...no issues. I attempted that with my FJ Cruiser once with less optimistic results...too short and scary
The one last bit of advice would be to pack some rescue tape...Amazing stuff (look at the link)
Welcome to Rescue Tape!
Here is the rundown...I get mine at Amazon
Rescue Tape . . .
• Is Self-Fusing!
• Incredible 950 PSI Tensile Strength!
• Insulates 8,000 Volts per layer!
• Withstands 500° F Degrees of heat!
• Remains flexible to -85° F! (-60° C)
Rescue Tape . . .• Creates a Permanent Air-Tight, Water-Tight Seal in seconds!
• Never gets gummy or sticky like electrical or duct tape - No messy cleanup!
• Has an unbelievably long shelf life!
• Is extremely versatile!
• Resists Fuels, Oils, Acids, Solvents, Salt Water, Road Salt, UV Rays
Rescue Tape has infinite uses!
Here are just a few suggestions:
• Keep it on board vehicles & equipment for emergency hose repair!
• Seal leaky hoses, pipes, tubing, lines, & fittings
• Neaten up lines and extension cords in stowage
• Wrap tools and handles for a GREAT non-slip grip
• Wrap wiring harnesses and custom split-looming
• Waterproof electrical connections and terminals
• Use it as an emergency fan belt!
• Make emergency O-Rings
• Wrap hydraulic fittings and other exposed metal connections to help prevent corrosion
• Works even over wet, dirty, or oily surfaces!
• Use it as a tourniquet or emergency wrap over bleeding injuries
• Wrap it around ANYTHING that you want secure, and it will never leave any sticky residue!
Good luck!! Take pictures for us...
Doc
I would love to get some of that tape.... but my plane leaves at 7am tomorrow morning and don't think I will be able to source any.
Pictures...yes lots of pictures.....
-Sean
I can buy Rescue Tape @ my local Ace hardware store.
It is really good stuff & can help in many different types of emergencies. Good stuff !
John
It is really good stuff & can help in many different types of emergencies. Good stuff !
John
The one in the picture is from a 63. The guy I bought the tool kit from I tried to help sell his 70 FJ40. I ended up buying it myself. It has the full kit kit with it along with all the original paper work. No need to restore it. It's a one owner cruiser that spent it's whole live in southeast AZ parked in the shade. It is now garaged at 7'000 in northern AZ and driven on weekends when I'm there.
One of my shortest roads trips but the nicest crusier I ever picked up. Of course it cost the most too.
Buying some of that rescue tape sounds like a good a idea. Might contact a mudder local to where your picking up the cruiser. Probably tell where a Ace Hardware store is close by. If your going to have to buy it might as well get it after you arrive.
Have a safe trip.
dont forget to pack an extra pair of underwear incase you have any close calls
- Thread starter
- #73
Well I have everything all packed read to go, going to take a shower and a nap and I will be in denver in about 8.5 hours from now, then taking a supershuttle north and picking up the landcruiser!
- Thread starter
- #75
Well I should be updating from Denver, however that is not the case just yet. This morning the plane I got on had a derp of a transponder which prevented take off 3 times. So now I have some time to kill in the minneapolis airport.
I hope this isn't a bad omen of impending doom on my trip lol.
I hope this isn't a bad omen of impending doom on my trip lol.
Well I should be updating from Denver, however that is not the case just yet. This morning the plane I got on had a derp of a transponder which prevented take off 3 times. So now I have some time to kill in the minneapolis airport.
I hope this isn't a bad omen of impending doom on my trip lol.
Not impending doom. Think of it as the beginning of an impending adventure. Drive slowly, take notes, take pics, report back here. Done "correctly," that 850 miles should take you 3 days to drive, 4 if you can spare the time.
Milk it all you can!
- Thread starter
- #77
Well I am in denver now and for my backpack from baggage claim. The bus I intended upon taking of course has left and now it looks like I might not get very far today looking like a multi day trip. Lol haven't seen anythingreally taking a picture of yet, then again all airports look poetry much the same.
- Thread starter
- #79
Update!
Tonight I am spending the night at emb170s house, Marc and his wife have been very hospitable, ate some amazing homemade pizza and apple pie and Marc gave me a hand in checking over the cruiser and we installed the sparkplugs I brought with.
People like Marc and Rita are few and far between, and when I meet them it makes traveling completely worth the journey, even if the cruiser were to die half way home.
I Depart tomorrow in the morning after it gets light out and will try to make as much forward progress as possible.
-Sean
Tonight I am spending the night at emb170s house, Marc and his wife have been very hospitable, ate some amazing homemade pizza and apple pie and Marc gave me a hand in checking over the cruiser and we installed the sparkplugs I brought with.
People like Marc and Rita are few and far between, and when I meet them it makes traveling completely worth the journey, even if the cruiser were to die half way home.
I Depart tomorrow in the morning after it gets light out and will try to make as much forward progress as possible.
-Sean
not sure if it has been said yet but cellphone dead space from beginning to end.... AND your relationship with buddies that have a truck and trailer. 