Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
Check compression on all 6 before you go much further. The friction you had to overcome is hopefully nothing, but it could be bad sign.
Cylinder | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 |
Cyl 1 | 80 | 150 | (skip) |
Cyl 2 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
Cyl 3 | 60 | 100 | 105 |
Cyl 4 | 43 | 70 | 67 |
Cyl 5 | 65 | 85 | 93 |
Cyl 6 | 80 | 100 | 130 |
Thank you Steve. Finding a good running engine from a reliable source is what my original plan was, but it took four months for me to track down the one I did find (although I did see a couple of pre-78 FJ40 2Fs without the steering pump mount holes and different head shapes), I don't expect to be able to do it easily again. California has gone absolutely crazy for Cruisers and I never saw anything well-priced. If you have the money there are plenty of great shops (Mudrak, Valley Hybrids, K&H, TLC, etc.) that will set one up nicely and beautifully for you or sell you parts, and even more engine shops that seem high-quality that have remanufactured 2Fs lying around or available on short notice. But it's all serious $$$.When this truck is all done, you will have fully earned it. I would find a good running used engine from a reliable source and install it. Bailing now will be a TON of lost work and money. Stay the trail, as it were!
Another belated post... great success! Two days after my last post it's out of the garage, huzzah!! Yippee!!
View attachment 2756875
I let the truck idle for 15-20 minutes the next day and... it appears to have burned all of the coolant off, no more white smoke coming out the tailpipe. Then spent a while tuning and playing with the clutch pedal adjustments and clutch release cylinder adjustments. Then I drove the truck out of the garage and around the neighborhood!! The first time it's driven under its own power since August 9 last year! Felt so good to just be slowly driving around the block.
I've now racked up five miles driving around the neighborhood, and probably close to an hour of idle engine time between various coolant burps. It fires up instantly when warm and near-instantly when cold, and sounds good. I'm feeling optimistic! The GF also helped stitch together more of the interior so it looks more presentable.
Still a lot of things to sort out in order to pass CA smog, but being able to drive it around the block feels so huge. Things on the agenda next...
- My throwout bearing is making noise, hoping it settles down. I spun off a new thread for that - New clutch adjustments and squealing/whining noise - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/new-clutch-adjustments-and-squealing-whining-noise.1259505/#post-13979696
- I keep on finding loose coolant hose clamps that would start leaking badly after a mile... all my fault after changing all the hoses, looks like I forgot to tighten a few up. Those appear to have fixed all those now.
- Re-adjust the hood because it doesn't want to close (keeps on binding in the back against the cowl)
- Test the instrument cluster water temp gauge and the water temp sending unit itself (have new aftermarket WTSU on order from RockAuto). I'm pretty paranoid about overheating now that everything's working right, and want a reliable OEM system. If I can't get confidence in that then I'll consider installing a mechanical sensor in the upper radiator hose.
- Engine tuning - break out an ignition timing light and vacuum check gauge and start making sure she's in tip-top tuned shape
After that... just need to put the interior back together and front bumper on, and we should be in business for smog!
Huge congrats for getting to this point!! Crushing it!
Way to stay with it. Just now take your time and tighten everything down and check it twice.
go over it so you are sure!
it is a process and you will think you won’t ever finish but at the end you will accomplish it.
way to go!