Chilean Troopy Resurrection- FJ to BJ

[Owyhee Jackass]

So, I managed to get the oil pump gears, but can't find a simple bolt. One of my main bearing cap bolts is stretched. They're a weird size, 13mm x 1.5, looks like Greg (gerg) will be saving me once again with one from one of his donor engines.

I hope to be putting this back together by Xmas. The company I work for is shutting down for the week of Xmas and I don't have a ski pass (no appreciable snow the last few years) so I'll be itching for something to do over the break.

 

[lostmarbles]

Yeah... 13mm is a real non-standard size... I remember noticing that before with head bolts

 

[MOTOV8R]

Looks pretty close to the factory color.

 

[Owyhee Jackass]

Looks pretty close to the factory color.

What do you figure the factory color was? Every part of this thing seems to have been painted multiple times with different colors. I sanded through about 4 colors on that one apron, brown, green, red, yellow and there was an orange in there too, but that may have been a combo of the yellow and red or a primer.

 

[lostmarbles]

What do you figure the factory color was? Every part of this thing seems to have been painted multiple times with different colors. I sanded through about 4 colors on that one apron, brown, green, red, yellow and there was an orange in there too, but that may have been a combo of the yellow and red or a primer.

My colour is stamped on my VIN plate:

854 = Sky Blue

 

[Owyhee Jackass]

Mine is code 000, which I suspect is because it went to the Chilean Army in olive drab.

 

[MOTOV8R]

The interior side of the doors had the factory color. They didn't bother to paint the interior. It was a dark green/brown color pretty similar to what you painted. The hood was me playing around with different colors. At least one of the aprons wasn't the original.

 

[Owyhee Jackass]

I just dug the old doors out and took a look at them and you're right, a bit duller green, but close. I'm not trying to match the original, just want to get it all one color.

 

[Owyhee Jackass]

So not so similar when you have them right next to each other...I still like the 'new' color though and Leslie is liking it too, says with a tan top it will look good.

 

[Owyhee Jackass]

Shop says the head is done, and they're finishing the liners (I ordered semi-finished), should be going together soon.

 

[lostmarbles]

I too like your colour....

And I also agree with your choice of semi-finished (for the liners) because then they can be machined to size once they've been pressed in place and any distortion (from pressing them in place) can't possibly be a factor.

 

[Owyhee Jackass]

Thanks Tom.

I received some more stuff from my new BFF's in Japan at JP-Carparts today...it's like Christmas everyday here. It amazes me how fast their shipping is too, I ordered some parts domestically on Monday (same day I ordered these) and I got these today, the other parts might show up Monday.

I mentioned way back when I was putting this engine together the first time that the hoses on the vacuum pump were all ratty, so I decided to see if they had them, and viola.

 

[MOTOV8R]

I think the lighting on your second picture of the paint is a little better. Looks like pea soup but not a bad color. Maybe I will swing by and take a look since we are now Boise residents.

 

[Owyhee Jackass]

... since we are now Boise residents.

Cool. Want to get the band back together? NWCruisers of Idaho has been hibernating fora few years, but there's still a website.

On Troopy related news, the head gasket that came with the rebuild kit is not an MLS gasket, its equivalent to what was available at the time the 3B was originally manufactured (MSL was not the standard yet in the early 80's). I will probably order an MLS gasket tomorrow...I was hoping I'd get the chance to blow another $100 this week on this project.

 

[Owyhee Jackass]

Got the MLS head gasket 11115-58110 through Toyotapartsdeal, $110 shipped.

Shop has the short-block done less one main bearing bolt, which is scheduled for delivery later this week. Said everything went together really well, all the clearances are good. I'm 'on schedule' to get the engine back together next week.

Still haven't made any progress on painting the engine bay though, too busy 'playing'. Spent the weekend at a Forest Service cabin, almost got to spend the week, this was yesterday morning, about a foot of fresh snow on top of the foot already there on our way in. Took us about 3 hours to go 15 miles back to the main road. Spent an hour of that time chopping a downed tree out of our way with a hatchet...note to self, put the ax back in the truck when you're done with it.

 

[Owyhee Jackass]

Got a sample of Toyota GRAYISH OLIVE 6H9. It goes on way better than the 637, yellow-green. Wife likes the grayish-olive. I like the yellow green (of course), but it doesn't have very good coverage. It's a toss-up right now.

Still don't have the main bearing cap bolt, shop's done with the engine other than that. Tracking says 'Customs has released item to post office' it's been 10 days coming from BC to Idaho, I could have driven up there and got it myself by now. Hope it shows up tomorrow.

 

[Owyhee Jackass]

It's a G.D. Xmas Miracle! The bolt finally arrived. Canada Post still says it's 'in transit', I've been checking the mail about 6 times a day this week, even after I got the mail, I'd look in the mail box like maybe I'd missed it. Today it was just a bunch of Christmas cards again...I was sooo disappointed. Then I see the temp. mail man (twenty-something with earbuds in) walking back up the sidewalk with a package. "Sorry, but it fell between the seats." (Xmas Vacation) I wanted to slap him.

 

[Owyhee Jackass]

Took the bolt over to the shop, they installed it, gathered up all my $hit, palletized everything and I brought her home.

Got it unloaded and in the garage for 'final assembly'...it's beautiful!

 

[MOTOV8R]

Good thing you picked it up, may have killed some reindeers if Santa tried to throw that in the sleigh. Looking good. I have to side with Leslie on the color.

 

[Owyhee Jackass]

Spent Xmas morning painting parts, got a little out of hand. Primed and painted all the injection lines as they were pitted, then did the valve cover, timing gear cover, oil cooler & filter mount.

18 deg. F for a high today, put my propane heater in the garage and got a bit of it assembled. Decided to poke a hole in my old oil pan and move the turbo drain over enough to allow me to run the standard OEM filter.

Here's a shot of the old pan, with the OEM filter, note the fitting is almost directly behind the bottom of the filter.

I got another fitting from Jefferson State Machining (Diesel42) and moved it forward a tad on my old pan so it clears the stock filter.

Hopefully get the rest of it done tomorrow. Just need to install the crank pulley, water pump, power steering pump and alternator, adjust the valves and put the valve cover on. Oh and roll it over, get the freshly painted 'new' oil pan installed.

What's the consensus on oil pan gaskets? Cork, cork with RTV or sans cork and just RTV? I've heard that cork is old-school and will leak eventually and 'these days it's all RTV'.