Builds Cruisermatt's FJ62 Build-up (4 Viewers)

[LAMBCRUSHER]

No

 

[cruisermatt]

No

Hmm?

 

[cruisermatt]

This was back in May but here are some photos of my trip to GSMTR 2017. This was a pretty big deal for not only me but the truck, it was a 650-mile trip one way and the first time it had been out of Florida since the early 2000's (on Family trips to North Carolina).

Drove there and back. Both directions were kind of limps. But it did the drive in 12-13 hours both ways which was the plan. It was a pretty exhausting drive with no AC, barely any sound/heat deadening, and 3/4 of the trip NO OVERDRIVE mad:), and the entire way home with and open exhaust manifold.

The weeks before were an absolute thrash building the rear bumper (had to learn how to use my new tube bender!), getting sliders built, finishing up the 1/4 panel chop, getting some sort of carpet in, and the most crucial piece of the puzzle was getting my NWF Triple Cable shifters installed.


This is one of the last pictures I have while it still had a relatively straight body... I did lots of body body damage on this trip (Which will mostly be repaired soon!)

 

[cruisermatt]

Drove, drove, drove and drove.... and about halfway there (Just north of Macon GA) lost 5th gear on my NV4500!! I still haven't fixed or even looked into it yet but I suspect it's the classic 5th gear retaining nut, which is annoying because I bought one of the "updated parts". We'll find out soon though.
A couple hundred miles after losing overdrive I stopped for gas in Adairsville and got the truck stuck in reverse, which was freaky but I figured it has to do with the relationship between 5th and reverse and fifth being gone.
RTH stuck I-75 Adairsville

Figured it out and pressed on...
Arrived at the park Sunday afternoon prepared to pull my transfer cases then and there in the campground, but thanks to the sage wisdom of @TeddyBoy and @4xsteve, I just put another quart of oil in the trans and didn't loose any wheeling time because of it. While I was doing this They made some modification to my shift knob (via a Sharpie and whatever smartphone image editor they had) to help me out. I had to censor it a bit..

 

[cruisermatt]

More later after work...

 

[cruisedeisel]

SOunds like an epic adventure. How was the anxiety level?

 

[White Stripe]

I've been in those kinda situations lots of times with cruisers. Hopefully u get some stories out of them at least like I have.

 

[cruisermatt]

Didn't get a chance to put more Gsmtr pics up or work on the truck this week, busy at work.

Working on iron right now though, my friend @TJT came over this morning and we got the head off in about an hour. Taking a break now but will soon commence cleaning the crank up and getting the new bearings in.

Goal is to drive it home tonight!

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Wow.

Ready to give up on the 3FE yet?

 

[cruisermatt]

Not quite

 

[cruisermatt]

You sometimes have to get creative when you're a midget and work on stuff by yourself, like I was for the second half of today.

In hindsight, I should have just asked to borrow the neighbor's pickup and went and bought and engine hoist.

Those red posts are the ends of my dad's rotisserie for his XKE restoration.

 

[4Cruisers]

Looking good!

 

[cruisermatt]

Done for today, I probably could have it running tonight if I had pushed myself harder throughout the day but the heads on and that's the biggest part. All the new rod bearings are in too, the crank looked great on all the other journals. I looked at one of the mains and decided they would be fine, if I'm going to have another issue in the next few thousand miles it will most likely be the #5 again.

 

[NeverGiveUpYota]

Love the make shift hoist. My friend was a tad flabbergasted at my lack of tools. I make shift damn well too. I used my bottle jack to pop the seal on mine. Worked like a charm. I can thank @OSS for the tip.

 

[cruisermatt]

Love the make shift hoist. My friend was a tad flabbergasted at my lack of tools. I make shift damn well too. I used my bottle jack to pop the seal on mine. Worked like a charm. I can thank @OSS for the tip.

Nice, usually a big flathead screwdriver on the front right corner does the trick, as per the FSM. On my case today it popped right off after the last head bolt was loosened. Only 10K mikes on this head gasket, and I think this is the third time this head is getting installed? I think it has 15k on it. 10K on this short block and 5k on the last one.

 

[White Stripe]

Maybe after you get it running you could start getting parts to put a 2f short block together. Then if the 3f short block has a issue again you could just swap blocks and have yourself a 2fe.

 

[cruisermatt]

Maybe after you get it running you could start getting parts to put a 2f short block together. Then if the 3f short block has a issue again you could just swap blocks and have yourself a 2fe.

Well the current plan is to just bump the diesel swap to the top of the priority list.

 

[White Stripe]

A diesel swap? If your going more of a expedition rig direction that's a great route. Offroad they don't give much benefits over the 3fe. Most have less rpm range than the 3fe and are just as heavy. I would love a 6bt 60 or 80 though for daily driving and light wheeling.

 

[cruisermatt]

A diesel swap? If your going more of a expedition rig direction that's a great route. Offroad they don't give much benefits over the 3fe. Most have less rpm range than the 3fe and are just as heavy. I would love a 6bt 60 or 80 though for daily driving and light wheeling.

It would be for road power and range as well as upgrade-ability and range. Not doing a 6BT...

 

[GLTHFJ60]

A diesel swap? If your going more of a expedition rig direction that's a great route. Offroad they don't give much benefits over the 3fe. Most have less rpm range than the 3fe and are just as heavy. I would love a 6bt 60 or 80 though for daily driving and light wheeling.

Not true. Diesels have a TON more low-end torque than a 3FE. Diesels can, usually, idle down to 400rpm and pull the truck up a rock. Can't do that with a 3FE.