Did I do the right thing?
- Thread starter ToyotaDon
- Start date
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Search for de-flaring. Lots of detailed posts and rigs that have been deflared intentionally or not so much. Basically underneath is just the fender, it actually has pretty nice lines as well. Just plug up the holes and your good to go.
Congrats! Hope to see it soon.
Another big red! There aren't many of us around here it seems. Congrats on the acquisition!
love the color, I say you made a smart choice 
But plan on saving about as much ($2,300) to bring the rig back to its former glory.
I just spended $3k in shocks (Blisteins) springs (OME) tires (BF TA) front diff knuckle service (shop) piezo alarm thingy Sparkplugs, Sparkplug cables, valve cover gasket , distributor etc, (Cdan)
But plan on saving about as much ($2,300) to bring the rig back to its former glory.
I just spended $3k in shocks (Blisteins) springs (OME) tires (BF TA) front diff knuckle service (shop) piezo alarm thingy Sparkplugs, Sparkplug cables, valve cover gasket , distributor etc, (Cdan)
SN
I always thought that meant Signature Name = ToyotaDon.
I like it. Good luck with your plans, and welcome to the madness.
I always thought that meant Signature Name = ToyotaDon.
I like it. Good luck with your plans, and welcome to the madness.
Hey Don, grats on the new purchase! I recognize that parking lot too, I've gotten a part or three there myself.
I don't know that I can tell you much you don't know already, but in my opinion safety items are the place to start, so tires would be the first thing I'd spend money on. I see you don't have a roof rack, so that's one less thing you have to remove.
I don't know that I can tell you much you don't know already, but in my opinion safety items are the place to start, so tires would be the first thing I'd spend money on. I see you don't have a roof rack, so that's one less thing you have to remove.
I've been called "The Donald" before, but never "The Don" 
...Maybe...naah.
Check your idle speed, one of those pics it looks LOW.
Congrats and have fun!
Congrats and have fun!
ToyotaDon
I am here
- Thread starter
- #32
It was slow at work today, so I pulled it into the shop to smog it. Before that I wanted to clean the throttle body, so that helped the idle. Then I wanted to change the oil and get rid of the Fram filter, oil came out black, used a Thailand Toyota filter because it's readily available. So I ended up working on this beast at least half the day.
Pulled the front bumper, grill, valance and lights off, and of course, there's more bent metal underneath. I spent a few minutes with the hammer and slide hammer, but there's still more to do.
Now we'll get to some shots of the underside and the miscellaneous fluids that have left their mark.
Front of oil pan, I'm guessing front crankshaft seal, possibly oil pump o-rings, etc.
Rear main?
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I think I see some gunk on the knuckles.
x2 on the gunky knuckles. Looks like you need a front axle rebuild. Sounds intimidating, but a lot of the guys on here have done it themselves and saved a lot of $$$ doing so.
ToyotaDon
I am here
- Thread starter
- #35
Knuckles
When I first looked at the knuckles, I thought, "There's not that much grease leaked out, is there?" Then I considered that it's been sitting for a year, so without movement, there's not as much leakage.
Took a sample of the knuckle grease.
That's not too soupy, is it?
Next I pulled the front diff fill plug, and when I stuck my finger inside, it came out dry. I proceeded to pull the drain plug and nothing came out...
...at first.
There's the soup!
It looks like the knuckles will have to be done sooner rather than later. It'll give me an excuse to visit Marlin on my next day off.
For now, I stuck a couple pints of gear oil in, spun things around then let it drain again for awhile. Refilled it with gear oil until it's time to do the knuckles.
When I first looked at the knuckles, I thought, "There's not that much grease leaked out, is there?" Then I considered that it's been sitting for a year, so without movement, there's not as much leakage.
Took a sample of the knuckle grease.
That's not too soupy, is it?
Next I pulled the front diff fill plug, and when I stuck my finger inside, it came out dry. I proceeded to pull the drain plug and nothing came out...
...at first.
There's the soup!It looks like the knuckles will have to be done sooner rather than later. It'll give me an excuse to visit Marlin on my next day off.
For now, I stuck a couple pints of gear oil in, spun things around then let it drain again for awhile. Refilled it with gear oil until it's time to do the knuckles.
That's some serious clam chower in the diff. I hope nothing is too badly damaged in there.
ToyotaDon
I am here
- Thread starter
- #37
So, on to more good news. When I had it in the air, I took a look up toward the head gasket, and this is what I saw.
Does that look like some seepage to you guys? How long can you go with seepage happening? I know, I know, until it blows.
I also looked closer at the heater hoses, especially the PHH.
You can see that upper hose is leaking onto the pipe going down to the PHH. Here's a shot looking down through the little space available.
It definitely has been replaced before, as it has screw-type clamps, but there is also quite a bit of coolant around there. I think it's leaking, so the silicone kit will be ordered soon.
Does that look like some seepage to you guys? How long can you go with seepage happening? I know, I know, until it blows.
I also looked closer at the heater hoses, especially the PHH.
You can see that upper hose is leaking onto the pipe going down to the PHH. Here's a shot looking down through the little space available.
It definitely has been replaced before, as it has screw-type clamps, but there is also quite a bit of coolant around there. I think it's leaking, so the silicone kit will be ordered soon.
Don is a Toyota Certified Mechanic at a Toyota Dealership. Had him work on my DD FJ Cruiser (wouldn't let anyone else touch it besides him). He knows his Toyotas.
Now, that doesn't suggest I would let him work on my FJ40 since that is my baby, but he sure can help me.
ToyotaDon
I am here
- Thread starter
- #40
As promised...just a little later than I thought.:whoops:
I still need to do something about the negative terminal.
The key I got with the Cruiser only opened the driver's door and operated the ignition, so I had two new keys cut from code. The new keys opened all the locks, but wouldn't turn in the ignition.
One of our parts guys has been around awhile, wrenching and working the parts departments, so he has all the stuff to rekey these locks. He brought his kit in today and fixed me up.
Once he had them all right, a little work with the file cleaned up the rough edges and had it working like a dream.
While I had the dash apart for the ignition cylinder, I did a little test fitting of the Scion radio I have. I had it hooked up and playing, but it quit after awhile. I'm thinking this is a symptom of the factory amplifier, but does anyone know for sure?
The brackets must have gone with the stolen radio, so I'll have to fab something up.
I still need to do something about the negative terminal.
The key I got with the Cruiser only opened the driver's door and operated the ignition, so I had two new keys cut from code. The new keys opened all the locks, but wouldn't turn in the ignition.
One of our parts guys has been around awhile, wrenching and working the parts departments, so he has all the stuff to rekey these locks. He brought his kit in today and fixed me up.
Once he had them all right, a little work with the file cleaned up the rough edges and had it working like a dream.
While I had the dash apart for the ignition cylinder, I did a little test fitting of the Scion radio I have. I had it hooked up and playing, but it quit after awhile. I'm thinking this is a symptom of the factory amplifier, but does anyone know for sure?
The brackets must have gone with the stolen radio, so I'll have to fab something up.
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