Dmouse's HDJ81 Build (1 Viewer)

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Dmouse

Dmouse

Joined
Mar 22, 2024
Threads
12
Messages
33
Location
Orange County, CA
Hello Everyone!

This is going to be my build thread where I document everything I do to my 80 Series.
To start off this is a 1996 Toyota Land Cruiser with the 1HD-FT, with 215k km (~133k miles).
Owned by a little lady in the JLPGA from Okayama, Japan.
1725062746715.png

Here she is fresh of the boat with the factory 1996 Navigation and TV system.

The purpose of this build is to be a well rounded overlander that can take me deep into the bush and back. I have one major trip planned for my Dads 60th we are going to be heading up to Prudhoe Bay.

1725063029951.png

There was a bed system in the rear that I used on a recent camping trip in Big Bear. I have sold that and now have a roof top tent with a Prinsu Rack. I also have a 270 degree awning and going to be putting a water tank on the other side of the rack. The plan is to be fully self sufficient.

Here is a list of modifications I want to do:
Roof Rack
Roof Top Tent
Awning
Suspension (Looking at the Dobinsons MRA 2" Lift) The stock suspension is getting pretty tired)
Intercooler
3" Exhaust
Front Bumper w/ Winch
Rock Sliders
Custom Drawer System (Kitchen in one drawer and the other storage)
Fridge

I'm sure other things will come up and I will update this thread as I do more modifications!
 
duece71 said:
A baseline for maintenance on the truck would be prudent before adding any farkles IMO.
Click to expand...
I should have included that in the original post. Luckily this one came with extensive service records.

But I also have a timing belt (Timing belt was changed at 180k), seals, water pump. Have changed the engine oil, need to get diff and tranny fluids changed.
Most likely going to be doing a knuckle rebuild soon, anyone know the best kit to get?
Also going to be verifying wheel bearings are good.
Checking all the hoses inside to verify that are good and no cracking.

Also planning to do the BEB's I know its not supposed to be an issue on the FT but rather change them then not.

Anything else you would recommend?
 
Agree with everything @shermantank55 said. I've rebuilt my truck almost completely from Partsouq. I have a PPD 3" stainless exhaust and it's been great but I've heard great things about the Manta as well.

You might want to check with a boost gauge and see what she's still pushing all these years later. Then look at a tune to get her in top shape.

You should be fine with the stock airbox as long you don't up the boost towards 20psi.

I'd get a boost gauge and a EGT gauge most especially. I run a 14-in-1 from JRP and love it.

I also live in my rig most of the year, so if you have any questions about the "house" side of your build, let me know.
 
Dmouse said:
I should have included that in the original post. Luckily this one came with extensive service records.

But I also have a timing belt (Timing belt was changed at 180k), seals, water pump. Have changed the engine oil, need to get diff and tranny fluids changed.
Most likely going to be doing a knuckle rebuild soon, anyone know the best kit to get?
Also going to be verifying wheel bearings are good.
Checking all the hoses inside to verify that are good and no cracking.

Also planning to do the BEB's I know its not supposed to be an issue on the FT but rather change them then not.

Anything else you would recommend?
Click to expand...
Looks nice.

I'd say replace all rubber hoses. Particularly cooling system ASAP.

Change all fluids.

Flush and bleed brakes

Flush the cooling system, and install a new oem thermostat and be OEM radiator cap

Inspect the engine fan. It should roar on start up. And you should hear it roar when it cycles on and off on a hot day, or in traffic.

Relace the timing belt idler pulley and tensioner and tensioner spring EVERYTIME you swap a timing belt.

set valve/ rocker arm clearances

Replace the wheel bearings with quality Japanese made ( cruiser outfitters , aka Cruiserteq.com). By the time you get deep enough to inspect them, your 3/4 of the way to changing them.OIf you buy a knuckle service kit, they will be part of the kit anyway.
Search the forum for " bearing preload" technique. Do yourself a favour, ignore the FSM method for setting wheel bearings, and for gawds sake don't buy a fish scale!

Personally, I would have Blackstone Labs do a used oil analysis before changing the BEB. HD-FT don't have the same instance of failures. I would do the same fortoo1hd-t too. Loads of 1hd-t's still rocking the OG BEBs 30 years in. If analysis shows no bearing metal in the oil, test again in another 20k km time.

If you plan to tune it for more power, an EGT gauge and boost gauge are pretty essential.
 
mudgudgeon said:
Looks nice.

I'd say replace all rubber hoses. Particularly cooling system ASAP.

Change all fluids.

Flush and bleed brakes

Flush the cooling system, and install a new oem thermostat and be OEM radiator cap

Inspect the engine fan. It should roar on start up. And you should hear it roar when it cycles on and off on a hot day, or in traffic.

Relace the timing belt idler pulley and tensioner and tensioner spring EVERYTIME you swap a timing belt.

set valve/ rocker arm clearances

Replace the wheel bearings with quality Japanese made ( cruiser outfitters , aka Cruiserteq.com). By the time you get deep enough to inspect them, your 3/4 of the way to changing them.OIf you buy a knuckle service kit, they will be part of the kit anyway.
Search the forum for " bearing preload" technique. Do yourself a favour, ignore the FSM method for setting wheel bearings, and for gawds sake don't buy a fish scale!

Personally, I would have Blackstone Labs do a used oil analysis before changing the BEB. HD-FT don't have the same instance of failures. I would do the same fortoo1hd-t too. Loads of 1hd-t's still rocking the OG BEBs 30 years in. If analysis shows no bearing metal in the oil, test again in another 20k km time.

If you plan to tune it for more power, an EGT gauge and boost gauge are pretty essential.
Click to expand...

FT doesn’t have a tension spring. It runs a hydraulic tensioner.
 
mudgudgeon said:
Looks nice.

I'd say replace all rubber hoses. Particularly cooling system ASAP.

Change all fluids.

Flush and bleed brakes

Flush the cooling system, and install a new oem thermostat and be OEM radiator cap

Inspect the engine fan. It should roar on start up. And you should hear it roar when it cycles on and off on a hot day, or in traffic.

Relace the timing belt idler pulley and tensioner and tensioner spring EVERYTIME you swap a timing belt.

set valve/ rocker arm clearances

Replace the wheel bearings with quality Japanese made ( cruiser outfitters , aka Cruiserteq.com). By the time you get deep enough to inspect them, your 3/4 of the way to changing them.OIf you buy a knuckle service kit, they will be part of the kit anyway.
Search the forum for " bearing preload" technique. Do yourself a favour, ignore the FSM method for setting wheel bearings, and for gawds sake don't buy a fish scale!

Personally, I would have Blackstone Labs do a used oil analysis before changing the BEB. HD-FT don't have the same instance of failures. I would do the same fortoo1hd-t too. Loads of 1hd-t's still rocking the OG BEBs 30 years in. If analysis shows no bearing metal in the oil, test again in another 20k km time.

If you plan to tune it for more power, an EGT gauge and boost gauge are pretty essential.
Click to expand...
Land Tank orange hub fan clutch and my fan has never roared……
 
duece71 said:
Land Tank orange hub fan clutch and my fan has never roared……
Click to expand...

If you never hear it cycle on/off, it's probably not working as it should.
Won't be an instant on/off like an electric fan, but you should be able to hear a pronounced change when it's fully engaged.
 
mudgudgeon said:
If you never hear it cycle on/off, it's probably not working as it should.
Won't be an instant on/off like an electric fan, but you should be able to hear a pronounced change when it's fully engaged.
Click to expand...
Hmmmm, ok. Land Tank assured me it was ready out of the box.
 
Alright after a pretty eventful weekend here is how she sits now.
1725492097516.png

I started taking things off before checking the PDI Intercooler kit and realized the vertical support bracket was missing. So I worked on a few other things.

1725492192463.png

I fitted the ARB Bumper up to check it out and it looks great! Found a few small scratches on the side.
1725492241937.png
1725492261038.png

And they gave me 50% off because of it saved a little over $600! There will be plenty of more scratches to come.

Installed new speakers because the stock ones were falling apart.
1725492358995.png

Put Pioneer TS-G650s in the front and G400 in the rear. It was pretty simple adapting the new speakers to fit. Cut out a piece of 1/2" foam to space out the fronts and the rears just required some cutting.

Going to follow @mudgudgeon's advice and do a little cooling system refresh. While I am waiting for the vertical support bracket I am going to order the parts for the cooling system and bang everything out at once.

Also want to upgrade the Alternator at the same time so I don't have to pull the PDI tube off to get to it. Not sure what to go with looking for 150 Amps so the Sequoia swap would be a good fit. But also looking at the 180A from m2kinc.com $685. Pretty steep but have heard good things. Interested in hearing what everyone has to say about that.

Current maintenance planned:
Timing Belt (Water Pump, Tensioner Pully, Tensioner)
Belts
Cooling Flush and Rebuild
Some various seals while the timing belt and water pump are out
Head Gasket (Valve Clearances)
Knuckle Rebuild w/ Wheel Bearings
Diff and Tranny Fluid
I also got the bigger brake booster from PDI, upgrading to SS brake lines will do that with a good flush. The rotors also looked a little rough.

Let me know if anyone has anything to add. I need this vehicle to be bulletproof for the trips I am planning. The Tranny cooler I got from PDI should also help with keeping the temps down.
 
CaptBeardilocks said:
I have a PPD 3" stainless exhaust and it's been great but I've heard great things about the Manta as well.
Click to expand...
How has the PPD been, I'm considering either the PPD or Manta, did you get the straight pipe or muffler? Wondering how it sounds.

It's that or I'm thinking about having a buddy weld one up out of 304SS for me. The only thing is the downpipe is going to take some time.

Don't really want to spend $1750 for the Manta.
 
Dmouse said:
It's that or I'm thinking about having a buddy weld one up out of 304SS for me. The only thing is the downpipe is going to take some time.

Don't really want to spend $1750 for the Manta
Click to expand...

Find my "slow moving 105series turbo build" thread for pics of what i did.

I think I spent around $1000 AUD in parts and materials to build my own.

Get creative with muffler choice and positioning, you can do a lot to reduce the total amount of bends in the system.
 
Dmouse said:
How has the PPD been, I'm considering either the PPD or Manta, did you get the straight pipe or muffler? Wondering how it sounds.

It's that or I'm thinking about having a buddy weld one up out of 304SS for me. The only thing is the downpipe is going to take some time.

Don't really want to spend $1750 for the Manta.
Click to expand...
I have the manta with full muffler. On the evergreen website it's on sale for $1269 when I put it into the cart. Mine is a bit louder than the stock one. I could tell an immediate difference in power.
 
Dmouse said:
How has the PPD been, I'm considering either the PPD or Manta, did you get the straight pipe or muffler? Wondering how it sounds.

It's that or I'm thinking about having a buddy weld one up out of 304SS for me. The only thing is the downpipe is going to take some time.

Don't really want to spend $1750 for the Manta.
Click to expand...
I have no complaints about the PPD exhaust. It seems like really good quality for the money compared to the other systems.

I seem to remember the hanger in front of the rear axle took a bit of finagling to make sure nothing was touching, but nothing too difficult. Definitely easier than fitting the PDI IC. Lol.

The far rear hanger was a whole other story because I had a @DeltaVS rear bumper (which I absolutely LOVE). So I had to trim the rear pipe and fabricate a mount in the rear, but it's all been great for 3.5yrs/40k miles.

EDIT: I did get the single muffler. It sounds really really good from outside the truck and does not drone or otherwise annoy from inside.
 
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