F(Z)J80 v8 (1 Viewer)

[SNLC]

I should have added this to the first post.....

I bought my first Cruiser back in early 1991, it was my B-day present to myself at that time. It was an 87 FJ60, bone stock with 40,000 miles on it. I was 17yrs old and it was my first 4wd, I bought it right before my 18th B-day. I lost my virginity in that truck (!) and did my first road trips as an adult in it too. Seatlle, LA, SF and many camping trips in the Oregon Cascades. I still got a tattoo from one of those road trips to LA and still have a nice Gerber BMF knife I bought on the warf in Seattle all those years ago. I also got my first and only MIP with that truck, no I wasn't drinking and driving rather camping and drinking when good ole' ranger rick showed up! I think I also experienced my first speeding ticket in that truck too, if you can believe that. Ahhh, the memories! It was an expensive truck back then for such a young guy. I think I paid $13k or 14k for the 87 FJ60 in 91, not a small amount of cash for a young guy or back then but I did beat up the dealership for a couple grand over what they were asking, cash talks ya know! I had been looking at Rovers at the time and am very glad I never bought one, they were just out of my price range at that time. I almost bought a new Jeep Cherokee back then too but luckily didn't! FYI, I was not a trust funder, rather got some money from a few deaths in the family. Fast forward a few years and I was out of cash, still young and so I sold it. A few years later a buddy bought a brand new 94 FZJ80. He was not a trust funder either, he had gotten run over by a semi and got a settlement. I liked that truck a lot too!

Here is a picture of that 87 FJ60, I think this pictures is from 92, the only pic I have of the truck still.

A year or so after I sold the FJ60 I got an old 1967 Nissan Patrol. It sat on jack stands more than I drove it. I had it about 5yrs before leaving my home state and moving to the rockies. Then came a few years of no trucks for me, I litterally lived in an old van down by the river! Fast forward a few years and I got back into Nissan Patrols. Over the next 15yrs, I had many Patrols including several non-USA ones, a couple I imported myself. Then along comes that silver v8 FJ60 you see above and well, what can I say, I got the bug and am loving Cruisers all over again! So there is my back story for any who care to read it.....

My first Nissan Patrol in about 1992...

And that van I lived in down by the river! Circa 1996.

I know a lot of Cruiserheads are not big fans of Chevy v8's. Myself, I have owned 3 Chevy work trucks for 15yrs. I bought an 2001 2500HD new back in 2001 and it has been a great truck for me, I have put 180,000 on it now since I bough it new. So needless to say I am a big fan of Chevy v8s and after owning two Chevy v8 Cruisers feel they go perfect with the Cruisers.


MR. UPS brought me a nice box today. All Toyota parts.

-New windshield gasket
-2nd overhead light assembly
-clamshell
-front radius arm bushes & outer axle seals
-new fuse box cover, sweet!
-and some other nice goodies!

After so many years with such a rare truck as the Nissan Patrol, I am really enjoying being able to buy factory parts for my truck easily. It truly is bliss to a guy like me!

Not long ago I got some Metaltec 2" spacers for the front, I am not a fan of stink bug. Hope to put those in this weekend.

I am real picky about the interiors on my trucks. This Cruiser is 23yrs old. Georg had it painted not all that long ago so the exterior is super clean and nice. But the interior shows 23yrs of use. It is not bad but certainly not perfect. So that is near the top of my list for the next 6 months or so. IE, slowly get everything together to restore the interior. I think I found a nice clean used dash cap, mine has three nasty cracks in it so I plan to buy the cap next week. And once I have all the bits in hand I plan to tackle taking the whole dash apart, replacing stuff, cleaning up P/O wiring, get heater vents all sealed up and working perfectly, ect ect ect. The truck also has 20 or so odd years of smog stains inside it. It lived a life in the city and whomever owned it drove with the windows down a lot. So cleaning the smog stains off everything is part of the overall plan too. Beyond this I do have some plans on the mechanical side of things too. Remove the drop brackets on the front axles and cut & turn it instead. Wire up my e-lockers. Sliders, belly skid, 37s, blah blah blah.

I also probably should have pointed out that Georg did not do this conversion. Rather he bought the truck already converted and just did some things to it while he owned the truck. However, I got to say, I love the v8 and 4L60e. The split case is awesome too. The t-case shifts very nice in and out of 4wd which I do that daily this time of year. With the FZJ80 center console, the split case shifter is right there in the perfect spot with my arm resting on the console. I really like it! The 5.7L has stock exhaust manifolds and they put the exhaust right over the frame rail on the LHS. Which results in a sharp 90 in the exhaust as it comes off the manifold and drops down outside the frame rail. I don't like this along with some of the exhaust routing, not to say it doesn't work and sound good, it does. I just have some pipe hanging down in locations that won't suit me for off-roading. So I hope to re-route or re-do a fair amount of the exhaust within the coming year. More research is needed but I think block hugger headers is the route I will end up going.

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

I had/have an issue I posted about earlier in the thread, bit of rmp blip or surge. I was sure it was the leaking windshield gasket because it was doing it a ton in heavy rain. Seemed like the leak was dripping on the ECM behind the dash on the RHS. The reason I was sure this was it was because I put a rag on the leak and it stopped the blip immediately.

I talked to Georg about this issue before the road trip in the heavy rain and he said vss. Which totally makes sense. However, after the heavy rain and rag on the leak it stopped so I was sure that was the issue. However, it has now done it again a few times with zero rain. So I am now thinking vss again. That or a combination of the two or perhaps even a damaged ECM from the water.

As I understand it, the vss can be very finicky if it gets a tiny bit of water on the connection or if it gets a tiny bit of steel shaving on the actual sensor inside the trans. So I am now thinking, flush trans, clean vss, seal wire connection with dielectic grease, replace windshield gasket and stop any leaks, check ECM for damage and also try to get it to do it with a laptop or code reader hooked up. If none of these things fix it, I am at a loss and will have to brain storm some more. The issue though is certainly not causing me any breakdowns or major dramas yet but it is very annoying. I suppose it could also be a throttle body sensor but really doubting that is the issue. Perhaps a wire ground or shorting out. Unsure at this time but again, very annoying and it is also very random.

Cheers

 

[alia176]

Can you pull the VSS out w/o draining the tranny, I'm guessing not! If so, start with that repair and see if it helps.

 

[SNLC]

Can you pull the VSS out w/o draining the tranny, I'm guessing not! If so, start with that repair and see if it helps.

Yes you can!

In my application the VSS is located on the adapter between the trans and the split case. No need to drain trans. However, I bitch, the VSS is sunk so deep into the adapter no room for a wrench/socket. I lucked out though as it was not tight, crescent wrench on the plug for the sensor and it came right out, installed new one same way.

I changed it and a few other things. I then went for a drive....

Holy crap! I slide into a large deep ditch! I thought no way I am driving out of this, going to have to call a buddy for help. Drove into the deep ditch, drove up the ditch towards the only exit, failed. Backed up and gave it the berries, and out she popped from the ditch! I am talking a ditch that started with a 5-6ft hole and then tapered off to a ditch 5-7ft wide by 4-5ft deep. Full of snow & ice, I figured I was screwed but man she pulled out no worries. Impressive considering my tires suck and I have no lockers.

did a 15 mile drive down the road, HWY speeds, and down shifting hard. All seems well with the trans now. Real test will come tomorrow when I drive the truck 200 miles.

Additional work:
-New clam shell installed
-changed oil & filter, 300 miles ago I put 1/2 can of seafoam in the oil
-new 2nd overhead light, works tops now!
-I found a burnt wire harness for the o2 sensors, cleaned and repaired and re-installed.
-New nozzles for windshield washer, super sweet as mine were toast!
-New retaining clips for sun visors, also sweet as mine were cracked and aged.
-New cap for windshield washer reservoir, mine was aged and cracked, new is nice
-Installed dash cap carpet from SOR. Pretty sweet in my opinion.
-Few other misc. things.

All in all, happy! Baby steps but every little bit is progress.

Cheers

BTW, in case anyone cares; new VSS was $125 at Napa, oil & filter ran me $14 for filter & 5-quarts at $7/quart. You have to realize this is cheap to me and I am stoked to be able to walk into Napa and buy the parts. If I was still Toyota engine/trans it would cost more $$ and Napa wouldn't have the parts on the shelf. To me this = good!

 

[SNLC]

Well, rack this one up as a lesson learned. It would seem the vss was my problem. Two hundred mile drive yesterday, up and over the rockies and not a single problem. Keeping my fingers crossed for the next 500 miles I got to drive this week but I am fairly sure the issue I had can be checked off as fixed.

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

VSS did actually not 100% fix my problems. Seems to be the brake light switch which tells the TCM when to lock up the TC. Somebody mounted up two brake light switches in this truck and it is jerry rigged and causing problems. Even a slight bump will cause the switch connected to the TCC to think it needs to lock up the TC.

So the root of this problem is that I have two jerry rigged brake light switches. One is failing and or not working right due to bad/rigged up mounting and or the actual switch is failing too. It is confusing the TCC causing weird lock ups or no lock ups.

Took me awhile to figure this one out! Seems I just need to get a simple 4-post brake light switch and get it mounted up in there correctly. That should solve all my probs. The stock Chevy won't work as it is not a simple pole/post switch. No worries though....

Cheers

 

[alia176]

Nice sleuthing dude!!!

 

[SNLC]

Nice sleuthing dude!!!

Thanks! It is a process of elimination. Mind you this issue has been very minor, a lot of people might just ignore it. All it is is the trans not locking up right so it gets these little 200-400rmp blips, feels like the truck is surging a tiny bit. I can't stand things like this though, little things get me aggravated. I am new to the whole v8 in an 80 thing and new to the whole electronically controlled trans too. But I refuse to pay a mechanic and that is due to past history with them and always not feeling satisfied when I write the check. So, fix it and fix it right is my motto, in the process I learn a lot!

Cheers

 

[alia176]

Thanks! It is a process of elimination. Mind you this issue has been very minor, a lot of people might just ignore it. All it is is the trans not locking up right so it gets these little 200-400rmp blips, feels like the truck is surging a tiny bit. I can't stand things like this though, little things get me aggravated. I am new to the whole v8 in an 80 thing and new to the whole electronically controlled trans too. But I refuse to pay a mechanic and that is due to past history with them and always not feeling satisfied when I write the check. So, fix it and fix it right is my motto, in the process I learn a lot!

Cheers

Right on, good attitude to have. Troubleshooting can be a frustrating thing but once you find the solution, it's a gratifying feeling. Furthermore, since you're driving a bastardized rig, the more you know about its quirks, the better you'll be in the long run. Another positive upside to fixing the TC locking/unlocking is that your trans temp will be lower and that's always a good thing.

 

[SNLC]

Got me some shop time this evening in a buddies shop. So here we go with the fun....


This is the aftermarket brake light switch that is working with the TCM/TCC. You can see it is not lined up all that well to the pedal shaft.

Here you can see both switches mounted, stock FJ80 on top. Wavy best describes it!

Oh ya, custom

From the scrap pile I would imagine.

Now I am just having a little fun in my comments for the pictures. I am clear now on why it was done and what the purpose of the 2nd switch is but I still think it is jerry rigg'ed! The plate to mount the 2nd switch is wavy to try and make it line up pus the steering shaft backing plate thingy is in the way when trying to mount a 2nd switch so long. I suppose it lasted 11yrs so if the guy who did this is out there reading, congrats on it lasting this long!

I cleaned the switch for the Chevy side of it, it was a bit sticky. I got them lined up a bit better too. Short drive after but seems good so far and hoping this will hold me over until I find the right switch and get it in there. BTW, this is my least favorite place to work on a truck!

This thing was driving me crazy.....

no more beep beep beep beep! Happy.

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

Right on, good attitude to have. Troubleshooting can be a frustrating thing but once you find the solution, it's a gratifying feeling. Furthermore, since you're driving a bastardized rig, the more you know about its quirks, the better you'll be in the long run. Another positive upside to fixing the TC locking/unlocking is that your trans temp will be lower and that's always a good thing.

Ya that is right, it is gratifying. I wouldn't say I get frustrated often, more just aggravated. I actually enjoy all this but I do talk dirty to my trucks when I work on them!

I agree, best to know the ins and outs of my truck. Best way to do that is to do the work myself.

This and a previous Cruiser for me both had a number of things needing attention when I got them. Both are/were custom v8 trucks. Both trucks I got for less than I could have built them and both are/were not that messed up. Just a bunch of little things. So not that big of a deal to de-fark it and learning as I go. Once I get this truck all up to par I will start modding it.


Cheers

 

[alia176]

Ya that is right, it is gratifying. I wouldn't say I get frustrated often, more just aggravated. I actually enjoy all this but I do talk dirty to my trucks when I work on them!

I agree, best to know the ins and outs of my truck. Best way to do that is to do the work myself.

This and a previous Cruiser for me both had a number of things needing attention when I got them. Both are/were custom v8 trucks. Both trucks I got for less than I could have built them and both are/were not that messed up. Just a bunch of little things. So not that big of a deal to de-fark it and learning as I go. Once I get this truck all up to par I will start modding it.


Cheers

Some day I hope my 80 will have some balls......SIGH.....

 

[SNLC]

Bought my Low Range Off-Road locker kits last night. So in a couple weeks here is what I have planned.


-Wire up lockers and install LROR kits.
-Remove drop brackets on radius arms and cut & turn front axle
-Install Metal Tech 2" spacers in front
-Figure out if I need to deal with my front driveline.


Since taking out the double brake light switches, cleaning them, aligning better and installing again I have had zero trans issues. So I am glad to have found the root of the problem and that it is working A-ok now. I still plan to go to one 4-post switch, hopefully mounted where the stock one is. Since it is not giving me dramas now though I am in no hurry.


Cheers

 

[SNLC]

Well, just spent Saturday and Sunday working on my truck. It wasn't really as productive as we would have wanted but we got some stuff done anyways.

Main goal was to remove the stink bug and get the truck more level. Also remove the drop brackets on the radius arms to gain ground clearance. We had also planned to cut & turn the front axle but didn't get that done. Last bit was to get the Low Range Off-Road locker kits installed.

I had 2* caster before we did anything to the truck. The truck also was sitting at a 1.8-1.9 degree angle. We installed 2" Metaltech front coil spacers and new OEM bushings in the radius arms. The truck now sits at a 1* angle and no more noticeable stink bug. I like this a lot and it looks great! I didn't check castor because it is not done and we still need to c&t the front axle. It is way out now though for sure. The truck is definitely more squirrely to drive right now and handles like crap. But again, this is temporary and I can live with it until we get the c&t done. I really like the LROR locker kits, they are nice, easy to install and plug and play. I still need to run the wires from the engine bay to the axles but that is about it. It took awhile to get the dash apart, wires pulled, holes modified for switches, ect ect so we didn't get them 100% done. Soon though they will be done and I will be locked. Heading over to a buddy's shop this afternoon to see if I can get the lockers finished up. I will take some pictures.

Oh ya, taking this truck to King of the Hammers! Pretty stoked on that!

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

BTW, I learned you need a charge light on the Vortec for it to charge correctly. There is/was an aftermarket CEL and another light mounted next to it on the dash. When I got the truck I asked Georg what the red light was, he said he didn't know and that it may be an old alarm light. So I cut this light out yesterday and was not planning to hook it back up. I went to do the 100 mile drive home from my buddy's house after this and not 4 miles from his house noticed the alt was not charging and I was losing power fast. Went back to his house, did a little trouble shooting and hook the charge light back up. Sure enough, alt is charging. So the charge light obviously completes the circuit that tells the alt when to charge.

I learn something new just about every time I work on a truck!

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

My dash has been p/o'ing me for a while now. Missing hardware, dead wires, wire mess that is hard to stuff in the dash and more. So I not only finished up the e-lockers today I fixed up my dash and a lot of wiring. Pulled out the head unit and fixed everything up behind it, installed a new din #2 slot bay, the old one was cracked and broken. I had to move the CEL and charge lights since I wanted my locker switches where they were. On top of this I had to trim down the e-locker switch slots so the switches fit just right. I bought a bunch of new hardware too and got the whole dash nice and tight again, no more sloppy loose areas.

Any ways, Low Range Off-Road e-locker wiring kits are installed! Lockers are working well, stoked!

The mess I started with

The LROR switches

running lights on

fully locked

Digging through my wiring stuff I found some LED's from when I did up my FJ60. Seems an LED from an FJ60 works in an FJ80!

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

Brake light switch (2nd one that is plastic) broke the other day. It was stuck so was causing the TCC to flip out, again. I pulled it and tried to fix it up again and it broke in half in the process. A little bit more research and thought time and I decided no reason I can't just hook it up to the stock switch, the TCC wires that is. If I am right, all the TCC needs is a 12v signal when the brakes are depressed. Stock brake light switch gives that, duh. Picking up a few wire connections I need today to try it out. Hope this remedies my issues for good, I have been driving around the last week without TCC working when I use the brakes.

Bought a Lokkar back up light switch which mounts to the side of the trans. I gave up on hoping to pull power for a back up light switch from the stock location. Using the FSM I figured out it is the yellow wire coming from the gauge fuse circuit, 10A. I then figured out the yellow wire to the seat belt buzzer is on the same circuit. I unplugged and removed the buzzer so I have a wire right there under the dash ready to sue for back up lights. Went to test fit the Lokkar assembly last night and I need to modify it slightly to make it work. The linkage coming out of my trans is customized, so the switch needs to be customized too. Go figure!

I did a little bit of other maintenance last night. Oil change, ect. Prep for KOH! Leaving tomorrow, pulling a camp trailer down to JV. Going to be fun!!

BTW, nearly 10,000 miles put on the Cruiser now since I got it around Nov. 1st. I am still working out some small issues but I am just about there now. The truck is proving to be a faithful steed so far!

Cheers

 

[JeepinPete]

New to this site, and new to FJ80s, but not new to GM drivetrain swaps.

You should double check the wiring schematic on the brake switch. From memory, I believe that the switch breaks the circuit when the pedal is depressed. In other words, what you are proposing will not work, and would instead lock the TCC instead when you hit the brakes.

Pete

 

[SNLC]

New to this site, and new to FJ80s, but not new to GM drivetrain swaps.

You should double check the wiring schematic on the brake switch. From memory, I believe that the switch breaks the circuit when the pedal is depressed. In other words, what you are proposing will not work, and would instead lock the TCC instead when you hit the brakes.

Pete

Hey thanks for the info and post! I read this right before I prepp'ed the Cruiser for a trip last week. I was a bit short on time and didn't do anything to the brake light switch. I think you are right though and I bought a new switch and am kind of planning to just make a new bracket for it and hook it up.



Well I just completed a 2,000 mile road trip in the Cruiser! I left last Tuesday, picked up a buddy + his tent trailer and we drove down to Johnson Valley for KoH 2014. I prepp'ed the Cruiser a bit Monday night before we left. All in all the truck did great! We did some off-roading in the truck while there too. Saturday afternoon while wheeling in the sand we found a large sharp rock which wasted a sidewall on one tire. Fist sized hole through the sidewall. We mounted up the stock Desert Dueler 31x10.5 and made it not only back to camp but all the way to Vegas on it. I then bought a 35x12.5R15 Cooper SST. I am really liking the SST and think I am going to buy three more for the truck. The only other carnage was a split PCV hose which caused the truck to idle rough until I replaced it.

Oh ya, and on the way down last week, we stopped in Vegas and a friend took us to BJ Baldwin's race shop. We got the full tour and it was one of the highlights of the trip. Unbelievable trophy trucks and the builder is an awesome guy!

I didn't take many pictures but will post a few later today.

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

I absolutely love JV and am thrilled I have had the chance to go there a few times for KoH!

Top of a mountain overlooking JV late in the day on Friday

At the moment, I can not think of a better place to chill out and drink a beer and watch the sun set.

It snowed here at home while I was gone....

And the Cooper that replaced the wasted tire

Cheers