First Wheeling Trip in a 62 - I had issues

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adman02

adman02

Joined
Mar 13, 2022
Threads
19
Messages
168
Location
Durham, NC
I've always wheeled old CJs. This was my first wheeling trip in a Toyota (LS Swapped) and apparently there's a learning curve. Would appreciate any thoughts or advice on the following issues:

1. I lost 4 low early on the first day (xfer case lever wouldn't activate 4WD); I think I figured out it's just a switch on the case, and I could have pushed the 4WD button and it would have returned. If it is the switch, is it worth fixing? Or do you guys like having a 2-low option and just push the button for 4wd low?

2. I bent a tie rod end or two (running 35s on steelies - heavy). Does anyone make heavy duty TREs?

3. This is the maiden voyage with the LS. My experience wasn't great, though. My engine was bogging down bad under load (on road and off road), but ran fine otherwise. I'm running the stock fuel pump. I'm thinking it's a tired fuel pump, a clogged fuel filter or a tuning issue. I know this is a shot in the dark, but any thoughts or ideas for this bogging issue?
 
1. There's a low range switch on the T-case which is what signals the vacuum solenoids to engage when the lever is shifted into Low. if you leave that unplugged you will have to use the button for 4wd. This is why I call the vacuum shift T-case "factory twin stick"

2. you have a SOA, right? What is your current high-steer/ TRE setup?

3. fuel is possible but without any data we are just guessing. What is your fuel pressure at idle? what about at higher RPM? FPR hooked up?
 
I just took the truck for a test drive and did a couple of tests. Here’s what I found…

Seat of pants - when I floor it with the truck in motion (say 30 MPH), the tach goes to 4K but the truck barely accelerates (not sure how reliable my tach is - that's another issue). This is concerning because the transmission fluid has been low (my fault). However, at low speeds (like under 25 mph), the transmission is crisp and has pickup. Did I smoke my transmission?

Fuel pressure - I hooked up a fuel pressure gauge to my fuel rail and rev’d the engine in my driveway. At idle - it’s dead-on 58 psi. When the engine revs to 3K or 4K, fuel pressure drops to 20 psi but the engine never die). Is my fuel pump dying?

Maybe I have two problems - smoked tranny and dying fuel pump?

Here's pics of my steering setup. It came this way, so I don't know what I've got.

IMG_6757.webp


This one's bent slight...hard to tell.
IMG_6758.webp
 
Repeat, do you have the FPR hooked up to manifold vacuum?

That steering system as well as your shock mounts, spring mounts etc really all should be scrapped and redone. You need proper high-steer, real SOA spring perches, proper axle shock mounts that aren't inverting the shocks, etc
 
I have a returnless fuel system (2006 5.3), so I think the FPR is in the filter near the tank.

Is there a steering kit I should be looking at?
 
The complete Marlin Crawer kit is going to be the most straightforwards and least fabrication.

Definitely loose the goofy double steering stabilizer. Your caster is probably in the negative which is probably why whoever put that on. Redo your spring perches, u-bolts, and spring plates with proper ones for a SOA
 
cruisermatt said:
The complete Marlin Crawer kit is going to be the most straightforwards and least fabrication.

Definitely loose the goofy double steering stabilizer. Your caster is probably in the negative which is probably why whoever put that on. Redo your spring perches, u-bolts, and spring plates with proper ones for a SOA
Click to expand...
Yes all that.... shew I haven't seen steering like that in forever lol like before cross over steering was a thing much less high steering xover lol
 
@cruisermatt Setting aside the steering debacle for a moment, do you think a weak fuel pump could be the reason for the low power on the LS?
 
adman02 said:
@cruisermatt Setting aside the steering debacle for a moment, do you think a weak fuel pump could be the reason for the low power on the LS?
Click to expand...
Possibly, was it running well with the 3FE? Are you sure you have the lines hooked up correctly at the regulator?
 
cruisermatt said:
Possibly, was it running well with the 3FE? Are you sure you have the lines hooked up correctly at the regulator?
Click to expand...
"Running well" - Well, that's debatable. That's why I did the LS swap.

I believe the lines are correct - larger diameter from the tank is the feed and connect to the inlet of the filter/FPR; smaller diameter is the return and is connected to the outlet of the filter/FPR. My return is somewhat small though - maybe 3/16". Don't think that should affect flow rate, though.
 
adman02 said:
"Running well" - Well, that's debatable. That's why I did the LS swap.

I believe the lines are correct - larger diameter from the tank is the feed and connect to the inlet of the filter/FPR; smaller diameter is the return and is connected to the outlet of the filter/FPR. My return is somewhat small though - maybe 3/16". Don't think that should affect flow rate, though.
Click to expand...

I mean, did it seem to run properly?
 
besides the steering issues noted above
the lift blocks on the front axle need to be removed also
 
Update - I think I bought the last high steer kit in the country (nobody carries these any more it seems). Hat tip to Yotamasters for selling me the last one on the shelf. And they sent me this sticker that about sums up my experience so far…

IMG_6762.jpeg
 
If your trans fluid is low you’ll have all kinds of shifting problems. That could be some of your problem. Fill it to full then shift through all of the gears and stuff with your foot on the brake and engine on and warmed up and fill it to full again and see if that helps any
 
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