FJ40 Clutch & Fuel questions

[crewcarl]

I just bought a '72 FJ40 (I'm working on posting pics), and the ride home revealed a few confusing problems.

1. After the engine was fully warmed up, it started detonating more than a bag of PopSecret. I'm assuming I need to read up on adjusting the carb, but let me know if I might be missing something.

2. MORE IMPORTANTLY, the clutch was all over the place. Most of the time I had no trouble shifting, but on occasion depressing the clutch pedal did nothing. This resulted in a few exciting stalls as I was prevented from shifting out of gear. After this happened the first time, I discovered that exercising the pedal sometimes returned it to proper functionality. Is it likely this is the master cylinder or something to do with the clutch plate itself? Is there some kind of diagnostic test I can do under the hood to determine where the problem lies?


3. Sweet forum! I just found it AFTER I bought this car; hours of reading in my near future I can tell. Thanks in advance.

 

[killer1954]

The clutch is hydraulic, so there can be a problem with the master cylinder or the slave cylinder down below. Might be a leak or maybe just air in the system. You can bleed it at the slave cylinder.

 

[xjnation]

Check your timing and vacuum advance. Might also try a little octane booster if timing is ok. PO might have bumped compression or something stupid. Carbon buildup can also cause detonation. Get it warm, rev it up and use a vacuum line to suck ATF into the engine until it ALMOST dies. That'll break up carbon deposits like a champ. You could also get a kit from BG that does the same but $$$. Tim