FJ43 Build from Far Far Away.

[addicted56]

Here is to hoping that we have progress and that the engine will be done by the time I get home on 20 December. Still never found new pistons but will take the best 5 out of the 10 I have. Otherwise everything will be brand spanking new. I can attest to the engines running smooth but after this complete balance I can only hope I don't even feel it.

I also am back on an intercooler kick. Might just have to do it for the hell of it as it is so relatively cheap. That and the snorkle should be on its way soon as well so I'm hoping for some very cool IATs. Allow me to turn the fuel way up.

On the other front my dad has been busy remodeling his kitchen for the Mrs. so not a lot of time dedicated to the 43. If we get lucky and he finishes it up though the truck will be going to paint in a couple of weeks. He said he found some more parts that needed body work up in the attic and he said the hood looked like it had flown up in the past and he is having a hell of a time getting it right.

 

[addicted56]

Just checked the tracking number and the AWL-TEQ snorkel should be there tomorrow. In 5 days I should be home and it will be the first time I have seen it in person in almost 15 months. The engine was supposed to be done by the end of the year but looks like that isn't going to happen. To bad as it would have been great to hear it fire up. We might swap the parts engine in so we can mock some things up while I'm home.

Plan is to go to the paint booth a few days after I get home. Then mount it all up a couple of days later. We want to take some measurements so we can find a spot for the dual batteries (if we have room) and to see if we can stick a small water/air intercooler where the stock heater fan motor is in the US trucks. Who knows might even mount the tires wheels, fuel tank, cage, and some of the interior parts for the final time. I will be home 2 weeks but I have to spread my time so many places I will be lucky to get 2 full days to work on it. Might burn the candle at both ends and trade some sleep for some wrench time and just sleep in the shop office. Either way hopefully plenty of pictures coming soon.

 

[addicted56]

I had a few photos of my truck. We painted the body while I was home but my phone is not making it easy to transfer right now. Shot it with PPG Concept. Expensive stuff but shot real nice and laid down well. That is until our heater ran out of propane while we were letting it dry and it orange peeled up a bit. Nothing horrible but nowhere near it was after 30 minutes of shooting it.

I did a bunch of body work and installed some seat mounts on the seats and then installed the seats in the truck. Figured out the body mounts and got those on the truck as well. Messed around with some parts and checked out all the work that has been done. Still a LONG way to go. Biggest hang up of course the engine. I should have just purchased another engine and car and been done with it.

Also found out while with a friend that the OM603 has the exact same bolt pattern for the trans except the starter is on the otherside. He had two of them laying side by side. Which of course is no big deal once you put on the adapter. I had found a few of these as well and would have made for a bit more power. Ohh well. I love the OM617 and it will do what I need. Might have to plan an OM603 swap in the future. Maybe into the FZJ80.

Checked out the snorkle and it looked real nice. Only one part that I need to replace and that is the cowl vent seal. That small shield/piece of metal was rusted pretty bad. Not sure if anyone out there has one.

Sadly never enough time when I am home. I think it will be another couple of months before they touch it again. Looking at my next move here in the Military in the next year so we are thinking we might just slow down and figure out where I will get stationed at the end of the year before we do much to it.

I will eventually figure out my Iphone and be able to e-mail more than 1 photo at a time. I can upload to facebook or text a dozen but can only e-mail 1. What is up with that?

 

[addicted56]

Let's see if that worked

 

[addicted56]

Not sure if these show up big. Back to the computer

 

[addicted56]

Last pictures

 

[ryaneddy16]

build looks awsome! Will have to come back to savannah to check it out!

 

[addicted56]

WOW,

I'm back to the computer. I am posting pictures from my phone all of the time in the APP. That was WAY EASIER.

 

[addicted56]

Not a lot of progress as of date. Been sending money in other directions. Did just purchase new rings, connecting rod and main crankshaft bearings. On the rebuilt engine they managed to incorrectly install and ruin all of those new parts purchased before. What IDOTS. Complete waste of money on that engine. Ohh well at least I have a spare parts engine.

I'm told that the engine should be done soon but I'm not holding my breath. Might just push the timeline for finishing this back a year or two. Kinda losing interest. The sun is out and I would love to go driving with the top off but might not be in the cards this year.

Still have a lot of painting to do as well.

 

[tucker74]

Don't loose hope man Question, did you have them balance the crank with the harmonic balancer and flywheel installed?

Tucker

 

[addicted56]

Tucker,

I don't really know. I finally found a company that rebuild and balances these engines and he was able to contact them and talk. I'm not sure how he actually did it. I will have to call him and find out though.

 

[addicted56]

Trying to figure out how to post more of the pictures I received on my phone. The block is decked and everything balanced out well apparently. Some of the pistons were 15 grams off all by themselves. That is amazing in my mind for an engine that is known for superior longevity and relative smoothness. I guess Mercedes really had that external balancing thing down.

 

[addicted56]

We will see how this works.

I had a few others that came as an I message but have been unable to figure out how to store the photos and then e-mail in a format that works.

 

[addicted56]

Here is the last couple. Hopefully she purrs like a kitten.

We are in the middle of building a new home as we prepare to transition out of the Military in the next few years so this has taken a back seat to that and the arrival of a new kid in May. Plenty of fun times to be had though.

 

[addicted56]

Well had to order new intake and exhaust valves as well. Well really only exhaust becuase the last owner did not machine them correctly. Ohh well besides pistons and rods every single part on this engine is brand new. Obviously still not very far along but we will get some movement soon. Focusing on setting up our yurt and the new kid thru June. Hope to start again soon after that.

 

[warpdriv]

Subscribed

 

[ryaneddy16]

Hey man how are things? Hows the project going??

 

[addicted56]

Been pretty busy and have been sidetracked by another project. Started working on moving off post and we are building/moving into a couple of Yurts in a couple of months. Flew to Colorado and met up with my dad, tore them down, then drove across the country to Savannah GA where we are currently hoping to raise them when I get a few days of nice weather, no work, and no babies

In other big news brought the new boy home from the hospital yesterday so spending time with the new addition to the family. I think the engine is actually done but haven't heard nor had the time to focus.

Sure would love to have it done though. The weather here has been amazing lately.

 

[addicted56]

Engine is done and back need to figure out how to upload new photos in this new app.

 

[addicted56]

Engine is done and back need to figure out how to upload new photos in this new app.

Ok back to a computer so I can upload. Engine is looking nice. To many other things going on to really sink any time or money into it. Might just buy a new clutch (recommendations?) and sensors so they can mount it to the rest of the drive train and then back into the frame hopefully once and for all.

Not sure how much I have into the engine and it would have been much cheaper to scrap out a few cars and keep extra engines on hand but this is just not that kind of project I guess. Builder said he could not believe how much external balancing they use from the factory. He also noted that the flywheel that came with the adapter was horribly out of balance as well. Should purr like a kitten up to 5K RPM

I have not messed much with the new forum format. Not really a fan and hate all of the thumbnails that seem to default on everyone's photos so here are some full size. If thumbnails are better just let me know.