FJ60 with 2F engine performance question

[Carrera_Charlie]

I just drove from Seattle to Southern California where I delivered our FJ60 to our son at Camp Pendleton. Going over the Siskiyou Pass in Oregon and Tejon Pass in California, I was able to maintain only 35 MPH as I climbed the passes (had to go to 3rd gear above 3,000 ft elevation). The LandCruiser has a 5 speed H55F transmission (just installed) and a stock, California emission spec 2F engine (266k miles). Is this to be expected for this combination, or is there something he should look at to improve this aspect of its performance?

Thanks in advance, all suggestions are welcome.

Regards,
Charlie

 

[roscoFJ73]

Charlie I havent been at those altitudes in my cruiser but that sounds fairly common.
I believe owners who live at those altitudes have their engine tuned to suit the thin air.

The Toyota diesels have altitude compensators attached to them to cope and a turbo diesel is almost unaffected

 

[Tinker]

Both the carb & dizzy have altitude compensation - the slow speed has more to do with the grade than the elevation (I live at 7,000' & our stock '83 does 75 on the interstate, no problem). MPG at highway speeds on level ground is a better indication of engine condition.

 

[60wag]

I'd do a compression test to gauge the overall health of the engine. At 266k, you may well need a valve job, a ring job or more. A freshly rebuilt 2F will do better than your experience but will still slow down on the hill climbs.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

That's pretty normal on steep mountain passes. You have a heavy, overbuilt wagon, 125 horsepower (decreasing with altitude), and a steep grade. Thus, you have to climb in 3rd gear.

I have the same motor/tranny combo as you, and was up in the Eastern Sierras this weekend. Climbing Monitor Pass-30MPH, Carson Pass-35 mph. What you describe is normal FJ60 behavior. Flat streches at altitude I can run 70 mph no problem.

 

[MDH33]

Charlie, I live in Colorado and drive high elevation and steep grades often with my 85 FJ60 2F. I am having the same problems when I get on the steeper grades above 8000 feet. I have to keep it in 3rd and can only go 35 up most of them. This isn't normal. I know my carb has issues and needs a rebuild. My secondary isn't kicking in and I'm also getting hesitation at speed and the choke isn't working. I'd recommend getting the carb looked at, a tune up and a new fuel filter to start. The 60 will never be a speed demon on the hills but we shouldn't have to do 35mph either.

 

[Mike S]

Sounds normal to me, and I have the same combination of engine and transmission. These trucks just aren't made to zoom up hills. However, they will not stop.

M

 

[Landpimp]

I think for every 1000ft of elevation, you loose about 7%(maybe it was less) of your power.

 

[PabloCruise]

Charlie,

I assume your son is in the service? If so, thanks to him, you and your family.

What size tires?

3.73 gears?

If you are running stock gearing and anything larger than stock tires, I believe those climbs will suck the life out of your engine...

He could prob. find some used thirds that have 4.11's in them and be a happy camper...

 

[MDH33]

Sorry to temporarily hijack the thread, but it applies to the question Charlie asked:

So, with a stock 2F running stock tires and gears, what can be done to the carb to compensate for elevation? I'm in Denver, so I'm always above 5000 feet and regularly above 10,000 feet.

 

[Corbet]

I think for every 1000ft of elevation, you loose about 7%(maybe it was less) of your power.

3% for every 1000ft. Probably less that a 1/2% every 1000 on turbo engine.

 

[Pluton]

I live at sea level, but recently drove my 87 60 through Utah and hit 9400 feet elevation. The truck has 4.11 gears and 33" tires, and a good, well maintained engine with 110K miles and a new carb and dist and HAC valve. I learned that the power or acceleration is sensitive to grade as well as altitude...at a certain steepness of grade, it really slows down. That said, above 7 or 8 thousand feet, it's really slow...at 9400 feet it was like it had half power..seems like it took about 30 seconds to get up to 35 mph on level ground. I've heard that folks who live at higher altitudes can have some adjustments made[carb re-jetted?] but to me, the slowness at high altitude(and the slowness on the interstate in the 80 mph sections) are my main disappointments with this otherwise fabulous truck.

 

[Mace]

Big hint, with less available air (O2) you will have less power. By rejetting the carb you will make more efficient use of the fuel you give the truck but it will nto do much to increase HP. Forced induction helps. As does Nitrous.
Another aspect is that as you go up in elevation the ability of a fuel to predetonate increases. which seriously reduces engine power.

My reccomendation,, Use a turbo

 

[MDH33]

When rebuilding the carb, are there jet kits available? If so, is it trial and error or is there something I can reference? There has to be a solution. Last weekend I was climbing the 6% grade on I-70 between Silverthorne and Georgetown, it's around 8000 feet I think and about 5 miles. I had to drive in third gear, hazards on, I was being passed by huge gravel haulers, Q-tips in Rv's, a UPS truck. It was sad. I was fearing the 60 would eventually stop and I'd have to put into 4 Low just to creep up the rest of the hill. I probably would have if it was any longer or higher.

Is there a turbo for the 2F??

I'm going to have to hook up with some other 60 owners in Colorado and we can compare notes.

 

[Mace]

Only good solution is to allow more air in and out of the motor..

Headers and a good exhaust will help.

There are 2F's running around with turbo's

Specter Off road has one. And so do I

 

[Corbet]

When rebuilding the carb, are there jet kits available? If so, is it trial and error or is there something I can reference? There has to be a solution. Last weekend I was climbing the 6% grade on I-70 between Silverthorne and Georgetown, it's around 8000 feet I think and about 5 miles. I had to drive in third gear, hazards on, I was being passed by huge gravel haulers, Q-tips in Rv's, a UPS truck. It was sad. I was fearing the 60 would eventually stop and I'd have to put into 4 Low just to creep up the rest of the hill. I probably would have if it was any longer or higher.

Is there a turbo for the 2F??

I'm going to have to hook up with some other 60 owners in Colorado and we can compare notes.

I know that hill well. SBC was my solution. And a turbo in the new Subaru.

 

[browser5031]

I just did that same drive last month, and yes it's normal. I was in third gear doing about 35 in the slow lane outside of Grants Pass. My engine has about the same miles.(210k)

 

[Carrera_Charlie]

Thanks to everyone for their replies!

First off, thanks for the kind words regarding my son. He's a Lance Corporal in the Marine Corps training to be a crew chief on medium lift helicopters. He's doing exactly what he wants to do, is getting excellent training and learning a deep respect for discipline and hard work - what more could a dad ask for?

Regarding the FJ60, it's nice to know the performance on the drive down to Southern California was not atypical. We're running stock gears in the differentials and stock tire size as well. I tuned the engine one month ago (plugs, distributor cap, rotor, new pick up in the distributor, fuel filter, air filter, set the gap on the pick up) so it should be in good order. The performance tailed off dramatically on steep inclines, but once I got levelled out I could hit 70 mph again.

I'm intrigued by the thought of putting in a turbo - Mace, have you had any complications after adding the turbo to your LandCruiser? I may add one when I see my son next time.

Thanks again to everyone for putting my mind at ease!

Regards,
Charlie

 

[Mace]

Just a minor adiction to the skinny pedal....

 

[et3surge]

This is a website I found when I was driving another car I had last year. Not my FJ but I found it useful for altitude adjustments. I did it in a Volvo.
http://www.saabclub.com/242/altitude.htm#physics