FJ62 4BD2TC conversion
- Thread starter Gnarlene
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- #83
Yeah I was surprised at the cost.
I have to drive north for business at the end of July. I need to shake this thing down a bit but I'm hoping it will make the trip. After that it's whenever I can get away. A great deal has changed since I started building this thing. My children came to live with me full time a year ago. That pretty much changed everything. I had a lot of trips planned. Now I have a lot of trips to the grocery store planned.
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Lol pending there age they can go with you.
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- #85
School age. I'm pretty much stuck here. : )
Just saw this thread. Thanks for sharing. I can relate.
You'll be surprised at how quiet the 4BD2 is once you get rolling down the road. Even without the carpet you'll be able to carry on a conversation.
The heat coming up from the floorboards will be a killer though on long trips.
You'll be surprised at how quiet the 4BD2 is once you get rolling down the road. Even without the carpet you'll be able to carry on a conversation.
The heat coming up from the floorboards will be a killer though on long trips.
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- #87
Thanks - I suppose it will be like the old big block Corvettes I used to have. Especially the 68-72 cars. Your right foot would rest directly against the transmission tunnel and man alive. After a long trip my foot would actually be red. It wouldn't melt your shoe rubber, but definitely soften it. lol I'm foregoing heat on this truck because I don't have the $$ to hook it up, so long about February that heat will come in handy for a few days. Lol - same with A/C. Just can't swing hooking it up. Which now especially is likely to be an extraordinarily bad omission. But it is what it is. Invest in good deodorant. : )
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- #88
A further note on FJ60 headlight buckets on Fj62 fenders. I had plans all set to modify the fenders to line up with the screw holes on the buckets but in between trips to the shop my guy installed them. He just used longer screws and they seem very solid - "installed" is the word. So that was the final step. You absolutely CAN swap the FJ60 front grille and lights onto an FJ62 front end. It was easy. From having read other posts/myths here and elsewhere, I was concerned at first. But compared with every other dang thing on this build? Cake walk.
My next detail will be headlight grilles from n FJ40 which I found on eBay in South America. I don't think it's a plug and play addition, but it should be fairly easy.
I'll post pics of the headlight buckets and screws as soon as I get over there and have a chance to. Likewise the headlight grilles.
My next detail will be headlight grilles from n FJ40 which I found on eBay in South America. I don't think it's a plug and play addition, but it should be fairly easy.
I'll post pics of the headlight buckets and screws as soon as I get over there and have a chance to. Likewise the headlight grilles.
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- #89
No - an electric fan. When we got the motor in it was positioned too low to line up with the radiator. I don't know why. I hope it isn't something that's going to be terminal. The shafts line up, so knock wood. But it necessitated an electric fan. The one I went with is the Derale 16116 H.O. extreme. It has good overall consumer ratings, 2024 cfm, waterproof, dustproof IP-68 certified motor and I bought an extra to take along in my repair kit in case of failure. It has 10 blades and is very thin. When you switch it on you can literally watch the engine temp gauge move down - amazing - something I would never have expected especially from a diesel. Mechanical would have been optimal, but it was what we had to do. The waterproof and the high cfm were the selling points.
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- #90
I'm considering running a percentage of vegetable oil mixed in with the diesel. I think I can get it a bit cheaper than diesel at Walmart or a restaurant supply store. Any thoughts, ideas, experience on this? Straight diesel would of course be the best, but I can't help but think it would be "greener".
Nice,
Im in the middle of a fan shroud build for my v8 as we speak. I'm hoping this time I got it right. My last attempt failed to fit, and Im pretty experienced with fiberglass. Its been fine without one, but Im hooking A/C up soon so I think i need a good shroud.
I always hear how e-fan just dont cut the mustard... hopefully yours will be cool.
Cheers
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- #92
I heard negative things about electrics. They don't last, they aren't as effective. In terms of effectiveness as I posted just earlier, the temp gauge immediately began to drop when the fan switched on and the thermostat works well. For many reasons running a mechanical fan is THE choice - the only choice, but it wasn't an option on this build. At any rate I'm looking many years of bugs and issues on this Frankenstein monster. Rattles, failures, gremlins, suspension and brake issues, bolts that come loose with parts coming off - you name it. It's like buying an old boat. I'd like to say it's half the fun. I really would.
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- #93
I'm stoked to hear about your V8. By all accounts these things take on a very different personality with a V8. Like getting a hole shot in 4WD lol
Sure. It will add lubricity to the diesel and the engine will idle quieter. A few ounces a tank full will accomplish that. You can easily run 40% VO in the winter and 30% VO in the winter in Florida w/o any ill effects.
If you're considering used or waste veggie, that's a whole other subject. Hold off, we'll have to talk. You have enough to do for a while before even thinking about getting into that.
That is great news, looking forward to the photos
If you could ask your guy what size screws he used, that would be swell.Awesome progress, looks like you're in the final stretch!
I'm not negative on electrics. There are millions of vehicles using electric fans with no issues so I don't buy the reliability thing. A properly set up electric will have no problem cooling things down. In a diesel it's an advantage because during the winter months the fans rarely come on saving a load on the alternator. Offroad it's an advantage because they can be spinning at full force aiding in the cooling while going slow and they can be turned off during water crossings to save blade to fin contact. I have been happy with the flexibility of electrics in my rig.
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- #97
Thanks - yeah better to get the thing running on straight diesel first. Bio is hard to find here. The nearest commercial seller is in Melbourne - a 90 minute drive north, ad the last time I checked that place wasn't listed anymore. I'm sure people are making it in smaller quantities but getting a steady supply is going to be some work. Whatever I'm going to do I want to do basically from the start, after the break in period.
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- #98
That is great news, looking forward to the photos
Awesome progress, looks like you're in the final stretch!
I forgot to get pics today, but they look like 3/4" sheet metal screws. At some point I may change that up - even zip ties would work I suppose. I shook it a bit and the buckets are tight. They have to be inserted at a slight angle and tilted upwards slightly as well.
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- #99
Thanks - the points you mention are right on. Most current vehicles are running electrics. I also think it's important because with the grille, valiance and condenser in front of the radiator it's good to have a 2000 cfm fan pulling air through it. Diesels like to run a little hot, but this thing cools it really well. So far it's looking like an effective option - and less load on the engine.
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- #100
First drive today! No exhaust yet (tomorrow) so I took it real easy. Drove her about a mile, got into 3rd gear.
Very good idle, the transmission feels great with the motor - feels like a good balance. Everything works.
By next week I'll start driving around town and up onto the 95 freeway. Shake down cruises. Up and down the RPM range. Check for leaks, etc. I just tooled around the neighborhood behind the shop at low RPMs.
There is zero vibration in the drivetrain - and John Kelly, the guy who dropped in the motor set it up by eye. Amazing talent. The mirrors are dead still. That in itself is a major relief. I had been concerned that once we got it on the road it would have shake. Rock solid. No rattles even.
The engine feels strong. The turbo spools up nicely. I'm happy with it. I think the driver's side wheel is off caster and the headlights need to be aimed, but these are small details. By next week this thing is done. Done.
Rainy and overcast here this week, so the pics are a bit cloudy.
Very good idle, the transmission feels great with the motor - feels like a good balance. Everything works.
By next week I'll start driving around town and up onto the 95 freeway. Shake down cruises. Up and down the RPM range. Check for leaks, etc. I just tooled around the neighborhood behind the shop at low RPMs.
There is zero vibration in the drivetrain - and John Kelly, the guy who dropped in the motor set it up by eye. Amazing talent. The mirrors are dead still. That in itself is a major relief. I had been concerned that once we got it on the road it would have shake. Rock solid. No rattles even.
The engine feels strong. The turbo spools up nicely. I'm happy with it. I think the driver's side wheel is off caster and the headlights need to be aimed, but these are small details. By next week this thing is done. Done.
Rainy and overcast here this week, so the pics are a bit cloudy.
