FJ62 destruction --> turbo HZJ62

[PabloCruise]

Did a 3500 mile trip out to Colorado and back for a friend's wedding. On the way back I came through Utah and spent a couple days in the boonies, and then took Hwy 50 through Nevada and California. Filled up the tank near Carson City, NV, and came through Tahoe, Camino, Stockton, and Sonoma before heading home along the coast Hwy 101 to Grants Pass. During that 700 miles or so I didn't fill up.

Best tank was 24mpg and I averaged 22mpg doing mostly 60mph. The turbo at altitude worked fantastic. I think I was up around 10,000ft maxiumum and because the turbo spooled quicker the truck ran smooth without doing any fuel adjustment. So problem solved there. I had a small water leak before I left and was worried that it was in the head gasket because I couldn't find the culprit. Turned out it was in the stupid radiator flush host adapter I never have used and was dripping onto the head and evaporating. Replaced with a plastic coupler for now and had no coolant loss during the entire run.

There were also no other issues during the trip other than realizing I had R and L swapped on my amp. The truck worked perfectly and had great power for all kinds of different situations at 6400lbs loaded weight (2800 front 3600 rear thanks to the tank and the heavy stuff I keep in the big rear drawer). Oil never moved, oil pressure never moved, EGT and water temps were very controlled.

Also...

(Utah is really really cool)

So the next thing to do really is get the Walbro lift pump in and remake my fuel tank. It needs a sump and a deeper fuel pickup. I can't get to my last 10 or 15 gallons from what I can figure. If I could, I would easily get 1000 miles from a fill.

You better submit those for the edition of the Land Cruiser calendar!

 

[esh]

The calendar is no more. 2013 was the last year Henry Brimmer did it.

 

[esh]

In the last episode, I'd replaced a radiator flush plastic T with a coupler as a temp fix. That fix worked so well it exposed a pinhole leak I had in the radiator. Not having time and wanting to rush out the door for a small trip, I dropped some black pepper into the radiator and filled it up. I'd heard about this fix as it is easier to get it cleaned out after a proper repair and flush so I figured to give it a go. Worst that could happen is the leak continued so I brought along plenty of anti-freeze and distilled water.

It worked amazing. Zero leaks, cooling system working like new. Wow.


I also did some new body work on the already beaten passenger side. That side is kind of like a whole body rub rail now. I have spares for everything dented up already, and have a bigger plan in the works. Anyone want a 1HZ-T 62 already setup for expedition work? It would go to Tierra del Fuego without missing a beat.

When we hit snow and really tight trees on a slope (both mirrors in, about 40 tree slalom gates to go through), I decided enough was enough and aired down.

video proof of body modification- (well audio proof anyways)

 

[Devils Paw 80]

That side is kind of like a whole body rub rail now. I have spares for everything dented up already, and have a bigger plan in the works. Anyone want a 1HZ-T 62 already setup for expedition work?..

FS? What's your new plan?

 

[esh]

Ha. Everything is always for sale

I've seen some pretty outrageous asking prices lately for a lot less truck (nobody I know, just so some of you alls' feathers don't get ruffled). I can always build another based on what I've already done and have learned. Not chomping at the bit. The truck will be getting a pretty major transformation within a year, after I get my '85 pickup back on the road.

There is nothing about my wagon that is overly unique. It is just the combination of things and a lot of custom work to get it to where it is.

so yeah write me a fat check

I really like the GX 470 platform, so if you want to trade me one of those I might talk to you. I would need to do some things right away and get range up, so that is a considerable cost, but the platform is pretty nice.

 

[esh]

Winter update! Winter has finally come in the form of a pretty cold snowfall. We got air from Canada mixed with water from the ocean in a lovely bundle of white.

Oh, I added some 16" 4runner Limited alloys for my Tacoma steelies. I like 'em. They are noticeably lighter but not enough to impact fuel economy (shocker!). My 255/85 Cooper STs are getting pretty chewed up but they have some life left yet.

I should take a pic of them after yammering about them... after I post these.

That is a Nissan Patrol sticker from aussie eBay, in case you were wondering. All the factory turbo stickers say Direct Injection (which the 1HZ is not!)

 

[esh]

And the new wheels!

 

[Dirtgypsy]

Looking good Ken.

When can we get started on the mini

Clint

 

[esh]

Next weekend!


?

 

[enfield]

Great looking truck man! I wish I had just a fraction of your skill and motivation, lol.

 

[esh]

I am not sure how the new forums work and won't have time for a few weeks to look around, so for now I'm bumping the thread in case of any funky timers.

Tech update- I've had a small hole probably where the top tank and radiator core meet, so I'm pulling that for repair and driving the 40 around. Funny how you fix a leaky hose and it exposes a weakness in the radiator. Can't complain, the radiator has lasted 300,000 miles.

Need to get the wagon into shape as I am gone for a couple weeks for mostly work in Europe, then back and getting ready for Moab if I get the time off. I am hopefully seeing FJ40-GARAGE while over the pond in Germany, and then we'll meet up (if I am allowed the time off) to do some work on his US based explore 80 and go drive around and camp for Cruise Moab.

Rock crawling 40s get a lot of attention it appears, especially with the hard top on (they look like Jeeps to the common folk otherwise).

 

[esh]

What the wagon really needs is the 4wd shift fork checked out and replaced. I think it is worn from a previous life and doesn't stay engaged in hi or low range.

Then it needs a bunch of leaks sealed up, fluid maintenance, and lockers and air system installed. And about 50 other things, but most if not all are upgrades and optional. It works great as it is, if the cooling system is allowed to pressurize.

I also got a new (used) Honda XR250, so I want to completely redo the front frame rails to allow a new bumper and mount for bike. Front mount because the weight currently is about 2700lb/3500lb front/rear. And you know I need perfect weight distribution so I can chuck the truck into corners for how it was designed to be driven.

 

[desertbuckeye]

haha the 60 is designed to be driven like the Hulk not the Flash . Just wanted to chime in and say I love your thread.

 

[srogers]

Great pics from last fall!

 

[esh]

Well that's cool, I can edit the thread title now.


Had to repair the radiator. After 300,000 miles it finally needed some maintenance. Kind of a pain to get out, but if you only have to do it.. well twice, once for the conversion, once to fix it, that isn't bad.

Also got some help from a couple Cascade Cruisers members to get the truck ready to go camping in southern Utah next week. Modified one of the 4x4Labs can carriers on the rear bumper to fit the hi-lift. I use the can carrier to hold a plastic german made water jug that looks like a jerry can, and wedge a scepter fuel can in to keep things from moving. I guess 55 gallons of diesel is better than 50, except for the extra weight. Need to make a better water arrangement when the high roof body goes on.

 

[esh]

Radiator fixed and installed just in time to head to Cruise Moab 2014. Awesome time, though I had a few breakages during the week:

- keeper bolt and nut came off front spring mount, Mikah (with that sweet white HJ61) just HAPPENED to have a nut that fit.
- hose popped off turbo intake and melted gauge hose through
- transfer case speedo seal leaking alarmingly high suddenly
- forgot to tighten and lost bolt to ac tensioner pulley, pulled belt, pulley, tensioner. going to be an expensive bolt I think

So I think I will swap in the split case from a spare I have attached to a spacer H42 drivetrain. I need to get good shift forks in for the tcase so swapping the back of the case should cover the leak and shift forks, and any damage from getting the case a bit dry (for a mile it sounded like a whine if you were reversing before I stopped and filled it).

Also thinking of getting 80 axles to swap in, mainly to use coils up front. Similar kind of 3-4" spring under lift, ARBs, pretty mild build. This would also get me some more width and I wouldn't have to use spacers on the 16" Toyota Limited alloys I have on it. Rear would be leafs, maybe use airbags, and gets me a common full floater rear. Then I guess the 40 will get some 62 axles.

 

[TRAIL TAILOR]

Ken, how are your poly bushings holding up on your 7100s.. I'm about to mount mine and am curious if I should adapt to the solid mount or the poly mount the way you did. Thanks

J

 

[esh]

So far so good. That was 2 or 3 years ago and they are holding fine. I am pretty happy with the shocks and setup. The only issue I've had is one of the larger nuts on one of the top front mounts either worked itself off or wasn't tight enough. Easy replacement.

 

[TRAIL TAILOR]

So far so good. That was 2 or 3 years ago and they are holding fine. I am pretty happy with the shocks and setup. The only issue I've had is one of the larger nuts on one of the top front mounts either worked itself off or wasn't tight enough. Easy replacement.

Thanks Ken, I bought a set of 1" spring bushings just in case the sphericals go south on me..

J

 

[esh]

I like data.

So after getting the 62 at 174k miles, and shortly adding 31" then 33" tires to it, I've been at about 10% off on my speedo/odo since I've had it. Which is probably about 130k+ miles. Odometer shows 293k.

It is currently using a 3FE split case that was converted to manual shift to get the vacuum stuff gone so the 3" exhaust down the passenger side would fit inside the frame rails. Plus that's the case we had at the time. It has a slightly lower low gear but not that much. Anyways, that means the plastic speedo gear is the larger 18 tooth. To bring up the speedo closer to reality you want the gear spinning faster and so the smaller 16 tooth is the way to go. For that to work you also have to get inside the case and swap the driving gear that is on the output shaft. The smaller 16 tooth gear needs to make good contact so if you just swapped it without replacing the output shaft driving gear, you'd eventually wear it out because of very little contact. It's just a plastic gear.

Luckily, I found my case was leaking out the speedo connection at Cruise Moab.

So Georg and I worked out that the 16 tooth gear would bring it pretty accurate with my tires (which are 255/85r16s, and Cooper STs measure out to 33.2").

So I finally remembered to get parts from Valley Hybrids including a 16 tooth "bullet" gear, even though I've since found the one I had for my other split case, doh. I was thankful an air impact will take the flange nut right off without more destructive methods even though I was going to use a new one. Also lucked out because I could compress the driveshaft and not remove the rear axle end of it to get it off. Time saving.. I'm headed out to a pre-run for the weekend and haven't taken time to do the work.

Everything back together, fluid topped, off for home. Speedo is DEAD on. I don't think it can get closer. So happy, but it's weird that I can actually trust my trip, odometer and speedometer. It has been a constant calculation in my head since I got the 62 some dozen years ago.

Still leaks though. doh! I'm not sure if I didn't get the inner seal seated properly or what so I'll have to get back to that soon. At least it will be faster knowing what to expect.

But the accurate speedo is AWESOME!