Builds fj62 gets a lift

[franklin40]

dash rattles are a thing of the past. fixing those holes has been such a great fix. my only issue with the new stereo is that i can't open the face to take it off or to put in a cd. the face runs into the surround and jams. not really a big deal to me as all my music is on my phone. it's just my kids music i don't have. not sure if it'll be worth it to me to try to fix. everything else works so well i kinda don't care! i still have to hook up the back up camera but that'll be easy when i have some free time. i'm having some blow by issues at present something need to do a compression test more urgently. hoping it's just one of the baffles in the valve cover that's not sitting right. i've heard that can be a cause of excess oil coming out the valve cover. it starts well and blows no smoke so it's hard to believe i'd have poor compression but only one way to really know

 

[FJ62NY]

I installed NEX4100 detachable face and bumped into the same issues with the screen opening and the dash surround impeding it. I carefully filed the plastic surround and now the screen opens no problem.

 

[franklin40]

I installed NEX4100 detachable face and bumped into the same issues with the screen opening and the dash surround impeding it. I carefully filed the plastic surround and now the screen opens no problem.

how much plastic did you file off? any pictures? i just don't want a huge gap above the screen

 

[FJ62NY]

I musta took off maybe 1/16 of a inch give or take, hit it with a dremel then a file to finish it. Took off more on the bottom opening because the monitor slides down

 

[franklin40]

i just installed my egt probe. hoping i didn't get any shavings into the turbo!! i drilled with the engine running which blew out the drill shavings. while tapping i used a magnet and kept backing the tap out lots to draw out shavings. it didn't make any funny sounds when i started it!!

i also took the valve cover off and checked the baffle tabs. my valve cover is spewing out a ton of oil. i read that the baffle tabs may be opened too much allowing to oil to splash past. they are supposed to just allow gases and crank care pressure out. i bent them so they were only open 10mm as suggested. hopefully it'll help. i have a catch can to install yet but need to build a bracket. lastly while it was apart i pulled the glow plugs and did a compression test. all cylinders are within 30psi of each other but all are a little low. 320-350. i think this is likely my gauge. others have commented that the gauge i bought from amazon often doesn't read correctly. the fact they are all close means more to me at this point. it started last week in -25C with only a 15 second glow. it hadn't been plugged it. fired right up with only a little black smoke for a few seconds. that to me says my compression is pretty good. this is all in preparation for increasing fuel and boost once i get an intercooler set up!

 

[cmcp0101]

kids are sleeping, time to play.

got the passenger side seat in. hot wired it and it moves well. just need to hook up the wires to truck power now. I also used the coin holders in the center console to make some trim prices for the heater switches. they turned out pretty good I'd say. makes it look like they are supposed to be there. I used some of torfabs seat brackets that I had powder coated. I was a little worried at first because the bolt holes were way off. there's a second threaded hole in the floor beside the one my current seats are bolted to that matches perfectly. just had to cut the carpet in an "x" to put the bolt through. I just have to add power to the heaters and also install the drivers seat. really hasn't been tough at all. View attachment 936597

here's the switch the way it came
View attachment 936598

here's what I cut out
View attachment 936599
View attachment 936601
and here it is snugged around the switch. I was going to glue it but it's actually gripping quite well and comes in and out of the conse as a single unit the way it is so I don't think I'll need to glue it
View attachment 936602

Thanks for the link on the seat wiring. Very helpful. Was the seat heater switch part of the aftermarket kit? I really like the rectangular switches too and want to keep that consistent throughout.

 

[franklin40]

yeah i had to pay a small up charge for them but yes they came with the kit. i like the rectangle ones too

 

[franklin40]

i ordered some stealth wheels for a new set of summer tires. hope i like the look once they're on. the pics i have seen look good. ill go with dick cepek fun country two tires i think. nice aggressive all terrain but better road characteristics than a mud terrain.

 

[franklin40]

i put a new rear windshield wiper arm on and finally hooked up my back up camera. now i have to figure out why my rear wiper stopped working after i bought the parts but before i installed them!!

i have some bad grounds i think. my licence plate lights aren't working. i still have to track down my rear passenger door light power as well. all the other doors work but not that one.

 

[franklin40]

for a little "tech" sake in installing the camera i hooked the red wire on the rca to the deck for the reverse signal and the other end to the back up lights. i used the back up lights and it's ground to power the camera but may hook it up to the running lights. my deck has camera mode so i can turn it on while driving to watch my trailer. well at this point the power only comes on to the camera when i'm in reverse. if i hook it up to the running lights then i can have power as long as my lights are on. i also don't like the place i mounted the camera. i can't see my trailer hitch which was the big reason for installing it. i can't easily see where the hitch is with it lifted when lining up trailers to hook up.

 

[franklin40]

new summer time shoes!

 

[franklin40]

i've got to say that out of all the different wheels i've bought for different vehicles the finish in these ones at first glance is by far the nicest i've seen yet. these are beautifully made wheels from a quality point of view. i'm very impressed. can't wait to get them on the truck

 

[franklin40]

before (winter)

after (summer)

the look is quite different. the stealth wheels make it look more classy i think but also makes me think i need a roof rack. the winter ones are a mud terrain so are a little more aggressive and seem to hold their own. jason (reevesci) ill be looking to you before long for a roof rack i think. just getting all my ducks in a row first!!

 

[franklin40]

finally drove the new tires and man do i like them. my goodyear duratracks were actually quieter than my old bfg a/t's and these are even quieter. nice comfortable ride and no road noise. now the truck is in for a few warrantee body job issues so i'm without for the week. the guy doing the work has been super and is going to try to fix those leaky rubber grommets around the wires in the rear quarters. they are leaking and my fenders are already full of water and have some early rust so he's going to take care of all that. some might be extra expense but that to me is worth not rusting out in 5 years!! also some BIG stone chip/dents in my hood i'm getting repaired. those always hurt when the pain is perfect!

 

[brooksfj60]

Looks sweet!

 

[franklin40]

got the truck back again from the body shop. he spent a ton of time trying to seal up everything possible and even repainted my hood for free. all he would take was a case of beer for his time. what a guy. he said to keep an eye on things and we'll see if there any water that gets in there. today was wet and unfortunately the quarters are wet inside again too. we've sealed the lights the fuel tank (with new gasket) around the rear vents the wire grommets. not sure where else its coming from.

on the other hand i got most of the wiring done for my new boost / egt gauge. it'll have fuel pressure too at some point and maybe an air fuel ratio. we'll see how important that is down the road. the boost sensor is teed into the boost line. the egt probe is self explanatory. i'm making a bracket to velcro to the dash for the display so i don't damage the dash for the future. i'm trying my hand at aluminium welding. it's tougher that steel for sure. ill get some practice on simone things and then i'm going to try to make a mount for my arb compressor my webasto and an oil catch can all tucked away in the passenger side of the engine compartment by the fire wall. kind of in the space above where that picture was taken

 

[franklin40]

i have to find a pc computer somewhere though to program the gauges. they're currently not accurate. all i have is mac. doh!!

oh yeah i also switched the back up camera power to the runnning lights so i have constant power to the camera when the lights are on. that way it has power for camera mode while i'm driving. it's hard on things shifting into reverse at highway speeds to turn the camera on to check the trailer.

 

[franklin40]

so my mac has parallels on it and this works for reading the zeitronix software program. now i need to get an adapter for a serial port to USB so i can connect the computer to the data logger. i just ordered one from amazon so by next weekend i can get it set up and then start tuning!! who knows what time will allow but that's the plan anyway. i also realized the worm clamps i have for my boost controller are to big so i have to get some of those this week.

 

[franklin40]

the location under my stereo isn't going to work unless i build a pivot type mount. it was a directional light that i can't see from that angle.

on the other hand under moderate load going up hill egt barely climbed over 600 degrees f. i have room to move for sure boosting it

 

[franklin40]

ahhhh i just made an impulse buy!!! i pulled a trailer this past week that was easily handled by the brakes and suspension but lacked power into the wind and my egt's were slowly creeping up. i didnt like not having power so tonight i bought an intercooler. I'm going to take my truck into a diesel specialist and get my injectors refreshed, my pump tuned and my engine boosted and intercooled. can we say...