Gutless?

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GregFrench

GregFrench

Joined
May 28, 2004
Threads
176
Messages
881
Location
Myrtle Beach, SC
I have always wanted a 60, and the opportunity to buy an 89 FJ-62 recently presented itself. I was not impressed. It seemed as though it took forever to accelerate, and never really got up to highway speeds. I felt unsafe even pullinjg out into traffic.
I know a thing or two about big, slow trucks, as I had a Toy PU with the 22RE pushing 33 BFG's, and recently got rid of my 2nd Range Rover classic.
Are they all this bad, or was there something wrong with this one?
 
GregFrench said:
I have always wanted a 60, and the opportunity to buy an 89 FJ-62 recently presented itself. I was not impressed. It seemed as though it took forever to accelerate, and never really got up to highway speeds. I felt unsafe even pullinjg out into traffic.
I know a thing or two about big, slow trucks, as I had a Toy PU with the 22RE pushing 33 BFG's, and recently got rid of my 2nd Range Rover classic.
Are they all this bad, or was there something wrong with this one?
Click to expand...


welcome to world of landcruisers :D

big
slow
no accelleration

THATS ABOUT IT!

a good tune up with proper parts will help, along with a good valve adjustment(i still need to adjust mine after ouning it for 5 yrs :eek: )
 
out of tune

Sounds like an out of tune 3fe to me. Ours is IN tune and I do not have any qualms about off the line acceleration or cruising at 75-80 on the open road. Plenty of pep to the old girl. Steep hills from a stop are a little slow.
 
Sounds like you should look at the 80's for more power and better ride. Its just a preference. I would try driving some different one and see what you like.
 
If the tires are bigger than stock, your acceleration (or lack thereof) will be destroyed. A 2F or 3FE is never gonna win a drag race (unless you race the old ladys on the electric carts, and even then, dont race for pinks).

I love my 2F strictly for the fact that it has probably kept me from getting several speeding tickets in the years that I have owned it.

Hodag
 
as a future past owner of an 80 i have to beg to differ with that assessment of more power... more headaches maybe. especially the electric windows! slightly quicker off the line but not much... better ride for sure. but you could wimp out a 60 or 62 and get more of the soccer mom mini van comfort kind of ride.

By the way, the 80 is for sale right after the dealer replaces an AC expansion valve – Recall # P01 and then recharges the system.
 
There's many small (and some large) tricks to get more power out of a 62...A couple of very simple but effective ones are: Check the accelerator cable for slack..adjust all the slack out of it at the bracket behind the throttle body. (Normally good for a fair amount) Adjust the tranny kick down cable at the same location (Can be quite a bit more) Advance the timing to the highest idle..turn back to the highest point at which it doesn't ping under load (good for a fair amount more). Normal tune...these are so bulletproof, many have had the same plugs for 70k or more...to say nothing of the wires. Seafoam in the fuel..cleans the throttle body. Smaller tires give more acceleration...31's are about the limit for traffic merging under stress. When we bought ours it had only 70k and wouldn't pull a gnat out of a wet paper sack..did all the above and improved out of the hole acceleration by at least 50 per cent. There's (relatively) hidden power there...
 
Wow, lot's of great advice above. Let me add my .02$ The 60/62 series is getting kinda old so there's a huge range of trucks out there ranging from tired old 2f/3fs that barely make enough compression to get started, to some freshly rebuilt motors that produce a surprizing amout of power. No, not all of them are as slow as the one in the test drive but lots of them are. If the body is in decent shape and you're up for a project - there is no better engine to rebuild, IMHO. I am continually happy with the performance of my current 2F 84FJ60 over my former 2F 82FJ60. Although I still have delusions that involve a turbo.
 
Prob just out of tune, My girls tuned 3fe is a friggin rocket ship.
 
Greg

Not all 60s/62s are as gutless as you describe. As previously pointed out, a 2F or 3F that has good compression and is in tune will do OK. Not quite crisp, and it will never snap you back in the seat (in high range, at least) but it will get the job done well enough to drive comfortably in traffic, on freeway, etc.

I sold my 60 to a guy who wants it for traveling to and from the mountains. He loves the truck. I bought an 80 - a good truck, not a 60, but more power and roadability.

If if drive a well tuned 60, you'll change your mind. Plus, the engine is fundamentally indestructable.

M
 
Hey,
Mine gets up to highway speeds pretty easily if Im on FLAT surfaces. If im running a grade...FORGET IT...my top speeds in these situations are 45-50 TOPS! It's really pathetic.
I did the full tune up EXCEPT for the valve job.
IMO...crusers are better OFF ROAD than on road.
OFF ROAD...that bitch is UN -STOPABLE which is the reason I LOVE IT!
Im debating with my self to do the V8 swap, or rebuild the 3F...

BTW, would increasing the exhaust diameter and headers make a diff? mine seems like it choking on the exhaust, which would make sense seeing how small the piping is on the exhaust


Good luck,

Chicago
 
There is plenty of power to be had out of a 2f/3fe...after a desmog and full tune up I was smoking my 37s on the rocks up at tellico. Its hard to drive it slow with it tuned up.
 
What would a diesel 60 do compared to a 2F or 3F?
The reason I ask is that one flew by me down the highway the other day, and I couldn't catch it. I was in my Scout, travelling around 70.

It had larger tires and a fully loaded roof rack and cargo area.
I know it was a Diesel, because I read "Diesel" on the back, and saw all of the containers of waste vegetable oil on the roof. (Smelled like I was following a Chineese restaurant)

After driving the one I did I was suprised I couldn't even catch up with this one. Must have been doing 80 or better. The one I drove barely made 50 on flat, Coastal Carolina roads.
 
i've got a feeling that possibly the arm that connects to the carb and operates the primary and secondary. i'm going to look up the name now as i forgot it. i'm feeling confident that this might be your problem, if in addition to needing a tune up. mine was in backwards when i got the truck and pissed me off until i searched and found a thread here talking about poor pulling on hills. now - i rock up to tahoe and back just fine.

basically though, if this arm is in backwards you won't be opening the secondary in the carb and therefore no top end acceleration and will wimp out on any kind of hill.

maybe someone will remind me of the name of this part before i get back to it. it's a super easy fix to make.
 
Is there anything that I should be looking for like that for a 3F? Granted, my speed -O is off 5-6 MPH, 45-50 MPH (with the speed o compensation) on a grade seems a bit ridiculus.
I love the reliability of the "F" engines, but Im really considering a V8 conversion because its such a gutless pig.
Off road, the lack of power HELPS, cuz it keeps me from throttleing too much, but getting to the trails is NO FUN, especially if Im heading somewhere in Cali where Im running over the Sierras.

Chicago
 
i have no experience with the 3F. hopefully someone else can give you some insight.
 
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