HDJ81 due in two weeks - looking for HDJ81 owner updates.

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dieseldan

dieseldan

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C'eh N'eh D'eh
Been reading this forum for a long time and based a lot of my buying decision on what I've learned here. Hoping to hear from guy's who've driven (or rolled) their HDJ81's for plenty of km's and wondering if they are still in love or got that 50,000km itch yet.

The 81 will be at ATEB by month end for the OSP from Outback.

Any new tech concerns arisen to take a really close look at, other than whats been in this forum so far ?

Thanks - Dan
 
The Outback service is huge, and pretty much covers your entire truck. I have had extensive work done at Ateb including some custom fabrication and they are an excellent group of guys. If you get the time, have a chat with John who will probably go over your truck with you and point out future areas you should watch out for.
 
Thanks Martin. Have you sorted most issues with your rig? Read your posts and wondered - did you resolve the rough idle issue and if so what was the cause?

My wife's Town Ace is in at ATEB now - manifold failed, fearing the worst but hoping for the best.
 
dieseldan said:
Any new tech concerns arisen to take a really close look at, other than whats been in this forum so far ?
Click to expand...

Congrats on your new Cruiser. We will want pics.

You may want to consider an aux cooler for your tranny, and perhaps an ATF temp gauge as well.

It's nice to see that Outback is offering the Extreme Valve Body as an upgrade; think about it too.

G'luck, -Steve
 
Yes, the truck seems to be sorted out, for the most part. I'm really happy with the A pod gauges. Strangely, my idle problem has disappeared again, but I'm probably going to do the blanking plate mod anyhow so it will eliminate that issue from arising again. Ateb also built me some super heavy duty front sway bar brackets which have worked perfectly. I'm going to post pics of all this stuff but my g/f took my camera away (it's ok, gives me an excuse to buy another); I just haven't replaced it yet (the camera, not the g/f - she likes my truck so she's ok).

So the executive summary is I'm back in love with my truck again. I've only got about 10,000 km on it so far but I like it more the more I drive it. Everything is just so well thought out about these trucks and the visibility is amazing. Not sure there is much I'd change on it, even if I could. Well, in my case, maybe slightly more quiet, and I'd ditch the sunroof. Never liked them but I've had no problems with it either.
 
[You may want to consider an aux cooler for your tranny, and perhaps an ATF temp gauge as well. It's nice to see that Outback is offering the Extreme Valve Body as an upgrade; think about it too.]

The truck will be used a lot for launching boats though from work to the launch is only 10km and flat. ATEB is installing the Extreme Valve Body upgrade but I agree a tranny cooler is always good insurance..

does the 81 have a factory tranny cooler ? .. if so is it sub-par? anyone else running the Aero exhaust system?

[idle problem has disappeared again, but I'm probably going to do the blanking plate mod anyhow so it will eliminate that issue from arising again.]

What does this involve?
 
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yeah that's alot of reading but great stuff.. I can understand now why if the problems magically dissapeared then best put it out of your head for now.

My 60 has the cold start throttle advance and I was planning to install one of these if not too costly - will ask Ken.

Amazing how much members are willing to investigate on their own dime! Great forum.
 
dieseldan said:
Been reading this forum for a long time and based a lot of my buying decision on what I've learned here. Hoping to hear from guy's who've driven (or rolled) their HDJ81's for plenty of km's and wondering if they are still in love or got that 50,000km itch yet.

The 81 will be at ATEB by month end for the OSP from Outback.

Any new tech concerns arisen to take a really close look at, other than whats been in this forum so far ?

Thanks - Dan
Click to expand...

One thing I've noticed often causes problems is the breather on the center diff lock (and on the front and read lockers as well if you've got them). It T's into the transfer case breather, but get brittle and often falls off. The water can get into the center diff lock actuator and eventually it WILL fail.

I recommend you put a new breather tube on the actuator (its kinda tricky to get at but you CAN do it by feel or with a little mirror).

Preferably don't T it back into the Transfercase breather but extend it up into the engine compartment somewhere.

I don't think a transmission cooler does a lot of good. It's more important to get a transmission temperature gauge.
 
jcolvin said:
I don't think a transmission cooler does a lot of good.
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Why not? They're considered "standard" issue in Oz.

jcolvin said:
It's more important to get a transmission temperature gauge.
Click to expand...
Sure, if you have to choose. Do both; have peace of mind that there is extra cooling capability, and have the gauge to confirm that it's operating within limits.

-Steve
 
i was informed not to remove the lower rad cooler completely but to add another auxilary rad in front, you need the heat from the origianl for the tranny in winter time otherwise the fluid is too cold and will not flow properly...
 
crushers said:
i was informed not to remove the lower rad cooler completely but to add another auxilary rad in front, you need the heat from the origianl for the tranny in winter time otherwise the fluid is too cold and will not flow properly...
Click to expand...

Yup. For that same reason, I'm planning to use a remote cooler with a thermostat so that the remote cooler is bypassed until the oil temperature exceeds 180F.
 
[Yup. For that same reason, I'm planning to use a remote cooler with a thermostat so that the remote cooler is bypassed until the oil temperature exceeds 180F]

Tips like all of those above are very appreciated - has anyone been using this set up ? I am probalbbly going the same route as Wayne's suggestion, had that on a 4runner/Vortec and was great for long hauling, but never used it in the winter..
This 81 will pull loads typically not less than 1800lbs and up to 4500lbs occassionally - no hills involved but I'm looking forward to recovering a 24' boat from the water up a steep gravel bar...
There was also a good thread in chit chat re:what to you pull with your 81

Thanks again for the advice
 
wussyPup said:
Why not? They're considered "standard" issue in Oz.


-Steve
Click to expand...

See the thread on Tranny temp gauges in Diesel & 24 V. It is my opinion that the issue with the A442F is the torque converter burning up before the fluid ever gets to any extra cooling. There is already a cooler in the radiator, and I'm not convinced that extra cooling will do much good on this tranny.

Rationale: I have a tranny temp gauge on the outlet of my tranny. Out of lock up I can hit 150 C if I push up hills heavily loaded in 2nd or 3rd for long enough. But as soon as the torque converter locks up the outlet temp drops back to 80 C or less within seconds. So the whole tranny is not getting that hot; it is the inside of the TC that is cooking, and extra cooling won't stop this from happening.

But perhaps extra cooling will help keep the whole tranny cooler (say by dropping its running temp from 70 down to 60 C). This would be worthwile. I'd like to see the figures for someone with a pan temp gauge, before and after adding extra cooling.
 
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