Builds Here we go (FJ-40 getting a 3B/Turbo/H55f)... (1 Viewer)

[DanS HJ-45]

He's got a 45 to work on next... when he's not helping me with my 44!

You got that right!

I'm really hoping to have the 40 to the next meeting, but it will likely depend on if I can drop it off to get the soft top "massaged" the next morning on my way to work, or if I need to drop it off earlier than the meeting.

Dan

 

[subzali]

...I think so. I'm wondering what the best way to look for intake leaks would be. I'm taking a bottle of water with soap in it to spray along the intake to see if it's leaking somewhere (I don't hear anything that sounds like a leak)...

I know you got it figured out but I wanted to ask about this. I know water with soap will show air bubbles if a pressurized system is leaking, but I'm not sure it would do anything for a vacuum system. Then again, diesels don't have vacuum, right? So I'm not sure what would work? Also, is it a bad idea to spray something highly flammable like starting fluid or carb cleaner into a diesel's intake?

Sorry no real input, except to say it looks great! It's definitely eye candy Dan! Can't wait to see the next one!

 

[DanS HJ-45]

Quick update without pictures....

Drove it into town today to get a few things knocked down. First stop was American Toyota to try and pick up some parts. CDan picked the wrong day to play hookie, so beno came out and had a look and listen at it in the parking lot.

Then, I took it to the alternator shop to have them check and see why it's not charging. For some reason, there is no power to the voltage regulator now, so I've got to track that down, at which point they said it should work. Grrrrr, the wiring on this simple 3B is ticking me off!

Then, since it was there, I took it to the exhaust shop. 2 1/2" exhaust with a straight through magnaflow muffler, exiting in from of the right rear tire. It definitely made the sound more "civilized" but retained quite a bit of the turbo whine. So far, so good. (it should also now pass the diesel inspection to make it all legal).

all in all, a good 100+ miles today. Definitely is still hiding power (which is a good thing) as 5th gear is useless other than level road or slight downgrades. One weird bit though: it developed a high idle today. The diapragm was replaced, an the hoses between the throttle body and the IP were too, but not with the original clear plastic stuff. I'll probably try to find reinforced hose tomorrow to see if we can rule that out. I really hope that new diapragm didn't get torn already.

But, overall, 100+ miles and it's impressive. It legit passed a modern sedan car on the road going up a rather steep hill, so I'm pretty stoked about that (even though I think it's still holding some power back).

Dan

 

[DanS HJ-45]

I kill myself. TONS of troubleshooting to figure out what was wrong with the hoses and diaphragm (which will hold 15 InHg vacuum indefinitely, BTW) only to realize that the plug I placed in the intake where the superglow had once been had apparently blown out sometime yesterday. Threaded the superglow plug back in and problem solved.

Took the wiring harness apart to figure out why the voltage regulator wasn't getting power, removed a non-essential wire to rule it out and prove that the wiring harness didn't have a short in it, only to plug it into the VR and have it blow the engine fuse. I think that means the VR is toast.

On the hunt for a new one. Aside from that though, THIS THING ROCKS. Keep tuning the fuel, and it just gets more powerful, smoother and more driveable.

Here's a pic of the exhaust. It looks like it hangs way down in this pic, but it's not bad at all. Above the frame rail by an inch at it's lowest point.


And a couple pics of the truck in the driveway, because I just can't stop staring at it.



Unfortunately I'm off to CO this evening to work on my land, so the truck won't make it to the RS meeting this month, but next week I *hope* to drive it up (dependent upon the VR working)

Dan

 

[Isaacjohnstar]

Dan that thing is amazing! I am having issues with my alternator as well and have narrowed it down to a bad VR as well. Is your alt internally or externally regulated?
I am looking for a better source for my internal VR

 

[subzali]

Looks great Dan! Can't wait to see it in person!

 

[DanS HJ-45]

Dan that thing is amazing! I am having issues with my alternator as well and have narrowed it down to a bad VR as well. Is your alt internally or externally regulated?
I am looking for a better source for my internal VR

External.

Which is weird, because the truck is a 3/79 (which should use an internally regulated alternator), but good, because the 3B alternator we got is externally regulated...

Today I'm thinking we might have a wiring issue for the alternator (and maybe that toasted the VR). I'll know more once I get back to it next week, but the other thing that happened after I "simplified" the wiring for the alternator is that the turn signals no longer work and blow the fuse the instant one is inserted. Methinks I have a shorting wire inside the wire harness that runs between the chassis plug and the VR (it's like 6" or harness--and I had it all open YESTERDAY).

C'est la vie...

Looks great Dan! Can't wait to see it in person!

Soon sir, soon. Find time in the middle of the week and we could possibly do a small Argentine cleanup run or something...

So, Dad and Mom apparently put the soft top on last night and are taking it into town today to get the top shop to replace the paki zippers with KKK zippers (it came with "USA" brand crappy zippers which have broken already--so we got the good canvas, but the bad zippers). Can't wait to see pictures of it with the top on!

Dan

Dan

 

[subzali]

Sweet!

I'm already talking with Brant about revisiting Argentine, I might have to push more for a middle week run this time though. I need to get him up there to see stuff.

Can't wait to see pictures with the top on!

 

[BreckenridgeCruiser]

I'm in... let me know how I can help on the midweek run!

 

[DanS HJ-45]

Word from Dad: turn signals working again. I'm dumb--I put the wiper arms on incorrectly, and the wiper motor was causing the fuse to blow.

Down to the alternator now...

 

[DanS HJ-45]

On my way up to the shop to figure out what's up with the alternator, but I figured I'd toss some pics up for you guys...

Dad got the soft top on (and finished most of the emblems on the rear).




It still needs to go to a top shop to get the zippers replaced and stuff, but looks good, don't you think?

Dan

 

[waiting for time]

Great pics, it's such a nice looking cruiser. How is the power now, did you get at a good performance rate?

 

[DanS HJ-45]

Great pics, it's such a nice looking cruiser. How is the power now, did you get at a good performance rate?

I just did some math to figure out what the speedo correction is... Turns out I've done 83 mph a few times. I think we've got it dialed in now. It'll just touch 1100 degrees on the pyrometer, and BARELY put out some black smoke. But not noticeable unless you're in a car behind it watching for it.

Amazing. The 3B/turbo has more grunt, and runs WAY cooler than my 2LT-E.

So, the alternator shop says that we must have crossed a wire when I replaced the plug on the alternator. I personally doubt it, but in the end, it's an EASY fix. I'll pull the alternator tonight, bring it into them, repin the plug, and it should be good to go.

Dan

 

[Awl_TEQ]

Glad to hear the performance of the turbo 3B is satisfying

 

[DanS HJ-45]

Glad to hear the performance of the turbo 3B is satisfying

Legit passing. At 6,000 feet in a 40. It's pretty satisfying--your intercooled setup should be sick!

So, the alternator is out of the truck now, it'll go to the alternator shop first thing in the morning and we will re-pin it to make it work, or at least--that's the plan.

I started fabricating the skid plate though. Unfortunately I left the camera with the truck in the shop, so no pics for tonight.

Dan

 

[Combat Chuck]

This is awesome, man!
Great work on the truck, it's exciting to see it all coming together.

 

[crushers]

Amazing. The 3B/turbo has more grunt, and runs WAY cooler than my 2LT-E.

Dan

 

[DanS HJ-45]

Update while at dinner: alternator works now. All is splendid. Halfway done with skid plate. Pics to follow....

Bad Mojo was up to chat about 1HZ stuff, but also to take a spin in the 40. I'll let him give his impressions if he wants.

Also: my salad is yummy.

Dan

 

[Bad Mojo]

ITS AWESOME!!! I was able to hold a conversation in a soft top forty with the windows rolled down. I had to get used to the torque, but that didnt take long at all and not a bad thing. The 60 series power steering is a nice upgrade; it is a different feeling than the orginal but it is sure nice to start turning the wheel before you start. The drivetrain is quieter than the old one.

Great rig!

 

[BLACKPOLAR]

Wow great build!