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- #21
That's what I thought. Even though it sure is nice to have.
Hey everyone, new nut job here...
- Thread starter BackwoodsFJ
- Start date
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- Thread starter
- #22
Nice. I measured mine this morning at about 103-104" WB. I'm not seeing a frame tag anywhere, but I haven't been all the way underneath it recently. Next trip down, I'll bring a tarp to lay on. Deer ticks. Everywhere. It's not even up to freezing yet, and they're crawling up out of the rotting leaves like you read about.
I'll take another walk down there now.
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- #26
I'm guessing it's hiding in the flaky paint. This thing has a few layers of that stuff on it's frame and suspension. I'll take a wire brush with me next trip.
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- #27
Well, no luck on a frame number, not yet anyway. This thing has a few layers of black brushed-on enamel paint, that's mostly flaking off. It looks terrible, but I think it's the reason the frame is as clean as it is underneath it all... The plan is to get a tarp under the buggy once I pull it up front, then go to town with a needle gun and a wire wheel, after the pressure washer does what it can.
I did 're-find' the really-questionably-engineered frame extensions under the cab. So, there's the extra wheelbase inches. I'll get some pictures of that horror show next time, there's too many ticks crawling around in the dry leaves and icy mud (that thaws on contact with knees) to spend much time under there.
I'm honestly kinda amazed at how good of shape most of the rest of this the frame seems to be under there. It might even end up being almost pretty once it's all cleaned up and painted. Behind the cab has had some severe boogers installed, but most of that was when they made the rear bed mounts. I'll grind all that nonsense off and see what I can do to make it righter once it's up front.
They're saying it's going a touch over 50F here tomorrow. Finally.
I did 're-find' the really-questionably-engineered frame extensions under the cab. So, there's the extra wheelbase inches. I'll get some pictures of that horror show next time, there's too many ticks crawling around in the dry leaves and icy mud (that thaws on contact with knees) to spend much time under there.
I'm honestly kinda amazed at how good of shape most of the rest of this the frame seems to be under there. It might even end up being almost pretty once it's all cleaned up and painted. Behind the cab has had some severe boogers installed, but most of that was when they made the rear bed mounts. I'll grind all that nonsense off and see what I can do to make it righter once it's up front.
They're saying it's going a touch over 50F here tomorrow. Finally.
- Thread starter
- #28
My engine block! It's got no numbers! Just a flat spot where no numbers were ever etched. I've been around enough motor swaps to guess that this is probably a replacement block. Back when I got this rig, a couple guys that 'supposedly knew the dude that actually built this thing' told me that this motor had a 'bit of work' done to it. But, with this being the first and only FJ I had ever driven, I have nothing to compare notes with. It pulled harder than I would have guessed it would, but again, nothing to really compare it to. Aarrgghh...
Now, this brings on the question: How do I actually i.d. an F vs a 2F block? I really want to say there used to be a big white sticker on the front of the valve cover, that said 2F. Black block letters. But now I'm questioning it. 15 years is a long time ago.
It's 'what engine is this' picture time.
Now, this brings on the question: How do I actually i.d. an F vs a 2F block? I really want to say there used to be a big white sticker on the front of the valve cover, that said 2F. Black block letters. But now I'm questioning it. 15 years is a long time ago.
It's 'what engine is this' picture time.
with the oil filter under the manifold,
it is an F block
and a later one as the oil fills thru the valve cover, earlier ones had a tube that was located between the distributor and fuel pump
it is an F block
and a later one as the oil fills thru the valve cover, earlier ones had a tube that was located between the distributor and fuel pump
Can you find an engine block date casting code on the driver's side? Shown is from my Jan '72. I believe it goes year (2), month (01), and day (05).
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- #31
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- #32
Nice. I'll be down there first thing in the morning, checking deeper into this thing.
Edit: So, does this mean it's a 1.5F ? Seems fitting to have a 1.5F engine in a FJ42.5.
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- Thread starter
- #33
I managed to get the camera down in there, and grabbed some shots of the driver's side block numbers. Super-hard to read, which seems to be par for the course on this one. I sprayed them with some oil, wire brushed, then wiped with degreaser. The lower number that won't stay in frame looks to be a '73'. It's like the last number in the date sequence isn't a number at all, more like a 'blob'. Like I said above, the passenger's side has a blank spot where the numbers should be, so I'm guessing this must have been a warranty block or something.
I'm hoping someone that's looked at a few of these engine numbers has an idea of what we're looking at here. I can pull the air filter housing, but I've been trying to avoid pulling 'anything' til I get this thing dragged up front. Dropped nuts and bolts go away forever when they land in seven inches of rotting oak leaves...
Also, the vin tag in the cab says this 'was originally' a May of 73 FJ40.
I'm hoping someone that's looked at a few of these engine numbers has an idea of what we're looking at here. I can pull the air filter housing, but I've been trying to avoid pulling 'anything' til I get this thing dragged up front. Dropped nuts and bolts go away forever when they land in seven inches of rotting oak leaves...
Also, the vin tag in the cab says this 'was originally' a May of 73 FJ40.
- Thread starter
- #34
Those block number pics don't show up very well on here. I'll try again in a bit.
- Thread starter
- #35
Couple more tries...
RevISK
SILVER Star
Looks like: 2 ? 2 2 1
And: 1 6
And: 1 6
- Thread starter
- #37
Another trudge down back, this time with a flashlight...
The numbers in the upper sequence seem to be on raised square pads. They don't look anything like the nice crisp clear engine numbers I see everyone else's block having.
You might try and rub some chalk on the numbers to highlight them. Or take some paper and hold or tape it in place, then use a crayon or fat lead pencil to make a rubbing.
- Thread starter
- #39
That's coming next. I've given up on the numbers for now, and have been lugging sheet metal up to the house, a couple pieces at a time with a hand dolly. Gotta love mud season. The skidsteer wants nothing to do with the back trail til it dries up, and my golf cart just decided it was a great time to lose a fuel line. Guess which size fuel line I HAVEN'T been tripping over in my shed? That's the one.
- Thread starter
- #40
A few pics of the 'extra' sheet metal that got thrown on the trailer to sweeten this 'already quite sugary' deal.
I've dragged most of it up to the house on a dolly. A good heavy dose of 90% strength simple green comes first, then a brush, then the hose.
The PO said the white wheels were a set of stockers that he found along the way. I haven't looked for any codes, but if these were 'stock rims', they look awfully good... I've got a full set of chrome trim rings, and a couple of centers that don't look quite right with them, I'm guessing those centers came with the black wagon wheels that were on it. There's also another radiator down there, plus all sorts of other parts and pieces that are still in the cab.
The blue doors (original to the cab, I think) have a couple tiny rust holes in their top frames. Other than that, there's a quarter-sized dent in one door, and a few really oddly-placed drilled / half-filled holes in the exterior (WHY?), they look WAY too nice to chop down into half doors, like the PO had plans of doing. The weatherstripping's shot, as we'd expect after sitting on rotting wood for 15 years.
Now it's time to get scrubbing...
I've dragged most of it up to the house on a dolly. A good heavy dose of 90% strength simple green comes first, then a brush, then the hose.
The PO said the white wheels were a set of stockers that he found along the way. I haven't looked for any codes, but if these were 'stock rims', they look awfully good... I've got a full set of chrome trim rings, and a couple of centers that don't look quite right with them, I'm guessing those centers came with the black wagon wheels that were on it. There's also another radiator down there, plus all sorts of other parts and pieces that are still in the cab.
The blue doors (original to the cab, I think) have a couple tiny rust holes in their top frames. Other than that, there's a quarter-sized dent in one door, and a few really oddly-placed drilled / half-filled holes in the exterior (WHY?), they look WAY too nice to chop down into half doors, like the PO had plans of doing. The weatherstripping's shot, as we'd expect after sitting on rotting wood for 15 years.
Now it's time to get scrubbing...