Intake manifold / rookie !

[PistolPete]

Hello world
It’s patrick and his new project. I am beginning the journey of learning repair and enjoying the fj40. I got my fj 3 months ago, and have worked on basic things (lights, fenders). Barely ran, played with firing order. I want to learn, but also need something to actually drive before I lose motivation.
I took it to a shop so they can triage the issues, and come up with a game plan. I want to learn, not get overwhelmed, and enjoy the process. Having that in mind, the shop called me today and quoted $800 for changing the intake manifold gasket, and draining water out of the transmission. I attached their quote, and welcome your thoughts !!
Fyi...ive had a couple hired hands help me wrench, from craigslist. But have been left wanting more skilled help.

 

[Glacierskier]

Do you own a 12mm, 14mm socket and one or two others? That is how easy it is. YOU can do it all on your own. No joke, these fixes are less than a one banana. $800+ for 2 hours of work is robbery. Let alone, the $50 in gear oil that is $119+ on your estimate

 

[Glacierskier]

Plus, your bezel needs to be flipped

 

[pjohnson]

Welcome to 'Mud

A couple housekeeping items before we begin:
1) Flip your bezel, it's upside down.
2) Your FJ40 is not an FJ. It's an FJ40, or just 40, or land cruiser, or just Cruiser. An FJ is an FJCruiser, a whole different animal.

Doh, too slow on the keyboard.

 

[pjohnson]

There are a few of us local to you. There's also an FJ40 specific shop in Gilroy.

These vehicles are relatively easy to work on. You can do those things yourself.

 

[Jdc1]

Link to the Factory Service Manuals:

For Sale - 40, 50, 60, and 80 series FSM for a hell of a price.

It will walk you through the job step by step.

 

[samatulich]

I’ve been in the same boat, I know the feeling. I went ahead and had a shop work on it ($1100), it ran and ran good until it didn’t. I never bothered to go back there. Wish I had saved the money and ordered parts from vendors on here and did the work myself. At the time I didn’t have a garage or yard that I could leave the 40 in pieces, now I do and I love spending time working on the thing. I got mine running after a carb rebuild, and all new fuel lines and flushed fuel system. Very gratifying having the thing fire right up after a few years of being idle. Anyway, live and learn. The advice and information on this site is priceless. Good luck.

 

[Martyt]

It depends on how much money and time you have. When I get my rig out of the shop I know if will be at least $10,000 and I know I could have done a lot of the work myself, but for me anyway, it was worth the money to just leave my rig there and have them do a bunch of work in one fell swoop. All about time and money and money and time; both important to have with an Fj40. But, through all that, I LOVE my rig and I get it back this Saturday and will do any remaining work (mainly electrical) myself. Finally, like Sam said, this site is the BEST and there are lots of very smart folks who know the FJ40 inside and out--almost like museum curators some of them.

 

[coonassjohn]

Welcome to mud. I see you have met the bezel police. Run from that shop as fast as you can and in my opinion it's your car, call it what you like. We know what you mean.

 

[3_puppies]

how about a pic of the manifolds? where is it leaking?

when off it, I like having them planed so they are true and flat.

 

[1969FJ]

Well, it never ceases to amaze me the LABOR markup from these people. Maybe if the LABOR side of the invoice / quote was lower than the product , left side , they would get work. AND, still profit. Because, if you do not go back, THEY HAVE NOTHING. Stupid people.

 

[skidplate]

In your original post you mentioned you want to learn. The job you want done is a simple job and you will learn and build confidence. The feeling of satisfaction when you're driving down the road will be worth the busted knuckles and greasy finger nails.

 

[ToyotaMatt]

Hello world
It’s patrick and his new project. I am beginning the journey of learning repair and enjoying the fj40. I got my fj 3 months ago, and have worked on basic things (lights, fenders). Barely ran, played with firing order. I want to learn, but also need something to actually drive before I lose motivation.
I took it to a shop so they can triage the issues, and come up with a game plan. I want to learn, not get overwhelmed, and enjoy the process. Having that in mind, the shop called me today and quoted $800 for changing the intake manifold gasket, and draining water out of the transmission. I attached their quote, and welcome your thoughts !!
Fyi...ive had a couple hired hands help me wrench, from craigslist. But have been left wanting more skilled help.

View attachment 1691182

View attachment 1691183

Welcome to Mud ......

@3_puppies is more then correct , his suggestion of having your manifolds Planed or Re-Surfaced / Decked By a qualified

machine shop is a standard matter of course / or critical step in making a repair like your manifold gasket leaking stay repaired

long term ,

I would strongly question the repair shop estimate Not arbitrarily including this as part of the repair process

Its been my experience that almost every leaking F & 2F manifold's gasket I have run into since day 1 is related to a warped exhaust ,

intake or both Manifolds / warped headers


its highly probable Your leak is your exhaust manifold / or headers Heat related Warpage caused

make sure Planing / re-surfacing step is not overlooked or find a shop that knows those facts

U can also remove the manifolds your self , find a reputable local machine shop , have them do it , then reinstall your self Too

 

[PistolPete]

Do you own a 12mm, 14mm socket and one or two others? That is how easy it is. YOU can do it all on your own. No joke, these fixes are less than a one banana. $800+ for 2 hours of work is robbery. Let alone, the $50 in gear oil that is $119+ on your estimate

Yeah, & the mystique of a 4x4 shop has gone away

 

[PistolPete]

Welcome to Mud ......

@3_puppies is more then correct , his suggestion of having your manifolds Planed or Re-Surfaced / Decked By a qualified

machine shop is a standard matter of course / or critical step in making a repair like your manifold gasket leaking stay repaired

long term ,

I would strongly question the repair shop estimate Not arbitrarily including this as part of the repair process

Its been my experience that almost every leaking F & 2F manifold's gasket I have run into since day 1 is related to a warped exhaust ,

intake or both Manifolds / warped headers


its highly probable Your leak is your exhaust manifold / or headers Heat related Warpage caused

make sure Planing / re-surfacing step is not overlooked or find a shop that knows those facts

U can also remove the manifolds your self , find a reputable local machine shop , have them do it , then reinstall your self Too

Appreciate the insight Matt. I will take your word for it. Going to have it towed back to my place and get to work. I live in a small town so there a good machine shops close by.

 

[PistolPete]

In your original post you mentioned you want to learn. The job you want done is a simple job and you will learn and build confidence. The feeling of satisfaction when you're driving down the road will be worth the busted knuckles and greasy finger nails.

Of course. I got overwhelmed momentarily !

 

[PistolPete]

Well, it never ceases to amaze me the LABOR markup from these people. Maybe if the LABOR side of the invoice / quote was lower than the product , left side , they would get work. AND, still profit. Because, if you do not go back, THEY HAVE NOTHING. Stupid people.

That's a fact, no work and no referrals. I was going to bring a case of beer and get cozy with them too!

 

[PistolPete]

how about a pic of the manifolds? where is it leaking?

when off it, I like having them planed so they are true and flat.

Will get photos going today when its back at my house. This group of people on ih8mud is something special. And motivating....

 

[ToyotaMatt]

Follow @Jdc1 links to the FSM manuals , they talk about using a straight edge and feeler gauges to measure for Out of Spec. Warpage Limits

 

[PistolPete]

There are a few of us local to you. There's also an FJ40 specific shop in Gilroy.

These vehicles are relatively easy to work on. You can do those things yourself.

Hi Pjohnson. My first step is to organize my workspace more. It seems manageable when i can start and stop work without a headache