Its been sitting 2 years what do I need to check?

[codeman583]

I am picking up a 1987 FJ60 from my brother 250 miles away. I have 4 passes to go over, and about a 4 - 4.5 hour drive to get it.

here's the question:

I am planning to take the easy route and get it started and flush the cooling system and unplug drain the gas, and add fresh, then take it in to Walmart to get the oil/tranny/diff fluids changed.

After that is there anything else I should look for? the vehicle was parked because they didn't drive it, not a breakdown. It has about 165k miles on it, it also has the 4 speed.

between not having a car to handle it with the tow dolly, and not wanting to pay a fortune to tow it I don't wants to "risk it" I will have 3-4 days to work on it if need be...

vehicle really hasn't been driven mover 40 mph in 3 + years as it was always the 3rd rig, and sat for sale for a year or so.

it ran great before, and was really never offroad...

 

[sl33py]

i'd do an oil change, maybe a squirt of oil in ea cylinder before starting it. check fluids, top off, and go.

Mine sat for a year or so and fired right up. Gotta love LC's.

maybe drain the gas, replace the fuel filter. See how she runs and do a tune up if needed then.

Sounds like a sweet rig - post pics!

GL!

 

[Benjaman]

I am picking up a 1987 FJ60 from my brother 250 miles away. I have 4 passes to go over, and about a 4 - 4.5 hour drive to get it.

here's the question:

I am planning to take the easy route and get it started and flush the cooling system and unplug drain the gas, and add fresh, then take it in to Walmart to get the oil/tranny/diff fluids changed.

After that is there anything else I should look for? the vehicle was parked because they didn't drive it, not a breakdown. It has about 165k miles on it, it also has the 4 speed.

between not having a car to handle it with the tow dolly, and not wanting to pay a fortune to tow it I don't wants to "risk it" I will have 3-4 days to work on it if need be...

vehicle really hasn't been driven mover 40 mph in 3 + years as it was always the 3rd rig, and sat for sale for a year or so.

it ran great before, and was really never offroad...

I'd put a can of SeaFoam in the tank, and a quart of MMO in to oil, and drive it home. Charge the oil once home.

Trans and diff should not need a change.

 

[codeman583]

good call on the fuel filter and oil in Cyl.

maybe wd40 in each cylinder instead or something more combustible?

also, last I drove it about a year or so ago it felt like something was blocking the exhaust like a really bad cat. convertor or something... any ideas on how to fix that? NO SMOG where I am taking the vehicle so maybe I will take my LONG drill bits down there and have some fun...

maybe the air filter too I guess.

do the distributor and wires go bad that soon? the weather there varies, and rarely ever goes under freezing so should be ok for everything else.

 

[codeman583]

MMO > Marvel Mystery Oil? sweetness!

so gas doesn't seem to be as big a concern as I thought? it is close to empty right now... maybe fill it up all the way after I seafoam the motor? don't want to shake too much loose that could clog stuff and impede my drive home... course I suppose I don't have to be as careful as I do with my RX7 Turbo II now do I?

 

[Benjaman]

MMO > Marvel Mystery Oil? sweetness!

so gas doesn't seem to be as big a concern as I thought? it is close to empty right now... maybe fill it up all the way after I seafoam the motor? don't want to shake too much loose that could clog stuff and impede my drive home... course I suppose I don't have to be as careful as I do with my RX7 Turbo II now do I?

Seafoam is a little strong for a unknown cond engine. The MMO is a safer way to go. Plus SF recommends you drain after 100 miles. MMO is safe until the next change.

You may want to crank the engine without the coil wire, as to build some oil pressure before startup.

 

[codeman583]

You may want to crank the engine without the coil wire, as to build some oil pressure before startup.

BAM that just happened.

knowledge nugget for the day...

Thanks for the fast response guys! not the typical "search or die you idiot" response you usually see on other forums I frequent...

I am either going tomorrow to begin my adventure, or Thanksgiving... (work is busy...) probably thanksgiving now...

so I will have to plan on having to spend about $200 > about $50 for the fluids changes, $50 for MMO, Plugs, fuel filter, and $100 for gas.
expected mileage on an untouched 87 FJ60 should be about 10mpg?

not bad considering I was going to pay a friend $200 to tow it up here for me and work on it at home...

 

[sl33py]

good call on the fuel filter and oil in Cyl.

maybe wd40 in each cylinder instead or something more combustible?

also, last I drove it about a year or so ago it felt like something was blocking the exhaust like a really bad cat. convertor or something... any ideas on how to fix that? NO SMOG where I am taking the vehicle so maybe I will take my LONG drill bits down there and have some fun...

maybe the air filter too I guess.

do the distributor and wires go bad that soon? the weather there varies, and rarely ever goes under freezing so should be ok for everything else.

I'd do oil vs wd40. It'll just burn off. the goal is just to lubricate a bit to avoid dry rings or damaging wall of cylinder. Won't hurt since it just burns off.

MMO > Marvel Mystery Oil? sweetness!

so gas doesn't seem to be as big a concern as I thought? it is close to empty right now... maybe fill it up all the way after I seafoam the motor? don't want to shake too much loose that could clog stuff and impede my drive home... course I suppose I don't have to be as careful as I do with my RX7 Turbo II now do I?

I'd fill with premium to start, add some seafoam or other gas "dryer" agent to gas. Don't replace the fuel filter until after that first tank or 1/2 tank.

Seafoam is a little strong for a unknown cond engine. The MMO is a safer way to go. Plus SF recommends you drain after 100 miles. MMO is safe until the next change.

You may want to crank the engine without the coil wire, as to build some oil pressure before startup.

agreed on the MMO - good stuff. Seafoam is good too, but wouldn't leave it for too long.

Even if you crank it, i'd put some oil in ea cylinder to be on the safe side. won't hurt and could prevent damage.

BAM that just happened.

knowledge nugget for the day...

Thanks for the fast response guys! not the typical "search or die you idiot" response you usually see on other forums I frequent...

I am either going tomorrow to begin my adventure, or Thanksgiving... (work is busy...) probably thanksgiving now...

so I will have to plan on having to spend about $200 > about $50 for the fluids changes, $50 for MMO, Plugs, fuel filter, and $100 for gas, and BEER

expected mileage on an untouched 87 FJ60 should be about 10mpg?

not bad considering I was going to pay a friend $200 to tow it up here for me and work on it at home...

Go slow on the way home and you should be fine.

as for MPG - 12-15 is typical i think for a decent running 60. I get 12-13.5 usually on my stock 60. closer to 10-11 on my lifted 60 w/ 33's.

desmog guys claim 15-16 but i haven't done that yet.

Forgot to welcome you .

welcome aboard and good luck!

 

[dohcdelsol93]

definately check the brakes.

make sure they are holding pressure(and most importantly releaseing) properly before you take off to the point of no return.

would let the engine run/idle a litle while to be sure she's not going to have any heating issues.

Check for dry rotted belts.

Take it for a spin around the block.

taking along an extra spare tire or two and a tool box might be a good idea.

If all else fails buy a cruiser buddy some gas and a case of beer, rent a tow dolly and tow the rig back home.

 

[Spike Strip]

Squirt of OIL or MMO in each cylinder. After 4 years I'd drain the tank. New Filter. Maybe a squirt or two of carb cleaner down the air horn. Change the engine oil. Check coolant. Fire in the hole !

 

[shancerlelby]

mine sat for 4 years and i drove it for abit before changing the diffs and coolant, If this was a runner i wouldnt worry too much other than change the oil and fill er up with fresh fuel. Fuel filter couldnt hurt either.

Make sure no mice are living in the air filter or interior!!!!

 

[slcfj62]

Check the age of the tires. There is some disagreement on this board about it, but the experience of at least one member bears out the theory that you shouldn't drive on tires older than 6 years, regardless of treadlife or how long they have been mounted.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/60-series-wagons/278405-dont-drive-old-tires-long-read.html

This thread has the technical details:

Car Bibles : The Wheel and Tyre Bible Page 1 of 4

 

[Pigman]

I'd bring multiple fuel filters!

 

[Dynosoar]

Pay your buddy the $200 to tow it, and do the fix up at home! It is much easier to work on it in your garage/driveway than on the side of the road.


Dynosoar

 

[Miloslavich]

Make sure no mice are living in the air filter or interior!!!!

^ ^ what he said.


when i bought my Crusier, i brought 3 mice 250 miles home with me in the Rig. HATE mice.

 

[Lugal]

x3 on the mice, they're almost as bad as rust. Every few months, another one has moved into some part of my rig. No damage from them yet (knock on wood), but it's a running battle keeping new ones from moving in once I've...ahem..."evicted" the old ones.

 

[yoshi]

I would also agree with Dynosoar Pay your buddy the $200 to tow it, and do the fix up at home! It is much easier .

 

[baxter650]

I am with the old tire crowd, give them the twice over.

 

[codeman583]

apparently starting a thread and replying to it doesn't automatically subscribe you to it?

Here's the plan

Night Before:
check, belts, hoses, tires, wiring and interior for varmints, vermin, rot, and mold.
squirt the cylinders with MMO, and check the vacuum lines, and radiator and heater core hoses.
replace air filter, fuel filter, and flush lines.
Check carburetor for any gunk or sticking.
degrease the engine bay and undercarriage to make the rest of the work go smoothly.

Morning:
add 5 gallons of premium from good'ol jerry can, a bottle of "HEET" and see if the turd will crank.
if she fires it will be off to do a 10 mi. road trip to Walmart to have the tranny and dif fluid levels checked along with the motor oil and filter change.

after the initial checks and drive I will have a few more days to "cruise" it in town helping out the family while I'm there, and then on I-5 for my 4 hour tour.

I opted against towing it because its $200 that I can do the work their with... worst case my buddy down there can Powerstroke it home for me...

but it was a driver so I should be good to go... I'm sure it helps that the fuel tank is empty so not a ton of old fuel to deal with.

only big downside is the radio is crap so it will be 4 hours of singing "its a small world..."

have my pictures on the home computer of it I will try to get it posted up tonight....

 

[acoen]

Good Plan

Good plan, glad you decided to drive it. Some of these guys have no since of adventure! 4 hour drive is an easy trip...You should't have a problem...