Builds "Lefty" Moves to San Diego

[perrobravo]

Getting closer to knocking out the major baseline stuff I wanted to get done before hitting the trails, then...hit an easy trail to see how things go.

Before leaving, I put on three fresh OEM belts, hoping to get rid of a squeal at higher RPMs (and some nasty looking belts from another era)

Headed up Otay Mountain, a mostly easy trail with a few tougher spots to see how the truck would do

No first off-road test drive would be complete without at least one flexing shot

Then, when unlocking the hubs, found an unwanted bulge in the right rear tire. Lame.

Other than the bulge and having to get used to using a manual transmission off road, this first mini test went very well. Like other Land Cruisers, this thing comes alive in 4 Low and feels unstoppable. Can't wait to load it up with gear and put it into tougher situations and see how it does.

 

[perrobravo]

Finally got around to installing new front pads and rotors I'd picked up from @beno a few weeks back. Was considering just throwing new pads in as a temporary fix for poor braking performance since I (rightly) suspected the passenger side needed a full birf redo. The old pads were shot and the rotors were on the low end of marginally acceptable. Now, despite the confirmed soupy passenger side, the brakes feel better. Not exactly stopping on dimes, but stopping at least.

New and old

Clean bits

Driver's side wasn't so bad. My hands were too messy to take pics of the soupy passenger side.

 

[jefferson-mo]

I think I'm coming over with beers to help.............

 

[mongoose2231]

WOW, low mileage on that truck. she should be good to go for the next 30 years. jealous...jealous

 

[FJ40Jim]

Replaced most of the of 30 year old vacuum hoses (realized I missed a few as I was closing the hood) with new from boostcontroller.com.

Assuming I'm missing a hose (down low in the highlighted/boxed area pictured), but for the life of me, I can't figure it out, even after reading the manual until I couldn't see straight. Anyone know where the hose here should be attached?

The widget in the pic is the High Altitude Compensator. The lower hose fitting did have a short piece of flimsy vent hose installed from factory. It just lays on the inner fender to sense atmospheric pressure/altitude. No hose is needed there.

 

[perrobravo]

Took on a knuckle rebuild this weekend and seem to have completed it successfully, following a lot of good advice found here.


Did so in a few stages:

1. Studied:

Watched this video a dozen times:


Read this thread (among others) start to finish a couple times:
Front Axle Rebuild - For FAQ


2. Bought tools and supplies:

Every good project is an excuse to buy new tools. In this case, I picked up a cheap parts cleaner (critical!), a bearing driver kit, and a bearing packing tool. I also stocked up on supplies. Rebuild kit with all the gaskets and bearings I needed (gracias @beno !), a case of shop towels, 5 gallons of degreaser, CV grease, etc.


3. Dug in:

I'd planned an entire weekend to get this done and finished in about a day and a half...with a couple beverages mixed in. Thankfully (for me) @SALTY METHODS recently broke the spoiler on his 100 and I had one laying around, so we did a parts for beer trade which kept me hydrated during breaks.

The passenger side was a soupy mess

Not sure how the axle seal got dented, but I'm guessing that was the cause of the knuckle soup

The instructions I followed were from an 80 series. Unfortunately, I figured out in the middle of all this that on the 60 (or at least on this 60), you have to deal with the brake line being attached to the dust shield. I wasn't happy to add bleeding the brakes to this already long and messy project, but got a lot better at quickly removing and reconnecting the soft brake line when I got to the drivers side.

Yes, cleaning the mud off the truck before doing this would have made things slightly less messy.

Success!

Nothing fell off, made strange noises, or started pouring out on a quick test drive, so unless something crops up, I'm declaring this a success!

 

[Colington]

Awesome find. If I'm not mistaken, I saw this on San Diego Craigslist showing from the LA region (unless there were two former parks rec 41k white FJ's lol). I was very close to making a go at it, but my heart was set on a diesel and the joy's/headaches that go with one of the HJ's. I'm thrilled that you decided to give it the attention it needed. Looks great so far. I'm a believer that going through on of these and doing the DIY stuff is how the love affair is forged. I don't see it as a "money pit" at all.

I'm in Carlsbad and would love to go out and do some moderate offroading if you want a second rig "just in case".

Cheers.

 

[perrobravo]

With most of the urgent mechanical and baseline stuff feeling pretty good, I decided to put some time into creature comforts: Carpet and sound deadening.

Pulled the very faded and nasty carpet, then spent the better part of the day cleaning and vacuuming.

Started in the back and made quick progress putting QuietCrap (80mil) down

So far so good. At this point, I could almost imagine hearing the sound coming from my speakers...

Fast forward a few hours and new carpet (and padding) is in. Thanks to @reevesci for the quick turn around on the carpet kit. Awesome stuff!

Still have most of the 2nd roll of QuietCrap left for the doors and tailgate and a few loose ends to tie up, but so far so good. With just the floors done, the truck is noticeably quieter and the new carpet is really nice. Only drawback is the truck smells slightly less like an old taxi.

 

[TRAIL TAILOR]

J,

Glad you like the carpet kit. Looks like a clean install.

J

 

[perrobravo]

Finally read enough of the oil galley plug warnings and horror stories and decided it was time to get on it. My 2F is a bit safer as a result.

Pretty simple, as others have described, and I feel like a responsible FJ60 owner as a result

Always fun to find another Land Cruiser to park next to. Found this one on the test drive. Just glad Lefty wasn't dumping oil all over the lot.

 

[gregnash]

Yup the galley plug is always a must and another one of those "rite of passage" type fixes for us. So now that you got the major stuff outta the way, whats next?

 

[perrobravo]

Yup the galley plug is always a must and another one of those "rite of passage" type fixes for us. So now that you got the major stuff outta the way, whats next?

Good question! I'm considering setting up direct deposit from my paycheck straight to @reevesci . He's sending one of the tailgate storage lids he's been working on and some sliders, so those will be next.

Am trying to stay off the slippery slope of bumpers, roof rack, winch, drawers, etc. I may need a sponsor or some sort of intervention.

 

[Output Shaft]

I'll give you an intervention right now:
You can easily burden down your cruiser with several hundred pounds of bolt-on candy.
Think twice (or maybe tree times) before heading down that heavy road.
It all adds up.

 

[perrobravo]

While in Mexico with my 100 (details here), a @reevesci -made tailgate storage lid arrived. So, while Thanksgiving turkey was being prepared, Lefty and an angle grinder became friends.

Made a template, drew a line, and started cutting

Put down some QuietCrap for good measure

Bolted things together

Threw in some stuff

Almost done

Went inside and had a couple of my favorite San Diego pale ales. Done.

 

[OGBeno]

 

[perrobravo]

Completed another relatively easy job today: bolted up a set of Trail Tailor sliders from @reevesci . Am trying to keep this build relatively simple/subtle so went with the most basic sliders and painted them flat black.

Before

After

 

[TRAIL TAILOR]

J,

Rig is coming together nicely. Need a rack? tonight is the end of the special.

HA!

J

 

[roma042987]

That's a great looking truck!

 

[sd60]

Motion to revive this thread - I love this truck. What has happened since November '16???

 

[boerboel313]

Congrats. I live in San Clemente. Driving her back across country next week.for the 2nd time.
Maybe ill.see you around.