Longtime reader, first time owner -- 1984 FJ60 -- Quick Questions (1 Viewer)

[jma256]

Friends:
I've had an eye on this forum for years, sometimes longingly reading the back and forth and now, as luck would have it, I have joined the joyous (and painful?) ranks of 60 series owners. Recently purchased one in fairly decent shape -- did my homework and asked the right questions (thanks to you all) though with some mods that I may undo. I drove it a few hundred miles to get home and all in all it was fine but two issues popped up that I'm trying to ID. Have searched threads here and have some theories but figured I would reach out to see if anyone had any immediate thoughts:

1) Thud/lurch -- It's a 4-speed that managed to cruise at between 65-70 more or less the whole way. I noticed though that sometimes if I took my foot off the gas at speed and then reengaged there was a bit of a lurch or loud thud. It happens only at highway speeds and in the conditions described.

2) Hard climb -- we have a fairly steep driveway and imagine my supreme disappointment when this beast of a truck I drove home had trouble lumbering up the driveway even in 1st gear. Lots of smoke later it made it but my neighbors are going to hate me soon and I can't imagine it's right but trying to figure out what it could be.

I'll spare you the other odds and ends that left me immediately wondering if I had waited years to make a huge mistake.

 

[RredFJ40]

Welcome!
#1 - sounds like excessive backlash, could be at the differential, or tranny output shaft/transfer input gear

#2 - tire size? Gear ratio? How’d it work if you put it in 4low?

 

[OSS]

Everything he said ^. Does it have giant tires on it? The FJ60 is a bit of a chameleon. It looks like a beast and has a beastly drivetrain, but the 2F engine is too small/underpowered for the weight of the vehicle when driving on USA highways. The 2F engine is fine (almost perfect) for third world countries where most of the roads are dirt, but keeping up with the Joneses is its Achilles heel in the USA.

 

[RredFJ40]

What did you mean by “lots of smoke”? Roasting tires? Exhaust? Clutch?

 

[jma256]

Welcome!
#1 - sounds like excessive backlash, could be at the differential, or tranny output shaft/transfer input gear

#2 - tire size? Gear ratio? How’d it work if you put it in 4low?

Thanks for the quick reply, man. #1 sounds very plausible. on #2, you know, I didn't actually put it in 4low and was going 2WD as I didn't think it was needed. There are definitely OME

Everything he said ^. Does it have giant tires on it? The FJ60 is a bit of a chameleon. It looks like a beast and has a beastly drivetrain, but the 2F engine is too small/underpowered for the weight of the vehicle when driving on USA highways. The 2F engine is fine (almost perfect) for third world countries where most of the roads are dirt, but keeping up with the Joneses is its Achilles heel in the USA.

Thanks for the reply -- last owner has placed OEM 33 x 11.50 Cooper tires on -- that's what's on there now, I do also have the 33 x10.5 BFGs they replaced.

 

[jma256]

What did you mean by “lots of smoke”? Roasting tires? Exhaust? Clutch?

Hi thanks for responding. Not tires roasting but maybe exhaust (blue/gray smoke). I wasn't laying on the clutch once engaged but definitely flooring the gas to get it to creep up...

 

[jma256]

Everything he said ^. Does it have giant tires on it? The FJ60 is a bit of a chameleon. It looks like a beast and has a beastly drivetrain, but the 2F engine is too small/underpowered for the weight of the vehicle when driving on USA highways. The 2F engine is fine (almost perfect) for third world countries where most of the roads are dirt, but keeping up with the Joneses is its Achilles heel in the USA.

You basically described my 500 mile drive home -- the joneses were flashing their lights and honking on the highway as soon we got to any real inclines. The OEM tires seem beefier than the the BFG -- they are 295/70R17 33 X 11.5 though so that seems like it shouldn't be an issue.

 

[Seth S]

Original equipment tire size is not 33”. It’s a 225/75/15 iirc. The 33 should make driving on flat ground very smooth with much lower engine revs but you will lose a lot of torque.

When you drove up the driveway what were your engine rpms at and what speed did you have? I am assuming you were in 1st gear?

 

[2mbb]

OEM = original equipment manufacturer. FJ-60s didn't come from Toyota with 33" or even 31" tires. Stock tire size was something like 225/75/15 which is about 28". Smaller diameter tires would effectively give you a lower gear range. However, a bunch of folks run otherwise stock trucks on 31" and 33" tires without much issue.

The clutch question was more about whether the clutch was slipping--causing your engine to increase in speed (RPM) without the relative increase in vehicle speed. IF your engine seemed to be racing while you were slowly going up your driveway, then the clutch could be the problem.

You drove 500 miles from someplace to the SF Bay Area? did you get this truck out of state? Has it passed the CA smog test yet? This may be your biggest challenge, but you might also recover some lost power, etc. if the truck is not currently set up properly

Good luck!

 

[jma256]

Original equipment tire size is not 33”. It’s a 225/75/15 iirc. The 33 should make driving on flat ground very smooth with much lower engine revs but you will lose a lot of torque.

When you drove up the driveway what were your engine rpms at and what speed did you have? I am assuming you were in 1st gear?

1st gear and honestly was so distracted by what was going on that I don't think I paid much attn to RPMS but my guess would have been 3000+

 

[MarkBC]

Maybe slipping clutch?

 

[jma256]

OEM = original equipment manufacturer. FJ-60s didn't come from Toyota with 33" or even 31" tires. Stock tire size was something like 225/75/15 which is about 28". Smaller diameter tires would effectively give you a lower gear range. However, a bunch of folks run otherwise stock trucks on 31" and 33" tires without much issue.

The clutch question was more about whether the clutch was slipping--causing your engine to increase in speed (RPM) without the relative increase in vehicle speed. IF your engine seemed to be racing while you were slowly going up your driveway, then the clutch could be the problem.

You drove 500 miles from someplace to the SF Bay Area? did you get this truck out of state? Has it passed the CA smog test yet? This may be your biggest challenge, but you might also recover some lost power, etc. if the truck is not currently set up properly

Good luck!

Ah got it. Thank you. That makes sense re: clutch. Yes OOS and preparing to get it smogged and get it set up right to meet smog reqs here. 10-4 on the tires.

 

[Seth S]

Your clutch is definitely slipping. The smoke was your clutch burning up. At 3000 rpm in first gear with 33” tires you would have been rocketing up that driveway.

 

[jma256]

Maybe slipping clutch?

Thank you for the reply. Seems to be a possibility based on what folks are saying.

 

[Seth S]

You need a new clutch and you might consider dropping down to a 31” tire. Or put fj62 gears in, invest in an H55 5 speed and keep the 33’s

 

[jma256]

You need a new clutch and you might consider dropping down to a 31” tire. Or put fj62 gears in, invest in an H55 5 speed and keep the 33’s

Thanks, Seth. Incredibly helpful. You think overall dropping down to 31 would make a significant difference?

 

[Seth S]

3000 rpm in the 4 speed in 1st gear with 33” tires is about 22 moh

 

[Seth S]

Thanks, Seth. Incredibly helpful. You think overall dropping down to 31 would make a significant difference?

Your clutch is toast so it’s not going to solve that problem. You need to do a clutch kit and probably resurface the flywheel regardless.

But 33” tires on the stock 60 axle ratios is going to strain everything if you have to deal with hills. 31” tires on the stock axle ratios is a good size. Highway rpms get dropped but engine torque is still reasonable.

 

[Seth S]

Sounds a lot like the previous owner put big tires on it and then drove it hard. Very likely cooking the clutch and causing the clunk problems you have noted.

 

[jma256]

Sounds a lot like the previous owner put big tires on it and then drove it hard. Very likely cooking the clutch and causing the clunk problems you have noted.

Yeah. Will take it in with this in mind. Really appreciate the input.