McGuire's '87 FJ60 Build: SOA/ 12H-T swap

[dirtEJohnson]

McGuire, I just gotta commend your character and integrity in going above and beyond regarding our recent dealings. Thank you for going the extra mile and providing a fine example of what makes this online community great. You are an asset to MUD and excellent representative of your generation. Muchas Gracias my friend!


Oh, and I'm sickeningly jealous of your bad a$$ 60 too...

Cheers

 

[mcguirejohnson]

McGuire, I just gotta commend your character and integrity in going above and beyond regarding our recent dealings. Thank you for going the extra mile and providing a fine example of what makes this online community great. You are an asset to MUD and excellent representative of your generation. Muchas Gracias my friend!


Oh, and I'm sickeningly jealous of your bad a$$ 60 too...

Cheers

I appreciate the kind words Eric, and I am glad that it all worked out in the end!

We will meet up and wheel next time I'm in California!

Take care,

-McGuire

 

[CenTXFJ60]

McGuire, I just gotta commend your character and integrity in going above and beyond regarding our recent dealings. Thank you for going the extra mile and providing a fine example of what makes this online community great. You are an asset to MUD and excellent representative of your generation. Muchas Gracias my friend!


Oh, and I'm sickeningly jealous of your bad a$$ 60 too...

Cheers

Eric, this is McGuires dad. I want to thank you for the nice compliment you gave McGuire. I can tell you his mother did a great job passing on these qualities . Unfortunately she still doesn't understand our hobby, but know she will be proud of your post (as I am) when I show it to her. Thanks again, Jim

 

[mcguirejohnson]

Did a little wheeling this weekend! Only thing that "broke" was my transfer case linkage came undone so I was stuck in 4LO, good thing I had a few extra cotter pins. So to keep this post semi tech, pack cotter pins in your toolbox because you never know when you will need them!

The grey 62 has a 5-speed and is open front and rear, pretty impressive how taking the right lines can help get you through almost anything.

I have to say that it is really nice not stalling out anymore with the carburetor, this thing literally feels like a tractor on the trails.

A few pictures/videos:

 

[mcguirejohnson]

FJ60 Offroad 2

 

[mcguirejohnson]

I apologize for the poor quality, I need to get a good camera!

 

[The Phoenician]

Gotta love that sound

 

[mcguirejohnson]

Gotta love that sound

Puts a smile on my face every time Are you running a 3"?

 

[The Phoenician]

If I remember correctly it's a 2.5 inch pipe on mine. I'll have to recheck

 

[davegonz]

That means Mike is going to upgrade to 3.5" now.

Man, I'm jealous of your new engine! Can't wait to check it out at Round Up next year.

 

[mcguirejohnson]

That means Mike is going to upgrade to 3.5" now.

Man, I'm jealous of your new engine! Can't wait to check it out at Round Up next year.

HaHa, man that would be a tight fit.

And I appreciate it! I'm super happy with the result... I want to try and make one of the monthly meets since I am only 45min outside ATX, but I will be at round up for sure!

 

[TLC Norway]

Ooh, sounds sweet, just like a 60 should! The 12ht is perfect for the 60!!

What spring are you running on the throttle lever? The ones that pull the lever back to idle.
Sock springs?
I've experimented with a few springs, but they either get too hard or too soft, making the pedal nervous or too hard.
Haven't installed a dampener like watrob did.

 

[mcguirejohnson]

Ooh, sounds sweet, just like a 60 should! The 12ht is perfect for the 60!!

What spring are you running on the throttle lever? The ones that pull the lever back to idle.
Sock springs?
I've experimented with a few springs, but they either get too hard or too soft, making the pedal nervous or too hard.
Haven't installed a dampener like watrob did.

Completely agree with you! Smooth and usable power. It just feels right at home in the 60.

I assume they are the stock springs, there are 2 of them on there. I honestly just idled over everything, not much need for the skinny pedal.
But I know what people mean when they say "twitchy" response because it can be if your not careful!

 

[mcguirejohnson]

Ooh, sounds sweet, just like a 60 should! The 12ht is perfect for the 60!!

What spring are you running on the throttle lever? The ones that pull the lever back to idle.
Sock springs?
I've experimented with a few springs, but they either get too hard or too soft, making the pedal nervous or too hard.
Haven't installed a dampener like watrob did.

Completely agree with you! Smooth and usable power. It just feels right at home in the 60.

I assume they are the stock springs, there are 2 of them on there. I honestly just idled over everything, not much need for the skinny pedal.
But I know what people mean when they say "twitchy" response because it can be if your not careful!

 

[Oldtoy74]

Completely agree with you! Smooth and usable power. It just feels right at home in the 60.

I assume they are the stock springs, there are 2 of them on there. I honestly just idled over everything, not much need for the skinny pedal.
But I know what people mean when they say "twitchy" response because it can be if your not careful!

The twitch is annoying, I found by using the choke pull and leave it out when required
it makes huge difference when playing'

 

[mcguirejohnson]

Been awhile since I've thrown in an update, really just been helping my old man put together his hunk of junk. As you can tell I am a bit envious of my little brother for getting such a clean rig... Haha. It really is turning out awesome thus far:

Anyways, I've put a little bit of work on my rig in preparation for my trip to Colorado this Monday! Nothing too significant, just a lot of stuff that I've been putting off.

Built a huge read drawer system because I like to carry A LOT of stuff. Plus I have to be self sufficient while I'm at Tech this spring:

I could only afford one set of drawer slides at the time and used scrap wood but eventually I will convert it to a double drawer setup for ease of access.

Switched out my rear seat covers for some original style ones that actually match my door panels:

Then most recently I performed some much needed maintenance or as I like to call it a blood transfusion:

Along the way I replaced the seal on the t-case where the 2/4wd selector shaft goes into the front of the case. Easy job and now I have a leak free case!

Next I dropped my oil pan because I neglected to re-seal the stiffening plate while the motor was out and it was leaking towards the back by the rear main seal housing and getting all over my bell housing... Those who have a 12ht know that dropping the pan is a PITA due to the lack of gasket (all FIPG). But I got it done and now it is leak free as well! I think it's kinda funny how my oil pan is the only shiny piece on my cruiser... She's a workhorse, not a show car.

Ah yes almost forgot about the other leak that I fixed... Rear axle seal. This was the last straw for the semi float axle. If anyone sees a 93 plus 80 axle in Tejas let me know! I was kinda dumbfounded that the Toyota seal only lasted 20k miles.

Things that I didn't get pictures of include cleaning up the wiring in the engine bay, straightening my steering wheel after having it cockeyed for 2 years and I brought my exhaust closer to the body (there isn't much room for a 3" system).

To be continued...

 

[mcguirejohnson]

I also picked up an 84 Crawlerado native last month. She's not a looker, but the 2f w/ 315k purrs like a kitten. Picked it up for 1k since it wasn't running and after a little carb work she fired right up!

No frame rust surprisingly (except for peeling rear c-channel) and the only bad part on the body in the rear door and drivers side quarter panel. The brown is honestly growing on me which I never thought would happen, but I am thinking that one day I will turn this bad boy into a 1hz powered beast with a moderate lift (OME or something similar) while retaining the classic look. For now she is just going to sit there and look pretty since I have a few plans on the drawing board for my 60.

Okay so the plans for my 60 in order are the following:

Replace my s***ty front shocks with some billstein 7100s. @CenTXFJ60 I will put in some sanding/ painting hours if you get these for my Christmas/ birthday !

Like I mentioned before the SF rear axle must go, because I hate drum brakes and the whole semi float design. So an 80 rear end will take its place as soon as I can find one for a good price.

37s will be going on very soon. Just been saving my pennies so that I can do it right once and get some trail ready bead locks or something similar. Took my tires to get balanced and the guy said that I only have around 10k of life left in these. The KM2s have been awesome and I will defiantly get another set, in 37 of course.

Get a G-Turbo. No explanation needed there other than the fact that they are badass. And well because the turbo whistle is addicting...

And farther down the line (couple of years) I am going to 3-link the front. I've been kicking around this idea for a while now and after messing around with the link calculators and putting in some pirate 4x4 research hours my mind is set. Don't get me wrong, I love the SOA, but I've ruined a few sets of skivvies on the trail due to how top heavy it makes my rig feel on off-camber obstacles. I really like the idea of a lower COG, more flex, better road manners and of course how cool coil overs look. Plus I think it will be a great challenge. I am just going to set aside $100 a month since I have estimated that it will put me back around $3k when it's all said an done. I really am digging the idea of running a slightly wider diamond front axle to match the width of an 80 rear end, King 12 or 14" coil overs, then all of the hardware from roughstuff. Like I said this will be a few years down the line but it's gonna happen!

Anyways that's enough jibber jabber. Hopefully I will have some snow wheeling pics to show off when I get back from Crawlerado!

Happy Holidays fellas!

 

[OGBeno]

Nice score McGuire!

 

[mcguirejohnson]

Nice score McGuire!

Thank you sir! Couldn't go wrong for $1k. Well actually it was "free" other than traveling cost since I dropped off a 2f block to a guy in El Paso along the way!

 

[CenTXFJ60]

Thank you sir! Couldn't go wrong for $1k. Well actually it was "free" other than traveling cost since I dropped off a 2f block to a guy in El Paso along the way!

Free to who .