hey all. i am Rob, and i live in Missoula, Montana. Missoula [in case you didnt know] is located in western Montana about half way between Glacier park to the north and Yellowstone park to the south, and about 45 minutes from the Idaho border.
I bought this 83 FJ60 last summer for $500. i didnt know much of anything about these vehicles, and really still dont know much, but i thiink i got a pretty good deal. it came with almost new ASRs on the stock chrome wheels and looks like it has a new exhaust. its biggest problems seem to be it is hard to start and the front end makes a high pitched whine when i get up to about 45 MPH. otherwise, it has performed flawlessly. i fixed an issue with the heater not warming up [sticky valve on the firewall], and added some fancy chrome 10" wheels with 31s, and installed a stereo, roof rack, and a new battery. that is about all i have done with it except drive it since last august.
while looking at the haynes manual i bought for it trying to see what i can do about the whine, i came up with a couple questions. how do i tell what type of lube to put in the front axle [regular gear lube or something else] and how do i know if i have to adjust the intake and exhaust valves? other than it having a six, i dont know much about the engine. one guy told me it was simular to the chevy straight six....which doesnt help me much.
i have some mechanical abilities, and a lot of tools, but most of my auto experience has been with OLD american cars like my Skylark, or working on my old bikes. the bikes require valve adjustment every 5000 miles. according to the manual, some of the engines in the FJs also requires the same type of adjustment [with shims and and a feeler guage]. i have no idea [provided this engine needs this done] if or when it has ever been done. so if it needs it, i dont want to drive it anymore till i know. any suggestions? also any thoughts on the front end noise would be appreciated as well.
hopefully i can play catch-up on what ever this vehicle needs before it becomes too late or really expensive. thanks.
I bought this 83 FJ60 last summer for $500. i didnt know much of anything about these vehicles, and really still dont know much, but i thiink i got a pretty good deal. it came with almost new ASRs on the stock chrome wheels and looks like it has a new exhaust. its biggest problems seem to be it is hard to start and the front end makes a high pitched whine when i get up to about 45 MPH. otherwise, it has performed flawlessly. i fixed an issue with the heater not warming up [sticky valve on the firewall], and added some fancy chrome 10" wheels with 31s, and installed a stereo, roof rack, and a new battery. that is about all i have done with it except drive it since last august.
while looking at the haynes manual i bought for it trying to see what i can do about the whine, i came up with a couple questions. how do i tell what type of lube to put in the front axle [regular gear lube or something else] and how do i know if i have to adjust the intake and exhaust valves? other than it having a six, i dont know much about the engine. one guy told me it was simular to the chevy straight six....which doesnt help me much.
i have some mechanical abilities, and a lot of tools, but most of my auto experience has been with OLD american cars like my Skylark, or working on my old bikes. the bikes require valve adjustment every 5000 miles. according to the manual, some of the engines in the FJs also requires the same type of adjustment [with shims and and a feeler guage]. i have no idea [provided this engine needs this done] if or when it has ever been done. so if it needs it, i dont want to drive it anymore till i know. any suggestions? also any thoughts on the front end noise would be appreciated as well.
hopefully i can play catch-up on what ever this vehicle needs before it becomes too late or really expensive. thanks.
Wow you live in a beatiful area of this country and have found a wonderful ride. As a newby on the forum check out the Tech Links, and there is a sticky called FAQ near the top of the 60 section. It says check back frequently and has too much good info to go into. Valves do need to be adjusted and the frequency can be found in the FSM that if you don't have should be your first purchase. The whine you will need to describe further and then someone on here will jump in and help figure it out. Welcome to MUD 
Oh yeah
. i wouldn't have any doubt that there may not have been much regular maintenance done, based on this observation.
, but i figured at the price i was paying, i couldn't complain too much. since i didn't take the 'crusier out on the highway the day i test drove it, the whine didn't show up......my bad
I at least don't jerk in convulsions when I can't drive
