Builds My '78 FJ40 "44" (6 Viewers)

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thetoyotaman said:
This is what I love about this forum. Threads about real world living, back trouble, aches and pains, and finances that all affect the speed of our builds and how much we get to enjoy them. God bless you all!
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Thanks for chiming in!

Technically (@Mace :)), some of us were never built as well as our FJ40... Have more skeletal deterioration than our FJ40 frame has rust... Have hearts as worn as our old 2Fs... And, in my case, have more blow by than 44 ever had :cool:

But, with 44's rebuild complete and the associated leak plugged, I'm planning to let 44 perform the functions of a cane, a walking stick, crutches, a wheelchair and, some nights, a hospital bed. It's not likely that I will be hiking anytime soon, but if I am, I certainly won't use a trekking pole in my right hand... I learned that lesson when I blew my tricep ligament out by simply gripping the handle too tightly :rolleyes:. It's healed, but I am trying to recover strength in that tricep.

On another not, I've found a couple of possible ethanol-free sources in the Vegas area, but need to drive by and see if it's true... I'll report back.

I'm picking 44 up Monday, getting her bathed and going to meet Zach (@FluByU) before he sails for jolly old England.

Regarding finances, the rebuild, including paying to have the engine pulled, stripped to a long-block, engine tanked twice, head tanked and magnafluxed, bored .020 over, new domed Pistons, rings, crank turned, decks milled and head rebuilt... All OEM gaskets, long-block reinstalled, all components remounted, new belts, etc. ran a total of $3100. I couldn't be happier with the price... I was quoted $3-4K, and they came in low. I also spent money to replace the clutch and exhaust, while she was apart.

The domed Pistons were ITM... I found them myself, but my rebuilder didn't have trouble sourcing them either.

I'll post pictures and such after I get her back and get her clean.

:cheers:
 
Great. I used ITM on my last 2F 40. And I can say that I can relate to the laboring job, the beating the body up, injuries, etc. etc. Partly why I timed out on the 40 thing for a coil sprung 80.
 
thetoyotaman said:
This is what I love about this forum. Threads about real world living, back trouble, aches and pains, and finances that all affect the speed of our builds and how much we get to enjoy them. God bless you all!
Click to expand...

X2 on your post toyotaman. I haven't been able to drive my 40 for several years now because of a cracked head. I've been trying to save money so I could get it back on the road.

BUT, life gets in the way. Everything I've been saving for the 40, plus lots of plastic money, is having to go into my pickup now. For a while it's had what I thought was a collapsed lifter knock, and massive blowby. No money to do a proper fix, so I drove it only when I absolutely had to. Then I started to feel the transmission slip during the 3-4 shift. I couldn't let that go because the longer I let it go the more money I could see floating out the window (I don't work on auto transmissions). The motor was a 6.5 turbo diesel, and I found a 6.2 NA diesel that I could afford to swap in (I am putting new rings in, swapping the 6.5 heads and injection pump onto the 6.2). I pulled the motor, trans, and transfer case, and took the trans in to be rebuilt. Right now I'm waiting for the new rings to get here so I can finish the poor man's refresh.

I needed the heads off the 6.5, so I pulled them. Curiosity got the better of me, so I kept digging on the 6.5 to see what was causing what I thought was the collapsed lifter sound. Well, I was way wrong. The #6 wrist pin was loose in the piston. That, coupled with some very badly scored cylinders/pistons was what was causing the knocking and all the massive blowby. I was expecting the scoring so that didn't surprise me, but the wrist pin did. Anyway, life goes on.

I thought that what I went through physically almost seven years ago was bad, but it doesn't even begin to come close to what you went through Weber. I tried to go back to work in a cabinet shop, but ended up going on disability instead. Over the past few years I've pushed myself, and can do most of what I used to, but standing on concrete floors is a killer. King Arther(itis) is definitely taking over.

Don
 
Someone needs to perfect a pneumatic shift clutch for us with bad knees/legs. I've been tossing around the idea for years and even talked with a dubber who built one in mechanic school.

I'm looking forward to power steering... Just need to find the time to do the swap. Have all the parts for the swap (other than the belt and hoses).
 
and a bit of humor

it's almost like it all belongs together
c54Q3EF.jpg
 
Wow , that lightened things up , lol . I have a steering box and it's shaft , just need to find a decent 60 series pump (no , don't like canned ham) . I've adjusted the clutch so that it's very low to the floor - helps with the knees being bent more than I care to tolerate . I agree with heat - it sure helps and a hot tub here would result in never getting out of it - I just use a heating pad , a lot . Meds , well Celebrex did nothing but eat up $300 cash , sticking with Soma compound for now , excessive amounts of it too . I still do work , drive the 40 to work come hell or high mud and leave that beer can Tacoma at home . The rough ride and seating position I've got it adjusted at somewhat helps the back - it just pounds those vertebrae back into place , sort of . The 40 , at this rate , will outlive me despite being in The Land Of Salted Roads and is pretty much in better shape . I got really lucky with this engine - it's either been rebuilt or is very low miles - it cruises at 70 on 33's easily with stock gears . It really could use the 5spd to help with revs , I'm certain it can pull the overdrive easily enough . I suspect the rocker arms and lifters are getting worn from running at high revs , combined with sub grade oils that are available - she's starting to want to rattle no matter how the valves are set . I do use the additives (Rislone) , but lacking a proper base oil is what counts and I'm not shelling out $20/qt for Penn or similar with the miles I put on it (10k last year) . Need to pull the distributor and side cover , inspect those lifters and cam - doubt I'm gonna like what I find .

I fish on days I feel good enough (wife , as well) and am off work . We have a local canal that was built in the 1890's that is still flowing well and loaded with a wide variety of species . We mostly hunt the channel cat and crappie and perch , been eating quite a few this year so far . Got a 4lb flat headed blue a couple weeks ago , forgot how fatty they tasted , yuk . The channel cat is very clean and firm , can deep fry or easily grill them and are really tasty . Canal is fed by one of the few pretty clean rivers in Illinois and the feeder canal is lined with perfect bottom weeds that filter it very well . I'd like to learn to fly fish , never did get into that but tying flies would be a joke with the arthritis in my hands - typing is bad enough . Might go out today and fish a bit - but Sundays it can get quite crowded out at the places we go that are easily accessible unless you go out very early - wife isn't up for that , lol . She hates riding in the Cruiser and I hate the Taco - need to change something there , not sure what to do - maybe I'll find a 47 , lol .

Sarge
 
I tried for nearly 25 years to get a 55 that was nearby - it just sat there rusting into the ground and never moved . Just over a year ago , it finally did move and I suspect it just went to scrap . Early on , it was in pretty good shape with just one small dent in the fender and no rust at all . Towards the end , you could crawl into it through the holes in the sides and bottom , what a waste . I've always wanted a mid or long wheel base 43-47 series but prices on them are way too high . There is a relatively cheap 60 series for sale from a guy I know - probably should grab it if nothing else for parts for the 40 or just fix and drive it . I'm far too familiar with Lucas the Devil , those electrical engineers should have been hunted down and made an example of for what they did . I drove an '88.5 Samurai that was crazy lifted and wheeled it regularly for over 12yrs and 300K+ miles , daily and only driver . That might explain the back problems , lol . Used to wheel it , break it/flip or flop it , fix and go to work the next day . Plucky doesn't even come close describing those little things and mine was set up to flex like a slinky . When I got hurt at work , it sat for far too long and finally got sold - was just sick of seeing it sit and it's been restored by the new owner since .

The Taco has been ok , but all the issues with frames / rear springs and the idiot programming on it's engine/trans is enough to drive a guy nuts . Got the recall letter for the rear springs over a year ago - they are breaking and the driver's side has the potential to punch through the poly fuel tank . Not to mention , they are far too weak and soft - mine are bent into a negative arch . Really interested in the '13 model year Ram 1500 quad cabs - Hemi with fuel mileage better than the Taco and decent amount of room to boot . I have grown to hate the Taco's 5' bed , some quad cab Ram's were built with a 6.3' bed but they are rare around here - most are the shorty crew cabs . Crazy part is trade in value - the Taco with under 40k on the clock is only about 3k under the newer Ram used , pathetic . All the new stuff is too overloaded with electronics to suite me , but not much choice if you want something that gets decent mileage and ride quality . If I could somehow afford and logistically register/import a 79 series quad cab trayback over here I'd be the happiest guy in the USA - but that's not going to happen due to import laws .

Time to stop rambling , looking forward to seeing 44 get out and do some more adventures !

Sarge
 
On this day, in 1780, Benedict Arnold committed treason, when he met with British Major John Andre to discuss handing over West Point to the British, in return for a large sum of money and a high position in the British army.

On this day, in 2015, 44 came home leak-free and ready for action!!

I picked her up this morning, drove her to a car wash and had her bathed, her shoes shined and her make-up touched up. Then I drove her over to meet Zach (@FluByU )... We had a nice visit while 44 simply posed and profiled. :cool:

She runs and drives and sounds just like I had hoped and the leak is fixed!!

More good news... The clutch doesn't hurt my hip/leg/ankle any more than simply sitting and driving does. So, once I get her set up again, I will be able to make some trips!!

Technically, as I said in an earlier post, I need to swap out the two fuel filter elements, hook up my hand throttle, hook up my hood lock and do a compression test... I'll try to get more/better engine pictures while the air cleaner is off (to hook up the hand throttle)... In the meantime, here are the homecoming pictures... Well, the pictures won't upload right now... I'll try again later... Take my word for it, she's got a huge grin on her face... As do I!!
 
She looks great Danny, a real beauty!
Looking forward to more pics and possibly a video of engine running.
 
pngunme said:
Thanks Mike! How do you post a video?
Click to expand...

You would need a hosting site like you tube, if you don't have one I would gladly do it for you, let me know.
 
pngunme said:
I appreciate that Mike! I'll send you a video in the next day or so.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

My pleasure Danny! Glad to help out a friend!
 
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