Builds My '78 FJ40 "44" (1 Viewer)

[4Cruisers]

That trail looks great, but is touted as a heavily used bike trail... we might do it, but with Chester along, we'd rather have trails that are less travelled or not bike trails.

Know any?

There's always the Windsor Trail, the trailhead (~10,200 feet) is at the parking area for the Santa Fe Ski Basin at the end of Hyde Park Road. We've hiked it quite a few times, usually as the approach to summiting Santa Fe Baldy, 12,622 feet. A shorter and very nice hike starts along the Windsor Trail from the same trailhead but forks to the right (south) after a few miles and takes you to Nambe Lake, ~11,350 feet, in a pretty basin below Lake Peak, 12,409 feet. We did that variation on one of our hikes. You won't be disappointed.

 

[Solace in Solitude]

There's always the Windsor Trail, the trailhead (~10,200 feet) is at the parking area for the Santa Fe Ski Basin at the end of Hyde Park Road. We've hiked it quite a few times, usually as the approach to summiting Santa Fe Baldy, 12,622 feet. A shorter and very nice hike starts along the Windsor Trail from the same trailhead but forks to the right (south) after a few miles and takes you to Nambe Lake, ~11,350 feet, in a pretty basin below Lake Peak, 12,409 feet. We did that variation on one of our hikes. You won't be disappointed.

Thanks!! Sounds like great !!

I don't want to be hiking at 10k, with lightning, this time of year.. we'll start early!!

 

[Solace in Solitude]

As you may, or may not have heard... when returning from our last 44 trip, in 108* heat, 44's fuel pressure gauge started showing 0 psi, from the aux fuel pump. I switched to the main fuel pump and, with 4 psi, we trucked on.

A while later, the main dropped to 0 psi. I switched to aux, 4 psi, and we trucked on.

After the third or fourth time, I found switching to the other pump didn't help... 0 psi on both pumps... We pulled over, popped the hood and I poured ice on Chester's bed, under his belly, to keep him cool.

I was going to bypass the Pollak, eliminating the electronics and wire directly to the main pump... But, 44's headers run at 450* on a warm day and it was way too hot to work in the engine compartment... So, I figure we'd just limp home.

After about 10 minutes, I started her back up, with 4 psi And we trucked on... Until it next occurred... Sometimes, I could flick the DPDT switch and continue on... Other times, we had to pull over and pop the hood for a few minutes... always refreshing Chester's ice bed.

I think we had to pull over 17 times and cool off... But, truthfully, I tasked Chester with keeping a count and he let me down.

Anyway, we made it home... A long, hot trip... the next day, 44 wouldn't start... 0 psi on both pumps.

Long story, longer... I carry spares for every part in this fuel delivery system and I assumed the heat was messing with one of the electric parts.

I swapped out the Pollak Switching Valve and the main fuel pump started pumping at 4psi... But, the aux pump showed 0 psi. I crawled under and swapped to my spare pump... No change... I put the meter on it and found only 4.5v... Not enough to make the pump... Pump.

I crawled under the oil filter and disconnected the Oil Pressure Safety Switch... Trust me, it's difficult to troubleshoot with the OPSS connected.

I then went to the DPDT switch on the dash and metered the coil+ feed and the main pump circuit at 10.5v and the aux pump circuit at 4.5v.

This anomaly is very curious... For two years, I have had this fuel system set up, to be powered from the coil+, and never had a problem with it... Now, the same wire feeds to the DPDT... The DPDT switches between main and aux... And, yet, the main always gets the full Monty and the aux only gets about half.

I swapped the DPDT and found the very same result... Not enough umpf to run the aux pump... I reached out to Rudi and he gave me a couple of suggestions... I filed them away, hooked the trailer to the Tundra and we went to Northern New Mexico for about three weeks of delightful cool mountain air and afternoon thunderstorms... We had a great time!!

Returning home, I went over every inch of 44, looking for a short that was energizing the frame or body... Nothing...

I then went over the fuel electronics, yet again and metered the coil, finding that the voltage fluctuated between 10.5v and 4.5v... I don't know whether this is normal or not... But, why would it always be 10.5v for the main pump and 4.5v for the aux pump?!?

At any rate, I decided to change the fuel electronics feed to a different switched source... I found the 'extra' voltage regulator wire (never used) is hot, when the ignition is on, so I wired to that source.

Voila!! Problem solved... Fuel system fixed!!

I rewired the OPSS and all is good in 44's world again... So, I'm hooking the trailer to the Tundra and we're heading out again for a few weeks... I just wanted to be sure Chester and I could get after it, when we return.

Life is great!!

 

[Solace in Solitude]

Pictures from Northern New Mexico...

A sunrise...

After a hike...

Chester on guard...

 

[Solace in Solitude]

Added buss bars and cleaned up the battery+

 

[Solace in Solitude]

I had and hour and a half to spare this morning, before getting back to loading the truck and trailer for our trip"

So, Chester and I took 44 for a highway drive out to the DNWR turnoff and back... About 50 miles total.

This is the first time I've had a chance to drive 44 since I figured out what was causing my aux tank fuel pump to not pump fuel.

I said before that Mark's (@65swb45) rebuild of my spare Aisan carb was great... Let me be clear... It was phenomal!!

You know, sometimes things change so slowly that you don't even notice they changed?

I'm reminded of a story I told before... Dianna and I bought our first color TV in Tucson, in 1971. Three years later, her parents came to stay with us for several months, on their move from Vegas to Texas. Dianna's Dad took one glance at the TV and said, "what's wrong with that TV.". I asked, "What do you mean?". He replied, "You have to strike a match to see it!"... We hadn't even noticed it was so dim.

Well, apparently 44's fuel delivery issues are an example of "slow change"... this morning, I drove up a grade that has long been challenging, when both tanks are full and 44 is loaded for a trip... I could seldom reach 60 mph... And only with a tail wind.

This morning, both tanks are full and 44 is loaded and she cruised at 75 mph... and she was "running against the wind" and made the hills look like they were standing still!!

Mark told me that her 2F should now run like an SBC... More like a Hemi, if you ask me!!

I still don't understand how my fuel delivery system worked flawlessly for 2 years, from the coil+, and suddenly failed on a 108* drive.

But, I'm a retired (twice) software developer... All I know about auto mechanics is what I've,learned since I bought 44 in Feb, 2014...

At any rate, here's what 75 looks like... If you need your Aisan carb rebuilt, tuned and performing like a 4-barrel, call Mark!!

I can't wait to get back home, during cooler fall weather, and take Chester in a long 44 trip... We have places to go and things to see!!

 

[Solace in Solitude]

Tahoe is great!! Cool mountain air and about 2 trillion people waiting for the sun to turn black.

Our little R-Pod trailer is resting in the shade of rock star bohemoth class-A RVs.

Most of these people brought everything they own...

Anyway, glad we came!!

Gladder yet, when Tuesday morning comes and we can head for the solitude of US50... "The loneliest road in the country"!!

Lake Tahoe

Looking down into the Truckee River bottom

Chester, showing the flowers up

 

[waiting for time]

Nice pictures Danny, my wife loves Chester.

 

[DSB345]

Great place to get away. Great pics! Any gambeling?

 

[Solace in Solitude]

Nice pictures Danny, my wife loves Chester.

Thanks Michael!!

Your wife has great taste!!

 

[Solace in Solitude]

Great place to get away. Great pics! Any gambeling?

Thanks Dave!!

No gambling... except, driving around the lake... I'm partial to guardrails... there aren't many... just sheer drops

I think we're gonna stay a couple extra days, to let the working eclipsers get down the road.

There are a couple more hikes we want to make.

 

[waiting for time]

Thanks Michael!!

Your wife has great taste!!

I know.

 

[handcannon]

Love those pics, especially of the Lake Tahoe area. I've been to the lake once, 39 years ago. We came from Sacramento to Tahoe, and then went north to Lakeview, OR. Obviously it was long enough ago that my memory is a bit thin about the area. I just remember pine country around the lake. It is real easy to "see" 44 in the environment of the second pic.

Don

 

[Disasterman]

Best photo is of Chester the molester, nothing like having your pup with you. Safe travels.

 

[rkymtnflyfisher]

Looks like fun Danny!

 

[Solace in Solitude]

It is real easy to "see" 44 in the environment of the second pic.

Don

Yep, 44 would love it here!!

Best photo is of Chester the molester, nothing like having your pup with you. Safe travels.

Thanks!!

I may be a bit partial, but Chester is PERFECT!!

Looks like fun Danny!

Oh, it certainly is, Ryan!!

Hope things are moving toward getting your family to MT.

I know how tough all that fishing can be...

... especially without your girls...

 

[Solace in Solitude]

Couple of pictures, from the Lamoille Valley, Ruby Mtns, NV, besting the Vegas heat. No cell service... but, drove down to see if the world had ended yet.

 

[mrboatman]

Cool pic`s we were in Reno most of the summer and had to come to boulder early and it is HOT they are saying close to 110 today so you are doing good staying away enjoy the cool mountians.
JP

 

[Solace in Solitude]

Cool pic`s we were in Reno most of the summer and had to come to boulder early and it is HOT they are saying close to 110 today so you are doing good staying away enjoy the cool mountians.
JP

I hear ya!!

We've decided to stay thru Labor Day + 1 and hope the heat wave breaks before we get home.

Of course the heat is better than the Harvey rain...

 

[tls3601]

The Ruby Mtns look gorgeous Danny! I was in Vegas this past weekend. Some day I want to get my '78 out into some of the Mtns around Vegas. Maybe of few of us could meet up in your neck of the woods.