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- #21
And the steering feels pretty vague. Is there something that I should check first? Bushings are ok, leafs are pretty old, tires are old, shocks are gonners and leaking badly. Mostly it's a feel though. Just feels vague.
My first HJ61. What to do now?
- Thread starter Colington
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- diesel 12h-t hj61vx
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Sounds like it is good time to order full OME spring kit.
Toyota cooling fluid is totally not necessary. However, if you don't know when it was changed last time, that may be an option. Same with oils.
Tach sensor is on the left side of the bellhousing, crawl under and take a look it is O.K.
HJ looks very nice, except for that hideous roof rack, IMO.
GZ!
Toyota cooling fluid is totally not necessary. However, if you don't know when it was changed last time, that may be an option. Same with oils.
Tach sensor is on the left side of the bellhousing, crawl under and take a look it is O.K.
HJ looks very nice, except for that hideous roof rack, IMO.
GZ!
- Thread starter
- #24
Hojo 61 I totally agree on the horrible roof rack. It was a last min throw in by the seller. I have some basic crossbars off my old Audi Q7 that will go on as soon as I get some mounts and towers. I was hoping if I painted this huge one black, it would improve, but it may just be too ugly lol.
Question about the tach sensor. I'll slither under there and fool around, but is something like that sensor fixable? A brief parts search yielded ZERO available in the USA. Any links to fixing or basis r&r would be appreciated.
I'm glad to hear your feedback on the coolant. Toyotanation.com seems to be adamant about Toyota red or you'll die a flaming infidel.
Question about the tach sensor. I'll slither under there and fool around, but is something like that sensor fixable? A brief parts search yielded ZERO available in the USA. Any links to fixing or basis r&r would be appreciated.
I'm glad to hear your feedback on the coolant. Toyotanation.com seems to be adamant about Toyota red or you'll die a flaming infidel.
Old Man Emu lift kit will help out a lot with ride issues and possibly stiffen up the steering a bit. I would do what Micah said and get a baseline first before trying to tackle anything too intense. I had my entire front end rebuilt with better Birfs and a knuckle rebuild as well as the OME lift done at the same time and it helped a ton!
Don't worry about the color of the coolant. I would flush the system really good and put in the same as you took out. Do not mix the two.
Nice shifter ball! That pic does look a bit familiar though...Lol
- Thread starter
- #26
Tibbs: I am ashamed to admit that your pic was so good that not only did I copy your shifter knob, but stole your pic as well lol. It sure feels good in the hand. It was a bit of a pain getting the inner adapter ring and knob to play together and tighten to the proper 12 o'clock position.
Ugly rack is now off! Now I'm debating the bumper....??? Thoughts? In doing the cosmetic stuff on a budget to allow for an OME soon.
Ugly rack is now off! Now I'm debating the bumper....??? Thoughts? In doing the cosmetic stuff on a budget to allow for an OME soon.
Much better without the rack!
- Thread starter
- #28
New wheels and tires. Cleaned up and lubed top to bottom (which was sorely needed)
Very nice and clean, @Kaasdief you need to step on a empty beer crate 
Nice rig for sure! Not sure if I would ever get used to shifting with my left arm though....
Definitely get those leaf springs and shocks replaced. This will help the ride. Also check tie rods and drag links.
Definitely get those leaf springs and shocks replaced. This will help the ride. Also check tie rods and drag links.
- Thread starter
- #32
So far that's it's best use by a landslide. It's pretty good to sit on and look at the beach too Not so great for tight parking lol.
Shifting with your left arm must be easier to learn than to teach your right arm, that is to say if you are right handed...aarghh!!! At least you are not confused about which side of the road to be on! Should I visit a left hand drive country I would probably cause chaos enough to make the news. What I am trying to say is "Good Luck"
Nice rig. I went through a lot of what you are contemplating. I found that 35" tires worked well with the gearing of the 5 speed, 4:11 axles and the torque of the 12ht. 90 mph will put the tach at 3,000 rpms. Mine now has 4:1 transfer case gears that lowered the high range 10%. I have done both OME and Alcan. I like that Alcan will customize to your specs. I also ended up with air bags at all 4 wheels. If I were doing it again, I would only add the air bags and spend the $ on a nice controller/air block. Drive on the highways lower, off-road higher.
I would say that doing a couple of very cheap and easy things to the turbo and fuel settings will seriously turn up the power. Worth doing. Second, solving the 24v to 12v power conversion is a major headache. In order to power a 12v winch, fridge, lights, stereo, gps, inverter, yada yada yada means a third battery, a 24v to 12v converter, and a 12v battery charger/maintainer all wired with relays is my final solution. The Solar Converter a lot of people use cannot handle much amperage and when you need it, you are far from home.
Any time you want to discuss any of this, I can. I also live close to Noah.
Mike
I would say that doing a couple of very cheap and easy things to the turbo and fuel settings will seriously turn up the power. Worth doing. Second, solving the 24v to 12v power conversion is a major headache. In order to power a 12v winch, fridge, lights, stereo, gps, inverter, yada yada yada means a third battery, a 24v to 12v converter, and a 12v battery charger/maintainer all wired with relays is my final solution. The Solar Converter a lot of people use cannot handle much amperage and when you need it, you are far from home.
Any time you want to discuss any of this, I can. I also live close to Noah.
Mike
Niice! Welcome to the exclusive owners club of kick ass 12HT engines. Yeah, they are perfect for the heavy 60.
Original leaves looks like they're done...
And in one of the last photos I can see the anti inversion shackle is on backwards.
That open bolt between the plates pointing forward, should be pointing toward the axle.
Baseline everything, one step at a time.
Oil, check bearings, hoses, brake lines and such.
Flush steering fluid, do fuel and air filter, adjust valve clearance.
Brakes should be fine, if well maintained. Do change the fluid as a first precaution, might improve just by doing that, and keep in mind it's not advisable to push the brake pedal all the way down while swapping fluid, as the seals in the master cylinder might not like that.
I've upgraded to 4 runner calipers and ss lines, does improve the feel and braking a bit.
Keep your front bumper for now, until you can afford a set from @reevesci ,and maybe someone will want to buy the oem from you.
I prefer not messing with a dual battery, if it's 24v.
Just make sure there is NO center tap for 12v.
Install a converter for stereo and 12v outlets.
Get everything else in 24v, not hard. I have the winch, fridge, air compressor, cb radio, usb outlets, 24v phone chargers and misc stuff just running off 24v. And the ARB fridge runs for days without going into save battery mode.
Only the stereo and the bmw electric seats run on 12v.
The 12ht is super easy to work with, you're gonna have a blast!
Pål
Original leaves looks like they're done...
And in one of the last photos I can see the anti inversion shackle is on backwards.
That open bolt between the plates pointing forward, should be pointing toward the axle.
Baseline everything, one step at a time.
Oil, check bearings, hoses, brake lines and such.
Flush steering fluid, do fuel and air filter, adjust valve clearance.
Brakes should be fine, if well maintained. Do change the fluid as a first precaution, might improve just by doing that, and keep in mind it's not advisable to push the brake pedal all the way down while swapping fluid, as the seals in the master cylinder might not like that.
I've upgraded to 4 runner calipers and ss lines, does improve the feel and braking a bit.
Keep your front bumper for now, until you can afford a set from @reevesci ,and maybe someone will want to buy the oem from you.
I prefer not messing with a dual battery, if it's 24v.
Just make sure there is NO center tap for 12v.
Install a converter for stereo and 12v outlets.
Get everything else in 24v, not hard. I have the winch, fridge, air compressor, cb radio, usb outlets, 24v phone chargers and misc stuff just running off 24v. And the ARB fridge runs for days without going into save battery mode.
Only the stereo and the bmw electric seats run on 12v.
The 12ht is super easy to work with, you're gonna have a blast!
Pål
Looking good, you've many hours of fun in front you, Regarding the 24v, get yourself a good converter for stereo, and 12v sockets if required, at least 10amp 12v another option is investigate at a charge equaliser, I have converter for stereo, uhf, and added a couple 12v sockets, but I also added a charge equaliser as well, to keep both batteries Charing at .25v of each other, The 24v can give you some grief on turning batteries over if they are not charging equally, if possible always buy both batts from same batch at same time.
On your steering vagueness, get your suspension sorted first and then review the vagueness, if still there, tighten up the screw on top of steering box, slightly at a time, get your wheels bearing done and swivel hubs, Have fun with it, we all do
On your steering vagueness, get your suspension sorted first and then review the vagueness, if still there, tighten up the screw on top of steering box, slightly at a time, get your wheels bearing done and swivel hubs, Have fun with it, we all do
Nice Rig.!!
If not done yet . . . . get OME heavy.
Keep the bumper. Nice place for your beer or your bum when watching the sunset.
There are many with ARB bumpers out there, keep yours different.
If not done yet . . . . get OME heavy.
Keep the bumper. Nice place for your beer or your bum when watching the sunset.
There are many with ARB bumpers out there, keep yours different.
awesome HJ61 man! Ill be shipping mine to the states next week. Gotta pick it up at the san diego port once it arrives. cant wait to start driving it again..