Builds My '78 FJ40 "44"

[Solace in Solitude]

Thanks a Sarge! He's going tonight to get shots. I'll mention it and see what they say.

EDIT: I don't think it's serious though, he's only done it once - but the breeder mentioned that he sometimes sleeps that way.

 

[Weber Sarge]

I saw another Retriever do this - he ended up having a slightly malformed throat which was easily corrected - no big deal . He's gonna be a looker for sure , and full of fun too .
Wish my GSD would finish his maturing - he's still pretty wild and likes to play "hard" .
Sarge

 

[FJ404345]

Thanks a Sarge! He's going tonight to get shots. I'll mention it and see what they say.

EDIT: I don't think it's serious though, he's only done it once - but the breeder mentioned that he sometimes sleeps that way.

When you stop giving him single malt in his food, it will go away

 

[Solace in Solitude]

When you stop giving him single malt in his food, it will go away

waar is het leuk ? Where's the fun??

 

[FJ404345]

waar is het leuk ? Where's the fun??

Has to be a Dutch humor then.

 

[Solace in Solitude]

I saw another Retriever do this - he ended up having a slightly malformed throat which was easily corrected - no big deal . He's gonna be a looker for sure , and full of fun too .
Wish my GSD would finish his maturing - he's still pretty wild and likes to play "hard" .
Sarge

The vet wasn't concerned, she said that as he grows, he will become less and less flexible and quit doing it. We've still only seen that single incidence.

He's a great pup and Gunner is warming to him, they've been playing a bit the past two days.

I had put the horrors of teething out of my mind... No, I remember just how sharp puppies teeth can be.. The scars of wrenching are being overrun by the scars of teething.

He's definitely a cutie!

 

[Solace in Solitude]

Has to be a Dutch humor then.

Maar natuurlijk!

 

[roma042987]

Danny Im going to be pulling the engine out of my 87 sometime this year whenever I get around to installing the diesel. Not sure how feasible it would be since it would have to be shipped. Here is some details on the engine its serving daily driver duties at this point unless im driving my 40. Its got 151k on the clock and doesn't smoke and hasn't used any oil between oil changes (3k mile interval for me). The only thing I did that's not documented in that thread is rebuild the intake/exhaust manifold which I did when I did the desmog. new exhaust horn springs and seals, stainless heat deflector between the intake and exhaust and both new gaskets that join the intake to the exhaust.
https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/1987-fj60-whats-she-worth.689452/

 

[Solace in Solitude]

@roma042987

Thanks for thinking of me, Roma!! And please keep me in mind, when the time comes...

It wouldn't have to be shipped, I'm retired... I could drive my Tundra to Austin for another Visit with my Daughter and then on to AL to rent a u-haul and pick it up.

Please do a compression test before you pull it...

Also, given enough notice, I could be there to help you pull it.

Thanks again!!

 

[FluByU]

I could always take some leave and go with you. I am originally from Decatur, just west of Huntsville, and all of my family still lives either there or Madison. I plan on returning to the area in a couple of years when I retire. I have made the drive several times so if you want company, let me know.

 

[Solace in Solitude]

Thanks Zach!!

 

[Solace in Solitude]

Well now... 44 has been leaning and crouching and showing her age, so I ordered a set of BOSS Air Bags while I was in Austin. I didn't want her to know... I wanted it to be a surprise... I expected to be able to complete this in one day (yesterday), but I had to spread it out over two days, so I could keep up with young Chester and deal with creating a heat shield to protect the driver's side air bag from the muffler.

I can't drive 44 yet... need to change the oil/filter to remove the ATF/Diesel I poured in the cylinders before I left for Austin in mid-February - so, here's the best passenger side pictures I could get.

I should preface the rest with... my aux tank is full 22 gallons of gas at 6.3lbs/gal + 95 lbs for tank and skid plate = 234 lbs, hanging under the back of 44.

Here's the rear passenger with air bags empty & 10lbs - BOSS doesn't recommend you run them completely flat, so, like my AirLite bags on my Tundra, I will run them, sans lift, for parking in the garage, at 10 lbs:

Here's the same picture at 60 lbs

Here's a picture that shows the front and rear, passenger, air bags at 60 lbs is about a 2.5" lift on 44

I'm very pleased with the BOSS air bags... assuming it drives well with them and it should. The BOSS bags are much more sturdy than my Tundra's Firestone AirLite bags... and I've been running them for several years to level my truck when I have the back loaded and am towing our travel trailer.

Here's what the bags look like underneath - had to be sure and clear the brake line on the passenger side and the heat shield the muffler on the driver's side

So, again, I'm very pleased for $349, free shipping and a spot of work!!

Next... tomorrow, a Spine Doctor appt, Chester to vet for shots, clean up my mess... Tuesday, change the oil/filter, air filter, plugs, pcv/grommet and go for a test drive!!

 

[78fj40mg]

Well now... 44 has been leaning and crouching and showing her age, so I ordered a set of BOSS Air Bags while I was in Austin. I didn't want her to know... I wanted it to be a surprise... I expected to be able to complete this in one day (yesterday), but I had to spread it out over two days, so I could keep up with young Chester and deal with creating a heat shield to protect the driver's side air bag from the muffler.

I can't drive 44 yet... need to change the oil/filter to remove the ATF/Diesel I poured in the cylinders before I left for Austin in mid-February - so, here's the best passenger side pictures I could get.

I should preface the rest with... my aux tank is full 22 gallons of gas at 6.3lbs/gal + 95 lbs for tank and skid plate = 234 lbs, hanging under the back of 44.

Here's the rear passenger with air bags empty & 10lbs - BOSS doesn't recommend you run them completely flat, so, like my AirLite bags on my Tundra, I will run them, sans lift, for parking in the garage, at 10 lbs:

View attachment 1060431

Here's the same picture at 60 lbs

View attachment 1060432


Here's a picture that shows the front and rear, passenger, air bags at 60 lbs is about a 2.5" lift on 44

View attachment 1060440

I'm very pleased with the BOSS air bags... assuming it drives well with them and it should. The BOSS bags are much more sturdy than my Tundra's Firestone AirLite bags... and I've been running them for several years to level my truck when I have the back loaded and am towing our travel trailer.

Here's what the bags look like underneath - had to be sure and clear the brake line on the passenger side and the heat shield the muffler on the driver's side

View attachment 1060444 View attachment 1060451

So, again, I'm very pleased for $349, free shipping and a spot of work!!

Next... tomorrow, a Spine Doctor appt, Chester to vet for shots, clean up my mess... Tuesday, change the oil/filter, air filter, plugs, pcv/grommet and go for a test drive!!

Excellent work Danny!

 

[ginmtb]

Forgive the air bag ignorant - do you have to have a compressor on board to pump those up? Do you have controls onboard to handle that? Will you be installing neon underneath now and doing some crazy street shows?

 

[Solace in Solitude]

Not ignorant, just inquiring minds...

While I have never had On Board Air (OBA), per se, but I never leave home without a compressor of some sort.

I generally carry a VIAIR compressor, like THIS ONE - it will air up the 80psi tires on my Casita trailer in short order.

I also carry a JumpBox that has a built in compressor, but it's just a backup should my VIAIR fail or should I need a jump.

I don't have controls on board - I mounted the air valves under the hood, one on each fender - I can connect the alligator clips on my VIAIR to the battery and inflate/deflate very quickly. Air bags take very little air - I can get them from 0-60psi in about 30 seconds.

I generally set the air to whatever level I need and leave it there - I seldom have to add air. Example: When setting my Tundra up for towing the trailer, I add 10psi to all tires (45psi) and adjust the Firestone AirLite bags to 50psi. When I get back home, I take the air bags back to 10psi and the tires back to 35 psi.

For 44, I will adjust the lift to whatever height I like, as long as it fits in the garage. If I want the lift higher, I'll adjust it after I back out of the garage. I think I can get in and out of the garage at 50 psi (~2" lift), but will have to try it after I get 44 running again.

No neon and no crazy street shows... it's and adjust-a-rider... not a low rider... it won't go no lower than picture 1, above.

Make sense?

 

[Solace in Solitude]

Hi All,

Well, as I announced in another thread... 44 has a dead cylinder #4 (15 psi) - curious that this occurred after I left ATF/Diesel in the cylinders for 2 months (while I was in Austin)... perhaps it worked too well...

At any rate, I dropped the oil pan and didn't find anything metal/magnetic - the cylinders and pistons looked fine (as far as I ca see), from underneath.

So, I adjusted the idle to 800 rpm and took Gunner and Chester for Chester's first drive in 44 - she's sluggish, she's missing (a cylinder ), but we went 20 miles to the Desert National Wildlife Refuge and took Morman Well Road to Gass Peak Road. Then we drove Gass Peak Road to a traditional campsite and I let the Boys run free for a bit, while I put on a sweatshirt to ward off the icy wind, blowing from Gass Peak. It was considerably colder up there (5k') than down home (2.4k').

You can see how Chester is growing

And here, you can see my BOSS Air Bag lift - I have it set at 55 psi (e.g. 2.5" lift) - I can get in and out of the garage, even with the back rising when the aux tank is empty. I'm VERY pleased with my BOSS bags!

I liked this view

...and finally learned where our Southern Nevada rain comes from... There were three of these Rain for Rent trailers

44 is running rough... missing that cylinder, but she chugged along... I feel bad for her, so I've decided to have her original 2F rebuilt and will deliver her to the surgeon on May 6th - we should be apart for 4-6 weeks.

Zach ( @FluByU ) really wanted to help me pull my 2F - very gracious offer!! But, Dianna refused to allow me to take on that task... I've been in such pain since mid-Feb and have two MRIs scheduled for this evening... She said, "Have it pulled, rebuilt and put back together and take your Tundra out to play while it's being done". I was so fortunate to marry an angel 45 years ago!!

So, thank you Zach - I sincerely appreciate the offer!!

 

[FluByU]

No worries Danny. Pulling it isn't as hard as it seems. I pulled mine out, replaced the oil pan gasket, cleaned up the bell housing and reinstalled it all in about 2 hours. Of course it helps when there isn't anything attached to it and the whole body is off the frame. If you change your mind, I am a phone call away.

 

[Solace in Solitude]

See you next week Zach!

 

[Solace in Solitude]

BTW I should have mentioned... the 2.5" lift, provided by my BOSS air bags, at 55 psi allows me to enter and exit the garage, with 1" clearance, without adjusting the air. While driving the other day, I ran the auxiliary tank down to about 1/4 tank. When I returned home, I was careful to check my garage clearance (assuming the back would rise somewhat, absent about 15gal (* 6.3(lbs/gal) = 94.5 lbs of gas))... it still cleared by almost an inch. So, I should be able to run a 2.5" lift without worrying about taking the header out of the garage door.

 

[Solace in Solitude]

Several MUDbrothers have suggested that we need a winch... even though we carry a Hi-lift and a Come-Along, every time we go out.

I finally broke down, while we were in Austin, and bought a 9000lb Harbor Freight Badlands Winch, with Hitch Receiver Cradle Mount and Wireless Remote for $259 and free shipping. They made me an offer I couldn't refuse!.

I don't want to permanently mount a winch on 44 and this will allow me to share it between 44 and my Tundra (it has hitch receivers, front and back).

I mounted the winch on the cradle mount and mounted the whole enchilada on 44's front receiver. Then I opened the hood, turned off my battery switch (no strain on 44's wiring) and connected the + & - cables to the battery and pulled out about 10' of cable. Then stepped back and used the remote to reel it back in - everything works fine!

I only have this one picture thus far - cables aren't as neat as a bumper mounted winch, but it will only be mounted when/if I need it.

The little square box is the wireless transmitter/receiver... I need to decide whether I want to mount it to the winch or carry it with the remote, in the glove box.