New Exhaust recommendations

[danlandcruisermd]

Hey Everybody-

I need your guys help as I am currently kind of screwed. I live in Nashville (recently relocated from DC) but my truck is currently in Fredericksburg, VA at Iron Pig not working. It has been a nightmare of a year with my truck as it has been sitting in a mechanic's shop in DC for a year with the mechanic not knowing what is wrong with the truck.

The engine was rebuilt twice and the headgasket was blown 4 times. They finally repaired the headgaskets but the truck had no power when going up hills. I finally decided to have it towed to Iron Pig as I was fed up with the mechanic not being able to figure out the issue.

Upon arrival at Iron Pig, they quickly addressed that the intake and exhaust manifold needed to be replaced and repaired as too much fuel was currently being pumped into the carburetor and causing the idle RPM to be way too high.

I spoke with Lance the owner of Iron Pig Monday morning before I towed it and he told me to bring it on down and they would love to take a look at it and help fix it. As of 2 hours ago, after recommending work and sending over invoices, Lance called me out of the blue and said they have too many other trucks to fix and I would have to send my truck elsewhere. I am in a HUGE bind and need help.

Here is what they recommended I have done and the costs associated with labor:

• REMF-7009 - 2F intake/exhaust gasket set - Remflex, Toyota Land Cruiser - L6 3.9L "F" ('68-'74), 4.2L "2F" ('75-'87) Combination Intake and Exhaust Manifold Gasket (Set Includes EGR & Heat Riser Gaskets), 6 Piece Set $86 + $760 for labor
  
• JTO-PSE17100TC - FJ60, 2F, Performance Exhaust Header $298 for part
• DUI-C9079BK - HEI spark plug wire set, 2F w/HEI distributor $89.95 + $47.50 labor
  
• DUI-80820BK - HEI distributor, Toyota Land Cruiser 6 cyl $393 for part +$95 labor
  
• TOY-90919-01065 - FJ60 Spark Plug $13.32
• TOY-11213-61011 - Valve Cover Gasket, 2F, 80-87 $23.30
• Build and install new Stainless Steel exhaust $1449.62

Here are my questions and where I need your guy's help with:

1.) Does anyone know any good mechanics in Fredericksburg/Stafford/ or the DC area that could do the work that Iron Pig was supposed to do?

2.) Can you guys recommend a good exhaust system for my LC since Iron Pig can't do it?

3.) Also, are there any shops in Nashville or DC area that could install the back bumper and tire rack for me?

 

[MOCO62]

Hey- sorry to hear you are in a bind. I was one of the people who recommended you call Lance. For that reason, i am curious why they can't simply do this in the coming weeks. Any other background on the timeline?

 

[gregnash]

First off.... go OEM for the manifold gasket... still available and about the same cost through Onur (Beno).
Why are they recommending going with an electronic dizzy for the truck? No particular reason to do this and really since the truck has had no performance tuning done to it there really is no need for it. See if you can get a used (as I think they are NLA) dizzy from somewhere on here or SOR.
Header? Again, really no need unless you have a seriously hard time finding a replacement OEM one.
Stainless Steel exhaust is not needed, I have received a couple quotes from local shops, both small and larger, and to replace just about everything I am looking at about $400. That is including labor.

 

[Super77]

The $1449 stainless exhaust is completely unnecessary. An OEM replacement muffler for my 62 was ~$80 on Amazon, and I bought the rest of the additional pipes up to the header for <$150.

 

[gator25]

Wow! Had a machine shop in Shreveport machine the exhaust and intake for $102.00, they even put thread certs in the intake. Why header? Exhaust manifold busted? I put a auto zone muffler on it, for like 30-40 bucks.

 

[CaptClose]

It's a 2F... Isn't it normal to feel sluggish going up the hills? Is a stainless steel exhaust going to make a big difference? If you're going to throw money at your rig to get more power, why not swap in a new motor? There are plenty of conversion options out there.

If you love the 2F, get the truck down to Nashville and a lot of that work can be done in your own garage. Go to the clubhouse forums, there's a few Tennessee clubs with local guys that would probably be happy to share their expertise with you for a few beers.

Good luck my friend!

 

[MOCO62]

What's the backstory on this stainless custom exhaust.

EDIT: the rest of this thread has been edited. it was misleading to begin with... Dan has now removed some of his posts. In summary he went to a shop, asked for a bunch of quotes, changes, and upgrades, and then got into a spat with the owner over a custom powder coated tire carrier add-on and when they subsequently recommended he shop elsewhere, and Dan came on the forum to post his quotes and ended up badmouthing the guy and his shop. Forum members gave Dan advice on how to save money.... Dan misled us about the changes and the nature of the dispute... Then he backpedaled and told us this is a great shop that does great work, and he was just "heated". As one of the guys that refers to Iron Pig, I tried to clarify this thread, but it keeps getting edited by Dan!

 

[gregnash]

Yeah I have not experience with them and have only heard the name IRONPIG before so I am not sure what is going on. From what I have read, going with the electronic dizzy CAN help things out but is not a guaranteed solution. The header is great for areas that don't require the heat riser flap in the exhaust and will add a bit of performance but if you Intake is cracked/the problem then the exhaust manifold has nothing to do with that. Then the stainless steel exhaust was just overthetop for no reason. I could see if you had asked for it but I dont see it as being a defacto go to item. Something is very strange and fishy here... time to find another shop.

I know you said you werent much of a wrench but take the manifold off and take it to a machine shop to see if they can repair, lots have had this done, and then take the truck to a separate muffler shop for exhaust. Think there is something else going on here that needs to be addressed causing the 4 blown HG. Maybe see if you can get on the phone with someone like JimC (@FJ40Jim) and if he has time walk through some diagnosis. There are also the guys at ACC in Atlanta but I know that aint close.

 

[crashmonk]

no background other than Iron Pig recommending that stainless steel exhaust. If you want me to be completely honest, Lance kind of freaked out on me because I had questions about his charges. I was completely posed and calm but asked him to breakdown certain costs. He said he felt I was questioning his integrity. I had to talk him off the ledge and calm him down. It was a super odd experience and quite frankly, have never experienced anything like that. It made me suspect that perhaps he does overcharge given how quickly he got angry towards me. Once he calmed down and we agreed on the work, I received an email 10 minutes later saying he didn't realize he had other trucks he had to work on and it wouldn't work out. So odd.

As a mechanic, I can tell you it would be wise to RUN THE OTHER DIRECTION! Big red flag here on the attitude.

 

[LAMBCRUSHER]

REALLY????

 

[Landpimp]

not what I would do

I just did the intake and exaust manifold.

I used OEM gaskets. but others have used Remflex
I had a machine shop plane the stock manifolds
unless your exhaust/muffler and cat are shot, use them or have a good shop make up an exhaust. You can even have Toyota install a muffler and tailpipe for $300 and get a lifetime warrantee

NO reason to use a DUI dizzy, the fj60 dizzy very good.

I would suspect there is a combination of issues on your rig.

I would find a shop that understands older rigs, they don't need to know Cruisers, the less computer crap you see in the shop the better you will be.......looks for a place 1970's and 80's trucks, if all you see are 90's+ cars on the lot....just keep driving. Or head down to a few local Auto Parts stores(old ones) and ask around. Check a machine shop and ask who they would use.

 

[danlandcruisermd]

not what I would do

I just did the intake and exaust manifold.

I used OEM gaskets. but others have used Remflex
I had a machine shop plane the stock manifolds
unless your exhaust/muffler and cat are shot, use them or have a good shop make up an exhaust. You can even have Toyota install a muffler and tailpipe for $300 and get a lifetime warrantee

NO reason to use a DUI dizzy, the fj60 dizzy very good.

I would suspect there is a combination of issues on your rig.

I would find a shop that understands older rigs, they don't need to know Cruisers, the less computer crap you see in the shop the better you will be.......looks for a place 1970's and 80's trucks, if all you see are 90's+ cars on the lot....just keep driving. Or head down to a few local Auto Parts stores(old ones) and ask around. Check a machine shop and ask who they would use.

thanks for the recommendation. So no need for a header either?

 

[Trapper50cal]

Stay away from the reflex gasket, would be my 2 cents...I had nothing but troubles with them.
The ft./lbs of torque they call for is very difficult to achieve as it's lower than the resistance
one of threads on those studs can exert while normally tightening and it's a lot of weight
hanging off that head with the carb and intake/exhaust combo. And if you crush them too
much or over torque, they simply displace like mud being squeezed through one's fingers.

Just go OEM or Felpro on that.

The rest really is sorta unnecessary....those who chase horsepower on a 2F have already lost.
I know this from youthful experience. The whole "run what yah brung" phase.

Proof of my "youthful over-exhuberance":

LOL! Offy 4 barrel manifold and Edelbrock 500 cfm carb.
so unnecessary....

 

[megolfer]

Sounds like they were trying to take you to the cleaners. $1400 for a exhaust. $47 to put on plug wires that would take less than 5 minutes. Then when question price and want a breakdown says he cant work on your vehicle. I would run.

 

[Trapper50cal]

Yeah, that's an overaggressive hard sale....a shame that's what it's come to over there.

 

[danlandcruisermd]

Update:

I had the truck towed to Ryan Baxom's shop Otramm in Warrenton, VA. As most of you also suggested, he mentioned I did not need a dizzy or header. Also said a guy he knows does great exhaust work and can have it installed for $400.

 

[Trapper50cal]

ding, ding, ding.....win

 

[SteveH]

I wish Lance would come on and give his side of the story (but I agree that the attitude displayed is totally unacceptable).

This statement struck me as odd, since none of the suggested repairs would fix this alleged problem :

as too much fuel was currently being pumped into the carburetor and causing the idle RPM to be way too high.

 

[IPOR]

The $1449 stainless exhaust is completely unnecessary. An OEM replacement muffler for my 62 was ~$80 on Amazon, and I bought the rest of the additional pipes up to the header for <$150.

We're unable to purchase complete exhaust with cats for under $230, if you can then please share all of your part numbers. Stainless is the option we recommend due to it's durability and longevity. We don't make this stuff up, we live it every day.

Lance

 

[JMJA]

The CUSTOMER is always right. I feel for the existing truck owners that Iron pig is working on. Yes bring it to me No don't bring it to me. IPOR not on my favorite list anymore.