New to Land Cruisers

[Skywoolf]

I am new to Land Cruisers (that's why I am here) so I hope I am in the right place.

I am building my retirement home in the Southern Philippines and have bought a beach lot and four other lots for farming and to build a house.

The roads in the area are most dirt tracks and some are very bad so I needed a car that can not just handle it but also work on the land.

I bought what is supposed to be a 1994 Land Cruiser with a 3L engine installed. It is mostly in very good condition but I do need some advice on a few things. I will post the questions I have in the appropriate areas.

This is the Land Cruiser:

 

[Skywoolf]

Sorry guys. I have been looking around more and it looks like I did post in the wrong section. Maybe admin can just move this thread to the right section. Is that 80 series? I thought the number related to the year but I can see now that it doesn't.

 

[TEPUI]

Sorry guys. I have been looking around more and it looks like I did post in the wrong section. Maybe admin can just move this thread to the right section. Is that 80 series? I thought the number related to the year but I can see now that it doesn't.

Hi Skywoolf, welcome to mud! your cruiser is a 70 series. I'll move it to the 70s forum.

 

[JAC83]

Wow, is that a 7 seater??

 

[Clint79]

Nice front bar mate

 

[cicak]

yup its bj77 with 2.8 diesel

toss the back row of seats out to get more wood room haha.

your in the right place now.

 

[Skywoolf]

Thanks for the welcome guys.

Yes it has seven seats but here in the Philippines that's not enough. I have about 45 nephews and nieces so 7 in a car is not much.

I will be making a farm style drop side trailer as soon as I can. I need to move much bigger quantities of stuff than I can get inside. Also a lot of the things like rocks, fertilizer, etc will make a mess of the car.

Yes the front bar really is very well made and very strong.

The car is really great over rough terrain but of course you know that. My only real disappointment is that it is so underpowered it is embarrassing sometimes.

 

[roscoFJ73]

Thanks for the welcome guys.

The car is really great over rough terrain but of course you know that. My only real disappointment is that it is so underpowered it is embarrassing sometimes.

You need to post up the problems in the diesel forum with a list of the modifications,miles and any adjustments made to the fuel system
Im sure someone can help

 

[lulo]

Looks great your cruiser!

Welcome mate!!!


How many HP have this engine 3L???

 

[crushers]

the 3L IS a gutless engine, only cure is to turbo it.

enjoy your ride.

 

[Skywoolf]

Thanks I will post in the diesel forum.

The HP is just under 90 I think

 

[Skywoolf]

I have to start looking for someone here in the boondocks who can add the turbo for me

One of my lots is very high up and I have to drop down a gear plus use ECT just to get up the hill with a few people in the car. Actually to put things in perspective the wheels are much bigger than standard so of course the gearing is higher. I leave ECT engaged all the time to bring the gearing back closer to original and disengage overdrive going up hill.

 

[crushers]

want a serious suggestion?

 

[Skywoolf]

yes of course

 

[Clint79]

is this sugestion going to invole a 1hz

 

[crushers]

i would strongly suggest you sell your baby and buy a Heavy Duty Land Cruiser.

here is why i say this:
you are asking a light duty to do a work-horse function.
you need a bus for all the kids
you need a truck to do the hauling
you have a vehicle right now that gets poor fuel economy, poor performance and has a record of blowing expensive heads.
That auto tranny needs a extreme duty valve body and aux cooler installed RIGHT AWAY. the auto SUCKS power out of the engine and overheats easily when working hard at slow speeds.

if you were using it as a putter around town and a light drive to the acreage then it MIGHT last you a while.

go buy exactly what you need, and this is not it.

but if the above advice is not acceptable then install the following ASAP:
Pyrometer
aftermarket water temp
(forget the boost gauge, not required)
tranny valve body kit
aux tranny cooler
get the rad recored to 4 cores
install a turbo and 2.5" FREE FLOWING exhaust

and finally with the weight you want to carry a Dobbinson aftermarket spring kit.

these are just suggestions

OR go buy a 1HZ/H55F and a beat up HD 7* front clip and install.

 

[Skywoolf]

Thanks. I think I need to clarify a bit.

I don't have the budget to buy anything better. A new one costs more to buy than it costs to build a good size house and second hand LCs are very rare around here.

I mention loads of nephews and nieces and I do sometimes have as many as ten in the car but its not often and not for long distances. My point is really that the seats are more useful than the extra space would be if I removed the rearmost seats.

I will be making a farm style drop side trailer to carry most things like rocks, fertilizer, wood, etc. I don't like carrying anything like that in the car if I can avoid it so the car would not normally carry excessive weight, if ever. The nephews and nieces are all skinny

Does the 3L engine also blow heads? The guy I bought it from installed the 3L engine because the 2L blows heads.

I don't know how accurate the water temperature gauge is but I have an extra fan fitted in front of the radiator and haven't used it yet as the gauge hasn't gone up past half way even when idling for up to an hour in 34C heat with the aircon on.

Most of the roads it is used on when working are dirt roads where I can mostly travel at 40 kph without any discomfort but there are a few places that would wreck the suspension of a car after a few trips and a few patches that would be really difficult with small wheels. There are also rocks and coconuts on the roads that are too big for a car to go over. There are some short dirt road hills that are difficult in a car because in dry conditions the car is fishtailing with the wheels slipping when going up. In the wet a car would probably not get up at all. I haven't yet needed to use 4WD at all.

In short, the conditions I need it for would wreck a car in a few weeks and there would be times when a car simply couldn't handle the conditions but it seems to be little or no effort for the LC except on the long steep paved road up to one of my properties .

It looks like installing the turbo and making a bigger exhaust maybe well worth doing if I can find someone to do it (I don't have a suitable workshop).

Do you think that's enough?

I do have another problem though. After coming down the long steep hill I braked and the car swerved left. The brakes felt spongy so I got out and checked. I could smell the heat around the front wheels so I am guessing the brake fluid boiled and got bubbles in the right front side. I threw water behind the wheels and got clouds of steam then the brakes were OK. Maybe the brake pistons are sticking?

 

[crushers]

brake caliper is seizing up on you
the 3L does crack heads
40 k/h and unless you over heat it you SHOULD be fine.

i would use Low range for towing a trailer, climbing hills etc. reduces the load on the auto and on the engine.

NEVER rely on factory gauges, they are crap.

a turbo at 40 k/h will seldom be in use.

 

[roscoFJ73]

the 3L does crack heads
.

All engines crack heads but I wouldnt say the 3L is famous for it or that it is a regular problem.

In fact,Ive never heard of any of the L engines having serious problems until someone puts a turbo on them.
They used them in the mines along side the 7* series.

From reading Skywoolfs other post in the 80 series forum,I think the engine needs some basic tuning before he starts thinking about turbos

 

[Skywoolf]

Thanks guys,

So even if I fit a turbo it will hardly be used. If I have to get over 40 kph going up the long hill then it won't work anyway because I can't get to 40 kph in the first place. I need to think of the LC as a tractor that can go on the road.

It looks like I will just use a lower gear and the turbo is not worth the time and trouble of installing it for my purposes.

Thanks for the confirmation on the brake caliper. I did try to fix it myself but I am too old and stiff to do it so I have to find someone to strip and clean all four brake brake calipers.

roscoFJ73, I think you are right regarding the tuning. If I put the accelerator more than about half way down I get black smoke.