Builds OL'BETSY ZX: 1991 HZJ77 (3 Viewers)

[JDM Journeys]

My aluminum radiator has been working well for a couple of years but the plastic drain cock is a known issue. Mine did the continuous turn trick after I had to drain some coolant to mod my fan clutch. I finally settled on a brass unit. To minimize galvanic corrosion I used some Teflon tape on the threads and will keep an eye on it.

Yesterday I changed the oil in the rear diff and replaced drain and fill plugs with updated versions/new gaskets.

Meanwhile, we are about 12 days out from the big spring trip south. Had our last meeting, finalized the route, and now we are all are scrambling to get our last minute projects finished.

 

[JDM Journeys]

Finally got the chance to replace my front shocks. They were OME but getting old and worn out. This time around I went for Bilstein 5100's.

I only have one installed so far (had to go out of town for work for a few days) but should make a noticeable difference to ride quality on those washboard roads...

 

[Guyute]

Finally got the chance to replace my front shocks. They were OME but getting old and worn out. This time around I went for Bilstein 5100's.

View attachment 3900936

I only have one installed so far (had to go out of town for work for a few days) but should make a noticeable difference to ride quality on those washboard roads...

Nothing like a pending trip to motivate.

You have lift springs or stock height? The Energy Suspension links are a nice, quick and cheap swap while you're up in there. These were the right length for my lift.

Energy Suspension 9.8121G Suspension Stabilizer Bar Link – Energy Suspension - https://teamenergysuspension.com/product/energy-suspension-9-8121g-ford-mercury-suspension-stabilizer-bar-link/

 

[LDRF]

These were the right length for my lift.

Energy Suspension 9.8121G Suspension Stabilizer Bar Link – Energy Suspension - https://teamenergysuspension.com/product/energy-suspension-9-8121g-ford-mercury-suspension-stabilizer-bar-link/

Those were the ones I used as well

 

[JDM Journeys]

Nothing like a pending trip to motivate.

You have lift springs or stock height? The Energy Suspension links are a nice, quick and cheap swap while you're up in there. These were the right length for my lift.

Energy Suspension 9.8121G Suspension Stabilizer Bar Link – Energy Suspension - https://teamenergysuspension.com/product/energy-suspension-9-8121g-ford-mercury-suspension-stabilizer-bar-link/

Those were the ones I used as well

Excellent feedback guys. Thank you!

2 inch OME lift springs on mine. I won't have time to do the links before I go but will put them on the list for my return.

 

[LDRF]

This time around I went for Bilstein 5100

Nice! Shiny and new. What size/sku did you go with?

we are about 12 days out from the big spring trip south

Have fun on that trip!!!

 

[JDM Journeys]

Nice! Shiny and new. What size/sku did you go with?


Have fun on that trip!!!

Fronts - 33-230368
Rears: 33-104652

 

[JDM Journeys]

4310kms total, pulling a trailer from Calgary, Alberta across the continental divide. down to southern Utah, into canyonlands, Lockhart basin, all while pulling a trailer, and back.

Everything worked flawlessly except... Once we got down into the depths of the basin I realized 4wd was not working so the rest of a very hard day was spent in 2wd, winching myself and friends, getting the trailer over obstacles, etc. Lockhart was in bad shape and we did a lot of rock stacking. During the course of the day my rear end hopped and an outcropping contacted a rear quarter window. So some duct tape saved the rest and kept it in place...

I actually broke the shear pin on the PTO during a hard pull. Had spares and fixed on trail and then used a snatch block for double line pulls to reduce the load. PTO was amazing.

Once I got back to camp I started with hubs, realized one wasn't locking so did it manually for the next days trails...

Kamparoo pulled flawlessly. Truck worked without a hiccup. Torque from the 1hz in 1st/4low really is like an easy button...

Reached 210f (going into rad) a handful of times and 215° twice, on particularly brutal pavement climbs. The factory temp gauge reached half only twice. EGTs stayed generally around 600°F +/-100°.

Intercooler is in my future for some peace of mind but the window is going to have to jump the queue. Shopping for a gullwing but having trouble finding one so far.

 

[AirheadNut]

Looks like an awesome trip! I have a set of used but decent condition 24v electric hubs you can have if you’d like.

 

[JDM Journeys]

Looks like an awesome trip! I have a set of used but decent condition 24v electric hubs you can have if you’d like.

Appreciate it, but next time I'm in there I'll have manuals to retrofit I think?

 

[Gun Runner 5]

Appreciate it, but next time I'm in there I'll have manuals to retrofit I think?

From my experience , the electric hubs work flawlessly until you actually need them.

 

[JDM Journeys]

OME steering stabilizer installed today. OMESD24

Shiny! For now...

 

[cruiseroutfit]

OME steering stabilizer installed today. OMESD24
View attachment 3961981

Shiny! For now...

View attachment 3961982

I see your rocking the PTO winch with the ARB bar. Any more pics of the mods you did?

 

[JDM Journeys]

I see your rocking the PTO winch with the ARB bar. Any more pics of the mods you did?

Lol. You miss nothing sir. I was at the Oregon Overland expo a few years ago ('22) and sat in on your recovery presentation for a brush up. You were hoping to get down to my campsite to see it that night but I think Lexus was keeping you hopping!

Back a few dozen pages I think there are more details. I'll find you a link. But essentially we cut the bar out of the center. Then cut some out of the plate that wraps down from the front. Then welded in two pieces on their edge, vertically. The PTO then BOLTS on to those strips front and back so it's still removeable if necessary. PTO lever simply needed the little tab welded in the right place.

We still plan to fill in the open front part eventually. But it's been there for 3 years now and we still haven't gotten back to it yet.

Close up on front bolts (rhs)

Right side contd

Back left:

Control lever:

Excuse the Utah dirt. We were down in your neck of the woods in May and did a bunch in Canyonlands. As well as Lockhart basin. I had my little trailer behind me and this winch pulled me (and some buddies) over some large rocks. After a quick primer from me with how it differed from the electrics they were used to... Amazing pulling power and 5 forward speeds!

 

[JDM Journeys]

The odd shape of it, and the height we had to put it in in order to clear ( by millimeters ) the bottom of the radiator meant that part of the motor is pretty prominent on the front there. A Toyota emblem made it look a little more stock? Maybe?

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Lol. You miss nothing sir. I was at the Oregon Overland expo a few years ago ('22) and sat in on your recovery presentation for a brush up. You were hoping to get down to my campsite to see it that night but I think Lexus was keeping you hopping!

Back a few dozen pages I think there are more details. I'll find you a link. But essentially we cut the bar out of the center. Then cut some out of the plate that wraps down from the front. Then welded in two pieces on their edge, vertically. The PTO then BOLTS on to those strips front and back so it's still removeable if necessary. PTO lever simply needed the little tab welded in the right place.

We still plan to fill in the open front part eventually. But it's been there for 3 years now and we still haven't gotten back to it yet.

Close up on front bolts (rhs)

View attachment 3961983

Right side contd
View attachment 3961986
Back left:

View attachment 3961984
Control lever:
View attachment 3961985

Excuse the Utah dirt. We were down in your neck of the woods in May and did a bunch in Canyonlands. As well as Lockhart basin. I had my little trailer behind me and this winch pulled me (and some buddies) over some large rocks. After a quick primer from me with how it differed from the electrics they were used to... Amazing pulling power and 5 forward speeds!

View attachment 3961987

Right on, I appreciate the extra pics!! I do recall that Expo discussion. Those events are always too busy and I never get enough time to wander and look at Cruisers in the camping area and parking lot. That is where the rear Cruisers are

I'm considering retaining the PTO winch on my HZJ77 but I have some OE 24V electric winches I'm dabbling with too. We modified an ARB for PTO on a 7x some years ago but I didn't document the project back then... phone cameras weren't a thing in those days Jeremiah Proffitt did one PTO and at least one with a factory Toyota electric winch, that one is at the LCHM in SLC so I've got easy access to check it out. Or, I just keep it simple, ditch the PTO and run a 24V ComeUp. Somehow I am oddly interested in keeping the PTO.

 

[JDM Journeys]

Right on, I appreciate the extra pics!! I do recall that Expo discussion. Those events are always too busy and I never get enough time to wander and look at Cruisers in the camping area and parking lot. That is where the rear Cruisers are

I'm considering retaining the PTO winch on my HZJ77 but I have some OE 24V electric winches I'm dabbling with too. We modified an ARB for PTO on a 7x some years ago but I didn't document the project back then... phone cameras weren't a thing in those days Jeremiah Proffitt did one PTO and at least one with a factory Toyota electric winch, that one is at the LCHM in SLC so I've got easy access to check it out. Or, I just keep it simple, ditch the PTO and run a 24V ComeUp. Somehow I am oddly interested in keeping the PTO.

I hear you. It is extremely stout. I actually broke a shear pin on one pull before we setup a double line pull. (I had two extras in my spares). But it isn't a solo winch for the most part. You have to be behind the wheel and a (trained) buddy needs to be minding the line, operating the lever etc. But it definitely punches above its weight class.

I still need to get to the LH museum. We are always in such a rush to get through SLC (10 days isn't much time when you factor in the drive from Calgary each way). Someday...

 

[sadam_husain]

I also noticed the PTO winch in that ARB bar back a few posts and know how hard they are to fit into ARB bars, mine is done quite different, my truck has a 50mm body lift and the ARB bar is also lifted 50mm. I got my winch mounted right up inside the bar without cutting anything and run it in reverse (spooling off the bottom of the drum) with a bi-directional PTO, I can spool in and out in gears 1 to 5. With everything lifted my PTO shaft sits above the tube crossmember at the front, I remounted the PTO shaft pillow blocks to suit, I had to jiggle everything around the exhaust for the engine swap anyway, I had the bar sandblasted and re-powdercoated after the winch was fitted but that was 15 years ago and it's all looking pretty old again now, sorry if I've cluttered your thread with unnecessary photos and info

 

[JDM Journeys]

Sorry if I've cluttered your thread with unnecessary photos and info

No my man. Good to see different iterations. It's a difficult thing to fit no matter which way you go. Yours looks like a great install too!

 

[Rigster]

Lol. You miss nothing sir. I was at the Oregon Overland expo a few years ago ('22) and sat in on your recovery presentation for a brush up. You were hoping to get down to my campsite to see it that night but I think Lexus was keeping you hopping!

Back a few dozen pages I think there are more details. I'll find you a link. But essentially we cut the bar out of the center. Then cut some out of the plate that wraps down from the front. Then welded in two pieces on their edge, vertically. The PTO then BOLTS on to those strips front and back so it's still removeable if necessary. PTO lever simply needed the little tab welded in the right place.

We still plan to fill in the open front part eventually. But it's been there for 3 years now and we still haven't gotten back to it yet.

Close up on front bolts (rhs)

View attachment 3961983

Right side contd
View attachment 3961986
Back left:

View attachment 3961984
Control lever:
View attachment 3961985

Excuse the Utah dirt. We were down in your neck of the woods in May and did a bunch in Canyonlands. As well as Lockhart basin. I had my little trailer behind me and this winch pulled me (and some buddies) over some large rocks. After a quick primer from me with how it differed from the electrics they were used to... Amazing pulling power and 5 forward speeds!

View attachment 3961987

I remember your agonizing decision process to decide whether to "manfangle" the OE PTO winch system when you got your ARB. I remember recommending making the PTO work as there are many advantages to having that in lieu of an electric winch. My recommendation was not an educated one as this was much more work than manfangling my ARB for the OE electric winch my crusier came with. I only had to weld the bottom plate my winch sits on to the ARB and make a couple of minor cuts to make mine fit.

I am pleased and happy how well yours turned out and it performed amazingly for you. Happy it all worked out for the best and you are pleased with the outcome!