Builds OL'BETSY ZX: 1991 HZJ77 (2 Viewers)

[JDM Journeys]

Added something else to the back door today. As far as mods go, this one was likely as easy as it gets.

Extinguisher was already there. So I thought it'd like a friend.

Also, I rolled up 250k the other day. Still loving it, and still have a long list of things to do.

Speaking of which, I've begun the pto/ARB amalgamation which you may have seen in a separate thread.

ARB + PTO - cut or run?

I've always loved the idea of a PTO winch, so when my rig came with one (in the back, not hooked up) I was excited to finally try one. It never did get installed, since last spring I got an ARB bumper. There are a few excellent threads where folks have mated the two and its worked, but everytime...

forum.ih8mud.com

So far it is kicking my rear end.

 

[FJ73Texas]

Nope. Going to do it myself after it sees some heat. The seal was very stiff and it's still settling in a little, AND it hasn't really warmed up here yet. But I will according to the instructions in the FSM.

Cool. Just wondered. Some people choose not to do it. It is very difficult to get in for sure, and the headliner trim down A pillar doesn't make it any easier.

 

[JDM Journeys]

Cool. Just wondered. Some people choose not to do it. It is very difficult to get in for sure, and the headliner trim down A pillar doesn't make it any easier.

So the FSM says to apply it on the outside, at the glass side and the sheet metal side. That's a lot of sealant and it didn't appear it was like this from the factory, though obviously it's hard to tell. My plan is around the outer perimeter of the seal... Although I'm always open to suggestions.

 

[FJ73Texas]

My last reply was about getting it in with the rope due to the gasket stiffness and the headliner trim (the installer cussed a little over this). Installer did apply the sealant from the outside only of course once the new glass was in.

Also, when the old windshield came out, like you said….there was very, very little sealant present from the factory. Almost none at all.

 

[JDM Journeys]

Gotcha. Yeah they were sweating and may have uttered a few colloquialisms.

 

[svsisu]

Added something else to the back door today. As far as mods go, this one was likely as easy as it gets.
View attachment 3020709

Extinguisher was already there. So I thought it'd like a friend.

Also, I rolled up 250k the other day. Still loving it, and still have a long list of things to do.

Speaking of which, I've begun the pto/ARB amalgamation which you may have seen in a separate thread.

ARB + PTO - cut or run?

I've always loved the idea of a PTO winch, so when my rig came with one (in the back, not hooked up) I was excited to finally try one. It never did get installed, since last spring I got an ARB bumper. There are a few excellent threads where folks have mated the two and its worked, but everytime...

forum.ih8mud.com

So far it is kicking my rear end.

View attachment 3020710

I love that spot for the Fiskars. Great use of space there, and great little hatchet.

 

[JDM Journeys]

I love that spot for the Fiskars. Great use of space there, and great little hatchet.

I've kept it in my driver's door pocket for years, but I had my back door open the other day when I suddenly pictured it in that very spot. And it fit perfectly.

 

[JDM Journeys]

Pulled the rad today. Thought I caught a small weep on the bottom of the tank. Boy, it was WAY worse than I thought.

Condenser is also FUBAR. A couple of the A/C pipes bent/twisted getting them off, and they're listed as unavailable. How in the name of all that's holy did this thing not overheat just going down the road? Wow.

Rad shop on Monday. Why do I always wait until I have a trip coming up before doing something major?

 

[JDM Journeys]

While I'm waiting for the rad shop to open...

Inspected my water pump. No sign of weepage so it shall remain in place until the timing belt gets changed.

Meanwhile... The back continues to get more fun.

I now have a passenger for the upcoming trip, so we decided more cold storage would be good. A 40L fridge in each of our two rigs will hold the food and some drinks. So a new cooler for day use and away from the truck looked to be handy. Got the Milwaukee 20L cooler that locks in to my packout setup in back.

Then it was time for more lighting. Lol. Got some cheap led strip lighting which uses 5v usb for power, since I had two empty usb sockets already installed. Put a strip down the side of each wing compartment for when I'm looking for something in the night time.

Both can be unplugged independently from usb, but are energized via a fused switch in my rear center switch panel.

Now it's time to do something else I've been putting off (see a pattern here?) Gear oil change in the trans/t-case. I've got some fancy and extremely expensive MT90 on its way, and am looking forward to swift, short shifts as I hit the rev limiter... Bahahah. Just kidding. A smoother shift as I try to pace the 72 passenger bus in the next lane might be nice?

Edit: I realized I haven't been flamed for the propane tank INSIDE my rig yet. Hmm. Maybe poor word choice? Anyways, now's your chance to tell me how many kittens and baby seals were bullied because of the placement of my propane tank.

 

[JDM Journeys]

Just dropped off the rad. 700 bucks for a recore these days in Calgary. It's gone up a lot since the last one I did, in 2002.

They can't recore the condenser so not sure what I'm gonna do about that. But there will be no AC for this trip.

 

[JDM Journeys]

Since I now have some time to twiddle my thumbs until rad is done, how about what's in front of the rad? Chrome don't get ya home so...

Scuffed it up. Dusted it down with a tack cloth and painted it black. I like it. Remains to be seen how well it will stick?

Have also started on the mirrors. With the windshield trim already deleted, all that'll be left after this is the rain gutter trim and the rear bumper... I can probably live with those?

 

[JDM Journeys]

Oh. Want an easy way to spend over 200 CAD? Here's one...

Haven't done trans fluid yet, and so it was time for the good stuff. This elixir is more expensive than fuel! Which these days puts it in an expensive club indeed! I'll be shifting like Vin Diesel in no time. Okay, "van diesel" is closer to reality.

 

[JDM Journeys]

Rad came back from shop and I put it in along with new antifreeze (HOAT) and an inline rad hose heater. Looks pretty nice, and my first big drive showed no signs of anything out of the ordinary. It might run a little cooler up long hills? Hard to tell. (Pics is before fan and shroud were put back in in)

But the biggest win this week? The ARB now has a PTO bolted to it! Pics soon, but suffice to say it was a bear of an install.

 

[JDM Journeys]

So it's in, it works and it was a pain as suspected. We used beefy steel bars front and back. Fishplated the sides and welded the back bar into them, both sides. Still needs gusseting there. On the front we cut the ARB back and stitched the front bar to the ARB leading edge. The tab that goes under the selector arm was simply tacked to the side.

Here are some pics. I'll post more details when I finish them up.

Winch and extra metal work is now all painted with POR15. Still need to do a front plate so the drum doesn't sit below bumper line, but that'll wait until after the trip. At least it WORKS! Woohoo!

 

[Kroll]

Rad came back from shop and I put it in along with new antifreeze (HOAT) and an inline rad hose heater. Looks pretty nice, and my first big drive showed no signs of anything out of the ordinary. It might run a little cooler up long hills? Hard to tell. (Pics is before fan and shroud were put back in in)

From the reading I have done about options for warming coolant in a 1HZ for our AB winters, an inline rad hose heater is not the best option. I resorted to an external 1000W coolant heater - but I am unhappy with it to be honest (attaches to warm coolant hose that circulates from the block, to the heater core and returns to motor). I contacted ENS and they sell 3B spec'd block heaters that require a little bending to fit into the 1HZ block. They use them for the mine truck builds that they send out the door.

I've enjoyed your build with this 77, they're a really cool model that I seriously considered before pursuing my 79.

 

[JDM Journeys]

I've used inline rad heaters on four different diesels. They've started on -40°c days with little drama, so I can't see why this would be any different. Inline hose heater is most effective in a section of hose that is vertical or at least diagonal.

Edit: possibly effectiveness is somewhat mitigated by the Looooong nature of the 1HZ? It practically has two postal codes.

I've used pad heaters too. Not as good as the other types. But heat is heat.

I prefer frost plug heaters, but depending on location they are a royal pain to install.

@Rigster did the external type I think? I'm sure he'll chime in.

 

[Kroll]

No doubt, they're a great option for various motors. The 1HZ differs, in that the coolant flow is reversed with the thermostat on the return.
Check out this thread if you haven't seen it yet.
I pretty much copied @Rigster placement of his heater. Gotta remember to keep the heater valve fully open when using it.

 

[JDM Journeys]

My 1kz has the stat on the same side and it starts perfectly when plugged in. I've done some looking into it, and the common theory is that the little hole (I call it the jiggle valve lol) in the stat allows flow. But I haven't fitted a boroscope to confirm. All I know is it worked before, and for the number of COLD days I'll drive the 77, it should be adequate.

Added bonus? Two extra joints in my lower rad hose two weeks before a big trip! How can you not love that?

 

[JDM Journeys]

Btw, I have read that thread you referenced a few times over the years. I did notice that Canuck safari had good luck with his inline hose heater. And as I said, the 1kz has the same arrangement and the heater did the trick there too.

Hopefully there are absolutely zero opportunities to test it out until at least December?

 

[Rigster]

Hey guys,

Yes, I did install a Kat circulating heater for my motor. I like that the heat blows warm in the cab on startup... but the downside of course is the heat is reduced by the time it circulates into the motor.

I agree with the fact that a frost plug heater does heat the block better, but that heat is localized and dissipates further out. I may not have noticed the woes you have Kroll (as much) as it does not get as cold here in the North Okanagan. I think the coldest in the last 5 years is a short stint (a few days to a week) of -20C overnight, otherwise it maybe gets down to just below freezing overnight most of the winter.

@Kroll: They DO make 1500W circulating heaters, but a couple of reviews I read folks said they burnt up on them. I suspect it was due to them forgetting to open the heat to max inside the cab and the restricted flow caused the heater to burn itself out. But of course that is just MHO. Or you may just decide to knock out a frost plug and install one there. The Edmonton winters can be pretty harsh sometimes. Though I only lived there for 4 years about 35 years ago, I can still wake up shivering after a nightmare about being in Edmonton in winter. (OK, maybe that was a wee bit exaggerated... lol)