Prepare for wading (BJ73)

[Felde]

Hi
I'll go to Iceland in summer with my BJ73. Targeting the mountain roads (F-roads), which are famous for the many water crossings.
I wonder how to prep my BJ73 for frequent wading.

The vehicle
BJ73 3B, almost stock, but with a 2.5" (65mm) lift., 31 x 10.5 x 15 in. tires.
Front frame clearance: 54cm (21") / Rear frame clearance: 61cm (24")
Increased air intake ('snorkel') additional to the stock air intake (which sits right under the bonnet, across the van shroud).

What I want [to do]
Wading trough rivers on Iceland's F-roads. I know, my rig is not a 'Super-Jeep' (like @Marrimus 'Arctic Troopy' is) and I'm not intending to do the very special sections of F-roads requiring a Super-Jeep.
I'd like to limit wading to my frame hight / door steps, BUT who knows what happens unexpected and unintended... (water over bonnet, footwells flooded ...)
Thus I want to prepare the rig for wading as good as possible (with affordable efforts)

Here is how I plan to prepare for wading:

• Inspect floor panel for any random holes and plug those.
• Raise axle ventilation (front up into the engine bay up to battery level, rear up to the filler neck)
• Raise tank ventilation (now, as per stock setup, is an open-end hose in the rear floor-crossmember) up to the filler neck.
• Advice needed: Do I need to raise the gearbox- and tranny ventilation? Those are located on the very top of the boxes, right under the floor; no idea how to reach those without dropping the gearboxes. Also those do not have a hose attached which could simply be extended; no idea how to fit a hose to those vents. I tend to just leave those and hope the factory design works. Any comments?
• Spray all electrical connectors with a dedicated water repellent.
• Plug the drain hole in the air filter box (there should be one, right?)
• Check / seal the connection of the raised air intake to the air filter box.
• Seal the grommet for the wiring in the firewall (check all other firewall grommets).
• Advice needed: Anything I need to do about
  • the bell housing ? (3B with H55F)
  • the van?
  • the blower air intake?
• Before wading (on scene):
  • Seal the original engine air intake with a sleeve / wade with the raised air intake only. (I need to fab something that seals the original intake channel and also the resonator, but doesn't get sucked in). Or is this actually overkill?
  • If really concerned: Put a plastic sheet to cover the radiator and prevent water from smashing into it and into the van.
• After wading incident (water up to radiator or over bonnet)
  • Check air filter box for water ingress.
  • Check van and radiator.
  • [Latest after the trip, all oils will be checked for water ingress (cappuccino) and will be replaced. Also I'll inspect the sills for water ingress and drain those, if needed].
• Anything I missed?

Also appreciate any further advice / experience on how our rigs work with frequent river crossings.

Cheers Ralf

 

[joekatana]

Having a good snorkel that fits properly would be your first job . I lived in Panama for a few years and did countless river crossings there in both my BJ40 and my Hilux and the snorkel is your first safety net . Having good seals and gaskets on your doors and the rest of the body delay the amount of water coming in but you can’t really prevent that in deep and ling crossings . It’s also recommended to relocate all the breathers for your sxles and transmission and t case . Don’t worry to much about the electrical connectors and such as the 3B will continue to run even with a electrical failure . Water is pretty much the only thing that can destroy a 3B , make sure your airbox is sealed and if you run a k&n filter you can spray it down with special oil that helps against any moisture passing trough the air cleaner .

 

[svsisu]

Sounds like a great trip.

The H55 vents through the shift tower, so not too much to do there except make sure the cover boot is in good order. As you are aware, the transfer case has a capped breather similar to the axles, but it's pressed directly into the tcase. Toyota has, and @cruiseroutfit sells, a barbed fitting to replace the breather so it can be relocated higher. It can be accessed by removing the boot/top cover, difficult while the transmission is in place, but doable.

More info in this thread:

Build Post in thread '1995 HZJ77 wagon build - Japan sourced'

Jan 26, 2021

I had a rather hard time finding the transmission breather... so much so that I ended up messaging Kurt from Cruiser Outfitters on FB and they told me that it's this thing (the picture attached is what they sent me)

As you can see the Transmission breather is a little capped thingy on top of the transmission. Which means I had to pull up all of my carpeting, and access the transmission from the top cover (which thankfully on the 77 unbolts - unlike the FJ40's...)

Here's my thingy:

• Pip Bernadotte

 

[FJBen]

 

[svsisu]

View attachment 4065839

That's the one

 

[Felde]

Sounds like a great trip.

The H55 vents through the shift tower, so not too much to do there except make sure the cover boot is in good order. As you are aware, the transfer case has a capped breather similar to the axles, but it's pressed directly into the tcase. Toyota has, and @cruiseroutfit sells, a barbed fitting to replace the breather so it can be relocated higher. It can be accessed by removing the boot/top cover, difficult while the transmission is in place, but doable.

More info in this thread:

Build Post in thread '1995 HZJ77 wagon build - Japan sourced'

Jan 26, 2021

I had a rather hard time finding the transmission breather... so much so that I ended up messaging Kurt from Cruiser Outfitters on FB and they told me that it's this thing (the picture attached is what they sent me)

As you can see the Transmission breather is a little capped thingy on top of the transmission. Which means I had to pull up all of my carpeting, and access the transmission from the top cover (which thankfully on the 77 unbolts - unlike the FJ40's...)

Here's my thingy:

• Pip Bernadotte

Thank you. Great info. I might swap that breather if I happen to drop the T-case at some point in time.
But this breather sits so high up already, I might just trust the design and go as it is.
Ralf