RMP&O's 1984 FJ60, v8, lockers and more!

[Elbert]

post up with the details when you figure out a good fan shroud solution.

 

[SNLC]

Well, I spent the weekend with a buddy down at Palisades Reservoir. We only wheeled the truck for about 1/2 day on Saturday. It was just to tempting to spend the rest of the weekend on the lake! If was a good shake down of the Cruiser though after all this work I have done.

We had four people in the truck plus my dog, a full mid sized cooler and some other gear. All up I am sure we were close to 6,000lbs. My buddy who helped me do the C&T was with me, he just kept saying how smooth the Cruiser is in the rough. I got to agree she does handle like a creampuff in the dirt. The suspension, front end and steering gave me zero problems and all works very well. Still, the stabilizer I have on the way is going to make it even better! Only thing to mention mechanical wise is the temps. The Cruiser wanted to hit 220 degrees climbing a mountain in the dirt. Fact is, my shorud sucks and I am just not getting enough air flow across my radiator. I am going to tackle this problem soon!

I was playing on an embankment and managed to bend my rear Kaymar bumper a little bit. First thing I should say, this truck will go more places then I plan to take it! Second, it has a long ass!! The Cruiser already has lot's of rear overhang and with the Kaymar it is getting a little silly if I wanted to wheel this truck fairly hard. Backing up on obsticles and it is easy to get hung up on the bumper which is how I damaged it. The bumper got bent up a tiny bit on one side making it contact the body giving me a tiny dent and some paint chips, all about the size of a finger nail.

Here is a video of 0-60mph in the Cruiser. She hesitates a touch in the first 2 seconds and then sputters a tiny little bit between 3rd and 4th. That is not very normal for my engine but it was a hot day and I had been working the truck hard. Any ways, without this hesitation it would be 1-3 seconds faster. In the video I am about 15 seconds from 0-60mph. Keep in mind the truck is close to 6,000lbs and we are at 6,000+ft in elevation plus I am on 35" rubber with 4.11 gears. It is nothing to get excited about but gives you an idea of how nice (I think) a v8 is in one of these trucks!

0-60mph in my FJ60 LandCruiser - YouTube

Here is a video showing engagement of the AA Ranger OD box. I am in 4th doing 60mph and shift the Ranger box. You can here the box whine when I shift it in. Lastly, it is a bit sticky to take out of gear in the OD box, has been like that since I got the truck and by the time I shift it out we are going up a hill and I lost some speed.

AA Ranger OD box in my FJ60 LandCruiser - YouTube

 

[SNLC]

I really like the front suspension work you did. Your Cruiser is badass!

Thanks!

One thing I do not like though...

My lower shock mount on the RHS. We should have mounted it turned 90 degrees like how it is stock. It is not really binding on the shock shaft in the picture but certainly is applying unwanted force to the shock. In a stock position it allows the shock to pivot with the axle, how we have it mounted, nadda'. I will change this one of two ways, cut off pin, rotate and weld up. Or have RuffStuff make me a new bottem plate (normally in this kit it is a top plate). I will likely eventually get a new plate since when we did the C&T I mentioned how the plate could be about 1/2" or so wider for my uses.

 

[Kurtis]

How do you like the 35s and 4.11s? I have 4.56 gears and a 4.11 complete diff sitting, one of each and can't decide which one I wan't. I have 3.73s in there now and with the 4l60e it works fine off road but If I pull a trailer I can feel it needs a change. What is your overdrive ratio with the ranger?

Have you checked your timing on the motor? Could be a little off making it run a little warmer. I'm not sure on a ramjet but there is probably a disconnect wire on the dizzy so you can set base timing.

I wish a ramjet was smog legal, those have a very nice power curve for an off road vehicle.

 

[SNLC]

How do you like the 35s and 4.11s? I have 4.56 gears and a 4.11 complete diff sitting, one of each and can't decide which one I wan't. I have 3.73s in there now and with the 4l60e it works fine off road but If I pull a trailer I can feel it needs a change. What is your overdrive ratio with the ranger?

Well, it is hard for me to say about the 35s and 4.11s since I have nothing to compare it to. I didn't build the truck so have never driven it with anything but the 35s and 4.11s. Really it seems good for my needs, which is good around town and nice on the HWY at 60-75mph. It lacks the low end for good crawling but as I have said I do not plan to wheel this truck hard. It also could be a little peppier off the line yet I do not want to mess with my top end because I like it how it is now. It would be nice if my speedo was not off by 5-6mph but I can live with that. I have another truck that had 4.11s and I ran some 34s on it, I then went to 4.6s and 35s. Thing is though it is a diesel truck so a lot different in terms of power band, ect ect ect. I really do not have anything else to say about the 4.11s and 35s.

The Ranger is a 27% OD. So the 4spd is 1:1 in 4th gear, Ranger drops it by 27%. I think with the Ranger engaged in 4th that would make it .73:1. About the same as most 5spd when in 5th gear. Correct me if I am wrong.

Have you checked your timing on the motor? Could be a little off making it run a little warmer. I'm not sure on a ramjet but there is probably a disconnect wire on the dizzy so you can set base timing.

I wish a ramjet was smog legal, those have a very nice power curve for an off road vehicle.

We did check the timing when I first got the truck, well my buddy did it for me while I was at work. He said it at 5 and I know the motor should be at 10. So if he checked it right (kind of hard not to do it right) then yeah I am off by 5 on my timing. Again, I think it was set at 5 while in Colorado in order to try and pass smog. We changed the plugs at the same time as when timing was checked, they looked to be on the lean side. This backs up my hunch on the timing and smog stuff. I am aware timing being off can make it run hot.

I ordered a diagnostic tool last week. It will allow me to set timing and also check any engine codes. Plus it should tell me how many hours are on this motor. It won't be here for 2-3 weeks though because it was on backorder.

I have not gotten into the motor much yet because it runs fairly well. I like to focus on one thing at a time with trucks and we have just been focusing on suspension and front end a lot. Just about done with all that so up next is going to be the motor in terms of getting it up to par. Cooling will be my focus but also working out the few little quirks I have with the engine too.

Oh and I noticed over the weekend....I am leaking some coolant from my heater somewhere. That sucks! Seems to be only when the heater is running, kind of a duh makes sense thing. This means though that I need to teat out the heater and see where the leak is coming from before winter sets in.

While I am loving the Cruiser it had been advertised as being "perfect" and it is certainly a long ways from being perfect. Oh well , not much I can say about that other than all this working on the truck is getting me very familiar with the FJ60. And that is kind of something I need for the trips I have planned in the truck in the future.

 

[SNLC]

I have a few questions for any of you 60 series gurus out there....

#1: I get a HUGE sucking noise when I take off my fuel cap. I have never seen a truck do it this much. Is this normal on a 60 series, should I look into this? The LRA tank also makes some noises from time to time, like expansion noises. My fuel lines do not run next to my exhaust so I do not think it is a heat issue.

#2: What is the factory toe on this truck? I am going to do an alingment soon and would like to know factory specs.

#3: Is the stock motor offset to one side, ie RHS? If so how much?

#4: Do the headlight washers normally squirt a ton of fluid? Mine really puts it out, so much so that it will drain the washer resivoir fast.

#5: I have found a bit of odd oil in behind the dash. I don't have any mechnical gauges. Any idea what this might be besides left overs from somebody oiling the dash cover?

#6: How strong are the stock tranny mounts? I am not talking cross member I am talking rubber mounts. Should I be thinking about a tranny mount upgrade with the v8?

 

[MANUCHAO]

I have a few questions for any of you 60 series gurus out there....

#1: I get a HUGE sucking noise when I take off my fuel cap. I have never seen a truck do it this much. Is this normal on a 60 series, should I look into this? The LRA tank also makes some noises from time to time, like expansion noises. My fuel lines do not run next to my exhaust so I do not think it is a heat issue.

#2: What is the factory toe on this truck? I am going to do an alingment soon and would like to know factory specs.

#3: Is the stock motor offset to one side, ie RHS? If so how much?

#4: Do the headlight washers normally squirt a ton of fluid? Mine really puts it out, so much so that it will drain the washer resivoir fast.

#5: I have found a bit of odd oil in behind the dash. I don't have any mechnical gauges. Any idea what this might be besides left overs from somebody oiling the dash cover?

#6: How strong are the stock tranny mounts? I am not talking cross member I am talking rubber mounts. Should I be thinking about a tranny mount upgrade with the v8?

1. might be a venting issue.. check your fuel canister might be clogged up.
2. Dont know
3 dont know
4. I think so they are supposed to clean the mud/snow off of the headlights.
5. dont know
6.. I have had mine for a few years now after the conversion with no issues..
Having said that.. I just developed a vibe and about to look at the TC rubber mounts after I change the u-joints on the rear DS.

 

[cruiserpilot]

I have a few questions for any of you 60 series gurus out there....

#1: I get a HUGE sucking noise when I take off my fuel cap. I have never seen a truck do it this much. Is this normal on a 60 series, should I look into this? The LRA tank also makes some noises from time to time, like expansion noises. My fuel lines do not run next to my exhaust so I do not think it is a heat issue.

#2: What is the factory toe on this truck? I am going to do an alingment soon and would like to know factory specs.

#3: Is the stock motor offset to one side, ie RHS? If so how much?

#4: Do the headlight washers normally squirt a ton of fluid? Mine really puts it out, so much so that it will drain the washer resivoir fast.

#5: I have found a bit of odd oil in behind the dash. I don't have any mechnical gauges. Any idea what this might be besides left overs from somebody oiling the dash cover?

#6: How strong are the stock tranny mounts? I am not talking cross member I am talking rubber mounts. Should I be thinking about a tranny mount upgrade with the v8?

I only see #5: Check your clutch master isn't leaking through the back.

 

[SNLC]

1. might be a venting issue.. check your fuel canister might be clogged up.

Do you mean this?

If so I don't have one in the FJ60. I pulled this one out of the FJ62 today....

 

[SNLC]

Well, it looks like I just got a title on the FJ62! I have not had one since I picked the truck up 2 months ago. This has had me concerned since I will be swapping body & frame plus driving the truck to Latin America. I really need a title in hand that matches the vin #s once the body+frame swap is done. I didn't want to have to go about this in any way except the right way! The guy I got the truck from found the title and is sending it to me today....


I am waiting on my new Icon steering damper. I have the other stuff to mount it already. I went and got a quote from the only exhaust shop we have in town last week. Since I have the front end dialed in now I can fix my smashed exhaust pipe, with new suspension it won't happen now. Quote was for $300-400 to replace my Y-pipe! Screw that!! I can have it done in Idaho for $100-150, more then likely. So my plan is to have my exhaust fixed in Idaho sometime in the next few weeks.

I spent yesterday tearing parts off the FJ62. I started in on the engine bay and also working on removing the wiring harness in one big piece. I traded the rear heater in the FJ62 for a rear sway bar assembly so I had to remove the heater yesterday, it was a messy pita job! I had to drain the cooling system to remove the heater and that sucked too!! I got most of the smog junk pulled from the motor, some fuel stuff like fuel canister and started tearing the A/C down. Belts are also all off the front of the engine. The engine bay is starting to not look like such a mess in the FJ62 donar truck! Oh and I also tore all the grill off the truck too. Might sound like a bunch of work but it wasn't, I spent more time standing around looking at the truck and drinking beers then working on it!!

I am pretty much out of work....the money making kind of work. So looking like I will have time in the next few weeks before work picks up again to tear a lot more off the FJ62.

 

[SNLC]

Got a title for FJ62 yesterday...it was free since I traded for it. Wait, I paid $14.00 in some misc fees.

After that I decided to tear into the front end again. I am taking the Cruiser to Idaho next Tuesday to get my Y-pipe fixed in the exhaust. Before I did that I wanted to get it aligned. Before I did that I wanted to check my front end and shim down my trunnion/knuckle bearings. I devoloped a shimmy in the steering wheel the first week after rebuilding the front end and putting in the high steer. So I wanted to see what was up with that. On top of this I picked up some Longfield knuckle wiper/seal and a Longfield inner hub gear that needed to be installed.

When I rebuilt the front end I didn't have a pull scale so I just set the trunnion bearing and wheel bearings by feel. Before I tore into it this time I got a pull scale. Napa had no clue what it was so I just picked up a fish weighing scale from K-Mart! Well as soon as I tore into the front end yesterday I found my wheel bearing were very sloppy! I shimmed down my trunnion bearings till I had 15lbs of pulling force on the knuckle. I then installed the Longfield wipers. I struggled with these for about an hour until I figured out the easy way to install them. I got to say, it is a sweet up grade from the stock felt/rubber wiper. Thing is it puts so much force on the knuckle ball that it increased my pulling force on the knuckle by 10ftlbs! When I set my wheel bearings I used the pull scale to pull the hub and check foot pounds. I set my wheel bearings this time to be 18ftlbs of pulling force to move the hub. I then adjusted my toe a little bit. All is good...no more shimmy and the front end is back to where it needs to be. Still need to get a professional alignment though.

I get home this afternoon and hear a huge hissing noise coming from my rear RHS tire. Bummer, so I pull it off and find a huge slice in my sidewall. It takes all of 6 tire plugs to stop it from leaking! Seems good though for now as it no longer leaks with 35psi in the tire and weight on it. No idea how I got the sidewall cut, I don't think rubbing in the rear caused it because there are no sharp edges where it rubs. It was also an odd looking slice.

Still need to get my front sway bar back in, requires some welding to axle mounts. Also still waiting on my steering stablizer. My buddy just picked up a plasma cutter and I have a spare shroud from the FJ62. So I am thinking build a new shroud soon using my existing hacked up stock shroud and the other stock shroud from the FJ62. Besides this there is a bunch of little things I will be working on in the next few weeks, ie leak in heater inside cab, checking fuel pressure, check and adjust timing, ect ect.

 

[Willard]

Ok i have a fair bit to read on this thread, but having a V8 TBI and the Ranger overdrive/ 4 speed i can comment a bit.
The whine is normal it seems as mine sounds exactly the same.
As for the stickiness not sure, Mine is smooth as silk shifting.
I am at about 2300 RPM at 70 MPH with 35's and 4:56's front and rear. so that should help you compare on the 4:56's. i lose zero power going up most hills it seems. only had a problem on on 6% or 7% grade but that was at 2 am and i was a little sleepy. other than that it is a great gear ratio.
I think you might be off more than just 5 MPH as that number goes up a little the faster you go.


One thing I was warned about is that the throw out bearing is you ever do your clutch is not the small one that comes in the kit.
it is a larger bearing ( i will see if i can get the number off mine) otherwise tell AA what you have and they should get the right bearing for you. A good soare to have if you leaving the country with it.

 

[SNLC]

Ok i have a fair bit to read on this thread, but having a V8 TBI and the Ranger overdrive/ 4 speed i can comment a bit.
The whine is normal it seems as mine sounds exactly the same.
As for the stickiness not sure, Mine is smooth as silk shifting.
I am at about 2300 RPM at 70 MPH with 35's and 4:56's front and rear. so that should help you compare on the 4:56's. i lose zero power going up most hills it seems. only had a problem on on 6% or 7% grade but that was at 2 am and i was a little sleepy. other than that it is a great gear ratio.
I think you might be off more than just 5 MPH as that number goes up a little the faster you go.


One thing I was warned about is that the throw out bearing is you ever do your clutch is not the small one that comes in the kit.
it is a larger bearing ( i will see if i can get the number off mine) otherwise tell AA what you have and they should get the right bearing for you. A good soare to have if you leaving the country with it.

Thanks, I have 4.11s. I won't lose any power unless I drop rpms to much on the hills, ie below 2000. The ramjets really like to be in the 2000-3000rpm range. I have thought about re-gearing but don't want to have a lower top end. With the 4.11s in 4th and OD engaged at 75ish mph I am at about 2500rpms.

I know the Ranger is suppoes to whine, I made the comment about it for others who made not have ever used one and might be considering the box. It shifts in smooth but I have to whale on it a bit to get it out. Other then linkage not sure what would cause this?

Could you elborate on the T/O bearing stuff? We did a new clutch in this truck the first couple weeks I had it and had the tranny out a second tiem after that to fix a big leak on the Ranger box. I just used a Napa performance clutch, no special parts except the retaing clip for the clutch fork. So I used the T/O bearing that came with the kit, it was exactly the same as the one that was in it. I am pretty sure I have a Chevy BH so not sure why you say I should use a large AA T/O bearing?

Oh and any comments on what people think I am off on my speedo would be cool! I been trying to calculate mpg but since my speedo is off, I think by about 5-6mph, I am having a slightly difficult time calculating it without guessing a little. I filled up yesterday and put 35 gallons in for going 320 miles on the speedo. I am thinking I am getting 10-11ish mpg....

 

[Willard]

Ya i will dig the two out of my boxes. Might be the issue you are having when you shift out of the RO. Mine is very smooth and requires nothing to shift in or out.

I will also take a shot of the linkage as the PO did a few mods that seems to help.

 

[topaw84]

I'm about 3 mph off at 25 mph and about 6mph off at 55 and about 8mph off at 75. That's with 35's and 411's. I've got a garmin hanheld you can barrow to check your mileage and speed sometime. I've noticed my odometer is off by about 7 miles for every hundred when checking with the gps.

 

[SNLC]

I'm about 3 mph off at 25 mph and about 6mph off at 55 and about 8mph off at 75. That's with 35's and 411's. I've got a garmin hanheld you can barrow to check your mileage and speed sometime. I've noticed my odometer is off by about 7 miles for every hundred when checking with the gps.

Cool! Thanks, I don't have a GPS to check with. I have been using the police speed check things that are moved around town. I noticed the other day the speedo seemed pretty close at 25mph.

I will shoot you a pm....

 

[SNLC]

Check this out....

A local buddy wants to get the Tauras fan from me, I had the radiator out from the FJ62. So I just set the Tauras fan on the radiator to see how it fit.

I got to say that is a really nice fit!

As mentioned I am planning to build a shroud from two stock shrouds. I got a plan, the parts and a plasma cutter so see how that goes. Yet, if it doesn't get cooling where I want this will be the next thing I try as it looks pretty sweet.

 

[SNLC]

smashed Y-pipe fixed yesterday....truck sounds nice!

Downloaded an app for my Droid, monitors my speed and some other things. Pretty cool!

Traded the other day the FJ62 radiator for a CCOT center console. I want the Tuffy one but this console will hold me over for some time. I am liking it a lot!

 

[Willard]

Here is the Throw out bearing i am talking about.
the Kit comes with the smaller of the two. for mine i need the larger

 

[Willard]

Here is the dogleg i was talking about in the shifter not sure if this is stock and also the bar to the OD

With the way these look my Overdrive shifts smooth as silk. No different than my 4 speed.