I want to thank everyone on this forum for the wealth of information and motivation for helping me get my '74 driving again.
It all started about 7 months ago with @RAGINGMATT helping me fix my radiator so I could get started on trying to fire up the engine. After getting the engine running it was time to hit the hard stuff.
First off was replacing the wheel cylinders and the master cylinder. I was very excited to get the brakes working as well as they do. I appreciate all the info from everyone on here from how to get my drums off when the wheel cylinder adjustments are rusted frozen to when I panicked because I lost the pushrod between the booster and master.
I then replaced the clutch master and slave. The clutch and brakes were good but the engine still ran horribly. It's a sbc350 conversion mated to the stock 4spd but with a modified low gear ratio. I'm proud to have 'marlin crawler SN#23' engraved on my transfer case. What I'm not proud of though is this...I had that transfer case modified back around '96 but had torn apart the cruiser to put new paint on it and didn't finish before going back to school, life changed (in a good way but just not the same), many things where going on and fast forward here I am. I never could imagine getting rid of it though all these years. So, back to the engine...compression looked good so I took the opportunity to clean things up, get some new bits here and there, put a new intake on it, rebuilt the carburetor, put a new distributor on it and all the normal things for a tune up and now the engine runs great.
So about 3 weeks ago I was very excited to finally put the registration sticker on it and go for a drive. Its quite the experience given I'm on the stock saggy springs without any shocks. I'm fortunate to have a new OME 2.5" suspension sitting in my garage that I'm anxious to get started on which was going to be my next step but.....here's the deal. It's seriously has been sitting for 20 years except for the occasional moving around so I can't expect everything to work.
So the result of the test was good but my transmission's syncro going from 2nd to 3rd does not work. I'm really wanting to get this fj40 reliable so I can use it both on and off road. I'm now strongly considering pulling the engine/drive train out right away and getting the transmission rebuilt while I dive into the suspension. I have some questions:
1) I'm not interested in going just anywhere for Trans rebuild and would prefer a TLC specialist. I'm in the so cal area and could use a recommendation. (I've been eyeing @65swb45)
2) The Transfer case hasn't seen any use but then again has been sitting for all these 20 years, It shifts and seems fine but would you guys recommend getting that rebuilt while I have the chance?
The conversion was done with the Downey kit back in the late '80s so it has the front engine cradle mount. I couple things I'd like to change...
1) I'd sure like to get the shifter out from under the heater. I found out about the fj60 top plate swap. Is it really as easy as it sounds or am I missing something? It looks like the plate is taller than the fj40's. does it clear the fj40 trans cover and make it look stock?
2) I have stock steering. I'd love to go power steering some day. Is it true that the downey's cradle mount is in the way for a saginaw conversion, so I'd have to go to the AA front mounts to do it?
3) Also, I'm running rear dump exhaust manifolds with dual exhaust. I'd love to do the center rams horn manifolds some day to simplify the exhaust with the under engine cross over to a single exhaust setup. Is it true that I don't have clearance to run these manifolds until I get rid of the stock steering.
4) I'm not real stoked on the rear motor mounts. It only has a single doughnut. I think its the stock fj40 motor mount but only uses one between the motor mount welded to the frame and the TC cross member. Just doesn't seem like a good design since it only cushions in compression if that makes sense. If I pull the drivetrain I'm going to want to see if I can come up with a better solution.
The exhaust on it isn't optimal. I can't pull the drivetrain out without the exhaust in the way. The picture shows that the flowmasters are welded together. the drivers side flowmaster is welded to a bracket that mounts to the frame. The shop that did the exhuast way back then did a great job tucking everything up high but we sure weren't thinking of maintainability then. Anyone think there's a chance I can pull the clamps off and pull the tail pipes out of the flowmasters? If so I can drop the mufflers and everything forward to it to the engine. If I can't its hacksaw time if I'm really going to do this.
Well, I never intended for this post to be so long. if you actually read all of it I want to thank you.
It all started about 7 months ago with @RAGINGMATT helping me fix my radiator so I could get started on trying to fire up the engine. After getting the engine running it was time to hit the hard stuff.
First off was replacing the wheel cylinders and the master cylinder. I was very excited to get the brakes working as well as they do. I appreciate all the info from everyone on here from how to get my drums off when the wheel cylinder adjustments are rusted frozen to when I panicked because I lost the pushrod between the booster and master.
I then replaced the clutch master and slave. The clutch and brakes were good but the engine still ran horribly. It's a sbc350 conversion mated to the stock 4spd but with a modified low gear ratio. I'm proud to have 'marlin crawler SN#23' engraved on my transfer case. What I'm not proud of though is this...I had that transfer case modified back around '96 but had torn apart the cruiser to put new paint on it and didn't finish before going back to school, life changed (in a good way but just not the same), many things where going on and fast forward here I am. I never could imagine getting rid of it though all these years. So, back to the engine...compression looked good so I took the opportunity to clean things up, get some new bits here and there, put a new intake on it, rebuilt the carburetor, put a new distributor on it and all the normal things for a tune up and now the engine runs great.
So about 3 weeks ago I was very excited to finally put the registration sticker on it and go for a drive. Its quite the experience given I'm on the stock saggy springs without any shocks. I'm fortunate to have a new OME 2.5" suspension sitting in my garage that I'm anxious to get started on which was going to be my next step but.....here's the deal. It's seriously has been sitting for 20 years except for the occasional moving around so I can't expect everything to work.
So the result of the test was good but my transmission's syncro going from 2nd to 3rd does not work. I'm really wanting to get this fj40 reliable so I can use it both on and off road. I'm now strongly considering pulling the engine/drive train out right away and getting the transmission rebuilt while I dive into the suspension. I have some questions:
1) I'm not interested in going just anywhere for Trans rebuild and would prefer a TLC specialist. I'm in the so cal area and could use a recommendation. (I've been eyeing @65swb45)
2) The Transfer case hasn't seen any use but then again has been sitting for all these 20 years, It shifts and seems fine but would you guys recommend getting that rebuilt while I have the chance?
The conversion was done with the Downey kit back in the late '80s so it has the front engine cradle mount. I couple things I'd like to change...
1) I'd sure like to get the shifter out from under the heater. I found out about the fj60 top plate swap. Is it really as easy as it sounds or am I missing something? It looks like the plate is taller than the fj40's. does it clear the fj40 trans cover and make it look stock?
2) I have stock steering. I'd love to go power steering some day. Is it true that the downey's cradle mount is in the way for a saginaw conversion, so I'd have to go to the AA front mounts to do it?
3) Also, I'm running rear dump exhaust manifolds with dual exhaust. I'd love to do the center rams horn manifolds some day to simplify the exhaust with the under engine cross over to a single exhaust setup. Is it true that I don't have clearance to run these manifolds until I get rid of the stock steering.
4) I'm not real stoked on the rear motor mounts. It only has a single doughnut. I think its the stock fj40 motor mount but only uses one between the motor mount welded to the frame and the TC cross member. Just doesn't seem like a good design since it only cushions in compression if that makes sense. If I pull the drivetrain I'm going to want to see if I can come up with a better solution.
The exhaust on it isn't optimal. I can't pull the drivetrain out without the exhaust in the way. The picture shows that the flowmasters are welded together. the drivers side flowmaster is welded to a bracket that mounts to the frame. The shop that did the exhuast way back then did a great job tucking everything up high but we sure weren't thinking of maintainability then. Anyone think there's a chance I can pull the clamps off and pull the tail pipes out of the flowmasters? If so I can drop the mufflers and everything forward to it to the engine. If I can't its hacksaw time if I'm really going to do this.
Well, I never intended for this post to be so long. if you actually read all of it I want to thank you.
