roma's 78 fj40 gets a 3b h55f

[roma042987]

Maybe it's just the abgle of the photo, but the pitman arm looks pretty darn close to the leaf springs.

its the angle of the photo its not close at all considering the factory leafs are pretty much collapsed.

well havent had time to update much so here are some pics of were im at.

going back to work so i can finish up tonight (i hope)

fuel filter bracket mounted using existing pickup points from the carb cooling fan

narrowed shock tower at the bottom a bit

i had a hard time tracking down the f250 shock tower part number so if anyone else needs it here ya go

 

[roma042987]

It's alive! goin to the muffler shop on my lunch break and still have to mount the front bumper, stick an air cleaner of sorts on it and tighten up the fenders. oh and straighten the steering wheel. quick test drive this evening and then the 4000+ mile down shake down run first thing in the morning! And i still have to get my camping gear together.

 

[roma042987]

Finally got done with it around 7 this evening and it drives great! The Fj62 steering feels great and the 3b feels much pepier than the old 2f. Feel pretty confident about everything other than a small front output shaft seal leak. Couldn't get a seal today so I ordered one for a few hundred miles down the road that I can pick up tomorrow so if its an issue ill put it in on the road. Drove it around 25 miles tonight and everything else is good so far. I"ll update when I get down the road.

 

[SM Racing]

Good luck out there. Let me know if you need anything.

 

[roma042987]

Got to petrified forest at dusk so went for a nice scenic drive.

Drove 1700 some odd miles and so far so good other than the front output seal leaking some gear oil all is well. Hasn't used any oil or coolant and cruises along comfortably at 70mph with some speed to spare.

 

[LDowney]

Got to petrified forest at dusk so went for a nice scenic drive.

Drove 1700 some odd miles and so far so good other than the front output seal leaking some gear oil all is well. Hasn't used any oil or coolant and cruises along comfortably at 70mph with some speed to spare.

Congratulations. It looks like great workmanship and a skillful install.

 

[roma042987]

Congratulations. It looks like great workmanship and a skillful install.

Thanks! I certainly can't take all the credit though, I couldn't have got it done without the help I from ( SM RACING) fabbing up the mounts and brackets.

 

[ClemsonCruiser]

Well done, it takes balls to do a 4000+ trip in a 40 in its own right.... not to mention less the 24 hours after finishing up and engine swap to you!!

 

[subzali]

Well done, it takes balls to do a 4000+ trip in a 40 in its own right.... not to mention less the 24 hours after finishing up and engine swap to you!!

...and a diesel/steering conversion! So I guess you figured out how to attach the steering box to the passenger side TRE, but I just wanted to add that probably the best way would be to ream out the passenger site TRE to match the size of the 70 relay rod.

Good luck on your trip!

 

[SM Racing]

I don't feel there is enough meat to ream the 40 end to fit the 70 joint. When he gets back we will be making him a custom setup using 60 and 80 parts.

Scenery looks awesome. Wish I was there rather than here.

 

[roma042987]

Decided to take the scenic route to the grand canyon so I took a 20+ mile unimproved dirt road outside of flagstaff along the old Arizona trail. It was a Heck of a bumpy ride but well worth it. Oh surprise to me I have had my hubs locked for 1700 miles.

 

[roma042987]

Made it to the canyon but apparently the passes to camp below the rim sold out in January. So I camped on the rim (literally) and revised the trip a bit.

thanks for all the positive comments they are making those late nights working on this thing worth it.

 

[roma042987]

Lots of exploring today and its running better than ever. Drove for a few hours at 102 degree heat and fortunately no over heating.

Zion is a must see but a/c would be highly recommended this time of year.

Here is where I ended up today.

 

[roma042987]

I was planning on renting a uhaul trailer for a one way run from Dallas Texas to Huntsville Alabama....until I found out it was goin to be 260 bucks! So after searching Craigslist from Arizona to Texas I ended up picking this little guy up in wichita falls Texas for 300 bucks. Trucks been running great other than my last minute muffler job bit me in the butt. Muffler broke because I didn't have time to install a flex pipe. Oh also stopped at a big rig shop in amarillo and talked them into letting me use their pit to do a quick oil change.

 

[roma042987]

Filled up here leaving Vegas first place I have seen diesel cheaper than regular in a long time.

Stopped to help a fellow cruiser guy out and was a bit disappointed to see a gas burner in this aussie Fj47.

 

[rolladude1166]

Wow, that is one hell of a drive! Even though it was a gas burner I'm sure it was pretty sweet seeing that FJ74!

 

[roma042987]

Wow, that is one hell of a drive! Even though it was a gas burner I'm sure it was pretty sweet seeing that FJ74!

It was a sweet rig . He was headed to the overland expo in flag staff az.

4382 miles later I'm back home with the goods. Goin to try to do a quick frame off in time for a north western trip in august

 

[Alaska Ranger]

Not only was that a great trip, but I am utterly flabbergasted at how quickly you were able to get your BJ40 up and running.
So.......when you write that you're thinking of a "north western" trip, I say: let's see you make it REALLY north and west. See ya here!

MY 3B, by the way, is running really, really smooth this spring and, for a non-turbo'd, moderately powerful...the only thing different is the Stanadyne Performance Formula I've been putting in - hand lotion for injectors.

 

[roma042987]

Not only was that a great trip, but I am utterly flabbergasted at how quickly you were able to get your BJ40 up and running.
So.......when you write that you're thinking of a "north western" trip, I say: let's see you make it REALLY north and west. See ya here!

MY 3B, by the way, is running really, really smooth this spring and, for a non-turbo'd, moderately powerful...the only thing different is the Stanadyne Performance Formula I've been putting in - hand lotion for injectors.

you know i had full intentions of turboing my 3b but, after this trip im leaning towards leaving it naturally aspirated. I was really astonished at how much more power this thing has in the 40 than it did in the 70. Im assuming because the factory exhaust was restrictive and possibly the muffler was clogged. I would really love to drive it up to alaska but currently my vacations are limited to a week off at a time. Its definitely on the list though, my cruiser actually has its original paper work in the glove box from when it was sold in Anchorage Alaska (i picked it up in Wyoming) so i'll def have to take it back to its old stomping grounds. interested in the standyne stuff i have been running the power service additive but im under the impression its more of a cetane booster than a lubricant. I did notice that on my trip that loves fuel stations have 5-20% biodiesel blend that should be great for the ip wouldnt you think? anybody elses opinion on this?

 

[Alaska Ranger]

I did notice that on my trip that loves fuel stations have 5-20% biodiesel blend that should be great for the ip wouldnt you think? anybody elses opinion on this?

Well, for an opinion unencumbered by the thought process or experience...yes, I would hope that B5-B20 would nicely lave the ip. Not only is it not available in Alaska, however (can't say about Anchorage), but our temperatures here in the mountains are so low that really would have to be on top of it for all but a couple of weeks in mid-summer, as pumps don't push grease very well....

But if I were driving around the lesser-48 I definitely would want to use that blend. If you go to the VW "TDI" forum (their diesels), there is a fuel & oil sub-forum that consistently suggests those diesels love bio-blend. TDIClub Forums - Powered by vBulletin should get you there.