Builds So now I have a BJ74... (1 Viewer)

[NM Frontier]

Got the rest of the pyro install done today, boy drilling in to the down pipe/elbow manifold defiantly ranks up there with snorkel install nervousness. I ended up pulling the elbow off the back of the turbo and putting it in the vice so I could drill and tap the flat spot on it. You could almost do it with out taking it off but tapping it would be a real chore. Over all it went smooth no busted studs pulling the elbow and the hole tapped nice and straight.

Hole drilled ready to tap the 1/4 NPT threads.

Starting the threads, still wondering what I'v done...

Fitting in and starting to feel good with the decision to do this.

Thermocoupler in and setting the depth to the center of the down pipe elbow.

All put back together with the modified heat shield to clear the thermocoupler.

I still need to get the proper union for the tubing coming off the boost part of the gauge to tie in to the vacuum hose to the boost tee. I got a few I thought would work but I cam up with a cleaner way this afternoon and ordered a new one. But Ill get it out tomorrow for a test drive and at least be able to see what kind of EGTs I'm getting.

Just need to clean up a few loose ends and this will be wrapped up!

 

[NM Frontier]

I got out a drove the 74 a bit today, gauge seems to work as you'd expect. I did a run up a fairly good mountain hill/pass and could hit 1000*-1200* if I had the pedal to the floor for long periods of time. By backing off a bit I could stay 900* or so and keep a reasonable pace(well for a 25+ old land cruiser). Still need to do the long one up from the desert to get a better idea but I bet I have been pushing it kinda hard after seeing the numbers today. For better or worse it is going to be extremely hard not to "drive by EGTs" from here on out.

 

[AirheadNut]

Wow, that is a bit toasty for post turbo. Those are the numbers I peak at pre turbo with heavy acceleration/speed on hills in my G-class.

 

[NM Frontier]

I was thinking the same thing, seems hot from what others are getting.

So my next project will be how to lower EGTs...

 

[NM Frontier]

Finish up the boost tee and gauge hook up.

Mounted with the vacuum line coming off the cross over pipe to the boost tee then back to the wastgate.

This shows the plumbing a bit better, the brass fitting is the line going to the boost gauge. I am not sure if this was the best place for it but made for the cleanest and shortest amount of line back to the gauge.

Sorry for the bad pic but if it was in focus you could see boost at about 10psi and EGTs at around 900 up a slight grade. Just showing that every thing is hooked up and running, Ill replace it with a focused day shot this weekend. The only thing I need to fix is the wire I tapped into for the back light was not the right one, it comes on with the head lights but goes off with the high beams on.

I saw slightly better egts on my drive tonight with the boost set to about 11-12 max. I think I will tone it down a bit to 10 when I have some more time to cruise around and play with it this weekend.

Think I may have a bit of over fueling going on that may be the source of my high egts. I get a bit of black smoke on heavy throttle and a bunch of soot all over the tail pipe and bumper above it. This will be my next adventure, learning about the boost compensator and tuning it a bit.

 

[jblueridge]

I am glad this is coming out so well for you.
I need to do the same for mine.

 

[NM Frontier]

Thanks jblueridge!

I'm stoked to be making some progress also!

You know it was a bit intimidating at first but really it's not to bad of a job!

 

[NM Frontier]

Another big day today for the the 74...

Finally got some proper cruiser wheels on it!!
I've been waiting for a while for some to show up for sale locally and in December I found a set of 5 in Albuquerque. They had been spray painted previously which was perfect for me, since I had planned on powder coating a set in grey ever since I saw ttps://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/project-lxxiv-1988-bj74-land-cruiser-build.803691/, so thank you @cruiseroutfit for the inspiration and help getting the color right.

I got them blasted and coated (RAL 7043) a few weeks ago and got the tires in this week, got them mounted then straight out for a shake down run on the way home. I loved my Cooper AT3s and if they made them in 33x10.5 I would have gotten them again, but you really can't beat the BFGs KO2s! I have them on my 80 also and man they are way better then the last KOs in my opinion.

This set up is killer and fits the 74 perfect if you ask me!

 

[AlbertoSD]

Truck looks fantastic!!!

Keep up the great work

-Alberto

 

[divemedic]

I got out a drove the 74 a bit today, gauge seems to work as you'd expect. I did a run up a fairly good mountain hill/pass and could hit 1000*-1200* if I had the pedal to the floor for long periods of time. By backing off a bit I could stay 900* or so and keep a reasonable pace(well for a 25+ old land cruiser). Still need to do the long one up from the desert to get a better idea but I bet I have been pushing it kinda hard after seeing the numbers today. For better or worse it is going to be extremely hard not to "drive by EGTs" from here on out.

If you're in abq, how is the run up the sandias?

 

[NM Frontier]

Thanks! @AlbertoSD

I'm just trying to get half way to the bar that you set on here!

 

[NM Frontier]

@divemedic I am not in ABQ, I'm farther south in Cloudcroft, about two hours north of Texas. I haven't been in the Sandias in a long time, need to do that!

 

[divemedic]

Yes... there is a gravel road at the base of a parking lot that supposedly goes all the way to Santa Fe. I use to see enduro guys driving out on it all the time. One of my favorite dh trail emptied at the start. I never drove it. I'll send you a pin if your interested.

 

[NM Frontier]

Finally got around to replacing my steering column cover. The old one was cracked or broken at just about every attachment point so it rattled and made all sorts of racket on rough roads. Could not source a brown one so I got one in grey in used the SEM Color Coat in Cordova Brown to paint it. Amazon.com: SEM 15023 Cordovan Brown 13Z Color Coat - 12 oz.: Automotive I think it is pretty damn close to the original brown.

I'm still missing a few of the mounting screws but it doesn't rattle and make racket anymore so I am stoked, some times its the simple fixes that bring the most satisfaction driving down the road.

 

[NM Frontier]

Got out and enjoyed the 74 today, hadn't had a chance to do that in a while.

 

[NM Frontier]

Ok so I am finally getting caught up on the 74 projects (I feel like I am always saying that).

Pulled the injectors and sent them up to Central Motive Power in Albuquerque for some freshening up. They tested them and informed me they were no where near atomizing fuel but spraying fuel in more of a T pattern. So they did a full rebuild and then tested perfect.

So Fresh and so clean! Ready to install with fresh washers and gaskets.

I can defiantly tell a difference in performance and just an overall smother power of the engine after installing the rebuilt injectors. Very pleased with the results of this project, should have done it years ago! Every thing went smooth getting the leak pipe and fuel pipe off of the injectors, they were a little stubborn coming out but not as bad as I thought they would be. What I did not do was a compression test since I had the injectors out, as I have been curious since I first got the 74 but next time I guess.

I also installed new rear door weatherstrip as the originals were cracked and let in a good amount of dust. Now every thing is sealed up and the doors close much tighter now. Thanks to @beno for providing the service he does!

 

[fireball]

Awesome! mind sharing how much the injector rebuild cost?

 

[NM Frontier]

Sure, about $80 a piece. I didn't do any shopping around so not sure how that compares to other shops.

 

[NM Frontier]

Roof Rack Time...

I have always been a sucker for a Cruiser with a roof rack, even though I know and sometimes feel all of the drawbacks of loading up the roof of my rig. But part of the build of my 74 is giving in to the romanticism of a classic kitted Land Cruiser. The BJ 74 with the fiberglass removable top presents some challenges to mount a roof rack. The fiberglass rain gutter rails don't have the best reputation and drilling holes in the top just haven't settled well with me. I am always keeping an eye out for a FRP solution, and this summer I ran into some pics of a rack that @reevesci Trail Taylor was making for the 73/74 FRP tops. After a few questions I pulled the trigger and ordered up a rack with a few options added. I had reeveci add a few extra cross bars to allow me to mount my RTT so it can open over the rear of the Cruiser and create a covered space at the rear of the truck in bad weather. I also added some light tabs a the front to mount some lights some day to fill in the gap in the roof line.

The rack utilizes the rain gutters on the FRP top as well as additional "legs" that rest on the FRP and help take the load off of the gutters. I know the legs may add some ware to the top but I have not seen anything yet. This may not be ultimate answer to the FRP to roof rack but I think it is a great compromise and well designed. I have to admit that I don't plan to really load down the rack so I think it will work great for the amount of use I am planning. One other benefit that I did not even think about till after I stood back and looked at it with the roof rack on is how much better it looks with a flat roof line.

I also added an Eezi-Awn Shade 2M awning, I plan on sharing it with the 80 so I am not sure how much time it will spend on the 74 but that is where it's home is now.

I love how the rack squared up the roof line, next will be some round lights to fill in the gap between the rack and windshield, kinda "Camel Trophy" style.

Eezi-Awn Shade test

You can see the "legs" and the extra crossbars for the RTT

Close up of the "legs" with rubber against the top

I ended up using the Eezi-Awn mounts. they worked great and I have a second set on the 80 as well.


Overall stoked on the rack, painting it was a drag it reminded me how much I dislike spray paint, but will be easy to touch up in the future. Still not sure if the RTT will ever make it up on the rack but it will be nice to have the option.

 

[Tennessee Jed]

Great setup. Thanks for the closeup views of the rack. Exactly my plan for this year.