Builds So now I have a BJ74...

[Malahki]

Yup good plan to remove a leaf to lower it until you add some weight as sitting high in the back will also effect your castor negatively by a degree or so. I ran that way for a long time but now have lots of weight at the back leveling it out and I switched to 4* castor shims. The difference in handling is night and day

 

[NM Frontier]

Gotcha, that makes seance the ends are cut a bit different, looks out of place. Thanks, I can see a use for them a ways down the road, but for now I think it's got to go!

 

[NM Frontier]

Yup good plan to remove a leaf to lower it until you add some weight as sitting high in the back will also effect your castor negatively by a degree or so. I ran that way for a long time but now have lots of weight at the back leveling it out and I switched to 4* castor shims. The difference in handling is night and day

Yep trying to level it out before I dial in the castor. Not sure how it measures out now but Ill take it in when I get the leaf out now.

 

[NM Frontier]

So now that I'm getting caught up on my to do list, I thinking about building a spare parts list, both for in the truck to have on trips and outings and also maybe some stuff to stock up on to have in the shop.

Belts, hoses, fluids are the first to come to mind, but those are no brainers, how about some BJ74/13bt specific things.
Any suggestions based on your personal experiences?

 

[Oldtoy74]

Water pump, vsv's, oil sender, thermostat, to name a couple of things

 

[Hulsty]

I dont carry any of what oldtoy74 has mentioned, total water pump failure is unlikely, rest can be cobbled to get you home. 13BT specific stuff I carry, belts, rad hoses, fan. Rest of my spares are general to any landcruiser of same vintage.

 

[Oldtoy74]

I don't carry them either, because I can source these parts quite easily, and have replaced already, whether ol mate can get these parts easily considering where he lives, buy them and have em in cupboard if needed !,

 

[fireball]

NM - any updates?!

 

[NM Frontier]

Man, not really been kinda busy running around and getting a few trips in. I've been driving it a bunch when I'v been home and loving it. Still need to get that leaf out in the rear, especially now that I got the rear seats removed to haul the mountain bike around. Think I'm just gonna buckle down and knock out my to-do list in one whack after the new year.

 

[stayalert]

Update from post #16….

SUPER NICE!!!! Keep up the good work!

 

[fireball]

I've actually grown to like a small bit of "stinkbug" in my cruisers! Which kit did you go with the medium or heavy duty leafs?

What kind of mpgs are you getting driving around town? My wife is watching gas prices fall, and diesel prices not so much and telling me that my argument for all the fuel savings practically paying for the 74 is now invalid!

 

[Diesel Cruiserman]

What are your current oil pressure readings? ( cold / hot idle )
Thanks

I would do a mechanical reading on the oil pressure cold and hot, then either change out the sending unit and then calibrate the gauge to be in my happy place..... between the dash gauge and the pickup, there would always be a low reading.

Nice truck..

 

[NM Frontier]

@fireball
Running the med leafs front and rear. The front settled nicely but the rear hasn't at all really, so the stink bug is a bit to much for my taste, still need to pull that leaf from the rear, hoping that will do the trick!

As for mpgs I haven't calculated every tank but the last one I did was 18ish city and trail no hwy. The good part about diesel is the price seems more consistent so you can always plan for what your gonna pay to fill up, the bad part is they never gut ya a brake on diesel!

 

[NM Frontier]

@ Diesel Cruiserman

After swapping out the sending unit I get a much more accurate reading from the gauge. One day I'll do an aux gauge panel w EGTs, oil pressure and trans temp, just to put some numbers w the reading, but for now I think it's fine. Just glad it moves!

 

[NM Frontier]

Well time for a bit of progress now that the holidays are over! I got the leaf pulled from the rear spring packs and the truck rides and sits much better, so success there! With the good weather we've been having I have not been able to force my self in to doing much wrenching but I have been out driving it almost every day, either wheeling or dragging the mountain bike somewhere. One thing I have noticed with the colder weather is a lot more smoke on start up and for the fist few miles of driving. After it warms up it seems to be fine. Smoke is a whitish blueish color. It doesn't seem to effect performance so I'v just kept driving. Getting started on some interior work, got the rear seats out and experimenting with how I want the fridge and tie downs.

After taking a leaf out of the rear, much better!

Bike mount is about as far as I'v gotten on the cargo set up.

 

[SteveJackson]

Looks awesome!

 

[fireball]

Such a pretty color in the sunlight! Nice to see you taking it out and having some fun.

 

[NM Frontier]

Yea the color is one of my favorites for sure! I think the only one to beat it is beige/tan that you see on all the middle east spec Cruisers.

Did a 200 mile round tip in the 74 today, all hwy and mountain roads but the 74 did great, it just cruised along and gave the guys at the Border Patrol Check Point something to talk about for the day!

 

[wardharris]

Did a 200 mile round tip in the 74 today, all hwy and mountain roads but the 74 did great, it just cruised along and gave the guys at the Border Patrol Check Point something to talk about for the day!

Were they trying to keep you in or out?

Congrats on the road trip, thanks for sharing the snap!

 

[NM Frontier]

Snow day in southern New Mexico

Got a sold 3" of snow today witch is a big deal in these parts! Got out on the mountain bike, then fired up the Jetboil and took the long way back in to town. Got to put the Coppers through there paces in the snow and mud, and have to say they did great in the slick and good for an AT in the muck. All and all a great day in and out of the 74.