Builds The Architect's '77 FJ40

[wngrog]

Sewing machine

 

[middlecalf]

And the fuel tank is empty

And yes, I had to google meme.

”Idea”.

 

[Catching Neutral]

Hope your having a great time
Wish I could be there
Thank you for representing the Landcruiser community

 

[ToyotaMatt]

Rick ,


did u notice any different or unique data from the sniper screen in relation to you upgrading to : 27020-61022-84, 12V - 50A

 

[wngrog]

Matt. I don’t really trust the Sniper readout for volts. Especially with an external regulator.

On all my builds I run a 12v “cigarette lighter” direct to the battery (fused) and run a plug-in LED gauge.

The direct plug in always shows true charge

All my internal regulator trucks show true in the Sniper readout

 

[thatcabledude]

Hi Rick, Bye Rick

 

[Skreddy]

Matt. I don’t really trust the Sniper readout for volts. Especially with an external regulator.

On all my builds I run a 12v “cigarette lighter” direct to the battery (fused) and run a plug-in LED gauge.

The direct plug in always shows true charge

All my internal regulator trucks show true in the Sniper readout

Well this is fantastic insight. My sniper was always reading slightly low or slightly high, rarely perfect. I’ve tried bending that voltage regulator tab so many times…. I’m going to try the cigarette lighter voltage gauge and see.
Now if only they send me a good sniper….

 

[GA Architect]

Thursday morning’s gauge cluster photo:

This afternoon’s gauge cluster, after 7 hours of back roads from Santa Rosa Beach, FL to Woodstock, GA.

743 miles of fun!

 

[GA Architect]

Here’s one from my trip.

I’ll post many others tomorrow.

 

[GA Architect]

A few trip photos....

Sunrise from the 331 bridge, headed back home.

Just an old store seen on the backroads.

 

[GA Architect]

Hello Mr. @thatcabledude

Hello Mr. @85roktoy

Hello Mr. @daniel.watters

Hello Mr. @RocketCityCrzrs

 

[GA Architect]

Hello Mr. @thatcabledude & Steve

Hello Mr. @daniel.watters , @thatcabledude , @Zjohnsonua

And a few others.... @macdaddy59 , @alabamatacomaguy & @brettk

 

[brettk]

Hello Mr. @thatcabledude & Steve
View attachment 2991632

Hello Mr. @daniel.watters , @thatcabledude , @Zjohnsonua
View attachment 2991633

And a few others.... @macdaddy59 , @alabamatacomaguy & @brettk

Our 80 there in spirit.

 

[Zjohnsonua]

It was neat to have a little mini-SAS meet up. Great to see everyone.

 

[daniel.watters]

Great meeting you guys!
- Daniel.Watters

 

[GA Architect]

On my way back from Santa Rosa Beach, Sunday before last, with the window down I noticed that I might have developed an exhaust leak. It was not pronounced so much, but at higher revs I could hear exhaust notes from under the hood. I forgot about it, till yesterday. While messing around under the hood, I started checking the exhaust bolts. Well lo-and-behold, I was able to twist the lower rear bolt with just my fingers on the extension. I tightened it back up, and didn't hear the exhaust this morning.

Question, do you guys put any loctite on the manifold bolts?

Future project, will be to install headers with a new exhaust system. At that time, I'll switch out the bolts to studs, and loctite them into the block. But would you loctite the nuts onto the studs?

 

[DangerNoodle]

On my way back from Santa Rosa Beach, Sunday before last, with the window down I noticed that I might have developed an exhaust leak. It was not pronounced so much, but at higher revs I could hear exhaust notes from under the hood. I forgot about it, till yesterday. While messing around under the hood, I started checking the exhaust bolts. Well lo-and-behold, I was able to twist the lower rear bolt with just my fingers on the extension. I tightened it back up, and didn't hear the exhaust this morning.

Question, do you guys put any loctite on the manifold bolts?

Future project, will be to install headers with a new exhaust system. At that time, I'll switch out the bolts to studs, and loctite them into the block. But would you loctite the nuts onto the studs?

I'm not sure if I would Loctite an exhaust manifold bolt or nut unless you are pulling them all the time. I normally anti-seize them cause they don't come off often, and are usually a massive pain if they get stuck. A healthy dose of torque at installation, and checking them every several hundred miles as the gasket breaks in will usually do it.

 

[Andrew S]

Loctite won't do much for exhaust parts, the heat in those areas will soften the thread locker to the point it will no longer hold.

Andrew

 

[Jdc1]

These were recommended by the guys that milled our headers.

Washers - Belleville Washer - BelMetric

belmetric.com

Not sure if there would be enough room on a stock manifold setup.

 

[GA Architect]

On the way home the other night, I had an interesting encounter........with a DUCK! While I was just cruising down the back roads around 50MPH, there is a section that goes by a pond. Like many-many times before, I was just looking over at the pond in passing, and when I turned back------BAM!!!!! Frigging duck was coming in for a landing on the pond and caught the hood my 40! It hit at such an angle on my left windshield hook, that it actually unhooked it from the rest block. The edge on the hook ripped the duck open, then the duck smashed into and coated my windshield with duck innards. Heck, I could hardly see out the windshield afterwards. The sound that thing made against my 40 was horrible, a dead thud! How it didn't crack my windshield, I'll never know.

Wife wasn't too pleased when I got home, as if I could have done something different. Was going to take a pic, but decided not too, it was a frigging NASTY MESS!

On a lighter note, daughter stopped by on Sunday to clean up her FJC. Had to snap a few pics.