The Honey Badger (Story/Build of my FJ62) (1 Viewer)

[Kleatus]

Of course before the white truck went down the road, the most valuable parts of it had to be removed.

These things are like gold nowadays. Sent them off in return for a $400 check.
Also sold the junk 4l60 for $75.

As of now I am into a good 5.3 with all fixings and harness, and NV4500 for a whopping $225.

 

[rhah]

Of course before the white truck went down the road, the most valuable parts of it had to be removed. View attachment 2589860
These things are like gold nowadays. Sent them off in return for a $400 check.
Also sold the junk 4l60 for $75.

As of now I am into a good 5.3 with all fixings and harness, and NV4500 for a whopping $225.

Get it klaus!! Your gonna be like me and end up making money to swap in your LS

 

[Kleatus]

Get it klaus!! Your gonna be like me and end up making money to swap in your LS

I doubt that will happen, I still need the T case adapter and am going to spend the money on the right bellhousing. Between those 2 items and a new clutch I will have exceeded my original purchase price of the Cruiser .

 

[Skniper]

SAS3.

View attachment 2584438View attachment 2584439View attachment 2584442View attachment 2584444


6,800 lbs. Ooof.

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Awesome thread! ...all I can think of looking at the first pic of the dog...

 

[EasternYeti]

Before SAS2 I also built some drawers and a fridge slider with a dual top folding table under it. (Long before the bumper seen here).View attachment 2584002

Also made up a manual square tube bender and made a rack, with some hog panel mesh on the front part.

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Man those extended two tier drawers are HOT

 

[Kleatus]

She brought home a friend today...

And some goodies started showing up...
New takeoff LS3 manifolds, pushrods, lifters, head bolt set, gaskets, muscle car oil pan kit, 205/212 112 LSA cam, etc.

 

[cruisermatt]

Having installed both on 60 swaps, skip those manifolds and get the Summit swap ones. Or the Hooker ones, they’re pretty much the same. They fit 100% better. That flare out makes a huge difference at the drivers side frame rail.

 

[Kleatus]

Having installed both on 60 swaps, skip those manifolds and get the Summit swap ones. Or the Hooker ones, they’re pretty much the same. They fit 100% better. That flare out makes a huge difference at the drivers side frame rail.

I was back and forth honestly. These should work, and they're new OEM and were a fair bit cheaper than the summit ones and a lot cheaper than the hookers. I like OEM manifolds... I guess if I don't like what I see they will go back on eBay.

 

[Kleatus]

Tick tock. I think most stuff is here now.

A guy can easily hold the factory GM bellhousing up with one finger....

But not this thing. Wow...! This thing is solid.

Hopefully I can pull the truck in and start dissection soon.

 

[Kleatus]

Motivation is hanging on the walls around here. Waiting on heads to get back from the guy who is cleaning them for me.

Got a few hundred wire labels, a fuse/relay box for the engine harness, and a timing chain damper/adapter in the mail today.

 

[cruisermatt]

You’re going to re-use the head gaskets, right?

 

[EasternYeti]

Motivation is hanging on the walls around here. Waiting on heads to get back from the guy who is cleaning them for me.
View attachment 2699346

Got a few hundred wire labels, a fuse/relay box for the engine harness, and a timing chain damper/adapter in the mail today. View attachment 2699351

Get this bad Larry put together so you can chug to Wyoming with us post SAS my dude

 

[Kleatus]

You’re going to re-use the head gaskets, right?

Yeah man, you just hit them with a couple of coats of flat black spray paint and give the TTY head bolts 2 extra ugga-duggas...

No, I have new MLS gaskets for it...

 

[cruisermatt]

Boring… and just fyi for anyone else, it may seem like I’m joking but you absolutely can re use the head gaskets and bolts, I have done them several times with and without copper spray with no issues either way

 

[Kleatus]

Boring… and just fyi for anyone else, it may seem like I’m joking but you absolutely can re use the head gaskets and bolts, I have done them several times with and without copper spray with no issues either way

This engine originally had graphite composite HG's. If you're going to replace them, MLS are only marginally more $. I have re-used plenty of TTY stuff as well, but on sub-$200 beaters I drove in HS and college.. on an engine I am sinking money into and want the best chances for, I will buy mew OEM bolts - they're cheap.

And yes, many years ago I proved that the spray paint thing does work, and it's cheaper than copper-coat . You might be a bonafide Florida Man, but the Neck-Tech is strong up this way.

I also wouldn't recommend copper coat on new MLS gaskets that have polymer sealing rings (as mine do) but for re-using them after cleaning the surfaces, yeap that's the ticket.

 

[cruisermatt]

Ah, didn’t realize you had an early motor with the paper gaskets. Yeah, those are a no go on re-useal. 02-up with the factory MLS re-use all day if they’re not blown.

 

[Kleatus]

Got in some work on heads, just some clean up and lapping of valves. New valve seals and Comp Cams LS6+ springs. These heads exhibited the typical minor pitting in the exhaust seats that cleaned up pretty easily.

Hopefully I'll have this engine buttoned up this week and maybe get the old drivetrain removed.

 

[Kleatus]

I had some of this stuff I found on sale...

Turns out it works. Manifolds were new takeoffs but had surface rust.

Cleaned them to bare metal and coated them with graphite spray.

 

[Kleatus]

Heads are done. New cam, lifters, trays, LS2 timing chain and melling damper installed.

 

[Kleatus]

I skipped a few steps here; I knew the NV4500 needed a compleye tear down after the guy I got the truck from said "his tranny guy" just checked it out and put in a new input shaft and clutch right before the engine quit. Dead giveaway. Indeed, the clutch was unused. The thrust bearing behind the input shaft was trashed and the plate on it completely worn through. The main and countershaft bearings were toast, input shaft pitted, synchros pitted, and one of the 3-4 hub keys was in the bottom of the trans case along with its chewed up spring. It has been assembled with a significant amount of preload on the bearings, instead of the required clearance. A complete rebuild kit with the correct carbon fiber lined synchros, Koyo bearings and all new seals was sourced from East Coast Gear supply, along with a new mainshaft and 3-4 hub and all keys and springs.