The monkey is back (4 Viewers)

[Chamba]

Took Project Goldilocks for a spin. Fuel line finally seems sorted, she's finally running well. But I have not had time to install the hoses yet, so she's leaking a LOT of coolant. I can only drive her about 5 miles or so.

The 2.5° shims helped drivability, but I reckon it needs 4° shims. I removed the steering stabiliser, which was REALLY hard to push in and out. We will see if that helps.

But she's looking better, so there's that. I put my SA plate from my LX on for good luck.

 

[knuckle47]

Looks like you’re off-road already ! Good luck

 

[cruisermatt]

4-degree steel shims, that we make, in stock here

 

[Chamba]

So the sagga continues..... I got a great care package from @cruisermatt containing a new Toyota radiator, some gaskets and fittings and the heater pipe which mounts to the push rod cover.

I have a viscous fan and a brand new Toyota water pump in my stash. The plan was to swap out my old, leaky radiator and put the new water pump (replacing the 'GNC' water pump) in with the new hoses, viscus fan, etc.

But not with a third world 'resto'. Nope. So the fixed fan is smaller than the viscus fan, so my shroud doesn't fit. The bolt pattern on the water pump is smaller, so the existing pulley will not work with the new pump. I figure all of this is simply third world toyota vs NAS toyota, so I'll have to get Matt to sort this because he's got the stash of parts necessary to change over to my viscus fan, and it'll take him a few hours, versus me spending days searching for the correct parts..... and many likely not working.

The best part? The existing radiator is different from a factory radiator...... and to make it fit, they cut up the oxbow; which now doesn't allow the toyota radiator to fit.

So my plan is to reinstall the old, nasty radiator with the new hoses so it'll run. Then as soon as Matt can get her in we'll add the front of the engine to the list. Hopefully he's got an oxbow and fan shroud in his collection and can simply swap out the pulleys from his collection with my new water pump, etc. Otherwise I may have to go electric out of necessity.

So it's looking like I'm still many months away from being able to drive this 'restored' machine more than a few miles at a time until I restore it.

I'm less and less impressed with the honesty of seller of this 43.

 

[Chilkoot]

Sorry you’re having to go through all this for a rig that was supposed to be ready to go. Baffles me that they Frankenstein hack all this stuff together instead of just replacing with OEM stuff specific to that application. Matt will get you sorted and hopefully all this BS doesn’t dampen the good times ahead!

 

[Chamba]

As the band plays Nearer My God to Thee in my garage, I installed my new accelerator pedal and Toyota accelerator cable from City Racer. I also welded the pivot for the accelerator cable-to-pushrod at the base of the carb, which removed LOADS of slop in the throttle.

I'm pulling out this Rube Goldberg radiator oxbow (the U-shaped holder for the radiator: I've learnt that what's called an 'oxbow' in Australia is called a 'U-shaped radiator holder' here, but for brevity I will continue to refer to it as an oxbow). While down here, I've discovered another job for @cruisermatt : while he's rebuilding the bell crank, he'll need to reenforce the frame cross member where the original nut pulled free. They used a thick piece of rubber to keep the hand-tightened bolt from pulling free.
It truly is no wonder Pakistan can't pull itself out of poverty with work like this.

 

[Chamba]

The modified oxbow. My concern: the shroud fit without issue..... is the engine lowered somehow? Not beyond the realm of possibilities....

 

[Chamba]

After looking unsuccessfully for an oxbow and shroud for my 82, I decided to fix the one I had. Of course, after I finished it, @Sharpfj40 contacted me with one he had in Tn. Thank you. But for now I'll use this one and see how it works. I do still need the shroud though.

I also installed the new Toyota water pump, thermostat and the housing I had in my stash. Not surprisingly, there was no thermostat in the old, manky housing, and I think I've bebunked the original seller's claim that the engine was rebuilt......

I've got a brand new Toyota world carb coming from @cruisermatt which I'll install when I'm done with the cooling system. I've also got a Davis DUI HEI coming. Then I'll do a compression test, set the valves, etc and get s good feel for the engine. It feels like a good, strong engine which didn't seem to smoke (though it leaks like a sieve and needs an oil pan, but I'm slowly getting there). The number indicates it's a late 2F ('86-ish 2F861445), but there's no way to know the miles. I'll get a real good feel for it when I put the new oil pan and pushrod cover on.

 

[cruisermatt]

Skip the junk DUI

 

[Chamba]

Skip the junk DUI

I had really good luck with the one on my LX, and I liked the notable power gain. My toyota one has some play in it and the coil makes the tach jump about. So it seemed like the quickest, cheapest ($700 with the wires) and easiest option to get her running well enough to drive. Next I'll check/gap the plugs, but I'm sure they'll need replacing.

 

[cruisermatt]

I had really good luck with the one on my LX, and I liked the notable power gain. My toyota one has some play in it and the coil makes the tach jump about. So it seemed like the quickest, cheapest ($700 with the wires) and easiest option to get her running well enough to drive. Next I'll check/gap the plugs, but I'm sure they'll need replacing.

I could have sold you new a OEM distributor, coil, and wires for just over half of that and had them to you next day. It's all right here on the shelf.

 

[Chamba]

Doh! I assumed a Toyota dizzy would be at least $1000+ and weeks out.

 

[Jdc1]

I could have sold you new a OEM distributor, coil, and wires for just over half of that and had them to you next day. It's all right here on the shelf.

Matt- what distributor are you using?

 

[cruisermatt]

Matt- what distributor are you using?

For a non-USA vehicle like this that we use what would have came in it originally

(Website shows sold out but I just got restocked, need to update)

New FJ40 OEM Vacuum Advance Distributor Assembly 2F 3F

New OEM Toyota Vacuum Advance Distributor for 1975-1992 Land Cruiser models with 2F or 3F (Non-USA) Engines. Note These are a points-type unit. Make sure to pair with proper coil and ballast resistor. Clamp included. If you have any questions about compatibility or installation, please do not...

cruisermatts.com

 

[Jdc1]

For a non-USA vehicle like this that we use what would have came in it originally

(Website shows sold out but I just got restocked, need to update)

New FJ40 OEM Vacuum Advance Distributor Assembly 2F 3F

New OEM Toyota Vacuum Advance Distributor for 1975-1992 Land Cruiser models with 2F or 3F (Non-USA) Engines. Note These are a points-type unit. Make sure to pair with proper coil and ballast resistor. Clamp included. If you have any questions about compatibility or installation, please do not...

cruisermatts.com

I have one in service in a 1975. Runs well. Do you use Pertronix?

 

[Chamba]

One thing I would like to get if anyone has any sources is a variety of high altitude jets for the factory carb. I'll be retiring back out west, and if I don't swap over to fuel injection by then I'll need some. Plus hopefully the summer of '26 we'll be taking it to New Mexico and Utah.