Build The "Red Rocket" Troopy

[JuanJ]

OK, I tryed not to say anything about the US smog regulation thing but I can't help myself.

It's a necessary evil but it also works. As a kid growing up in the hills out side of the San Fernando Valley you would look down and all you could see was a blanket of smog. It would burn your eyes & It was hard to breathe.
That was in the 60s & 70s now with 4 or 5 times the cars on the road or more you can see across the Valley and the houses on the Valley floor.
Do I like having to smog all of my vehicles NO ! But it's working
Do I like breathing clean air YES.
Do I think having to smog vehicles that are 25 years or older is bull**** absolutely.

Driving behind a old classic car or truck is just nasty/stinky ! As is the older diesels

There’s just to many cars on the road today not to have smog regulations we have to think of the generations to come after us, they deserve clean air as much as we do !

Hello,

x2.

Emissions regulations exist for a reason and yes, they are working.

Emissions control systems can be complicated to get right and reliable. Some are, some are not. With the latter, there is the temptation to delete them. Sometimes I wonder if emissions control systems were designed to be repaired: I am not sure they are.

As time goes on, fewer old cars are on the roads. The powers that be should consider this when it comes to exemptions.





Juan

 

[JuanJ]

Folks: don’t worry. The robots are coming and they will save us. In a generation or two (~50-75 years), new borns will be dumbfounded that humans engage in an activity called “driving.”

The future is “mobility.” There are thousands of humans globally marketing it to us. First up front is Toyota.

[insert sarcasm and denial and fear about/for the future.]

Glad I lived to drive and wrench. That is all.

Hello,

x2.

By the time "mobility" takes over completely we will be either dead or too old.

The time we live in -which we love and hate- will be remembered as an era with rather strange things to do. Perhaps even as a more civilized era.







Juan

 

[robmobile73]

Franks Patriot boots, I spend a pretty penny on what I wear on my feet since I’m in them all day long. Although these are the “budget” option when it comes to these PNW style boot. I was going thru a pair of thoroughgoods/redwings every 9-12 months . Have had these for 2 years and haven’t needed to resole them yet but will be doing so soon.
View attachment 4123557

Please call me out whenever I may be wrong/ignorant about something. I’m young and haven’t experienced nearly as much as most of y’all have.

No doubt it helps majorly in regards to smog/pollution, but I do wonder how the long term environmental impact compares to the amount the vehicles that have been decommissioned/scrapped due to blown head gaskets or other issues related to EGR systems. And how much more pollution that the creation of newer vehicles that don’t last nearly as long as the old ones have created aswell. Maybe there are studies about it, I wouldn’t know.

Cash for clunkers is another govt program that I believe was designed, in the long run, to take away reliable, simple, DIY vehicles from the masses to make them buy all of the cheap temporary buy/replace BS that floods all of our markets today. I could very well be wrong about that as well, just my own thoughts.

The biggest thing that bugs me about the EGRs for me is the double standard. We have to have them installed in our vehicles which drastically reduces the long term reliability, and often the repairs costs more than the vehicle is worth. While the ones enforcing the rules have the majority of their vehicles exempt.

Lots of different ways to look at it, everything you said is true and 100% correct.

They want you to get used to buying a new vehicle every 5 years or so. Building vehicles to last doesn't suit that program...... In order to move to a suburb of some big city in order to get the high paying job to make enough money to afford to buy two new cars every 5 years pay the finance and insurance live on a quarter acre lot in a subdivision with a HOA that forbids you working on your car in your front driveway You're really going to want The newer vehicle in order to sit comfortably in traffic for 2 hours a day as part of your human rat race routine. You won't want people messing up your visuals or smelling up things with their old cars and diesel exhaust.............
In all seriousness on the EGR coolers, an air-to-air cooler consisting of a long pipe running along the frame of the vehicle underneath going to the back making a u and coming back to the front dissipating the heat would likely not clog, and not risk all the issues of cracks seal fails etc.. that cause massive failure from coolant going where it shouldn't and overheating.. ..... From a manufacturer Assembly standpoint this solution would cause difficulty and clash with the effort to feed business to the service departments at dealerships.

 

[Broski]

Franks Patriot boots, I spend a pretty penny on what I wear on my feet since I’m in them all day long. Although these are the “budget” option when it comes to these PNW style boot. I was going thru a pair of thoroughgoods/redwings every 9-12 months . Have had these for 2 years and haven’t needed to resole them yet but will be doing so soon.
View attachment 4123557

Please call me out whenever I may be wrong/ignorant about something. I’m young and haven’t experienced nearly as much as most of y’all have.

No doubt it helps majorly in regards to smog/pollution, but I do wonder how the long term environmental impact compares to the amount the vehicles that have been decommissioned/scrapped due to blown head gaskets or other issues related to EGR systems. And how much more pollution that the creation of newer vehicles that don’t last nearly as long as the old ones have created aswell. Maybe there are studies about it, I wouldn’t know.

Cash for clunkers is another govt program that I believe was designed, in the long run, to take away reliable, simple, DIY vehicles from the masses to make them buy all of the cheap temporary buy/replace BS that floods all of our markets today. I could very well be wrong about that as well, just my own thoughts.

The biggest thing that bugs me about the EGRs for me is the double standard. We have to have them installed in our vehicles which drastically reduces the long term reliability, and often the repairs costs more than the vehicle is worth. While the ones enforcing the rules have the majority of their vehicles exempt.

Lots of different ways to look at it, everything you said is true and 100% correct.

Buy the way I love and watch Dave

 

[FJBen]

As with anything, there’s good ideas with bad execution, and terrible ideas with excellent execution…


I will say I’m guilty of letting the robots take over this week. I was in Phoenix for work and we took a WAYMO on a 45 min one way trip which was both parts intriguing and frightening.

If I’m honest, it Probabaly drives better and safer than at least 1/2 the population.

 

[Felde]

As with anything, there’s good ideas with bad execution, and terrible ideas with excellent execution…


I will say I’m guilty of letting the robots take over this week. I was in Phoenix for work and we took a WAYMO on a 45 min one way trip which was both parts intriguing and frightening.
If I’m honest, it Probabaly drives better and safer than at least 1/2 the population.

But whom to yell at for stupid driving?

 

[FJ73Texas]

Folks: don’t worry. The robots are coming and they will save us. In a generation or two (~50-75 years), new borns will be dumbfounded that humans engage in an activity called “driving.”

The future is “mobility.” There are thousands of humans globally marketing it to us. First up front is Toyota.

[insert sarcasm and denial and fear about/for the future.]

Glad I lived to drive and wrench. That is all.

Toyota keeps adding more and more AGVs in their manufacturing plants, including where I work. Humans will be dumbfounded that humans used to move parts around in 50-70 years. We will just turn into mush eventually because we won't have to lift a finger.

 

[Matt Sierra]

Hello,

x2.

Emissions regulations exist for a reason and yes, they are working.

Emissions control systems can be complicated to get right and reliable. Some are, some are not. With the latter, there is the temptation to delete them. Sometimes I wonder if emissions control systems were designed to be repaired: I am not sure they are.

As time goes on, fewer old cars are on the roads. The powers that be should consider this when it comes to exemptions.





Juan

Completely agree.

I’m new here (and don’t want to step out of my lane) but most everyone here is an enthusiast. We’re interested in things that nearly no one else has any interest in. If we have a few interesting vehicles that don’t meet emissions standards, that probably will not have a major impact on our air or health. I’d like to hope we might even make our communities a little bit better with our passion. It would be great if the powers that be would recognize that.

But I want new cars to have modern emissions control, I want my wife’s car to have modern emissions. I’ve been to India and Vietnam for work and it’s a good reminder of what happens when there’s no pollution controls. Both are beautiful countries with terrible air. It’s a real shame.

 

[theglobb]

Got the head back from the machine shop last Wednesday and threw everything back together.

It runs great! Especially after sitting for 9 years. Needs some tires on it desperately before I take it on any main roads.

I drove down home to Wilmington to see my grandma and help my dad with some maintenance on his HDJ80, front knuckle rebuild, bearings, seals, brake rotors, calipers, etc.

I've been on an 80 series BENDER!

Helped my buddy dual-case his 1JZ 4Runner. At this point we have put this trans in and out 6 times, we have it down to a science. (sorry for the horribly blurry photo)

The next day my other buddy called me saying he had just bought a 1.9tdi jetta for $1000, it wasn't running and he wasn't too familiar with diesels. I went on over, bled the fuel system, gave it a sniff of ether and it popped right off. Then, as my friends and I were standing around talking about ripping the engine out in the future to swap into his 1980's VW Rabbit. We figured why not just do it right then and there? My dad's shop had all the special tools we would need. But first we had to sawzall the exhaust off and rip it around the block for one last final drive and shakedown test...


Grabbed the engine stand and hoist from my dads, and in 2 hours had the engine out!

My marketplace finds recently consist of a good set of tires for my 80 to throw on along with this 24v onboard air compressor. Snagged it for $100, figured that was decent for a 24-volt ARB compressor. Yet another thing I'll have to pluck away at when building out the troopy

That's it for now! Will update with troopy photos and road updates of the 80. I'd like to put alteast 1000 miles on it before I sell it just so I can have confidence in what I'm selling to someone

 

[bj70bc]

keep it

 

[Broski]

keep it

^^^^ This

 

[Broski]

Living the DREAM keep it up !
Love your posts and updates

 

[svsisu]

Nice work as always. You can put some miles on the 80 by driving over to the mountain and collecting some things you left behind

Good score on the 24 v arb! Market place guru

Your buddy has been looking for you…

And the rhododendrons are popping

 

[theglobb]

Put roughly 800 miles on the 80 so far, no issues other than a CEL that won't go away related to the EGR system. I ripped all of it off and supposedly just need to jump one of the sensor terminals to make it turn off. No matter what I mess with it won't go off. Other than that it runs great! Looks pretty good too. All diff lockers/4WD stuff works flawlessly. Really everything does.

Went to this pretty cool old service station-turned into an autoshop to have my tires mounted, called at 1pm, had me in at 2pm, and out at 2:30... total cost for mount and balance was $60!

picked up a 1988 Kar Kaddy with a title and new tires for $400, figured that was a pretty good price if I'm gonna keep up this car flipping routine.

Onto the Red Rocket stuff. Been driving it around quite a lot recently! The weather is absolutely perfect.

Came across this beast of a trecel during sunset the other night.

And walked out to the parking lot with this jeep parked next to me. Pretty dang cool for a jeep.

Can't wait to get some rockers on it, along with a whole refurb/interior buildout once I sell this 80.

What a pleasant price to pay for fuel. If the powers higher than us keep choking out the working class in every way including fuel prices... I'll definitely be investing in a centrifuge and some 55-gallon drums to start burning waste oil in this thing. Will also sell my Mazda pickup and see if I can snag some sort of smaller old diesel pickup, especially if they keep up this 15% ethanol thing, or increase it even higher.

Drove home from graduation in the Red Rocket! Another memory made in this machine, plenty more to come.

Test drove this 64' Newport the other day. Pretty clean, starts right up and brakes really well. Might end up picking it up after I sell the 80.

------------------------------------------------------

keep it

Ehhhhh, I like it more than I thought I would. But I still don't really enjoy driving it. It's missing that fizz that I mentioned before, I get in the troopy and love driving it, even my mazda pickup I like driving even though it's not anything that special. I don't know what makes a car have fizz in my mind. At first I figured if it had an auto, I was immediately not that interested. However, I really enjoyed driving my Plymouth Volare, or my old red Mercedes 300TD Wagon, or that Suburban recently. The 80s just don't speak to me. I appreciate them and truly think they are the best driving and performing cruiser out of any of the solid axle ones sold here in the US, but I can't wait to sell it. Also the 11.5 MPG isn't the most appetizing to my wallet, even the Red Rocket gets 20 MPG minimum, although diesel is more expensive. At least I like driving that car

Nice work as always. You can put some miles on the 80 by driving over to the mountain and collecting some things you left behind

Good score on the 24 v arb! Market place guru

Your buddy has been looking for you…

View attachment 4131833

View attachment 4131837

And the rhododendrons are popping

View attachment 4131831

Drove by your dad's house the other day and gave him a call! No answer or else I would've stopped by and kept him company for a bit, plus snagged some of my belongings Another time...

 

[svsisu]

Must be Troopy/Tercel season

Parked next to me during a pit stop on my long ass drive home from Kentucky

 

[svsisu]

Photos look great, and love that old service station. I'll stop by there my next trip out that way.

 

[Gun Runner 5]

“But I still don't really enjoy driving it. It's missing that fizz that I mentioned before, I get in the troopy and love driving it”
——————————————————————————————————
The definition of FIZZ:
As you’re walking away from your Cruiser, you turn around to look at it. If you don’t, then it’s just another vehicle.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

I get the FIZZ. When I look at my 55 loaded up with boards and stuff, or driving my sammy with the top off, doors off, and windshield down, or when I had my fj40 that 2nd - 3rd shift on the column, these are the things that give me the "FIZZ"

I had an early fj80 that I still wish I had however I dont know if it would have given me the fizz still. I kinda have a soft spot for the 3fe fj80s because its the car that got me into land cruisers though. I can also say they are tuff in a crash. mine saved my life in a way I would say. Id like to find another one day. but after 1992 I kinda feel about the cruisers. at least ones we get in North America. I think for me the fj55, fj40, and fj45 trucks are the ones I like. my ideal dream land cruiser would be a early 60s fj45 truck but they are kinda out of reach. I like the utilitarian tractor feel these things have and I think thats what makes them special. The fzj80 that you got is cool because it has all the lockers at least!

who knows, word through the grape vine is I might get involved in the willys scene too here soon

Looking forward to seeing ya at the end of the month.

Also that newport is epic! I actually really wanted one out of highschool!

 

[LDowney]

Congratulations to your graduate. Where to next for her? work/graduate school/... Wishing the best for her.

You are already covered

 

[theglobb]

Another month has passed, so I figured this thread's due for another update.

Right after my last post I went to Asheville for a week to help my buddy who manages a 4x4 shop out there, they had a crazy workload in combination with having to let their lead tech go... so I took his place and wrenched for a week. Man... I hate jeeps. I knocked out multiple lift kits and a re-gear on that Gladiator.

At least I got to wrench on this 3rd gen. Needed a timing belt, 2in lift, ball joints, tie rod ends, and some other stuff I'm blanking on. It was nice to be back in my normal routine of grabbing a 10, 12, 14, 17, or 19mm. They were trying so hard to hire me by the end of the week but I quickly remembered after thus week why I left the automotive line of work... I just get so pissed off at the engineers who have designed the majority of modern vehicles. And with the way cars are going now, that is NOT a career I'd want to start.

After that I went home to Wilmington for 2 weeks or so on the basis of minimal to no car work, just enjoying the beach. Sold my 1952 Willys to @Roastchestnuts since we are his personal car dealer apparently

The loyal 300,000-mile crust bucket fired right up, even has ice-cold A/C... Hilarious. I may chop it up since nothing matters anymore on it and turn it into a flatbed pickup. Gotta lock in on the troopy first, one project at a time.

Pulled the injectors out of the Red Rocket as the 4BD1T is direct injection, my buddy @LuckyDevil had a fouled injector burn a hole through one of the pistons on his 13BT. Didn't want that to happen with this pretty stout engine I got in this thing. There's a local diesel shop in Wilmington that I know does real good work. Well I'm glad I brought them down, cause 3 out of 4 of the injectors failed the pop test! $550 later and we are good to go! Got some OEM Isuzu rubber to replace while doing them.

Started making a battery box/fuse box, and a spare parts/tools bin for the troopy buildout. This is my first time working with wood! I'm used to metal only.

Didn't get too far with the interior buildout cause I spotted ANOTHER 4x4 Mazda B2600i for sale 2 hours away from me for $1500. Needless to say I jumped on it.

Tossed the rebuilt injectors back in

Hitched up the tow dolly

And picked her up!

That Isuzu 4BD1T pulled the weight pretty good! I weighed roughly 10,000lbs and it would hold 60mph in 4th gear all day long. Averaged 16mpg while towing. Even more surprisingly is that it stopped way better than I had imagined as well, for towing all that weight with no trailer brakes. I can't complain.

One thing was very clear though. Remember that used 3rd member I put in the rear axle cause my original 3rd member's pinion bearing was bad? Well this used replacement one ALSO had a bad pinion bearing. Luckily the guy I got it from said if I had any issues with the one I got from him he would give me ANOTHER 3rd member from the front axle, so in theory... a lot less wear. Well I took him up on that, did the whole semi-float rear end shindig to get the diff out, and slapped the 3rd one in. It's good! No play, and more importantly, no driveshaft vibration when letting off the gas at high speeds.