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- Thread starter
- #1,302
Yea Onur is right, he told me a year ago when the first 2 engines blew up to buy a Prius. I did look into it last year but everything was just out of my quite limited budget, on the cheaper end I could find some of them for 4-5k, and if I did scramble the money together to buy it then who knows when 15-20 year old battery cells will start to fail and then I gotta spend another 2-4k on a battery replacement. Simply just limited by money that's really it, everything would be a lot easier and smoother if I had more money, as for everything in life lol. If I had 7-8k then I could buy a reliable Prius but then also if I had 7-8k I would have just bought an engine that would have gone into the troopy much easier... or an NV4500 to bolt up to the 4BD1T. The box truck was 2k, ripped the engine out of it, sold the transmission for $700, will cut it apart and get roughly $800-1000 in scrap. When one day its all said and done I'll probably have a total of another grand into everything else that came along with the swap... So for as much as a pain in the butt this has all been, I'll have lost roughly $1300ish into this swap. Really not too shabby when all is said and done as I see a lot of these 4BT swaps or 1HDFT swaps going for 10x that amount. Then again as stated prior, even I can't believe how much time has been seemingly wasted by all of it.
But as @ceylonfj40nut hinted to, its not all a waste. I know that all of these hours that I've put into this swap have bettered my mechanical knowledge and I hope will eventually score me a good job with great people in the cruiser community down the road. Not to mention that my dad has been with me through 75% if not more of all of this, talk about irreplaceable bonding and moments with each other. I've met some great people through this money pit of a vehicle, some of my best friends I have today, connections that could help me later in life, you just never know who is gonna stop you at a gas station to talk about it. I don't party, didnt miss out on having some crazy frat college party summer... just missed out on some surfing, driving up and down the beach with my troopy, and obviously traveling across America yet again. But even then my friends and I are all growing up, they are all working jobs and everyone in general just has less time to actually get together and do stupid stuff all the time.
In better news, I did an oil change with some lucas and rotella t4. The leak has slowed down to about a drop every minute or so while the engine is running! Still a shame that the blowby being clogged has seemed to cause a leak that wasn't there prior but now it is VERY manageable. Just bring cardboard to put under the leak whenever I park at family/friends houses. Unless it worsens more in the future, I'm gonna hold onto it for now. See how many more miles I can squeeze out of a $400 wagon. Gets 28mpg usually which may be half of what a Prius gets, but still pretty good compared to everyone else on the road in massive SUV's, or gasoline Land Cruisers.
But as @ceylonfj40nut hinted to, its not all a waste. I know that all of these hours that I've put into this swap have bettered my mechanical knowledge and I hope will eventually score me a good job with great people in the cruiser community down the road. Not to mention that my dad has been with me through 75% if not more of all of this, talk about irreplaceable bonding and moments with each other. I've met some great people through this money pit of a vehicle, some of my best friends I have today, connections that could help me later in life, you just never know who is gonna stop you at a gas station to talk about it. I don't party, didnt miss out on having some crazy frat college party summer... just missed out on some surfing, driving up and down the beach with my troopy, and obviously traveling across America yet again. But even then my friends and I are all growing up, they are all working jobs and everyone in general just has less time to actually get together and do stupid stuff all the time.
In better news, I did an oil change with some lucas and rotella t4. The leak has slowed down to about a drop every minute or so while the engine is running! Still a shame that the blowby being clogged has seemed to cause a leak that wasn't there prior but now it is VERY manageable. Just bring cardboard to put under the leak whenever I park at family/friends houses. Unless it worsens more in the future, I'm gonna hold onto it for now. See how many more miles I can squeeze out of a $400 wagon. Gets 28mpg usually which may be half of what a Prius gets, but still pretty good compared to everyone else on the road in massive SUV's, or gasoline Land Cruisers.
Saw this video earlier this morning, genuinely a cool car
I have had some decently unsafe moments at times, they are the mistakes I tend to DEFINITELY only make once haha. Thanks for the kind words
This.
After just getting off of the phone with my dad then reading this. This is gold. I’m still in my 20’s and live 3k miles from any family outside of my wife’s. I’d do anything to be able to spend time with him and have more memories.
My advice: Find a wife who supports your hobby, it’s the best thing ever
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^^ this! Many great memories here as well! This community has been great! Met so many wonderful folks from all walks of life! Your dad not handing you his paycheck at your whim and beckon is a wise move. Its taught you to strive for something and appreciate what you have!This.
After just getting off of the phone with my dad then reading this. This is gold. I’m still in my 20’s and live 3k miles from any family outside of my wife’s. I’d do anything to be able to spend time with him and have more memories.
Find a wife who supports your hobby, it’s the best thing ever
- Thread starter
- #1,305
The clutch and seal arrived today! also first drive in 2 weeksish, the clutch is obviously still slipping, but was nice to drive regardless. The reason I haven't drove it in a while is due to a whole storm of electrical issues all stemming down to the alternator just not charging. Rectifier was bad, put a new alternator in, still wasn't charging... I hate electrical stuff and don't understand it so this has pretty much been all in my dads domain, he basically temporarily rewired a massive amount of the troopys wiring bypassing a short in a circuit. Yet it still wasn't charging. Then at a massive loss he plugged it all back into stock form... and it was charging totally fine! for a minute or two... then it went to reading 44 volts at the fuse box.
Found a fuse blown at where the fusible link used to be. Put a new one in and it is now holding a charge at 26v for now! I am at a loss at what the issue could be. Very weary of whatever may be happening to just fail again. Time will tell.
absolutely shredded fuse
Made it in time to see the sunset at the beach, even with the slipping clutch its so nice to be back in it.
Found a fuse blown at where the fusible link used to be. Put a new one in and it is now holding a charge at 26v for now! I am at a loss at what the issue could be. Very weary of whatever may be happening to just fail again. Time will tell.
absolutely shredded fuse
Made it in time to see the sunset at the beach, even with the slipping clutch its so nice to be back in it.
Small victories provide a certain amount of solace in life.
- Thread starter
- #1,307
Well today was my first time ever pulling the transmission out of the troopy and it went pretty well. Took me about 2 and a half hours in total to get it out. About as long as the engine going out with all of the prep and fluid drainings I have to do. Luckily @LuckyDevil let me use his garage floor and helped while taking it out, made things so much easier than trying do it in the dirt on plywood.
My guess was correct, the bearing retainer seal let loose. This is probably my fault since I took it off to tryand machine down, whenever I put it back on I guess I must have nicked it or put pressure on it weird.... unfortunate.
seal damage in the lower left corner
The clutch has some weird wear, on one side it looks like only half of it is worn and on the other side most if it is worn besides the last 15%
Dont know what thats about, or if its something to worry about.
My guess was correct, the bearing retainer seal let loose. This is probably my fault since I took it off to tryand machine down, whenever I put it back on I guess I must have nicked it or put pressure on it weird.... unfortunate.
seal damage in the lower left corner
The clutch has some weird wear, on one side it looks like only half of it is worn and on the other side most if it is worn besides the last 15%
Dont know what thats about, or if its something to worry about.
jblueridge
SILVER Star
How does the flywheel face look?
Signs of being cooked or uneven pressure?
Signs of being cooked or uneven pressure?
sark
42601-60262-03
- Thread starter
- #1,310
Nothing looks out of the ordinary or stands out, to me atleast.
Yes! He’s had this problem for much longer tho. Hoping mine is just user error
FJBen
SILVER Star
That is the same seal. My input shaft had a groove so I speedi sleeved it a couple years ago. The last seal I put in was too tight and burned out in like 30 miles. Hoping the current one lasts a while.
It looks like @theglobb maybe nicked the seal, or it’s possible the seal just gave up.
Your clutch will absolutely slip when that seal gives out. If you don’t fix it quickly it will trash that clutch.
now the interesting part is the wear on that clutch disk. It looks like it’s getting uneven pressure on the flywheel side.
Edit: Looks like a Isuzu flywheel and clutch setup.
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FJBen
SILVER Star
sark
42601-60262-03
So this seal is basically the main seal between the engine and transmission around the input shaft, on the transmission side? Rear main seal of the engine goes up against it? I'm learning on the sidelines here
- Thread starter
- #1,314
That was a brand new clutch, about to put another brand new clutch in since this one is toasted with oil.
It is the Isuzu bellhousing, some Isuzu elf clutch and the Isuzu pressure plate all being used.
If you count using an orbital sander for an hour on it going in circles… then yes I machined it.
FJBen
SILVER Star
The setup goes engine/rear main seal (keeping oil in around the crank), then thin metal plate to “seal off clutch” then flywheel with clutch pressure plate/disc attached.
The transmission bearing retainer is where the seal is keeps transmission fluid in the transmission (around the input shaft)
Rear main location would be in green
Input shaft seal in green.
FJBen
SILVER Star
I see. Yeah I would probably just take it to a shop and get it machined with the correct specs. Should only be like $40-50 and they will make sure it’s even.
Not sure if that’s the issue, but it’s apart, it’s cheap and usually they can do it that day in a few hours. At least that’s what many shops told me here.
FJBen
SILVER Star
A few more thoughts.
You said the clutch disc was new but the pressure plate was used?
Warped/uneven flywheel -possibly If you hand sanded
Uneven clutch disc
Weak or uneven pressure plate
You said the clutch disc was new but the pressure plate was used?
Warped/uneven flywheel -possibly If you hand sanded
Uneven clutch disc
Weak or uneven pressure plate
- Thread starter
- #1,318
Lol, was reading this in the middle of my “machining” session. Called up a shop, got it to them and it should be done early tomorrow… I hope.
It’s a pretty even wear mark tho. Not spotty in some places, just like 50% everywhere. Clutch disk was brand new, hoping the flywheel resurfacing should help. Another theory I came up with is the oil only spread so much on the disk with centrifugal force and all slowly throwing out outwards. Causing that uneven wear mark? I was pretty pissed and just decided to absolutely try and toast my clutch on a long uphill, maybe that might be where the clutch was slipping vs where it was gripping. Only had 150 or so miles on it.
Can’t do anything else today really on it so now we wait for the flywheel to be returned to me. Will keep everyone updated
FJBen
SILVER Star
That’s a good plan. Hopefully the shop gets is back quick. Every shop here said a couple hours.
Using the sander *might* work but there isn’t anyway to make sure you are level.
If it was just the clutch disk that was new, I could see these wear patterns. Eventually they would even out unless it was way badly cupped or weak pressure plate.
How far worn down was the clutch? At 150 miles there should be very little wear.
- Thread starter
- #1,320
Got the flywheel back today was a bit pricey at $150 but its all good, put it all back together today, went pretty flawlessly. Lined the transmission up and it went right in. @LuckyDevil along with myself were both very surprised.
Took it for a little test drive, all things checked out no leaks. Drove it home, no leaks, drove it to the beach for sunset, no leaks.
Came back home, looked underneath... and see that I have created the gear oil equivalent of Niagra Falls
I was fully expecting something to not go well. Didn't think it would be within 30 miles or that dramatic of a seal failure. Every day now God tests me and Onur's Prius plan gets a bit more appetizing. I leave for college in 8 days. So it looks like unless I can pull it apart and figure out some sort of fix, that the troopy will maybe be running or driving reliably by winter break.
Took it for a little test drive, all things checked out no leaks. Drove it home, no leaks, drove it to the beach for sunset, no leaks.
Came back home, looked underneath... and see that I have created the gear oil equivalent of Niagra Falls
I was fully expecting something to not go well. Didn't think it would be within 30 miles or that dramatic of a seal failure. Every day now God tests me and Onur's Prius plan gets a bit more appetizing. I leave for college in 8 days. So it looks like unless I can pull it apart and figure out some sort of fix, that the troopy will maybe be running or driving reliably by winter break.
