Not a lot of what I call progress for this update but I'll keep all y'all up to date. After I finished the fuel system I was planning on driving the pig while I worked on everything else. I need to trust this truck as it will be my driver for as long as the 40 is down having body cancer removed.
I knew the ignition was the next job as I noted a strange points type distributor with an old ratty ignitor. I wasn't in a huge hurry to tackle it as the truck ran so well. I was dying to get some time in on it with it running at proper temp and everything building that trust. That wasn't to be.
Just like that, spark was gone. I guess ignition rose to the top of the list. Points looked OK and condenser wasn't shorted. I noted I could start and run for about five minutes, then the heat would kill it. Sure enough classic coil death. I noted someone had bypassed the ballast resistor so the coil was running pretty hot. When I pulled everything apart I noted the coil was puking oil at the top seam. I was surprised when I pulled the distributor as it's a Delco-Remy and I didn't know it was made for/or would run in a Toy.
I found myself in the same spot as a year ago when my FJ40 ignitor died. At that time, I could not find another that wasn't pushing 50 years old, looked like *ss, and was going for $300.00. I coudn't see that, went with a Davis DUI, and haven't looked back. I considered the same for the 55, but called and was told they are out 8 weeks. Crap!
Went back in and repeated all the research from one year ago including Corolla, Corona (available new at $320.00), and mini truck. I even bought some NOS Delco 4-pin HEI ignitors and a heat sink as I was going to default to building my own (I still may). I also still have the three-screw cap 1978 fully electronic distributor that I kept from the 40. I couldn't find a spec on the pickup coil, resistance, but when I manually spin it, I get a small mV signal so I think the distributor is still fine. I have also ordered and am awaiting a rebuilt small cap, vac advance distributor from 4cruisers so I think I'll have two.
As I was pulling my hair out, ToyotaMatt sent up two 1978 ignitors that look in pretty good shape for cheap so I grabbed them. Waiting for US Mail to get 55 running again. A long wait. Tiime for some visual:
Sitting at #1 tdc on compression waiting for me to decide which distributor I'm going to run. New NDDensos installed. Found in my stash a GR starter and threw that on-what a difference.
Strange old Delco Remy distributor.
So as I wait for ignition parts, I'm on to prepping the rest of the truck for A/C. Removed all old heater stuff and repaired wiper motor function, thanks to Bill (61twpw). Someone had chopped off the harness end plug and Bill came through. Many thanks!
Built a blank off plate to cover hole from old blower pass through. This will become new bulkhead for A/C and heater lines. I'm going to try and repaint firewall and each inner fender back to white while removing what I can but leaving engine in place. I tried a chemical stripper to try to take the black but it went right on though just like Jim Morrison told it to.
Cleaning up wires under and behind the dash.
Old blower blanked off. I'll stop here for now.
A chorus line from the immortal Tom Petty (with help from Stevie Nicks)--"Stop dragging my hog around". I think I hear a Rosanne Roseannadanna joke here. "Oh! Never mind."
