Using AI to work on old iron!

[Festina Lente]

I'm a tech guy who wishes he worked on old cars all day. But I don't, so it's just a hobby and I'm pretty mediocre. Good with carbs and cylinder heads … that's about as far as it goes.

So when I picked up a SBC-swapped FJ-60 for my wife that needed some love, I put AI to work. I use it all day and it can get pretty complicated. But it doesn't need to be! My set-up saved my bacon when the transfer case linkage got stuck in low. So I thought I'd share in case anyone else out there who doesn't instinctively know these vehicles inside and out.

Here's what I consider to be the easiest but most effective set up. Personally, I think real work is best done with Claude, so that's what I'll reference. You can create this set up on a free account, so no reason to spend big bucks on AI like I do

Create a Project
A "project" in claude (ChatGPT has something similar) is like a folder where you add information that the AI uses as reference for chats you start from that project.

Here's what you put in it:

• Title that project something like "FJ60 upgrades and repairs".
• In the description:
  • Tell the AI what you want it to do: I have an 1983 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ-60. I want your help planning upgrades, repairs, and touble-shooting for this vehicle. See the attached documents for more information on my particular example.
  • Tell it where to find information (like ih8mud!): When looking for reference information and personal experience this forum is a wealth of information: https://forum.ih8mud.com/forums/60-series-wagons.27/
• Add "text context" to explains details of your particular rig, including upgrades, repairs, or anything else you'd like a mechanic to know when you drop it off. See the screen capture below for reference. For example, my first entry was titled "Specific vehicle info" and I added this note: My particular vehicle has been swapped to a standard small block Chevy 350 with a Carter AFB four barrel carburetor. All the rest of the running gear has been kept from the original vehicle using an adaptor for the 4 speed manual transmission.

The more you tell the AI about your vehicle in this project "context" the better it's answers will be. If you have a digital service manual, you can upload that too. On a free account you'll eventually run out of space, but try not to skimp on deets.

Then you just start chatting in that project!

As an example, here's the first question I posed. It returned a detailed step by step plan directly built off of the posts here, including diagrams it found, images of people's fixes, and links to all the relevant threads. All within about 2 mins.

The FJ60 transfer case is stuck in four wheel low gear, rendering it basically undriveable.  After a rough road kept knocking the transfer case stick slightly out of two high, I accidentally pushed it into four low and now it's stuck there no matter how I manipulate the transfer case lever. The lever moves as expected, but low gear never disengages. Help me plan a repair so I can get this truck back on the road. Please search for any information that might get me started on the repair. Provide links and images for any suggested steps.

One afternoon and my rig was back on the highway!

 

[Festina Lente]

It looks like I can't edit my post I forgot to add this image for reference on adding context.

 

[Dirt Boy]

I've recently used AI to trouble shoot some electrical projects and it has been awesome. I even had it make some wiring "diagrams". They were text based but easy to follow and helped me sort out the things that were stumping me. I've also had success diagnosing other issues or at least getting some starting points.
It's another good tool in the toolbox for sure. Thanks for the advice on how best to prompt it.

 

[kody472]

I've used Claude to help with sniper issues. It does alright until it tells me it can't go any further.

Guess we can keep training our eventual overlords. I'm always nice to AI just in case.

 

[FJ60 Revival]

You don't even need to create a project. Just use regular chat and tell it your preferred sources of information if needed. Even without telling it to hit ih8mud for info, it will do it anyway since this is THE place to go for information on these rigs.

 

[VPP]

I'm a tech guy who wishes he worked on old cars all day. But I don't, so it's just a hobby and I'm pretty mediocre. Good with carbs and cylinder heads … that's about as far as it goes.

So when I picked up a SBC-swapped FJ-60 for my wife that needed some love, I put AI to work. I use it all day and it can get pretty complicated. But it doesn't need to be! My set-up saved my bacon when the transfer case linkage got stuck in low. So I thought I'd share in case anyone else out there who doesn't instinctively know these vehicles inside and out.

Here's what I consider to be the easiest but most effective set up. Personally, I think real work is best done with Claude, so that's what I'll reference. You can create this set up on a free account, so no reason to spend big bucks on AI like I do

Create a Project
A "project" in claude (ChatGPT has something similar) is like a folder where you add information that the AI uses as reference for chats you start from that project.

Here's what you put in it:

• Title that project something like "FJ60 upgrades and repairs".
• In the description:
  • Tell the AI what you want it to do: I have an 1983 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ-60. I want your help planning upgrades, repairs, and touble-shooting for this vehicle. See the attached documents for more information on my particular example.
  • Tell it where to find information (like ih8mud!): When looking for reference information and personal experience this forum is a wealth of information: https://forum.ih8mud.com/forums/60-series-wagons.27/
• Add "text context" to explains details of your particular rig, including upgrades, repairs, or anything else you'd like a mechanic to know when you drop it off. See the screen capture below for reference. For example, my first entry was titled "Specific vehicle info" and I added this note: My particular vehicle has been swapped to a standard small block Chevy 350 with a Carter AFB four barrel carburetor. All the rest of the running gear has been kept from the original vehicle using an adaptor for the 4 speed manual transmission.

The more you tell the AI about your vehicle in this project "context" the better it's answers will be. If you have a digital service manual, you can upload that too. On a free account you'll eventually run out of space, but try not to skimp on deets.

Then you just start chatting in that project!

As an example, here's the first question I posed. It returned a detailed step by step plan directly built off of the posts here, including diagrams it found, images of people's fixes, and links to all the relevant threads. All within about 2 mins.

The FJ60 transfer case is stuck in four wheel low gear, rendering it basically undriveable.  After a rough road kept knocking the transfer case stick slightly out of two high, I accidentally pushed it into four low and now it's stuck there no matter how I manipulate the transfer case lever. The lever moves as expected, but low gear never disengages. Help me plan a repair so I can get this truck back on the road. Please search for any information that might get me started on the repair. Provide links and images for any suggested steps.

One afternoon and my rig was back on the highway!

TC's have a way to lock up when used in 4x4. Easiest way to unlock it is to backup as short distance, stop and shift it out.

 

[onemanarmy]

Claude can't get under the truck and un-bind the manual mechanism, which is probably what you needed to do before adding fuel to a data center

 

[bhsdriller]

no thanks

 

[dbbowen]

this has helped me fix about 90% of my problems not self inflicted on my truck haha

https://forum.ih8mud.com/resources/1984-1990-repair-manual-chassis-body.1/

 

[Lead Head]

Save the planet's water, fossil fuel energy, and RAM prices and just do a standard Google search. Many threads on this exact issue you describe pop up in half a second with a standard search. These vehicles are highly complicated and technical, and AI simply hallucinates too much to be trusted.

Just a couple of months ago there was someone on ih8mud using AI to troubleshoot an electrical issue with his 60, and it was just making up wiring colors and wiring diagrams and getting him all confused.

 

[TXIN]

I'm on the fence on this one. I was very resistant to AI (and still am, really) but I have found it incredibly helpful when doing research about my engine swap project. Mostly because standard Google searches are so bought and paid for now that the answer you really wanted is on search page 20.

The caveat is you basically already need to know what you're talking about and be able to question the logic you are presented.