Weekend at Bernies

[NC LX]

If anybody is interested in this trip, @wngrog did the same trip west to east the same time I was going east to west. We crossed paths about half way through. He has a nicely built 100 series.

Noland did an excellent write up on Georgia Traverse Solo - July 2018 check it out. He’s seems to be a pretty talented photographer too.

Much better than my hack writing.

 

[wngrog]

Awesome. How crazy is it that the only person I ran into on the entire Georgia Traverse was a TLCA/Mud member.

Nice to meet you. I'm glad you found that gem in Talladega. We plan on running that trail in November with a load of FJ-55's during the Southern Swine Soirée

Here is my trip report on the same....going west to east.

Georgia Traverse Solo - July 2018

 

[wngrog]

Opps, you beat me to it.

As we followed the route laid out there were a few washouts that hadn’t been documented yet. All part of the adventure.

View attachment 1751515

Ive been wanting to ask you about this.

I came in this same direction. I figured with you guys following east to west you would never have seen this section. The gate on the east side was clearly locked. This side, as you will read in my story, was iffy, so I went around it. That was a mistake.

 

[NC LX]

Opps, you beat me to it.



Ive been wanting to ask you about this.

I came in this same direction. I figured with you guys following east to west you would never have seen this section. The gate on the east side was clearly locked. This side, as you will read in my story, was iffy, so I went around it. That was a mistake.

Yea we ran into the other gate on the east but wanted to do as much of the mapped Traverse as possible so we backtracked to see why it had been blocked.

 

[NC LX]

Excellent truck! Time to update your avatar.

Done!

 

[wngrog]

Yea we ran into the other gate on the east but wanted to do as much of the mapped Traverse as possible so we backtracked to see why it had been blocked.

It was a nice little trail that’s blocked off. I did it both ways. Once having fun. Once trying to get the hell out before I got caught.

 

[NC LX]

The Beck Arnley sending unit isn’t cutting it. Sporadic readings and sometimes nothing. Confirmed it was the gauge using a mechanical one. Time to put Katakana logo back on.

Also solved my random front end knocking. Bad bushings in the end links. I guess a week on the Traverse will find weak links in your bushings

 

[NC LX]

Well when it rains, it pours.

Busy weekend for Bernie as several issues showed up. Friday morning I left to go to the gym and the power steering is whining. I check the reservoir and it's empty. I'm thinking great... I'm gonna need to replace the rack and pinion assembly. But I drive and 20 year old 100 series, it's to be expected. No big deal I'll handle it even though it's cutting into my tire budget.

When I get to the gym, Bernie isn't running right. I could tell there is a miss in the motor. I check the codes and
P0130
P0133
P0150
P0430
Oxygen sensor and Catalyst System Efficiency codes appear. It's odd the truck is missing bc of the O2 sensors. Once again, I think to myself, I drive a 20 year old truck it's to be expected. I clear the codes and head to my next destination. A few hours later I check the codes again. This time a P0301 code is up, Misfire Cylinder 1. That would explain why its running funny.

Friday night about 7pm, the weather is beautiful, the kids and wife are occupied and knowing I wouldn't be bothered for the rest of the night, I decide to stay up late and install my part time kit. Everything went well until I was reassembling the rear output of the case. Around 11pm I was applying the gasket sealer, turn to grab something and knocked the rear output off the work bench. Of course I watched it fall in slow motion, hit on the edge by the oil pump and crack. It's late and I felt defeated.

I realized theres nothing I can do about the crack tonight so I rescan the computer to see what codes say.
P0302 Misfire Cylinder 2
P0303 Misfire Cylinder 3
P0305 Misfire Cylinder 4
P0307 Misfire Cylinder 5
P0308 Misfire Cylinder 6
P0301 Misfire Cylinder 1
P0300 Random Misfire Detected
Seeing all these codes pop up, I just walked away and went to bed.

Saturday morning I give @AJR a call to see if he has a case with the output I need. He replies a few hours later that he has one. Turns out the Early 80 series with out a viscous coupler are the same as the 100 series. The only difference we could spot is the speedo gear.

Sunday I reinstalled everything. Funny to think this output came from behind a 3FE. I'm excited to drive it in 2wd and see how it handles now.

 

[NC LX]

Yesterday I pulled the plugs and coil's for inspection.
3 had noticeable carbon deposits.
Plugs 1,3,5,7

On the passenger side the coil and the plugs on 2,4,6 and 8 were covered in oil. The spark plugs gasket on each cylinder had failed.

8 OEM coils and iridium NGK plugs should be here sometime today. I actually had the spark plug gaskets waiting to be installed.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Time for some valve gaskets. Oil in the plug bores could cause a misfire by itself.

 

[NC LX]

Time for some valve gaskets. Oil in the plug bores could cause a misfire by itself.

yea, As much oil that was present on the passenger side Im not sure how it was running at all. I had the spark plug gaskets sitting on the shelf in waiting. I went ahead and installed them yesterday.

 

[NC LX]

Busy morning. With new coils and plugs Bernie was still getting a random misfire on cylinders 1&3. After closer inspection I could hear a slight vacuum leak. A little carb cleaner sprayed down by the intake runners confirmed a failed gasket. I called around for a gasket kit and all I could find was Fel Pro. Not really sure how I feel about them but it's my only option currently. Time will tell.

Suspicions were confirmed when I removed the lower intake. A large piece of the gasket broke off. It looked and felt like a piece of plastic which seems odd.

I did noticed there was a Napa reman starter on it and a few broken clips and bolts that weren't tight. I'm wondering if the gasket just failed or if it was the installation error.

Overall removing the intake wasn't as bad as I've heard. job. Not terribly difficult, just awkward reaching over everything. No codes have yet to return and it's purring like a kitten. Thinking back I missed the obvious sign that my gas mileage had recently gone to crap, I should of recognized the truck wasn't running as well as it should of.

All is well at Weekend at Bernies currently.

 

[NC LX]

Time for an update...Part-time completed.

Installed AVM Hubs. I wanted to use AISIN but had to use AVM because AISIN doesn't make a part-time HUB that works with US 100 axle shafts. Found these hubs sitting on a shelf in a Land Cruiser shop in Greece. Stateside shops that are AVM dealers told me it would be about 5 weeks to receive a shipment from down under. My patience isn't rated at 5 weeks so Google help me track down a shop that had them.

Marlin differential spool

Since I had the HF2A apart for the spool I went over the top and completely disassembled it. I had my special helper...and they say good help is hard to find.

Sandblasted, Replaced the output bearings and seals in the front and back, paint and cleat coat.

3 Sections in 3 different stages while I was working on it.

 

[wngrog]

Dang. Nice work

 

[NC LX]

More HF2A Porn during assembly. Photo Dump

 

[NC LX]

Installed a new transmission seal while it was accessible.

Just after I had my Wheaties and before I lifted it in solo.

Aaaaand.... of course I had to finished it off with new ujoints and a rebalance.

 

[NC LX]

Heres my thoughts on the Part time kit in a 100. I love how it feels and handles.

• Eliminated torque steer on take off. Less understeer, feels easier to turn.
• No more clunk when I put it in drive.
• My Hwy MPG has gone up to around to a little over 16.
• Faster acceleration. I can feel the difference on take off.
• With nothing spinning in the front, Im not worried about the CVs
• On a 100 theres no loss of ABS
• Most importantly, future BURN OUTS, before I change tires.

 

[jamesurq]

Truck did great on some really slick stuff that another certain other competent 100 series with an experienced driver (that will remain nameless) had to be pulled up with a strap.

I also witnessed the fastest break and zip tie fixed rear bumper ever. It’s almost as though it never happened.

 

[NC LX]

This morning I plowed through a deer. The ARB saved my truck. ZERO damage. I tried to convince Brit they can come at you from behind too. She didn’t buy it. The zip fix will have to last for a little bit.

 

[jfz80]

@fj40z can vouch for your slider purchase...... he had one attack his hundred from the side.