What have you done to your Land Cruiser this week? (42 Viewers)

[78fj40mg]

JoyRidaz - Glad to see the OEM visors are being used and not just boxed up sitting on my shelf. As for your pull-up bar, Danny is probably jealous you have an additional bar to hang essentials () from.




Danny - What do you know about keeping one eye on the rear view mirror?

Danny, you just don't need a rear view mirror, take it down and hang your favorite fuzzy dice instead.

 

[Solace in Solitude]

But, who will admire my beard??

 

[78fj40mg]

We'll admire your beard as soon as you change your avatar to reflect this pic.

 

[Solace in Solitude]

@78fj40mg Thanks or helping me with this avatar change. I think I finally have it changed.

Now... admire my beard... and my handsome Gunner!!

 

[lostmarbles]

Not a good start to 2015.

is hundreds of kilometres away performing full-time care for her aged/unwell parents but at least I thought my BJ40 wasn't going to consume my time (especially after all the work I've just done on my brakes)

Not so...

Went for another of our compulsory 6-monthly vehicle inspections and got hit with:

• Both 96920-32255 brake hoses bulging and needing replacement
• Excessive play steering idler
• Uneven braking (exceeding 20% variance) both front and rear

And I'm going back to filament bulbs on my trailer (from LED) due to "lack of brightness". (Lesson learned: Don't bother swapping to LED if your trailer uses festoon-type bulbs because they're generally too dim for brake lights and blinker lights.)

And on top of that, the radiator I had re-cored in Dec 2000 has now started leaking again... So I'm tackling that while I wait on new brake hoses. (BTW- Based on my maintenance records ... Brakes hoses should be replaced AT LEAST every 15-years.)

My radiator is leaking on this RH corner (where the red dashes are underneath that strap that's soldered to the header tank):

I know this only because I've seen spots of green liquid accumulating under there for a few years now..

The leak only opens up when things are hot and pressurised. It holds pressure OK when it is cold:

But I can still recall those horrible times before the last re-core when I ran around with splotches of green coolant everywhere in the engine bay.. So now that I've started noticing little pools of it on my splash-guards.. It's time to rip the radiator out and have a go at soldering up the leak (because I think it is coming from a poorly-done section of the header-tank soldering joint and the core is still in good nick):

PS. All these things jumping up on me at once is almost enough to make me want to throw in the towel... But I'm made of sterner stuff....(Well that's what I'm telling myself... LOL.)

Edit: Oops. Got a pic of my sexy foot in that last pic....

 

[78fj40mg]

Tom, love the engine bay, you sure keep it clean! Sorry about the wife being so far away and the green stuff leaking.

 

[Opus]

starting stripping windshield..........

 

[MrMoMo]

Tom, just be glad you don't live in Canada, that type of thing always happens when it's February and -35, and the garage is full.... (Had to pull the alternator off my BJ60 two February's in a row, in the driveway!)

FYI, tomorrow is forecast to be -24C ;cD

 

[Helipilot]

PNGUNME- Nice FJ40. What roof rack are you using? Looks good and balanced on the FJ40.

Happy New Year everyone!!

I installed my Christmas present - a Big Sky Gun Rack, for my AR - no picture - I prefer not to divulge where it's located. I know... 40's are compact and hidden locations are few... but, I did my best.

Then my Son-in-Law and I loaded Gunner and his dog (Hercules) into 44 and drove to Cow Camp, in the Desert National Wildlife Refuge. The spring is not flowing and the wind was quite cold, but the view, from high on the mountain was worth the climb - 44 is down below... as is my Son-in-Law and Herc.:

View attachment 1012121

The view toward the snow-capped Spring Mountains, to the west:
View attachment 1012122

Here's 44 up close at Cow Camp:
View attachment 1012124

Here are Gunner and I, about half way up the mountain
View attachment 1012125

...and Gunner decided he wanted to drive back...
View attachment 1012126

...a great drive, on a great day... a great start to a New Year!!!

Happy New Year everyone!!

I installed my Christmas present - a Big Sky Gun Rack, for my AR - no picture - I prefer not to divulge where it's located. I know... 40's are compact and hidden locations are few... but, I did my best.

Then my Son-in-Law and I loaded Gunner and his dog (Hercules) into 44 and drove to Cow Camp, in the Desert National Wildlife Refuge. The spring is not flowing and the wind was quite cold, but the view, from high on the mountain was worth the climb - 44 is down below... as is my Son-in-Law and Herc.:

View attachment 1012121

The view toward the snow-capped Spring Mountains, to the west:
View attachment 1012122

Here's 44 up close at Cow Camp:
View attachment 1012124

Here are Gunner and I, about half way up the mountain
View attachment 1012125

...and Gunner decided he wanted to drive back...
View attachment 1012126

...a great drive, on a great day... a great start to a New Year!!!

 

[RWBeringer4x4]

Happy New Year everyone!!

I installed my Christmas present - a Big Sky Gun Rack, for my AR - no picture - I prefer not to divulge where it's located. I know... 40's are compact and hidden locations are few... but, I did my best.

Then my Son-in-Law and I loaded Gunner and his dog (Hercules) into 44 and drove to Cow Camp, in the Desert National Wildlife Refuge. The spring is not flowing and the wind was quite cold, but the view, from high on the mountain was worth the climb - 44 is down below... as is my Son-in-Law and Herc.:

...a great drive, on a great day... a great start to a New Year!!!

@pngunme - You've commented on a bunch of my threads and helped me out on numerous occasions, but this (I think) is the first I've seen of your 40. Needless to say - I'm jealous! I'm especially jealous that you're out in the desert. They just salted the roads for our first snow today - which means no more driving the 40 for a solid 3 months (if I ever get the wiring sorted!). It would evaporate in front of my eyes in the snow/salt.

Not a good start to 2015.

is hundreds of kilometres away performing full-time care for her aged/unwell parents but at least I thought my BJ40 wasn't going to consume my time (especially after all the work I've just done on my brakes)

Not so...

Went for another of our compulsory 6-monthly vehicle inspections and got hit with:

• Both 96920-32255 brake hoses bulging and needing replacement
• Excessive play steering idler
• Uneven braking (exceeding 20% variance) both front and rear

And I'm going back to filament bulbs on my trailer (from LED) due to "lack of brightness". (Lesson learned: Don't bother swapping to LED if your trailer uses festoon-type bulbs because they're generally too dim for brake lights and blinker lights.)

@lostmarbles - Every time I see the words "6-month compulsory inspection" I throw up in my mouth a little. Can't believe they put you through that crap down there. It is, no doubt, coming, in the US (more and more a nanny state every day) but for the time being, I'll say I certainly do not envy you!

 

[RWBeringer4x4]

Discovered through the help of IH8MUD that my truck is a ticking time bomb of potential wire fires.

1. ONE Primary ground off the battery to the tub
2. No Fusible Links
3. Loaded with bad "twist and tape" connections

The plan started as a simple "plug-and-play" headlight upgrade to the IPF harness/H4 Halogen headlights. Then I found out all of the above. Then I found out my alternator was dead...

One thing lead to another and now:

Can of worms opened.

Now it will be an IPF Headlight upgrade, along with an upgrade to an internally regulated alternator bypassing the main harness to prevent amperage overload. Fusible likes to be added at the main harness and the +BAT cable, and all the other wiring insanity that is my passenger side fender will be cleaned up. Oh - and there will be grounds...many, many grounds.

 

[Solace in Solitude]

@Helipilot

Thank you!

It's an old low profile Conferr Rack, given to me by a MUD friend.

I found gutter mounts and had it modified to fit the width of my 40.

Then I had it blasted and powder coated.

The really nice thing... My 40 fits in the garage, with the rack on top - I have a little over 2" of clearance.

 

[Helipilot]

Thanks pngunme. Very nice cruiser. Appreciate the reply.

 

[Solace in Solitude]

@RWBeringer4x4

Thank you! I've posted other pictures along the way.. You just missed them.

You are right... I wouldn't trade the remoteness of the dry Nevada mountains and desert for all the salt and traffic...

The night skies are phenomal!!

We moved out here after my 2nd retirement and we both love it!!

 

[Racer65]

LostMarbles, look at all that access! What else can you do? If you need a new grille emblem, now is a great time to replace it.

 

[Vae Victus]

Not a good start to 2015.

is hundreds of kilometres away performing full-time care for her aged/unwell parents but at least I thought my BJ40 wasn't going to consume my time (especially after all the work I've just done on my brakes)

Not so...

Went for another of our compulsory 6-monthly vehicle inspections and got hit with:

• Both 96920-32255 brake hoses bulging and needing replacement
• Excessive play steering idler
• Uneven braking (exceeding 20% variance) both front and rear

...

PS. All these things jumping up on me at once is almost enough to make me want to throw in the towel... But I'm made of sterner stuff....(Well that's what I'm telling myself... LOL.)

Edit: Oops. Got a pic of my sexy foot in that last pic....

MUD rules - no body parts in photos! Gotta admire the dedication to stand on the truck for the shot. You fall off of there and you will want to throw in the towel.

Awfully nice of the NZ nanny state to give you a thorough inspection! Down here in Tennessee, if it rolls, they take your money.

Don't throw in the towel! Remember - it's the journey, not the destination. And we need you here ....

 

[Daniel W]

I traded lift for my jeep commander for a full oem fuel injection system to go on the sb350 in the 40. Let the wiring cleanup begin.

 

[lostmarbles]

Tom, just be glad you don't live in Canada, that type of thing always happens when it's February and -35, and the garage is full.... (Had to pull the alternator off my BJ60 two February's in a row, in the driveway!)....FYI, tomorrow is forecast to be -24C ;cD

My garage has always been too full for any vehicles (except for a couple of motorbikes that I've managed to squeeze in).

-24 would certainly be a whole new world of experience for me!!

..@lostmarbles - Every time I see the words "6-month compulsory inspection" I throw up in my mouth a little. Can't believe they put you through that crap down there. It is, no doubt, coming, in the US (more and more a nanny state every day) but for the time being, I'll say I certainly do not envy you!

I wish we didn't have them .... But since we do, I choose to use one of the local specialist inspection shops where quite a few of the inspectors are very competent and fond of classic vehicles. So this enables me to be less thorough in my own inspections, knowing that they'll likely pick up any safety issues I've missed.

And in my old age, I tend to "lose track of time". I had thought those failed brake hose were quite new and in good nick. In fact I even pointed out the date printed on the hoses to the inspector, saying "They can't be faulty! Look at the date. They were only replaced in 1998!" . (Then my brain kicked into gear and I finally succeeded in getting the maths right to reveal they were 17 years old! )

Discovered through the help of IH8MUD that my truck is a ticking time bomb of potential wire fires.

1. ONE Primary ground off the battery to the tub
2. No Fusible Links
3. Loaded with bad "twist and tape" connections

The plan started as a simple "plug-and-play" headlight upgrade to the IPF harness/H4 Halogen headlights. Then I found out all of the above. Then I found out my alternator was dead...

One thing lead to another and now:

View attachment 1014195

Can of worms opened.

Now it will be an IPF Headlight upgrade, along with an upgrade to an internally regulated alternator bypassing the main harness to prevent amperage overload. Fusible likes to be added at the main harness and the +BAT cable, and all the other wiring insanity that is my passenger side fender will be cleaned up. Oh - and there will be grounds...many, many grounds.

I do think it is important to have all your wiring protected in some way.. (With fusible links being the best option IMO.)

At least I'm happy with my wiring ..... touch wood.... (My cruiser will probably burn to the ground now I've said that...)

LostMarbles, look at all that access! What else can you do? If you need a new grille emblem, now is a great time to replace it.

Well. Yeah... Today (before work) I will be flat out touching up all the rust spots (as well as hopefully trying to solder up that leak)..

I took the strap off and the solder where the leak is located doesn't look too bad:

I don't have a good track record for DIY radiator repair ... So I'm a bit nervous.

MUD rules - no body parts in photos! Gotta admire the dedication to stand on the truck for the shot. You fall off of there and you will want to throw in the towel.
Awfully nice of the NZ nanny state to give you a thorough inspection! Down here in Tennessee, if it rolls, they take your money.
Don't throw in the towel! Remember - it's the journey, not the destination. And we need you here ....

Thanks for the warning and encouragement VV.

BJ40Green/Rudi recently sold his BJ40 and I've got to remain on guard to stop "feeling things are getting on top of me" otherwise I might follow suit one day...

I'm finding that taking photos is helping me do better work ... So that's one of the motivating factors..

(When I was reroofing this house, my neighbour had to pull his curtains because he couldn't bear to see me skating around on the dew-covered roof in jandals... BTW... Did I ever say that I used to teach safety to engineering apprentices back in my distant past? LOL.)

 

[fj401978]

BJ40Green/Rudi recently sold his BJ40 and I've got to remain on guard to stop "feeling things are getting on top of me" otherwise I might follow suit one day...

NOOOO!!!!

Tom, I always look forward to the maintenance notes/pics you post up (meaning...you have to KEEP that thing to keep doing so ). You know if you ever sold that after having it for all these years, you would cry every day and want to do this...

It was sad enough when Rudi sold his, don't you dare...good times come and go, but we have to hang tight! Plus, your humor keeps us in stitches

Skip

 

[MrMoMo]

-24 would certainly be a whole new world of experience for me!!

You are welcome to come take it! (I once again ponder why I still live here...) No working on the 40 tonight, don't even want to walk the 30' out to the shop! Extra load of wood in the stove this evening to try to build some extra heat for the overnight low....

BJ40Green/Rudi recently sold his BJ40 and I've got to remain on guard to stop "feeling things are getting on top of me" otherwise I might follow suit one day...

Fight those feelings!! Fight them hard!! (I suggest when that "day" comes, just park it for a year, then when you realize how much you miss it, you just pull it out again!)