What have you done to your Land Cruiser this week? (22 Viewers)

[Solace in Solitude]

Had a nice dinner waiting for the wind to die down.
View attachment 1276495

Did the wind die down?

 

[My71FJ40]

Sat in my wheelchair and stared at them, can't wait until I can walk again so I can start working on them...7 weeks down, hopefully only 3 more to go.

 

[65swb45]

Did the wind die down?

No.

 

[Solace in Solitude]

No.

Same here.

 

[firestopper]

I replaced the radiator with a OEM unit from Land Cruiser parts and consulting. Oner (beno) has hooked me up once again, the unit went in without drama and fit perfectly.

As Im getting older, I find ways to make things easier. One of is to remove the tires and lower the rig as close to the floor as possible. This is also a good opportunity to clean the inside of the wheels and inspect the brakes etc.

The 34 year old tired rad. When I first purchased the rig back in 2012 , I had pulled the rad to fix leaks, replace hoses and rebuild shroud as well as fan. It was clear that a motor mount had failed at some point prior to my purchased resulting in the fan kissing the shroud and rad.
I plan on a HZ-T conversion in the near future so was procrastinating on buying a 2F radiator. This thing was $300 (thanks beno) with $40 shipping and included a new cap and petcock. Oner really did a nice job with the packing (double boxed) and it arrived in a few days. The local dealers wanted +$500 for the same item.

After burping the coolant system, I ran her harder than normal, the temp gauge was indicating way cooler than I'v ever seen. I probably lean her out a little to squeeze 13 MPG. I should have done this sooner, and remember, to check with beno for any OEM items.

 

[Weber Sarge]

After dealing with fitment issues , the drain location and general bs I regret buying a replacement from Champion and not spending the extra on an OEM unit after seeing that price , lesson learned .
Sometimes we don't follow our own advice - Toyota is one of those exceptions about replacing parts with OEM if you want quality , fitment and durability versus the aftermarket . Good score , it's nice to get the satisfaction that it works as it should .
Sarge

 

[65swb45]

I replaced the radiator with a OEM unit from Land Cruiser parts and consulting. Oner (beno) has hooked me up once again, the unit when in without drama and fit perfectly.
View attachment 1276947
As Im getting older, I find ways to make things easier. One of is to remove the tires and lower the rig as close to the floor as possible. This is also a good opportunity to clean the inside of the wheels and inspect the brakes etc.
View attachment 1276948
View attachment 1276949 View attachment 1276950
The 34 year old tired rad. When I first purchased the rig back in 2012 , I had pulled the rad to fix leaks, replace hoses and rebuild shroud as well as fan. It was clear that a motor mount had failed at some point prior to my purchased resulting in the fan kissing the shroud and rad.
I plan on a HZ-T conversion in the near future so was procrastinating on buying a 2F radiator. This thing was $300 (thanks beno) with $40 shipping and included a new cap and petcock. Oner really did a nice job with the packing (double boxed) and it arrived in a few days. The local dealers wanted +$500 for the same item.View attachment 1276954
After burping the coolant system, I ran her harder than normal, the temp gauge was indicating way cooler than I'v ever seen. I probably lean her out a little to squeeze 13 MPG. I should have done this sooner, and remember, to check with beno for any OEM items.

Which begs the question....can I buy your stock motor when you pull it?

 

[65swb45]

Same here.

After roaming the desert for over 30 years, I knew the odds weren't good before I left home. But the opportunity was there. And there are often nuanced signs when the weather's gonna change. You get a feel for them. Didn't get any of those either. That's why I left before sunset.

It's still blowing. My current guess is it will settle down tomorrow or Sunday, when the L.A. Temp is closer to Ridgecrest.

 

[Captn Conch]

This is funny - I took a pretty similar approach. I actually increased the spring tension on my secondaries to ALMOST turn my quadrajet into a 2 barrel on purpose. Granted, I have a 283 that really doesn't NEED a 4-barrel carb to begin with. The secondaries just BARELY start to open under load at about 3000+ RPM - so the extra "guts" are there if I need them, but it's easy to stay out of the secondaries when I'm just cruising around and don't need them (99% of the time)

OK My FJ40 buddy Gary aka sggoat, installed the throttle cable while I corrected my fuel delivery issues that Gary diagnosed as having the electric fuel pump inline with the stock block pump..duuhhh,) Plugged excess vacuum ports and started it up... the electric choke works simply and perfectly! So off we go for the shakedown Cruise. Yup, the 40 has never ran like that..ever. WOW there were lots of ponies in the barn that had never seen the light of day! So yes,when I poked the throttle we took off like the breaking wind!! Yeah Baby Yeah! So yes, possible loss of gas mileage, Temptation to drive faster , check. Just a little fuel/air mix adjustment (darn double d screws!) All is now good.

 

[CaliFJ]

Installed new 4 point Crow seatbelts, roll bar pads and then watched my speedo fail. So now looking forward to replacing that.

 

[Michael B]

@FJReapr I highly recommend the new Dakota Digital dash if you're looking to upgrade.

 

[Solace in Solitude]

After roaming the desert for over 30 years, I knew the odds weren't good before I left home. But the opportunity was there. And there are often nuanced signs when the weather's gonna change. You get a feel for them. Didn't get any of those either. That's why I left before sunset.

It's still blowing. My current guess is it will settle down tomorrow or Sunday, when the L.A. Temp is closer to Ridgecrest.

My family reunion is tomorrow, in Boulevarde, CA... we get to drive through my old stomping grounds (Imperial Valley)... one of the few places that's hotter than Vegas... a very hot week lies ahead.

 

[65swb45]

Same here.

Of course one of my hunches was also not to just give up too soon. Everything happens for a reason.

As I was sitting to have my dinner, a vehicle drove up. I hadn't expected to see anyone else out there this time of year, especially coming thru at 5pm. Two photographers with desertusa, a website I never heard of, but pretended to know. They asked if they could take a picture of me, and of my rig. So I may end up on a few more monitors. Occasionally word filters back to me. I heard about a music video that surfaced on Facebook a year and a half ago.

 

[65swb45]

My family reunion is tomorrow, in Boulevarde, CA... we get to drive through my old stomping grounds (Imperial Valley)... one of the few places that's hotter than Vegas... a very hot week lies ahead.

So what you're saying is you left hell for Sodom and Gomorrah?

JK

Say hi to Ray Castillo. He's on the Board of Supervisors down there, and a member of my Desert Advisory Council.

 

[CaliFJ]

@FJReapr I highly recommend the new Dakota Digital dash if you're looking to upgrade.

@76 FJ40 - I like it. Everything else works, so I'm going to try and replace the speedo cable. If that doesn't do it I'll pick up the Dakota. Thanks for the tip.

 

[Michael B]

You're welcome Reapr, @Redgrrr here on mud sells them and made me a good deal on it.

 

[oestlarsen]

View attachment 1266782 Projet "no-drip" starts...
(A few minutes later I realized the real condition of my gutter...Fab or CCOT?)

It was bad...and so it begins.
Corners I will attempt...the straight sections I can't bend, so fab guy did..

 

[bikersmurf]

I think I'd be replacing the whol gutter... Not much left there. Best of luck, I've seen others do it, and replaced mine also.

 

[oestlarsen]

Yes, if I were smart I would just buy the CCOT kit....by time I am done, 90% will be new steel anyway

 

[tstepp920]

Build thread here

Errols FJ40 Build x4

Who's fender flares?