Builds What's a Parts Guy to Do??

[Trapper50cal]

The only other option is to build a complete 2F on the stand and take your time doing every little thing, with all new parts and swap it in when you're done...but how many things are you going to need to fix on the current runner while that's taking place?

 

[Bomar]

All the way.

 

[Spike Strip]

Your situation is more of a conundrum than people think:

If the short block is solid, simply reassembling with reman head/rockers, you're prolly looking at a few days of work, depending on C2H6O consumption, and back on the road go you.

Engine rebuild to your specs? You tell us how long.

But that being said, and being the proud owner of a pro-built, balanced, mildly tweaked 2F w/H55 I will say that the engine rev's effortlessly, and I am very glad (not GLAAD !), that I decided to pull the trigger and do the quality rebuild while the head was removed for a blown HG... It ended up being a very long process, but worth it.

Nice stash o'parts (St. Patty's day), btw ..

 

[OGBeno]

Now is the time to do it right. All the way.

I'm beginning to think Jim is right.

I have all of the parts, I have the skill and ability.

Now, only thing in my way is motivation, keeping with it, and, well, $$$$....

I sent CDan a pic of the block and he responded "you remember the last time....".....

And he is right. I totally tore apart an 87 2F and ended up selling it to a TMSUSA guy from Denver (Rising Sun folks will know whom I am talking about).

I basically have to buy an engine stand and a picker.....

Damn, I guess it's about time I make my bones as opposed to merely stating them.

 

[EWTexas]

What I am having issues with is the fact that the bottom end is probably fine. Do i screw with it or keep what I have for posterity?

Both Robbie (of toyota trails fame) and Cruiserdrew (Andy) are saying do it and don't look back.


Fact is, not worrying about an engine for 300k miles is tempting.

The notion of time and physical investment is daunting though..... I'm not 25 yrs old anymore. 40 yrs old and the body starts giving indications of neglect and horizonal futures.....

Thanks for the feedback folks.

I was where you are about 2 yrs ago except I was 60 at the time. The way I saw it was with a complete rebuild I would never have to do a major fix for the rest of my driving life. Just my 2ct

 

[Godwin]

I basically have to buy an engine stand and a picker.....

Damn, I guess it's about time I make my bones as opposed to merely stating them.

I'll loan you an engine stand, but it may be a bit of a drive.

Since you're now in the South I'll put this in the local vernacular,

"Them parts ain't doing you a bit o' good sittin' on a shelf."

The Land Cruiser was meant to be used, each and every part of it.

 

[Spook50]

 

[brian]

What I am having issues with is the fact that the bottom end is probably fine.

Thanks for the feedback folks.

it will be just fine. now clear out those parts to make room for real projects.
you know my address, i can probably move some things around and make some room for those dusty old bags.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

If your bottom end was <100k, I'd say go for it. Plop the nice rebuild head down on the old block and drive on. The problem is, you are at 260K. Now I know that truck was taken care of reasonably well, but still, 260K is close to the outer limits here, especially when it's already mostly apart. What if a ring fractured and tore up the cylinder wall 2 weeks after you got it all together? Or the #5 rod bearing finally lets go after 30 years? You'd feel like a chump.

Make sure you get the rotating assembly balanced. I think that's why a 3FE feels so good with revs and a 2F feels like a ...2F. Kind of a snarly, angry, mentally slow, thumping beast. Smooth is good for the driving experience and the motor.

Just make sure you put it back together slowly with love and care. Then it will be ready for another Utah adventure.

 

[cruisermatt]

Blatantly obvious, but it's also considerably easier to rebuild a motor that doesn't have a major mechanical failure vs. one that has.



This is a 944 piston wedged in the crank, it had the whole thing a lot more fun. Although that was a race car and expected to blow up

 

[nfranco]

Come on people, after everything this man has done for us I can't believe not one of us will tell him the truth.
Onur,
Forget it, it's not worth it. To much work. Get rid of it. I'll bet you can get a great deal on a RAV4.
So you don't have to stare at that pile of parts, I can come by and take them off your hands free of charge,
least I can do, they'll fit a late 85 right?

I kid, I vote for all in, be done with it.
Good luck, post pics!

 

[micruz60]

What has been said.... ^^^
Don't forget a new carb and dizzy?
A nice seat to sit in while driving this.
I wish I had your dilemma

 

[Cruiserdrew]

A new crankshaft, really?

So I went back and read your first post with more attention. You have a new crankshaft??? I did not know such a great piece was even remotely available.

With that in mind, if you cheap out and don't bore that block, your Land Cruiser card should be revoked. Build that motor and you will have a great 2F. Then anytime in the future, you have the option of adding the head of a 3FE and have a 2FE.

Funny, it looks like the original pistons are .50 already. Is that right? Normal from factory? If so, I did not know that motor had had significant work already.

I know that Marty bought that truck used at about 80K from the original owner. Then his wife drove it as a daily driver for 100K. Then he drove it as a daily driver for 50K. During the last 50K, he had a bunch of head work, including a new head from Warden's about 7-8 years ago. After that, the truck has hardly been used other than 2 trips to Cruise Moab (and easy use there) and occasional use, until you got it. I do remember Marty broke the driver motor mount on Metal Masher in roughly 2007.

I also remember that Marty had a cracked head for a long time dumping coolant into the oil, before he figured it out and got the new head. That alone would make me want to rebuild the bottom end.

Remember that in a month or two, the extra cash will be nothing. Don't avoid this, embrace it as a great opportunity.

 

[Joe_E]

All i see are non-OEM hose clamps...

 

[Pacer]

All i see are non-OEM hose clamps...

Bet that'll be remedied in shot order whichever way O goes with this.

...via IH8MUD app

 

[AlbertoSD]

You have a new crankshaft??? I did not know such a great piece was even remotely available.

Remember that in a month or two, the extra cash will be nothing. Don't avoid this, embrace it as a great opportunity.

I am with Cruiserdrew on this. With all the parts that you already have, and having the engine so far apart, it makes sense to go all the way and do it right. It might suck to get things apart now, but you will get years/miles of trouble free service from that freshly rebuilt 2F.

 

[cruiserjunktion]

The only other option is to build a complete 2F on the stand and take your time doing every little thing, with all new parts and swap it in when you're done...but how many things are you going to need to fix on the current runner while that's taking place?

2nd this idea.....

 

[OGBeno]

So I went back and read your first post with more attention. You have a new crankshaft??? I did not know such a great piece was even remotely available.

My bad....not a new crankshaft. New camshaft and crankshaft pulley assy.

That said, the crankshaft is discontinued.

Well, based on the responses here and my conversation with Crusierdrew last night (and others), I've decided that going all the way makes sense and will benefit me in the long run.

Next plans: get engine stand rated for this monster, and a cherry picker to pull the entire drivetrain.

Remove block from tranny/xfer.

Send block to machine shop for a 1.5mm overbore with new pistons, new rings, bearings, new conrod, etc.

While that is going on, I'll rebuild the xfer case on to the back of the H55 and get that assy ready. Might as well install the new OEM rear driveshaft that I have as well.

Get the engine back, real purty like and then drop the completed head, mate everything together and off to the races we go.

I'll drop a JimC a line on a dizzy refresh as well as carby refresh (carb is last new OEM one available that I had running in the truck. I have a Trollhole, but that was for a rainy day). I'd prefer to use a refreshed OEM Aisan unit.

Man.... didn't think I was going to go deep so quick.

Worth it though and I do want to keep my LC card

 

[Gun Runner 5]

What other options? Do the head and drop back on the block. Other than that, there is no way a non-Toyota engine is going into my frame and Toyota diesel, while cool and interesting, I have absolutely no interest in an oil burner.

That last sentence drove a stake through my heart.

 

[OGBeno]

That last sentence drove a stake through my heart.

Sorry Charles. Nothing personal against the venerable Toyota diesels (if I was going to have any diesel in my engine bay it would indeed be a beautiful 1HZ).

It's just that a 2F rebuild is in my tax bracket. A diesel conversion is not unfortunately.