FJ60 Must-do Reliability Modifications?

[NMC_EXP]

I recently bought an '85 FJ60. It has 119,000 miles with an original, unmodified 2F engine. Appears to have been well cared for. No leaks, noises...etc.

A previous owner did the usual offroad add-on stuff: mild lift, bull bar/winch, rear bumper/tire swing-out...etc. It reportedly got 4:11 gears from an FJ62 and has 10.50 x 33" tires.

This FJ60 will be used for (in ExPo jargon) "backcountry adventure" in Colorado and Utah. More often than not, we will be going solo. Mary and I too old to be hiking 20 miles out if ride quits.

Question: Is there anything about the 2F engine and FJ60 driveline that is a known troublespot / weak link and ought to be replaced or modified before spending much time solo in the high and lonesome?

I'm good about keeping PM's up to date - talking more about design shortcomings.

Thanks

Jim

 

[RMP&O]

Rebuild your front outer axle as needed. When you get in there and if it needs nothing, just clean it all and re-pack with fresh grease. But if I had it apart I would put new seals in it including the Marlin Crawler seal.

I really can't think of much on the 60 that might fail you and leave you stranded but then again I haven't owned or worked on a 2F/3F in over 20yrs.

 

[NMC_EXP]

I appreciate that. I inherited receipts showing the front axle was overhauled not long ago.

Regards

Jim

 

[1911]

Question: Is there anything about the 2F engine and FJ60 driveline that is a known troublespot / weak link and ought to be replaced or modified before spending much time solo in the high and lonesome?

I'm good about keeping PM's up to date - talking more about design shortcomings.

Congratulations on your new Cruiser.

119,000 is low miles for a 2F. They are bulletproof, if not jacked with by a clueless previous owner/mechanic. I (or my sons) drive my 2F-powered Cruisers all over the country without a second thought or any special prep beyond normal maintenance.

The one real weak point/design flaw is using a pressed-in metal plug in end of the oil gallery in the head, in between (and slightly above) the #4 and #5 spark plugs. Sometimes the plug leaks or fails, and sometimes when they do they fail catastrophically and all of the crankcase oil can pump out before the driver is aware of it. The fix for it is to preemptively remove the metal plug and drill and tap the bore for a threaded plug. You can do this with the head still on if you're careful and have an angle drill. Here is a link to a thread on IH8MUD with photos and detailed instructions: http://forum.ih8mud.com/60-series-wagons/113830-what-well-whatever-its-leaking.html

Most everything else that goes wrong with the 2F is due to lack of maintenance. Make sure that the evacuation system for the distributor is still in place, as it keeps the innards from rusting and prevents the cap from blowing up due to ozone build-up. Some overly zealous de-smoggers remove the dizzy evac system and they shouldn't.

 

[jtrnw]

I recently bought an '85 FJ60. It has 119,000 miles with an original, unmodified 2F engine. Appears to have been well cared for. No leaks, noises...etc.

A previous owner did the usual offroad add-on stuff: mild lift, bull bar/winch, rear bumper/tire swing-out...etc. It reportedly got 4:11 gears from an FJ62 and has 10.50 x 33" tires.

This FJ60 will be used for (in ExPo jargon) "backcountry adventure" in Colorado and Utah. More often than not, we will be going solo. Mary and I too old to be hiking 20 miles out if ride quits.

Question: Is there anything about the 2F engine and FJ60 driveline that is a known troublespot / weak link and ought to be replaced or modified before spending much time solo in the high and lonesome?

I'm good about keeping PM's up to date - talking more about design shortcomings.

Thanks

Jim

The short answer is: NO.
The long answer is: If the previous owner wasn't a moron NO.

Sounds like a nice, tastefully upgraded truck.

 

[TheBuddyExpedition]

If you want more power, put a WEBER or HOLLEY 350 or at the very least a header, huuuuge difference in performance.

I'm sure the suspension is gone, OME makes nice springs to give you a bit more ground clearance and BFG 33x9.5 fit nice under there and look great!

I wish I still had mine!

 

[Sempertoy]

Pics or it isn't true!

 

[NMC_EXP]

If you want more power, put a WEBER or HOLLEY 350 or at the very least a header, huuuuge difference in performance.

I'm sure the suspension is gone, OME makes nice springs to give you a bit more ground clearance and BFG 33x9.5 fit nice under there and look great!

I wish I still had mine!

I had not driven a vintage LC for a long time. I had forgotten that they can barely get out of their own way. I wonder how much HP gain a carb and/or headers would provide?

Two owners back put on an Iron Man springs and (I think) MAF shackles. Eyeballing it looks like at least 3 or 4 inches. Probably higher that I would have gone.

Regards

Jim

 

[NMC_EXP]

Pics or it isn't true!

We all gotta remember that: "There is an infinite amout of information on the internet....some of it is even true."

I believe this is one of those sites which will not allow you to post photos directly. That kinda leaves me out of pimping automotive porn to you guys. I may be able to post a link to a thread by PO -1 (alpendubber on IH8MUD - two PO's back who did most of the mods).

Try this:

http://forum.ih8mud.com/fj60-fj62-bj60-hj61/447102-1985-fj60-feeler.html

It still looks just like those photos.

Regards

Jim

 

[NMC_EXP]

The short answer is: NO.
The long answer is: If the previous owner wasn't a moron NO.

Sounds like a nice, tastefully upgraded truck.

For the next two years I'm in Illinois 30 miles NW of Peoria. Whereabouts in Iowa are you located?

Regards

Jim

 

[NMC_EXP]

Congratulations on your new Cruiser.

119,000 is low miles for a 2F. They are bulletproof, if not jacked with by a clueless previous owner/mechanic. I (or my sons) drive my 2F-powered Cruisers all over the country without a second thought or any special prep beyond normal maintenance.

The one real weak point/design flaw is using a pressed-in metal plug in end of the oil gallery in the head, in between (and slightly above) the #4 and #5 spark plugs. Sometimes the plug leaks or fails, and sometimes when they do they fail catastrophically and all of the crankcase oil can pump out before the driver is aware of it. The fix for it is to preemptively remove the metal plug and drill and tap the bore for a threaded plug. You can do this with the head still on if you're careful and have an angle drill. Here is a link to a thread on IH8MUD with photos and detailed instructions: http://forum.ih8mud.com/60-series-wagons/113830-what-well-whatever-its-leaking.html

Most everything else that goes wrong with the 2F is due to lack of maintenance. Make sure that the evacuation system for the distributor is still in place, as it keeps the innards from rusting and prevents the cap from blowing up due to ozone build-up. Some overly zealous de-smoggers remove the dizzy evac system and they shouldn't.

According to the Carfax on this one, the original owner had a Texas address but the truck was titled in Colorado (Aspen to be specific). In the first 10 years the truck only logged 3,000 miles. I do not put a lot of faith in the mileage reports but it could be this unit was left at a summer place in Aspen and was only used a couple of weeks per year??

I have read about the oil plug. If that has been fixed is it visible without taking off the valve cover?

As to the smog stuff it appears to be all there...yikes.

Regards

Jim

 

[1911]

I have read about the oil plug. If that has been fixed is it visible without taking off the valve cover?

Yes, if you look at the thread I posted a link to in my previous post, the very first post in that thread has a photo of the stock tin plug, in between the #4 and #5 spark plugs, on the passenger side of the engine. If it has been fixed, you would see a socket-head (allen head) plug in there instead.

 

[BulletHead]

De-smog it if you don't rely on yearly emissions testing, it will make it easier to work on, free up some space in the engine bay and you can use the smog pump location for a redundant alternator or part of a dual battery setup. I'm not sure if this mod has any performance effects, I've never seen any data to support that claim.

 

[snye]

Galley plug - lots of helpful info on Ih8mud.

Also, I would argue against the Weber carb. Go with a Trollhole. I desmoged my 60 and replaced the carb with a Trollhole. Had a lot more power and got better gas mileage. The customer service is outstanding, and best of all, those carbs are made specifically for that engine.

 

[toylandcruiser]

I've read numerous forums that the stock carb is more reliable than a weber. My land cruiser doesn't flood out at crazy angles with the stock carb.


Molon Labe