Pacific Northwest Backroad Adventures

I guess it’s been a few weeks since my last update.

I am finally able to announce that:

MY LAND CRUISER STARTED AND RAN TONIGHT!!!!

After spending the weekend trying to finish all the final details prior to the initial startup of the rebuilt 3FE, I was able fire it up just after dark tonight.

Per the instructions from the rebuilder, I started the engine and ran it at 1200 RPMs until the coolant temperature began to rise, then I increased the RPMs to 1800 and ran it for 45 minutes (the rebuilder stated a minimum of 30 minutes).

So far everything sounds and looks good (except for all the smoking from the new paint).

I have to wait until Tuesday for the initial test drive. I still have to swap out the rear tires for the stock tires rather than the 33 inchers. I put the stock tires on the front in order for the engine to clear the front cross member. I’ll run the stock 31 inch tires all the way around for the engine break in period (first 2000 miles or more) so I reduce the chances of lugging the engine (plus the odometer will be a accurate for the multiple oil and filter changes, retorquing of the head gasket, etc in the next 2000 miles).

That’s all for now.

-Steve

I am finally able to announce that my 3FE engine, transmission and transfer case is gently resting in my 80-series Land Cruiser. Nothing is hooked up yet except for the tranny cross member and engine mounts.

Prior to installing the engine, I ran new extended breather lines for the transfer case and transmission. The old breather line was somewhat brittle, so this was the perfect opportunity to run the new lines.

I still have to clean my air flow meter, hook up the belt driven accessories, vacuum hoses, wiring harness, drive lines and fix the exhaust head pipes that I had to sawzall in two to get the engine out.

It’s getting closer. But now it’s all weather dependent. Damn the storm that’s blowing in for the next four days.

I’m starting to get excited about having my Land Cruiser back.

To be continued.

It’s been a couple weeks since I posted an update on the 3FE engine rebuild in my FJ80 Toyota Land Cruiser. Here is the latest on my 80-series 3FE project.

In the last installment, I just finished making the initial adjustment of my valves. Since then, I gave the mighty 3FE a coat of paint, bolted the valve cover on, installed the exhaust manifold, intake manifold and the exhaust heat shields.
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In today’s installment of the assembly of my Toyota Land Cruiser FJ80 3FE engine, I torqued down the rocker arm assembly, adjusted the valve clearance, cleaned the rocker arm cover and intake manifold. I have two stripped studs where the exhaust head pipe bolts to the exhaust manifold and I was able to get one of them out before I had to rush off to my daughter’s soccer practice.

You can see all my photos from this rebuild at Toyota FJ80 Land Cruiser 3FE Rebuild

To be continued.

Today, I was planning on getting a lot done on the assembly of my 80-series Land Cruiser 3FE engine. I ended up spending about seven hours in all disassembling, cleaning, and reassembling the rocker arm assembly.

Call me a little anal when it came to the cleaning, but the rocker arm assembly looks brand new. The rockers had baked on oil residue from nearly 200,000 miles of use on the FJ80. I soaked everything in citrus based solvent, wire brushed and eventually used a wire wheel on my grinder to take each piece down to bare metal.

It may be a little over board for some, but I don’t want to chance a chunk of the residue breaking off and causing problems down the road.

Steve

Here is the latest update on the progress of getting my Toyota FJ80 Land Cruiser up and running again.

I received the head gasket and oil pan gasket order I was waiting for last Thursday. Over a long weekend, between soccer games and family time, I was able to devote a few days to cleaning, inspecting and assembling my 3FE engine. Here is a progress report of what I have completed so far.

NOTE: This is NOT a step-by-step instructional guide for assembling an engine. You need to consult the proper factory Toyota Land Cruiser service manual for instructions on assembling your engine.

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After a busy week, I was finally able to order the remaining parts (hopefully that’s all) that I need to assemble the 3FE engine for my 80-series Toyota Land Cruiser.

The parts I ordered are the factory Toyota head gasket, oil pan gasket, thermostat, hoses and belts. I have an aftermarket head gasket and oil pan gasket in my possession, however with the amount of money I’m investing in my FJ80, I’m going to do things right.

By the way, I’m ordering my parts through John Hocker at Sierra Toyota in Sierra Vista, Arizona. John is the go-to guy for Land Cruiser parts on the Toyota 3FE group on Yahoo.

Today I picked up my rebuilt Land Cruiser 3FE short block and head from the machine shop.

Now comes the cleaning, inspection (and buy new parts) and reassembly process.

I need to go buy a small parts washer to make the job easier. Probably Harbor Freight for me.

I’m going to replace all the hoses, belts, thermostat, etc while it’s apart. I noticed that my radiator appears to be leaking so that may need a rebuild. Who knows what else I’ll find during the inspection process.

No estimated time frame when it will be done. I know I’m tired of being a one vehicle family.

Here are some photos of the short block and head.

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Who would have thought that a Friday trip to the Whiskey Dick Road Management Area near Ellensburg, Washington would bring out more participants than most weekend trips.

Well Jerry (aka SoggyMountain) picked a wonderful day for a Backroad Drivers Northwest tour of the Whiskey Dick. Hands down, this was the warmest day of 2008 to date.

The meeting place that morning was the Bar 14 restaurant in Ellensburg. In attendance for the days trip was of course Jerry from Yakima driving his full size Jeep SJ Wagoneer; (and if I get the names wrong, please forgive and let me know to correct them) Phil and his son Travis from Newcastle, driving the white Ford Explorer; Paul from Tacoma driving the other Ford Explorer; Jim (stucky) driving the white Chevy Pickup (I forgot to ask where Jim was from); Trish and Tammy from Bothel driving a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon; John and Cindy from Monroe driving a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon; Sid from Renton driving his Jeep Wrangler, Peter and Don (I forgot to ask where they were from or if I did, I didn’t write it down) driving the Sportsmobile van; myself in my 80-series Toyota Land Cruiser; and Bill from Ellensburg who joined us for breakfast but had to supervise a fencing property today so he couldn’t join us.

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Since I’ve had my Toyota FJ80 Land Cruiser, I’ve only had to deal with a few electrical issues, the Center Diff Lock, the Window Actuator Motor and the Fusible Links from the battery. The first prevented the transfer case to lock up in four wheel drive, the second prevented the window from rolling up, and the third prevented the engine from starting.

Now that I’m a year into the ownership of the Land Cruiser, I’m onto my fourth wiring issue. The engine will simply not start. It started last Thursday when I made a run over to the Cle Elum River near Salmon la Sac. I had one episode where it would not start for about two or three minutes and then it started up fine for the the rest of the trip. On Saturday, it happened again, this time in the grocery store parking lot. This time it would not start until after about ten minutes of trying. Finally, this morning (Monday) when getting ready to leave from work, the little tractor motor would only spin and would not fire up. Of course, this was accompanied by record rainfall in Western Washington. Perfect timing.
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