Long-Awaited Updates!

(sorry no photos this time)

Hi guys and gals!  I last wrote that there were several unanswered problems with my FJ40 and never got back to you.  My apologies.  I was enjoying my time away from all-things-automotive.  Several times, I gave thought to banging out my updates (but that quickly dissipated as I drew closer to the season of eggnog).

But, tonight was the season opener for the television equivalent of a root canal:  The Bachelor!!  However this was good for me because Nancy decided to take this excruciating experience to one of our daughters living rooms, so me and my buddy (the inimitable, TJ the Wonder Dog) have this silent house to ourselves.  Yahoo!  What better time than this to give you an update.

Let's recall that there were three distinct problems:  A worrisome vibration somewhere in the rear drive train, a wandering front end and non-functioning power steering.

Rear End (Differential) and Power steering

You may recall that I had done a seal replacement on my sloppy rear differential.  The truck was clearly used for trailering and I think this took it's toll on the dif.  I found the pinion nut loose and the seal leaking, so I re-shimmed, re-sealed and re-torqued, hoping for the best.

Well, on the first drive over roads, there was so much rear end vibration and so much wander in the front end that I never got above 20 mph (~30 kmh) before returning home.  Scary.

You begin to wonder evil thoughts:  What part did I forget to install?  Did I forget a bearing somewhere?   Is the transfer case installed backwards?

It was time for a knee-jerk!!  (It has to be that sloppy rear end, I just know it.)

[...ring-ring....ring, ring....] "Hello?"... "Yeah, I'd like to place an order.... How much?  Are you kidding?!?!?  I can save on shipping by picking up?....  Alright, I'll be there on Saturday."  [Click!] 

And so, I make an appointment with a local shop that doesn't mind taking what little money remains in my restoration budget.  I ask them to address the power steering, do a front-end alignment and install the new pumpkin.  A day later, I get my truck back with a nice new, tight, differential.  Unfortunately, I still have no power steering and the same vibration in the drive train!  And, the front end is still wandering.  They are apologetic, and repeated the alignment twice and checked everything they could in the drive train.  The pump, they believed, was shot.  For now, I let the vibration and wandering front end steep...  I'll think of something.

As far as the pump goes, it was time to bite another bullet.  My choices were a "re-manufactured" or "NOS" pump.  I chose NOS for a few extra bucks.  It took a few weeks to get it, but a few hours to get back under the hood.  Anticipation!  Every attempt was made to properly install the pump and purge the air, but the same results!  I was unable to get the sucker working,  I took several long drives, each time hoping that the bubble of air, that was surely responsible, would burp.  But after another few days, I gave up. The problems were mounting.  I was getting pretty discouraged (to put it mildly).  What next? 

The Dark Side

Yes, I turn to the dark side.  First, a little history:  Two years before I embarked on this restoration, I had called the only real restoration shop in southern New England dedicated to the Land Cruiser to chit-chat about pricing.  They are Cruiser Solutions, of Hampstead, NH, and they come highly recommended.  I was summarily told that I needed a minimum of $10k in the budget to kick off a restoration with them.  I hung up in a huff.  I'll show them!

Now, here I am.  Lost in a maze of unknowns.  And, there they are... Cruiser Solutions, a mere 80 miles (and probably a few chuckles) away from fixing these problems.  Problems they knew, two years ago, would make me wish I had dropped the $10k.  With my tail tucked neatly between my legs, I called.  They were very understanding (though I detected a chuckle).  Without much negotiating, they told me to expect a flat-bed in a week or so (when they were making a delivery near me).

And off it went!

A week or two later, I got a call.  They were stumped!  (thank God).  But, I pleaded.  A few days later, they called back, and this time with good news.  I had installed the rear spring shims BACKWARDS.  Or at least that is what was causing the rear-end vibration.  They reversed the shims and all was well in the rear.  But that funky steering problem, they were stumped.  I asked them to go the extra mile and hung up.

After a week they had given up and told me to come get the truck.  When I got there a few days later I was told that there must have been divine intervention.  The day before I arrived, the power steering had come to life!  Actually, they were so frustrated that they told one of the guys to take it for a long and drive and "work it".  Work it did!  The bubble burped.

The ride home was a white-knuckle affair I'd like to forget.  The wandering front end was a circus act, giving my fellow drivers something to talk about at dinner that night.

Front End Shimmie

I drove back to my local shop and asked them if they'd be willing to give the front end one more crack.  They agreed.  We talked about the rear end problem and the light must have gone on in their heads because in a few hours I got a phone call telling me to come get the truck.  They reversed the spring shims in the front and realigned the caster and camber and voila!  Perfect.

In fairness, I went back to the instructions I was provided with my new suspension and I followed them like a good student.  And, the shims went in just as I was instructed, albeit wrong.  If I had thought about it (doh!) it might have looked suspicious.  Another painful lesson.

I am working on the doors, windows and the top assembly and hope to have more on that soon.  My goal is to have the top and doors on in another month or so.  See you soon!