First Cranking of Salty - 1973 FJ40 Toyota Land Cruiser

I have not been slacking… only working, dealing with life and raising a child. In between found time to tinker with Salty. Here is the next chapter of the story…..

Since the weather finally improved in Oregon (relatively) and I was able to finish up the Land Rover gearbox install. It was time to find a nice tow truck driver that was daring enough to move Salty from the storage place into the garage with a very short and very steep driveway. Here is what the poor kid had to go through. He got it in with nothing broken or damaged.

 

My biggest fear was that water jacket would be all plugged up since I could see crystals and crunchy hoses.

 

Luckily this was only limited to the aluminum thermostat housing.

Removed the plugs and gave it a good Marvel Mystery Oil (MMO) treatment over a period of a month. Few squirts of MMO in each of the cyl’s every Saturday morning.

 

 

Then I moved to taking apart the whole cooling system and the parts ordering started. First sign of victory was when I had green liquid all over the garage floor. I was so sure that it would be all gummed up inside the block that I did not even prepare a catch bucket. Never have been happier in my life to mop up a mess! 

Removed the side drain and noticed a solid jam. Bummer, I thought I was done for at this time and the victory was short lived. Started picking at it and it was like a flood gate had been opened, suddenly the dam broke and I was drenched again in coolant. Another happy moment. This 40 has been taken care of where it mattered. The crusty part was only at the outlet, once cleaned it was free flowing.

Was able to find this awesome contraption on Amazon (made by Mityvac), hook it up to city water and compressor and you can control both the water and air. Dropped off the radiator for a recore at a local shop (Mac’s). Bypassed all the heaters, removed the thermostat. Set up an engine block flush line using bits and pieces of hoses and PVC and cycled enough water/air through the block to get clear water flowing out of the block drain.

 

I have never rebuilt a Holley (carb it came with) so it was a 1^st for me. Plenty of experience with Strombergs, Zenith’s and SU’s. Bought a parts kit off eBAY, cleaned up everything and put it back together reusing jets with new gaskets. No extra parts left (always a good thing). Good enough to get to a first start. Did put in a new acc’ pump old one was crusty enough to crack in my hands.

Put back the Radiator with new hoses, filled with the correct mix of coolant.

Replaced oil filter and oil 20W50 (since it had plenty of MMO mixed in by now). Saved a quart of oil that I poured over the valve train to pre-lube.

Filed/cleaned the old points (they will have to do for now) with a dab of silicon grease under the rubbing block.

Cleaned and gapped the old plugs (they should be good enough for now).

Made sure all the HT cables were clean and snug at the coil and disti cap.

Cleaned the battery/ground terminals.

New battery from COSTCO.

Checked static timing (it is close enough).

Hooked up a temporary gas tank connected to a new fuel pump (did not want to take a chance with a leaking pump that would contaminate the oil). Can rebuild the old one, if I can find a kit for it for a spare.

Dropped in about a teaspoon of 20W50 oil in each of the cyl’s.

Made sure transmission was in neutral and so was the transfer case. Just for security chocked the wheels too.  

Removed the HT cable from coil and it was time to crank it. I had rotated the engine many times over the last month or so using a crank handle that fit perfectly (it was from the Land Rover). Unfortunately, you can only do it when the radiator was out.

The day had come for it to get fuel and electricity flowing through it again.

 

Here is the real owner of Salty cranking it for the first time since 2006.

 

 

These things have got to be bullet proof. Here is proof, old Land Cruisers never die. My son running it.

So excited for the next chapter.

  

 

 

And here is my contribution to what the PO left there for me to find. Underneath the seats and fuel tank. The best one (270 Win)

 

 

The complete collection (minus the sunflower seeds, pine needles and dog hair).

 

Until next time.

 

To do:

Paint and install a CCOT gas tank that just arrived.

Get the brake and clutch system rebuilt.

Rebuild the knuckles and steering system.

Search for some old school skinny/tall tires to fit the original rims.

 

But this is also fishing and camping season in Oregon so progress will be slow. 😊

 

Sunstones, Pronghorns and Geological wonders

What better way to start the summer of camping after being in the house due to COVID for most of the year than to go on a road trip of Oregon. We had decided that we must try our luck at searching for the state gemstone, Sunstones after enjoying our trip to Glass Butte in search of obsidian. We also had seen the pronghorn antelopes on a pervious trip through Nevada so decided to combine that with travelling on one of the scenic byways and visiting Fort Rock, Christmas Valley and other sites on the way.

First stop was going to be Hole in the Ground. Got lost while searching but found another couple that were also searching for it and after a couple of dead ends, ultimately we all got there None of the maps we had were good enough. Need better GPS and mapping software for next trip.

 

After that a quick lunch and break at the Christmas Valley Golf Course/Library park and off we went to look for Crack in the Ground. Drove on the dirt road for eternity but never reached the spot. I didn’t air down (mistake) and that jarred every bone and filling. Better maps and preparation for next trip. Fort Rock was very nice and we enjoyed our short hike there.

 

 

We then drove down to Lakeview enjoying the history and the small towns on the way.

 

 

 

 In Summer Lake stopped at the Summer Lake Store and chatted with the gentleman working there about his 1976 280Z and fishing in the area.

 

 

He recommended to drive up Mill Road in Paisley and try the Chewaucan River there, which we did and landed 3 fish in the 10” range and a few long distance releases in half hour of fishing. Nice small river with fish hungry for BWO’s.

 

Next day we took off in search of the BLM Sunstone Collection Area in the Rabbit Hills section of Lake County. I had better maps, but the local signage was sufficient.

 

 

After only an hour of gathering within sight of the camp area (that was full) we had found enough and started our drive towards the Hart Mountain Antelope Refuge (near Plush OR).

 

 

  

Checked out the refuge and put on our list for next time a hike out to the Petroglyph Lake. We were not prepared this time.

Stopped at the Werner Wetlands Wildlife viewing area and saw these amazing weaver birds going in and out of their nests (does anyone know what bird it is?).

Maybe camp at the Refuge CG next time and hike in from the trailhead on way to the Refuge HQ. Twice saw pronghorn bucks but either I was headed in the opposite direction or they disappeared before I could pull over and get the camera out. Except for this mama pronghorn that just stood posing for us and then slowly walked away. In any case junior was able to see them along with many deer and quails. We will have to see about the Hunter Ed' card that he recently received from the state. :-)  

 

 

Returned via Plush back to Lakeview and enjoyed some local ice-cream at the Burger Queen. Our dinner of burgers from the same place the previous night was great. For breakfast we went to Tall Town Cafe and bakery and before leaving grabbed drinks and snacks at the High Desert Coffee.  Both places we enjoyed and met some great people there.

 

Junior commented that the people are so friendly, even the somewhat tipsy gentleman we ran into on our after dinner walk through town even said hello. 😊

Until the next adventure….. Ah yes, work on Salty still continues whenever I can find time, have extra $’s to buy parts and not be the chauffeur for a budding soccer goal keeper!