LJ70 Build Thread!

[Beau]

I would have thought the only reason the UK models didn't have a top mounted intercooler was because we hardly get extreme tempertures so the extra cooling isn't necessary...thats just my logic thinking

I have seen shoguns have top mounted intercooler but they have a fan sucking air down which I think is the clever approach, and the must if you have one installed on top of the engine. Considering you've got a body lift (I think) you should have plenty of space to work with under your bonnet...

Nice pics btw, looks like a very nice place

 

[Ben]

Thanks Beau, thats an interesting idea.

There must be a reason why they fitted them for some markets and not others and your idea is the best one I've heard.

Intercoolers definitely lower exhaust gas temps, so it would make sense to have them fitted on vehicles driving in 40+ degree heat.

I need to save up £44,381 for a duel cab 70.

 

[Paddler Ed]

With the dollar on the slide such as it is at the moment It'll be nearer £40k soomer than you think!

 

[Landcruiser Power]

Hey ben if i was you I stick to the front mount you have, going to the top mount is just a steep back even with a fan, as the biggest fan you can fit will not flow enough air, if you aren't happy with the front mount id be looking at air to water intercooler next.My set up is front mount and meth injection, and with my manuel fuel pump can throw a lot of fuel and boost and not worry about egts.

 

[Gary Stockton]

Unless you cut a hole in the bonnet and stick a scoop on it like the HiLux. The 120 has channels in the bonnet that collect air from the grille and vent it down onto the inter cooler - not sure the 70 will be plumbed for that though.

Cheers


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[Ben]

With the dollar on the slide such as it is at the moment It'll be nearer £40k soomer than you think!

True.

Still a lot of money though.

If everything goes to plan and I get to go and work in the mines after I've done my 2 years in Victoria, then I will get one!

An old school friend is working in the mines in WA at the moment and the amount of money hes earning and saving is crazy!

BTW I hope you didn't think I was being negative when I posted on your thread about you moving to OZ. I applaud you for doing it, just wondered if you could afford to spend anymore on a car when you get here.

You know how much more expensive cars are here.

My Astra would have cost maybe £1200 in the UK. Where as over here it cost me £3000.

Hey Ben if i was you I stick to the front mount you have, going to the top mount is just a steep back even with a fan, as the biggest fan you can fit will not flow enough air, if you aren't happy with the front mount id be looking at air to water intercooler next.My set up is front mount and meth injection, and with my manual fuel pump can throw a lot of fuel and boost and not worry about egts.

Very interesting, thanks.

Like I've said the only reason I was thinking of ditching the front mount was because the rad isnt getting enough air flow. I am thinking of cutting a few holes in the bull bar with a hole saw to help air flow, and have thought of fitting some ducts to channel air towards the rad. Not sure if they will improve things much.

It doesnt overheat, but I have to switch the electric fan on to keep the engine temp down.

Can you explain how your meth injection works please?

How does an air to water intercooler work?

My only concern would be if something went wrong (damaged intercooler etc.) and the engine ended up sucking in water and bending con rods.

I'm planning some pretty big trips in LJ.......................................

Want to go up the Cape and the Kimberly's.

So obviously I need to make sure LJ is as reliable as possible.

Unless you cut a hole in the bonnet and stick a scoop on it like the HiLux. The 120 has channels in the bonnet that collect air from the grille and vent it down onto the inter cooler - not sure the 70 will be plumbed for that though.

Cheers


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

I was thinking of fitting a bonnet scoop if I fit a top mount.

 

[Ben]

Yarra State Forest 4WD Trip.

OK update time.................................

So this morning I put LJ in the workshop.



First job I needed to do was get all the UJ's on the prop shafts greased.



Grease gun was empty, so ended up using the air one which was super quick.



I wanted to tidy some of the hoses and wires up under the bonnet. One thing I needed to do was link the 2 axle breathers with the transfercase and gearbox breathers and run them up the snorkel.

I'm going to fit an FM radio aerial on the bull bar at some point, so decided to make use of the hole in the wing form the old aerial.



Found a box of grommets.



Grommet and breather hose fitted.





Used some 3 in to 1 hose connectors to link everything to the one hose running up the snorkel.



I wanted to drop the gearbox and transferbox oil and change it, but really I wanted to get the oil warm first.

So I thought I need to go for a drive, then I remembered all the 4wd tracks Id spotted as I drove past my closest state forest.

25min drive and I arrived at Yarra State Forest.





I was running 35psi in the tyres, so the first thing to do was to drop them all down to 20.



Love how they signpost all the tracks over here.



First track.



I didnt have a 4wd map of the forest so relied on my road based GPS which seemed to know the names of all the tracks.











I soon arrived at a big hill climb which was steep and very rocky.



The pics dont do it justice, it was very steep and the rock steps/ledges were pretty big.













After walking up the hill and taking the pics above, and assessing whether or not I thought LJ could make it I walked back down.





Now I had to be bloody careful. I couldnt afford to have an accident or damage the truck/break down. I was on my own and had no winch. I did however how full mobile phone reception everywhere I went in the forest.

Anyway.....................................I decided LJ could make it, even on the more road biased 35" tyres.

So with rear air locker engaged and in 1st low we powered are way up.

Stopped at the top to pick up yet another bottle that had been dumped.

Ended up completely filling a carrier bag with empty bottles and cans that some iresponsible 4wd's had decided to throw out of there window.

Anyway................back to the trip.









Dropped back down and out on to one of the main dirt roads in the forest.











Was a beautiful, sunny day and not a cloud in the sky. Perfect conditions for heading bush in a 4wd.

Apologies for the nudity.

Havnt fitted aircon yet.



Found a small community living in little ramshackle cottages in the forest.

Growing Christmas trees.







Messing around with the camera.







Decided to put clothes back on for this timed photo.





The forest is a sub tropical rainforest so has a lot of plants and trees you wouldn't see in a normal forest.







You know a track has the potential to be challenging/extreme when it has a lockable gate at the end, when non of the other tracks have them.







Lots of rocky sections on the way up.





I love how blue the sky is here some days, not a single cloud anywhere.



Couldn't resist flexing LJ on some boulders for a pic. Could have gone a bit further up and got fully articulated but didn't want to risk tipping her over as I was on my own.













Found a sign on the ground next to a gate.

Looks like I've only got this month to enjoy these tracks before there closed for winter and spring.





















Id forgotten just how relaxing pootling along in a 4wd in the bush can be. Was a very relaxing few hours, totally switched off from everything.





Black trees from bush fires.



Told the GPS to take me home.

15 miles and 25 mins away! Awesome!

I've never lived this close to perfect 4wd tracks before.



Back on the road.



Got back and pulled LJ back into the workshop.



Got my prayer mat out.



Gear box oil dropped.



Surprisingly clean, considering it hasnt been changed for a while, and LJ was stuck up to the top of the bonnet (4ft deep) in Lincomb sandy soup at my last Lincomb. I thought some mud/water might have got inside the box but obviously not.



Transferbox.



Really need to get that rear main oil seal changed as shes leaking oil. Not a huge amount, but leaking all the same.

Damm you Milner and your cheap crappy oil seals.



Left her in the workshop with the last of the oil dripping out. Tomorrow I will fill the boxes back up with new oil.



On the way back from 4wding I stopped for diesel and ice cream and picked up a free tourist map of the area.



So to give you an idea of where I am in relation to these tracks I've marked the map below.

I live where the red dot is. East of me is Yarra State forest where I went today, circled in black. North of me is Telangi State forest, circled in green.

In between the 2, and underlined in black is another 7 State forests and National parks which are all full of 4wd tracks.

So really I'm very very lucky! Thats hundreds of miles of 4wd tracks all within an hour of me.



I really miss all the mates and family I've left behind in the UK.

But I feel very very happy to be living my dream, living over here in this awesome country.

I cant tell you how bloody amazing it feels to be driving my LandCruiser, on the tracks over here!

Anyway time for more beer and a steak!

 

[Graham]

Nice pictures Ben,

Following your every move.

Gra.

 

[Shayne]

Amazing how a country as wild and as vast as Australia can be so civilised as to offer routes only a 4x4 could use on an every day satnav and obvious monitoring and care for those routes to ensure they remain in a good state of repair . Your a lucky man and while missing home you should remember in the UK a satnav will get you lost faster than a compass mounted on a magnet and a pot hole on a main road will go unrepaired for many years until it causes accident or injury .


Live your dream , home friends and family will always be here . I returned home after 7 years away only to find the same people in the same pubs talking about the same thing as the day i left . It was good to see everybody but after a month i needed to escape again .

 

[Ben]

Thanks guys.

 

[Paddler Ed]

If everything goes to plan and I get to go and work in the mines after I've done my 2 years in Victoria, then I will get one!

An old school friend is working in the mines in WA at the moment and the amount of money hes earning and saving is crazy!

Keep an eye on the news; there was some data coming out the other day that the employment in the mines was dropping, and employment in VIC, NSW and TAS was increasing whilst WA and QLD was dropping...

BTW I hope you didn't think I was being negative when I posted on your thread about you moving to OZ. I applaud you for doing it, just wondered if you could afford to spend anymore on a car when you get here.

You know how much more expensive cars are here.

My Astra would have cost maybe £1200 in the UK. Where as over here it cost me £3000.

Not a problem, it's no more negative than I've been about some of your things!

Our Volvo we had in Aus came from a mate for $700 (which was what he paid for it + the parts to sort it before running it for a year and the rego running out)... unregistered and needing 4 tyres... exactly the same as this 4Runner! The difference is that that 4Runner has had the engine rebuilt but the body and interior is tatty. I'm hoping that when it's sorted it'll be a $3k truck with some rego on it.

In a way I've got useful contacts re vehicles (in the same way you have with work), and am happy to buy from them at the lower end of the market. What I'm likely to do with the 4Runner is get it Blue Slipped in NSW before I buy it, and then if if fails for too much I can walk away.

It doesnt overheat, but I have to switch the electric fan on to keep the engine temp down.

Can you explain how your meth injection works please?

How does an air to water intercooler work?

With the fan is it worth putting a thermo switch so it kicks in automatically, but also to have an isolator so that it isn't running for water crossings etc?

Not sure on Metho injection, but my understanding of an air to water intercooler is that the water cools the air down as it passes through the intercooler.

I'm going to fit an FM radio aerial on the bull bar at some point, so decided to make use of the hole in the wing form the old aerial.

Is that for FM reception?

Love how they signpost all the tracks over here.



I didnt have a 4wd map of the forest so relied on my road based GPS which seemed to know the names of all the tracks.

The sign posts are a very VIC thing that; NSW don't do it to the same extent, they name some roads but not all of them. In some areas of NSW the dirt roads in the forests are wide enough for 2 vehicles to pass at 40kmh + quite easily.

Also don't forget that they're actually roads there rather than tracks like our Byways are.

Have you found out about Crown Roads yet? (They might be a NSW thing though...) as some of these might be under that classification.

The other problem with them being shown on a DumbDumb (and the low cost of the DumbDumb) is that there are sometimes backpacker vans stuck there... we came across one that was being towed out of the Watagan's by some other 4wd'ers and gave the 4wd'ers beer... although I think that was because the girls we were with liked the lads!

Stopped at the top to pick up yet another bottle that had been dumped.

Ended up completely filling a carrier bag with empty bottles and cans that some iresponsible 4wd's had decided to throw out of there window.

Know what you mean, especially given the fire risk that bottles (esp clear bottles) can create... another good reason not to drink TED!

The forest is a sub tropical rainforest so has a lot of plants and trees you wouldn't see in a normal forest.

That's what some of the area around where I'll be based is like, especially when I come down from Dorrigo to Coff's... I need to do the back road to a friend's property that short cuts off 2 sides of the triangle, but it's a dry weather only road, and when we saw them in April they'd already had 1400mm of rain this year!!!

Found a sign on the ground next to a gate.

Looks like I've only got this month to enjoy these tracks before there closed for winter and spring.

They're more realistic about things like that, it'll also enable them to carry out some HR burns as well if they're needed.

So to give you an idea of where I am in relation to these tracks I've marked the map below.

I live where the red dot is. East of me is Yarra State forest where I went today, circled in black. North of me is Telangi State forest, circled in green.

In between the 2, and underlined in black is another 7 State forests and National parks which are all full of 4wd tracks.

So really I'm very very lucky! Thats hundreds of miles of 4wd tracks all within an hour of me.



I really miss all the mates and family I've left behind in the UK.

But I feel very very happy to be living my dream, living over here in this awesome country.

I cant tell you how bloody amazing it feels to be driving my LandCruiser, on the tracks over here!

Anyway time for more beer and a steak!

I never made it to the Yarra Valley; we spent time around the Ballarat area and in the Grampians, as well as touching the edge of the Snowy's.

This time we'll do a trip to VIC for a bit longer; there's a chance my brother might be coming back to the UK sooner than anticipated, so I might head down to grab some of his furniture!

 

[ModelMakerMan]

Are you missing a nut off your prop UJ there?

Im not jealous of your local 4x4 tracks at all.... ok maybe a little..... lucky bugger!

 

[tonytoyota]

Hi Ben I love it u r a having 1 good one tonytoyota.

 

[Ben]

Ed............................

The mines have slowed down that is true, but from what I've read its do with the current government and the huge mining taxes they've brought in. There is a good chance things will pick back up in the next year or 2.

If I cant go work in the mines I will look into other high paid jobs like working on oil rigs etc.

My digital temp gauge has the ability to switch a relay on and off at different temps. Currently it has a switch for the electric fan.

The digital temp gauge shows when the engine is getting hot before the standard gauge does. By the time the standard gauge reaches the red the engine is already over heating and has been for a while.

Another thing with the standard gauge is, when the engine is hot/almost in the red backing off the throttle quickly brings the engine temp down on the standard gauge but in reality the engine is still over heating.

Yes I will fit an FM aerial for the stereo/radio.

I saw quite a few of the signs in NSW. I drove through the high country-snowy mountains and then had a week on Fraser Island (QLD) which also had loads of the signs.

They might technically be roads but I've not heard anyone call them that.

Certainly all the guys in my 4wd club over here dont call them roads they call them tracks.

How dare you say bad things about TED!

Its great beer!

Are you missing a nut off your prop UJ there?

Im not jealous of your local 4x4 tracks at all.... ok maybe a little..... lucky bugger!

Thanks Dave.

I knew it was missing, and spotted when I uploaded the pic that it was visible in the pic and wondered which eagle eyed person would spot it.

Hi Ben I love it u r a having 1 good one tonytoyota.

Thanks Tony.

Need to get myself a 40 at some point.

Would quite like to restore one.

 

[Ben]

Forgot to mention............................

The Warn winch which is going to be my next big purchase is going to have to wait a little while longer because I'm flying up to Byron Bay for a weeks holiday next month.

If my boss will let me take a week of my holiday then.

Got my mining friend flying down to Melbourne. We will stay a few days here, then fly up to the Gold Coast and hire a car. Probably spend a few days in Brisbane, few days on the gold coast and then a few days in Byron Bay and Nimbin.

If we had more time I'd love to have driven LJ up and then spent another week on Fraser, but we've only got 8 days.

 

[Paddler Ed]

Ed............................

The mines have slowed down that is true, but from what I've read its do with the current government and the huge mining taxes they've brought in. There is a good chance things will pick back up in the next year or 2.

If I cant go work in the mines I will look into other high paid jobs like working on oil rigs etc.

Fair call, as long as there is a plan B... I don't think the taxes have worked as well as the Govt have hoped, especially as they're heading towards a deficit based on the shortfall... oops...

It also relies on China still building things, and getting the resources (be it coal or minerals) from Aus... which has got expensive with the $ being so high; if the $ carries on dropping then there will be a recovery, but it's how that recovery comes about and at what cost to the rest of the economy.

My digital temp gauge has the ability to switch a relay on and off at different temps. Currently it has a switch for the electric fan.

The digital temp gauge shows when the engine is getting hot before the standard gauge does. By the time the standard gauge reaches the red the engine is already over heating and has been for a while.

Another thing with the standard gauge is, when the engine is hot/almost in the red backing off the throttle quickly brings the engine temp down on the standard gauge but in reality the engine is still over heating.

I know what you mean with engine overheating (and appearing to cool down) The standard temp sender only reads off of the coolant temp rather than the engine block temp IIRC in a 3F

I saw quite a few of the signs in NSW. I drove through the high country-snowy mountains and then had a week on Fraser Island (QLD) which also had loads of the signs.

They might technically be roads but I've not heard anyone call them that.

Certainly all the guys in my 4wd club over here dont call them roads they call them tracks.

I think that Fraser has a load of signs to help the backpackers get eaten by Dingo's! Around the West of Sydney and to the North of Sydney (Watagan's and Oberon Stock Route areas) the signs are a bit sparse.

Crown Roads are an old name for a NSW road class...

How dare you say bad things about TED!

Its great beer!

Can't drink Toohey's/Carlton/VB/XXXX, they're all pish... Body is much happier on Cooper's Green or Cooper's Red... I don't wake up feeling like a herd of elephant's run over me... Mind you just had a bottle of Shropshire Lad from Wood's round the corner... that was nice...

 

[Ben]

Interesting fact about Fraser Island, taken from a trip report in last months ARB magazine.........................

There are more deadly snakes per square kilometer on Fraser Island than anywhere else on the planet!

Still an amazing place though, and when I was there for a week I only saw one snake!

I will try and find some pics from when I was there back in 09.

 

[Graham]

It also relies on China still building things, and getting the resources (be it coal or minerals) from Aus... which has got expensive with the $ being so high; if the $ carries on dropping then there will be a recovery, but it's how that recovery comes about and at what cost to the rest of the economy.

.
.
Economy is also a little lower than normal in China, but there is no unemployment.
One can walk out of a job one day, adn into another the next.

Gra.

 

[Chas]

.One can walk out of a job one day, adn into another the next.Gra.

I remember when it was like that here in the UK, I did just that working in building industry (electrical installation) the 60's.

 

[Ben]

First job this morning was filling the boxes with oil.

So I decanted oil out of the new 5 litre bottle into a small 1 litre bottle that had a spout.



I was then able to squeeze the oil into the boxes.





I decided as I hadnt greased and checked the front wheel bearings/hubs since November they probably needed doing.

Especially as since then I've been doing things like this.










I was pleasantly surprised to find the bearings and grease in reasonable condition.











One side almost rebuilt, and after being cleaned and packed with fresh grease, it was time for the other side.



Came to undo the free wheel hub and found the whole thing loose.

Not very clear in the pic, but the whole thing was loose on the studs attaching it to the hub.



Managed to undo the nuts on the end of the loose studs and get the free wheel hub off, but it snapped a stud in the process.





Carried on stripping the hub down.





A little bit rustier and dirtier than the other side.







I tried to remove 2 of the other studs in the hub that felt loose but they bot sheared off to.

I got a spare hub out of storage and was intending on removing a few good studs from the spare hub, to replace the broken ones with.





Winding 2 nuts against each other worked well for removing the studs.





I drilled a small hole in the center of one of the damaged studs, and then wound in a stud extractor but it broke the end off the tool.



So I decided to just fit the entire spare hub.

It had a slight lip round the edge of the disc so I ground it off with a flap wheel disc.



Spotted that the 2 hubs are very slightly different.

The spare is off an earlier pre face lift LJ70, and has an extra 2 holes in the hub for bolts to bolt the disc on with.

Toyota obviously decided it wasnt necessary when they came to building later model 70's.











We havnt had any rain for months, but we are forecast to have some this week. This will mean this weekends 4wd trip will go from being rated as Moderate to Hard.

So fitted the 37" back on.





I need to get my front ARB air locker built into my diff with all new bearings, and was going to replace all the wheel bearings at the same time.

But today I was thinking and decided this might be the ideal time to upgrade a few other front axle parts.

Thinking of getting the Trunnion bearing eliminator kit:

http://www.trail-gear.com/trunnion-bearing-eliminator

And the Knuckle Ball wiper seal kit (half way down the page on the link below:

http://www.trail-gear.com/knuckle-service

I'm also tempted by a set of Dirty 30's.

http://www.trail-gear.com/toyota-birfields

Oh almost forgot..........................

The snapped studs were all new ones on that side, purchased from Milner Off Road, and fitted for less than 12 months.

Another thing not to buy from them added to the list along side oil seals, brake discs and wheel studs.