Confession?

rover67

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.......
 

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60wag

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Looks like a phh headed for the garbage.
 

subzali

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Marco has an 80?
 

Stuckinthe80s

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Lakewood, CO
Whoa, this didn't cause a head gasket blow up did it?
 

rover67

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Well, that was way too easy.... Yes I finally broke down and got an 80! It is a 1997, locked, with 174k miles from Grand Junction. The guy I bought it from was super nice and Dave was able to put eyeballs on it before I made the drive. I've been busy doing PM on it so it can do CM this year.. It will be stock for this year's event but will hopefully not have any mechanical/engine issues.

It spent most of it's time in arid climates so it is as rust free as I've seen so that's nice... but it's a 22yr old truck so stuff is.....old. And I knew it'd be that way.

It had the P0401 code and was otherwise pretty good minus some weird bearing chatter noise from the front/middle of the truck that I heard on the drive. It has also had some PM done by the previous owner. He actually got a lot of stuff done to it. Radiator, starter, fixed engine oil leaks from the front.. a list of other things I can't remember now.

Anyways, when I got it back to Boulder, it had no coolant in the reservoir and very little in the radiator so I immediately feared the worst. Head gasket. After a few panicked texts to friends (thanks thanks thanks.. you know who you are) I calmed down and tore into it. Since I wanted to make sure the P0401 code was going to be gone for ever I opted to remove the throttle body and upper intake manifold to clean them and replace the VSV under there, Fuel filter (since it is close by), and the EGR modulator on top. Everything looked pretty good but I bumped into a bunch of bulging and leaking heater hoses as well as I think finding the source of the P0401 code.... a vacuum line simply fell off. A lot of the vacuum lines are crumbling so I am replacing those. Anyways, I'm thinking my mystery coolant leak was the heater hoses. I sent a sample of the oil off to Blackstone anyways, just to see... plus I love doing that.

Sooo.... I'm replacing the heater hoses, rad hoses, the clamps for it all, thermostat and flushing it all really well and filling with the famed toyota red. Hopefully that will cure the leaks. For the rest of it I am replacing all the vacuum lines, PCV Valve, Plugs, Wires, Cap and Rotor. The spark plugs were pretty ripe.

Then maybe figure out the bearing chatter/groan noise.

Last of the parts come in this Wednesday... So it should be close but good to go to Moab! I'll post pics and get some tech in the thread.

Not sure where this one is going to end up yet but I'd be lying if I told you I haven't been looking at the new turbo kit from Wit's End... and dreaming of a nice suspension with King shocks. Or a V8. Heck, I don't know. For now it needs to get me down the road. It will grow up how ever it chooses to do so, I will let it choose it's path.
 
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subzali

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Pictures!
 

LXBRADY

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Highlands Ranch
Nice! This is what happens when you go wheeling with a few people in the truck you care about and want to keep them comfortable instead of a just wheeling with a Great Dane.

Congrats!
 

LARGEONE

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Broomfield, CO
DUDE!!!! I might be more excited than you...Marco in an 80!
 

Rzeppa

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Kittredge CO, USA
but it's a 22yr old truck so stuff is.....old.

Congrats Marco...man it is so crazy that an 80 is "old"...Okay I know my various 40 series are "old" and I guess my 60 (oh sh!t it's 32 years old!) are old, but an 80??? Time flies! When I bought my 1976 FJ40 in 1982 it was 6 years old.
 

jps8460

Cruise Moab Committee
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Grand Junction
Nice! You’re going to love it! Replace the heater valve while you have all the heater lines out. Unless it’s been done recently, it’s a very common failure point.
 

rover67

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Yeah we're stoked!!! It should be a good rig for Mila to grow up in :). Also hilarious that the 80 is the new 60. I was contemplating a new 60 to replace the 80 but the comfort of an 80 and seemingly bombproof construction had me. Looks tougher than the 60 under there honestly.... When I bought my 60 it was 22 years old also, so if this baby has the same service life I'll be very excited!

I have a heater valve on order. Mine looks crispy and was actually the source of some of the leaks. It's getting changed for sure :)
 

subzali

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Well if you’re not going to post pics at least tell us what color it is!
 

rover67

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I forgot to really take any! Got it home and immediately pulled it into the garage. I was too excited to take photos when I got it... here’s what we do have though:
669AF93A-6F38-4A9F-B635-5C4A68B19ED7.jpeg
 
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rover67

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And here’s where I’m at under the hood so far. I decided to pull the upper intake to clean it and do all the vacuum lines, heater hoses, fuel filter and PHH. Included is a photo of the vacuum line that was disconnected..

Still waiting on parts... heater hoses, clamps, heater control valve, plug wire set, new cap and rotor.



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rover67

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Boulder, Co
#6 plug had more crusties than the others.. its at the top.
 
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