New BJ40 owner - got some Qs for the Shorty brains trust

[ABMM]

Hi everyone,

Tonight I picked up my shorty. She's a 1979 BJ40 soft top.

I haven't ID'd all the mods as yet, but she has some nice-to-haves like a tow bar, bull bar, roll bar, engineered pajero seats and a 3B donk. She's got the original jack and tool kit as well as a centre console - with cup holders!!! - out of the same pajero they pulled the seats out of. Came with a 27Mhz AM CB as well as a basic CD player and a couple of speakers. I'm gonna replace these with marine speakers and an MP3 stereo, cause MP3s don't skip when you hit the corrugations just north of the Coen quarantine station on the Cape. I'll post all the details and some pics when it's not dark outside.

Got a couple of questions:

1. It's got drum brakes and they pull savagely to the left unless you brake stupidly slowly. I've identified a supplier for a full set of brake shoes at a reasonable price (I think), but I've never owned a car with all round drum brakes before, so can anyone advise whether the shoes would be worn out or might it be something more serious?

2. The 3B donk is a standard one with no aftermarket turbo or anything, but it does have extractors. I driven heaps of diesel cruisers for work (80s and 100s), but none of them have blown black, diesel (not oil) smoke like the shorty does when it starts up or when under load like going up a hill on the highway. Is this normal or does it mean there's something seriously wrong?

3. The softtop was a bit shitty so I'll repair it, but does anyone have any idea what sort of cash I'd be looking at for a decent full set of hard sides, hard top and ambulance doors?

4. I went up that road near Appin in NSW tonight, you know the windy one that goes over the bridge near the little dam? She feels a bit like I'm driving a tractor rather than a cruiser, but it handled the hairpin and the other turns OK. When I got up to the straight up the top a coal truck roared past in the opposite direction and I nearly got blown off the road. Is this normal with a softtop shorty? I know that on a zook the softtop acts a bit like a parachute, but I've been blown around like that before.

5. How low is it supposed to idle? At the moment it's just barely ticking over and I was worried she'd stall, so I gave it a bit of hand throttle - maybe 1500 RPM. Is such a low idle normal or do I need to get her looked at?

Thanks in advance.

Cheers.

[Tojo]

1. could be the wheel cylinders too. Check them when you replace the shoes
2. check the air intake and air filter. Sounds like it is obstructed causing the black smoke
3. no idea
4. yes. Drive carefully.
5. not sure what rpm but they do idle very low.

[STIKA]

i would consider doing a disk brake conversion on the front using 60 series swivel hubs and rotors and calipers you should be able to pick the sor of gearup for around the $200 mark

The braking will be heaps better.

[hj 45]

The ones with drums all round always pull to the left when they're worn to buggery, the '77 hj 45 that I had was shocking for it.

Does it have a B or 3B motor? Standard in a bj 40 is the 3 litre B. Idle speed should be around 650 rpm or thereabouts.

[ABMM]

Thanks for the replies fellas,

I'll replace the shoes ASAP and hopefully that'll fix the problem - it's friggin dangerous how it is now.

The donk is a 3B out of a BJ42.

cheers

[RAY185]

Pull the drums off and have a look first. It might not actually need replacement shoes. Bad adjustment will make it pull to one side too and they are a pain in the arse to get right with twin wheel cylinders on each wheel. Try adjusting them all up. Seized adjusters are common in these old things too so you'll have to replace the cylinder if this is the case. But as said above. hilux/60 disc brake front conversion will be a good investment. Wheel cylinders are not cheap and you have 4 on the front axle.

[shorty_f0rty]

2. The 3B donk is a standard one with no aftermarket turbo or anything, but it does have extractors. I driven heaps of diesel cruisers for work (80s and 100s), but none of them have blown black, diesel (not oil) smoke like the shorty does when it starts up or when under load like going up a hill on the highway. Is this normal or does it mean there's something seriously wrong?

The 3b's have a leather Governor diaphragm at the top and back of the injector pump. when this leather tears and it looses vacuum you will get some/all of the following symptons:
- high idle (creeps or stays around 900-1000rpm)
- excessive black smoke under load
- potentially the apparent loss of compression (ie, engine breaking) - I'm yet to confirm if this is related to the part failing.

This is a $30 part (aftermarket, not much more genuine) and can be replaced with the pump on the vehicle. its an absolute norti werd to get at tho unless you've got the hands of a 9yr old. You might find it easier to remove the front passenger side guard. Once fixed though it should idle around 650rpm.

i can post up some pix of the particular part and where to find it if you want.

In regards to the brakes like everyone else I HIGHLY recommend upgrading to at least a DisK break front end. Not sure if the 1979's have as many interchangable parts with the 60's or 75's but potentially could look at upgrading the front diff to a 75 series diff, including knuckles and disks but swapping over the swival arms to an 80+ 40 version so you can still use your existing steering components.

I have also noticed you get blown around a bit with the soft top. I had a soft top that was pretty weathered and needed repair. I got charged approximately $350 to have the rear clear sections replaced, new zips for the back, side and clear door uppers.

As a new BJ owner you will find a WEALTH of info here: http://forum.ih8mud.com/diesel-tech-24-volts-systems/

If you are hunting for hardtop, full doors and rear doors, I have some for sale (hardtop has a sunroof and LX rear sliding windows) for sale if you are interested (I'm in Brissy).. Check out the build up in my sig for pics on various parts/soft top /etc..

[ABMM]

Thanks for the advice shorty and Ray, after I get the shoes sorted, I'll start looking at fixing and modding. She's my daily driver for the forseeable future, but I spend about three or four months of the year up on the Cape.

I posted a member's rig post with some piccies of the 40 as purchased here: http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/sutra1731442.php#1731442

[ABMM]

I spent a bit of time on the 40 today after running it through its paces out bush on the weekend. I'm impressed - no lift and saggy rear springs and she did everything I asked of her. I'm renaming her "The Gecko".

She's all fitted out for camping with an army surplus space case and a couple of 20mm ammo cans in the back - 1 for tools and 1 for oils, fluids and spares. I'm thinking of mounting these on the wheel arches in the back for more carry space.

On Friday I did a service and she seems to go better, but I've discovered a bit of blue smoke at start up and when she's under load (this is a Toyota 13B engine, not a 3B as stated in my first post).

I degreased the running gear today. Looks like someone went overboard with the greasing and didn't wipe up after themselves before hitting the dirt. I also degreased the diffs, transfer case, oil pan and filter mount and I'll check in a day or two to make sure there's no major leaks. Wheels, grille bezel and bullbar are now black and I'm halfway through adding a double jerrycan carrier to the back. That's all bolted up and working pending relocation of the numberplate and light.

As I mentioned before, the rear springs are saggy and I'd like a little more clearance. I understand that a SPOA will make her a bit tippy, and I don't really have the equipment to do a body lift. Are extended shackles an option for increasing the clearance or should I get the springs re-done? I paid cash for the 40 so the bank account is hurting a little. Any ideas for a cheap and effective few inches of lift would be most appreciated.

Tyre-wise, she's got 31s. Just thought I'd throw that in.

I cleaned up the brakes today as well. Adjusted and cleaned with brake cleaner they are much better. The shoes have lots of life left. I'll enjoy the primitive braking technology for a while until my bank balance recovers then look at front discs.

I'll chuck some photos on my member's post tomorrow (see post above for link).

[loosecanon]

hey mate just heard you joined the club of 40+, lol congrats, mate if got a front diff with disk, if you need, but i too am in briz,

[hj 45]

Springovers are a big no no here in Qld, so save yourself the hassle.