$6 an hour? The base I'm at is $4 with a lift bay, $3 for a regular bay. Dunno how much overnight though. Why can't you change fluids there? They should have some catchers. Heck, what's the point of an Auto Shop if you can't perform the most common vehicle task (oil change) there?

 

You can do every fluid change there except drain fuel tanks and change fuel filters. I'm not exactly sure why hazard I guess.

Yes I know they are more expensive here for some reason than the other posts, and I'm not exactly sure why for that either. It is 7 for a lift bay.

 

I've spent many hours in the auto hobby shop. Its one of the best deals you will find. All of the ones I've worked at have an old guy around whose purpose is to answer question and give advice. Its one of the few joys of the military I guess.

Anyway they don't like you messing with the gas tank b/c they don't have any way to dispose of it. They have to meet all the EPA and military environmental rules. If you dispose of it in the used oil barrels, its considered a "hot" load. Most of the processing companies will not take it, and the ones that do charge a serious premium.

Most of them are pretty cool so long as you don't do anything stupid. They shouldn't say anything if you drop the tank, so long as you don't spill. The absorbent oil change boxes from autozone do wonders. Drop the tank take it out the gate pour it into a bucket, and bring the tank back inside. Dispose of the old gas appropriately. Not that I've ever done that before.

 

I will chat with the guy and see if he will let me do that then. I would much rather do it there in the cool garage than out in the hot parking lot.

List of things I will need the shop won't provide:

Camera/computer (for reference)
Service Manual (I have a couple from on here and from when I used to own one)
Tape/marker (marking vacume lines)
Oil absorbant for the possibility of dropping the fuel tank

List of Parts I should need:

1 bottle brake fluid
Power steering fluid
Antifreeze/distilled water
5Qts Oil
Oil Filter
Fuel Filter
Possibly new battery
AC recharge kit w/recharge
**new motor mounts** What you think?
New Serp belt
new wiper blades front/rear
windsheild wiper fluid
fluid for the cluth resevior (brake fluid??)
**Tranny oil....never serviced a manual before...what do I need**

So besides the other things that could go wrong what am I missing to get this thing on the road. I need to get everything in one trip as I would like to spend as much time in the garage and get it knocked out in one weekend.

 

If you can swap an entire engine assy and only have to make one trip to the parts store, you are pretty good. It seems like there is always something... Pretty good list though, good luck.

I am swapping a 3.0 this weekend as well. It is in a pickup, but should be pretty much samey same as what you are working with.

 

Awesome,

If you are going to take any pictures or have any hints after it is done please post up here or in a new thread. I can take all the hints for easy removal here and there. I think there is a write up on here somewhere already actually.

Maybe I can just get all of the AC stuff off without opening the system. Sounds like that will be my best bet.

I bet the motor mounts will be fine as well. I'll take a peak at that before I go like you reccomended.

I also worry about small things like frozen brake calipers, schocks being shot, and of course the small things like lights being out but that is not a big deal. I can take care of those (minus brakes) when I lift it and do a weekend or two of General Maintenance.

Good luck on your swap and let me know how it goes.

 

I will take some pictures as I go. I think there are a few good write ups on here already, so I will probably just detail the things that were the most challenging.

I just had to run home from work because the used engine was delivered:





I wasn't expecting it until tomorrow or even Friday, heck, I haven't even seen the pickup it is going into yet! That is supposed to show up tomorrow.

 

Sounds just like me. I have the engine lined up but I won't get the runner until later this week.

Now I just have to line up a couple buddies to help me out.

 

I hear ya. I am hiring a friend of mine to help me on this one. I could probably handle it myself, but it is just way easier with an extra set of hands, besides, he doesn't mind doing the underneath stuff (as long as I'm paying him) and he has a cherry picker. I'm doing this as side-work, so if I have to rent the engine hoist it will come out of my profit. I can get him and his hoist for not much more than I would pay to rent the hoist for a weekend.

I think I will get a few things done on Thursday-like getting the hood off, radiator and all of the in-the-way crap removed, then we will hit it hard on Saturday and try to get it finished up. We may still have some stuff to finish on Sunday, but if there are no unforseen problems we should be able to button it up this weekend easily. <---- (on edit- I hope I don't regret saying that!)

 

BTW- How much is your engine going to cost? I hope you don't mind me asking. The one I got cost the owner $1700 and that includes a labor warranty. If I put the engine in and it isn't any good, the owner gets reimbursed for my labor so he doesn't have to pay twice.

Nevermind, I see that you found one for $800. i thought $1700 seemed kind of high, but since I'm not paying for it, I don't really care. The shipping papers that came with it said it had been "tested" so maybe that is why it is so much more

 

Well,

I do not have it in hand yet, but I talked to him a bit and I should be picking it up Friday for $600. It does not have zero miles on it like I first thought though. It has 25K but that is next to nothing.

Don't feel bad though. Everyone I talk to says the going rate is around 1500. The only reason I'm doing the project is the 4 runner I have found has been sitting there at work longer than I have been there. The guy wants to get rid of it after talking to him so if I can get it for a steal (I'm thinking around 500)..then I have a decent ride with one weekend spent in the garage and a fun rig to drive around that is recently rebuilt. I just happened to find the engine up the road the same time I finally got ahold of the guy that owns the truck. I've been talking about it for almost a year but the stars just happen to fall into place on this one.

But just like you knock on wood I have neither of them in my hand right now. Suppossed to go get the engine this Weekend and get the truck early next week.

 

Yea, I don't really care how much the engine cost, because it isn't my truck. It sounds like you are going to put together a pretty good rig for not much money. Very cool! I hope it all works out in your favor.

 

Ahh well there you go then ...I see you are just working on someone elses. I guess I didn't read the finer parts of your last post.

I hope I end up getting a good deal on it. The thing is with a vehicle that has been abandoned for this long you never know what else could be wrong with it. Not that the guy isn't disclosing anything but things just don't work as well after sitting awhile and you never know what else might be wrong. Like shocks might be shot, I already know the tires are toast, and all the small things that add up after awhile.

But I agree it is a good starting point if all goes well. It will make a great exedition rig for those trips that my FJ40 is just not suited for.

 

Well, I am pulling for you. Play it cool and act like you will be doing him a favor by hauling it off. Maybe you will get it for next to nothing.

Do you have any pictures of the FJ?

 

I do,

I will post some when I get home this evening.

 

Cool, I'm looking forward to seeing it.

 

Here are a few.

Will put more on late. Have to shrink them. But first pic is when I got it (not a piece of metal from the fire wall back...rockers gone, rear cab corners gone..you name it rusted. Still has a long ways to go though. Still doesnt' drive worth a crap.

 

Hey good luck on the swap. Hope all goes well and if not beer goes a long way so you don't give a damn...

 

addicted- I love the FJ. That thing looks great! Thanks for posting the pics.

 

I got started on my project today after work. Here is the pickup:



I started by pulling the Battery, radiator, shroud, and fan. That opens things up a bit:



After that I pulled the air box, intake hoses, coolant overflow and alternator off:



Somewhere along the way I pulled the hood off, no sense working around that thing:



That is where I stopped today. Tomorrow I will do a little more work, but Saturday I am going to hit it hard and try to get it done.