First off, I would like to say hi to everyone. I have been reading on here for about a month just looking at common problems (lol, doesn't seem to be many), lift ideas, pics, etc. Love the 83-earlier pic thread. I think I've been through about half of the pages so far.

Anyways, I have always loved the solid axle Toys. Growing up, my dad had a Scout II that he wheeled & I have this memory of a tan 84-85 that I saw on the trail a few times. I must have been 9 or 10 at the time, but I still remember how that thing would go everywhere! Fast forward to me at 21 & I came close to buying a 79 but couldn't get the money quick enough. Later on at 25, I found an 85 extended cab that I almost bought, but my soon to be wife talked me into a Z71 on 33's because it seated more people (horrible mistake). It seems as if every time I run across one, fate intervened. Well, a month ago, I came across an 80 & I quickly traded my Ranger for it. I jumped ahead of myself without looking it over, but it's still a good truck. I can't believe the places I have went on crappy Wrangler Radial 235/75s. Over the years I have owned several 4wds including a Samurai on 33x12.50s, an S15 Jimmy lifted on 29x11.5 Swampers, a Bronco on 35's, & more. None have impressed me like this one has aside from the Jimmy.

Some of the problems I have & maybe there are solutions out there include:

No dash lights
Turn signals work when they want to
Vacuum leak that I can't trace down - tried spraying ether around spots
power steering pump disconnected (presumed DOA)
Truck dies when brakes applied - my assumption for vacuum leak
Rough idle - also probably because of leak
L43 trans sucks. I don't know if I hate the sloppy shifting or the 3500 rpm at 65mph worse.
Not enough power to use 4hi... ever - supposedly a 22r, but I haven't seen any proof & haven't looked for casting numbers.
Exhaust leak I need to fix - header ran straight back to glasspack ran to back of truck all hung up by bailing wire.
Dreaded frame rot - just gotta clean, cut, & weld
I don't want to even get into the fact that I am missing my cab vents or the screwed up interior, this is my trail truck. I drive it to the trails, rock crawl, & hit some mud. That's it. So far she has been good at that other than having to use 4lo everywhere. I guess I won't be swapping to 33s.

Sorry for the long rant, I'll post some pics & more info later. If y'all have suggestions/questions I'm open ears.

 

Well, I crawled under the truck last night & tightened up three bolt on the shifter. Still a lot of slop, but seems to be better.

Also went back & tried adjusting the carb/checking things a little more thorough. Seems like the idle smooths out when I spray carb cleaner around the gasket that mates the top piece of the carb to the bottom. It only does it when I spray near the "plunger" looking piece on top (throttle plunger?) It's an Aisan carb if anyone is wondering. I did notice that adjusting the fuel screw did nothing. I took it all the way in & backed it out 2.5 turns with no change. I even brought it out about 4 turns & it didn't seem to do much. I just left it at 2.5 turns even though it was set at 2 turns prior to me messing with it. The truck does run better at idle if I set the choke partially closed, but runs best with the choke open. Also truck doesn't die when brakes are applied if I am 1/2 choke. Any suggestions?

 

Turn signals issue could be the switch or switch connector(s) not tight, or bad. A bad ground. Bad ground for dash lights? I assume you've pulled, inspected and re-installed all fuses. For the electrical stuff, probably will just have to follow them check all connections, disconnect and clean grounds, etc. Tough work but it could solve the lighting issues. The carb? If you can swap it out for a Weber, great, otherwise, rebuild it and re-install with new gasket. Also, follow all the vacuum tubes and plug 'em or connect 'em. Check the lines for cracks too. If you are wildly lucky, the carb problems might be vaccum and just the seal.

Welcome to Yota land, dude. I almost bought a '79 all green longbed from eastern Oklahoma, but found one in Pheonix (lucky find but kind of expensive).

Keep us informed in progress.

 

I'm thinking a bad ground somewhere for sure. Annoying, but since most of it's road use is to drive to the trails I'm just using hand signals for now. lol

Pulled all fuses & cleaned contact points. It's amazing how fuse boxes can accumulate surface rust over a period of 30+ years & no telling how much offroad use.

I'd love to find a Weber, but other than idle issues, this Aisan carb isn't too bad. Been up some pretty hairy inclines already without any stalling. If it's anything like the carburetor on an 18RC motor, then I have experience rebuilding them. I have a spare carb that needs rebuilt, so I might just buy the kit for that one & try it out. What's $20? I'll probably make that back in no time on saved gas. I'd like to figure out how to de-smog all this crap & just run the vacuum advance if possible. Been reading up on it, but not sure exactly what's involved.

Thanks for the welcome. I love this truck & even been showing my brother up in his Samurai. In the last month, he has been frantically upgrading & I have been keeping up with him. Kinda funny, but once I get a few things lined out I'm locking the rear & adding gears. Probably only gonna go to 31's or 33's so the gear thing is undecided.

I notice you're from KC. Ever wheel down at Disney, D-Day, or Snowball? What you guys got up that way?

 

love to see what problems you fixed sounds just like the one i just bought, and kinda looks like it too thanks

 

It has been a couple of years. I hope the Yota is on the road. If you get an email telling you about this post, come on back. Any progress on the carb?

I have had no time to drive out and get off-road. I did climb the tallest hill in Jackson county, MO last year. Mucky clay. Good test for my tires. Did great. Tracked like a cat and stayed exactly on the ridges where I steered. Awesome.