tojo 70 v8 problem

Darryl,
when I go back to work next wednesday I will have a look at our wrecks and see what they have under there, I have about 8 or 10 to choose from so that will give a fair indication if there is a problem. if any cruisers are going to have a problem ours will.

Main cracking we are getting is where the door skin meets the window frame, many of these have been welded up

Also the new cruisers are rusting worse than the old series, I am still driving an underground cruiser that is nearly 6 years old and it far less rust than the newer ones.

I will answer the thread when I get back and check the wrecks.

Have a good one
R.A.

My cruiser had developed a serious rattle in the right hand hinge. So much so I jambed a rag near the hinge and closed the bonnet. Temporarily fixed the rattle till I got home. At home dismantled the hinge to find the pin that holds the hinge together is only a big rivet and was very loose. I pounded the pin with a heavey hammer to tighten it and it fixed the rattle.
I did not see any cracks in the hinge itself.
If it occurs again I'll mend it with a set screw and nyloc nut with insertion rubber washers.

The 70 series troopies have been cracking there since the first build in 1985.
The crack goes from the side of the recess/box the hinge is in right down the side of the firewall behind the front guards. It is usually at right angles to the hinge box.
The rougher the roads driven on and the bigger load on the roof created by a roofrack the quicker it happens.
I've had several 70 series Troopies over the years and they all did it eventually, the first one a 1988 was the worst, the whole turret twisted back and forth so much the windscreen rubber wore the paint away 6mm outside its normal position.
The first sign of a crack is water leaks on the floor, quite often under the vinyl mats and not obvious at first glance. Then the squeak starts as the torn edges rub. You can't see it from inside, take the panel off between the bonnet and the windscreen by removing the screws along the lip where the rear edge of the bonnet sits. Remove the wiper arms by flipping the plastic cover on the spindle up and undoing the nut. Mark the spindle and the arm so you can refit the wiper arm in the same place. Then the panel will slide forward towards the bonnet and lift up, there are two lugs, one on each side at the rear to hold it down. When the panel is off look down the sides from the recesses where the bonnet hinges are and you will see any cracks that are evident. Proper repair means removing the front guards and getting it all welded and painted, quick repair before trade in or sale is a smear of sikaflex or silicone applied liberally as far down as you can reach ;-)) That will stop the leak and sometimes the squeak ;-))

Darryl,
checked 4 of our V8 cruisers and none had any cracks. Asked the LV fitters and they havent had a problem with any of them.

Our cruisers cope an absolute floging and are retired at about 6000hrs.

Have a good one
RA.

Darryl,
I have checked our V8 wrecks and none have the problem you have encounted. Asked the fitters and they haven't seen it at all.

Our utes/troopys and 76 wagons cope a flogging and are retired around 6000 hours or if they fall to pieces, which ever comes first.

Have a good one.