Topic: Southern '82 - first SA build

[tom w.]

I vote for between the seats...

[82 HiLux]

right on for the first gen!  i love my 82, its my DD and my trail-tamer.  if my truck had tits id probably marry it. 

[4inchToyotas [OP]]

Hmmm...I'm at a loss.

Overcooling.

Things I'm 99% sure it's not (because I've removed them and flushed them)
heater core
valve on firewall

Issue:
Needle on temp gauge will not reach normal operating temp. Needle doesn't even reach the cold mark on the gauge. (Gauge could be broken - does anyone else's needle disappear when the engine is off?) Fan clutch seems ok. 195* thermostat not stuck open.

Engine warmed-up fine after head replacement (20/22r hybrid). Not now after rebuild and that I'm paying attention.

[79coyotefrg]

[4inchToyotas [OP]]

may just have to wire one of these up to a switch

[skipnrocks]

may just have to wire one of these up to a switch

Do they put out good heat?

[4inchToyotas [OP]]

not sure. I'm going to try to Harbor Freight one first.

[79coyotefrg]

your stock heater needs to work,  if the motor isnt getting to at least 160 degrees  your not gonna get good gas mileage

[4inchToyotas [OP]]

So if I take out the thermostat and remove the lower rad. hose everything should just flush right out and if I get clear water everything should be open?

[4inchToyotas [OP]]

If the fan were running all the time would this be enough to not allow the coolant to reach temp?

[Steve97TJ]

I really like your truck man. Mad props.

You tried that heater out yet?

[79coyotefrg]

So if I take out the thermostat and remove the lower rad. hose everything should just flush right out and if I get clear water everything should be open?

you gotta have a thermostat in there,  but make sure its the right one,   i usually  drill a small  hole  so the  tstat will bleed the air thru

clean water doesnt mean  its  flowing thru the heater core like its supposed to,  you need  one of those  heater hoses  to come from just above/behind the airconditioner compressor,  the other  should  go  to the  intake heater port,  on the pass side of the head  thats  bolted to the head with 2 bolts

[79coyotefrg]

If the fan were running all the time would this be enough to not allow the coolant to reach temp?

yes  BUT  assuming you dont have a  flexolite  or something  dont mess with the fan,  my bet is  the tstat is stuck open  OR the  valve  is stuck/not opening completely

whats the temp gauge read??

[4inchToyotas [OP]]

Well, I'm in AL this week huting with my grandfather. Then I'll be in Tupelo, MS for a week for work, so no progress until then.

As for answers:

Thermostat seemed ok. I've got another (correct temp range this time) in place. As for the temp gauge...SR5 gauge the needle never made it to the C line on the left side, so it could be broken. I'm going to wire up another gauge and see if I can get an actual numerical reading.

[79coyotefrg]

yep  thermostat  isnt closing

[4inchToyotas [OP]]

Well, It seems that's all that it was. I haven't taken it for a drive yet, just filled and circulated the coolant and filled again. I did have hot air blowing out the bottom vents and the upper radiator hose was hotter, so hopefully that's all that it was. I can't rely on that gauge since the wiring is so hacked and the temp with is so brittle.

[4inchToyotas [OP]]

OK, coming back from the great beyond...

Had a trip to Chattanooga for some good wheeling. Had an unscheduled rock race ta boot. Now I've got engine issues-

No trouble before the incident and only two major symptoms.
Activity: Slight bouncing at incline, high rpms, 4wd low 1st gear
Occurred: After obstacle was cleared and truck parked for watching and pics
Symptoms: at low RPM(1-2k) and moving (in gear) truck has trouble maintaining steady RPMs will bounce between 1k and 2k at 2 sec intervals (lurching type movement).
At higher RPMs (cruising down interstate and some surface streets) will backfire if RPMs are dropped too far too quickly (take foot off pedal). Will not backfire if not in gear.

A quick look over showed possible flooding of engine.

Suggestions for diagnosis; things to check?

[79coyotefrg]

pull top of carb  and free up float  and needle valve