Mikesta

Someone pinged me a link to this thread, read through it and have a few comments. 1. You are a very brave man 2. You have come a long way! 3. You can complete this and it will be just awesome! Have a few questions 1. Why don't you use the existing chassis... I'd like to hear more of your reasoning. Are you uncomfortable swapping a 3.4 in there. There are some good forums where people swap out the 3.headgasket fail engine to the 3.4. 2. If you 4x4 it, that would be awesome. You will be lifting it. What is the hang up with the rear axle. I don't see why you couldn't keep it the way it is.... edumakate me here. Gearing can be swapped out.... the driveline can be modified... just lift it and call it a day. 3. It seems that you and I are alike. Hey! I like to progress and accomplish stuff and am really good at taking stuff apart. I find that putting it back together can be challenging. Maybe we aren't alike... but I've learned that the only way to eat an elephant is to take one bite at a time. If I look at the whole thing and what needs to be done... I want to quit. But as I progress my confidence builds and before I know it, its 90% done. Are you like me? 4. Where are you located, if you are close to seattle, I'd be happy to give you some motivation by helping you out (drinking your beer and watch you work) here and there! Hey man, you can do it... I see your vision and it will be awesome when completed! Just take one thing and focus on that and when completed, move to the next thing! If funds are tight... that one thing may be just learning how to do something... like reading up on how to convert a 2wd to a 4x4 over at yotatech. or maybe writing up a plan or end Goal and the steps to get there. It may take a few years but you can do it! Don't let it overwelm you!

some pictures as promised. Going to separate the shell from the chassis and mate it to a really nice 80 series Toyota LandCruiser. Should be a fun build!

I Yam! Made the decision today.

Hey Linda, is one of your 18' rigs a good shell? I'm going to go with the full shell to LandCruiser conversion instead of the camper. Wanna sell one of them?

Hey it keeps us out of the bars right?!

I'd say that is par for the course with Gulfstream, I have a 2010 and have been to their factory and met many of the techs/sales regional managers. Never again.

I've had a few 18' rigs. some with the rear hatch and some with the rear dinette. I've never had one with a Bathroom/shower though and this one has that. Still haven't gotten around to taking pictures yet but will later on today. This one might be the donor for the 80 Series LandCruiser. Just need to eyeball it and take some measurements. Also have a buddie coming over to look at it, he may trade me his 91 FJ80 for one of my Sunraders. I have 5 80 series right now.... that is where the sickness really is. I will never catch up to you though JD!

Its a sickness.

Picked up an 18' unit. I'll post some pictures in the next few days.

Hey I'm still rebuilding one from 6 years ago (actually sold it to a guy that converted the truck to a small version of a cement mixer... but don't tell anyone!

Thanks for sharing, enjoyed the video

Who ever owns it will lose it soon. A lot of us would like to own it. I don't know who owns it so just saying... Sorry if this topic has already been covered! I want to protect the owner.

Wow - been a while since I've read this. Really hope it comes to a conclusion in your favor soon.

25k miles... did you drive it a little each year? I bought a 25k mile rig and drove it 500 miles no issue. Next time I drove it 8 miles 2 months later and the head gasket blew. I don't know how it was taken care of but 25k on the engine doesn't mean its better than a 85,000 mile rig. As far as the axle, My wife and I drove our 1983 hutsman with the 5 lug 13,000 miles, we had to replace the inner axle 1 time and it went again for the new owners about a year after... that was in 2000 before we knew about the 6lug. We heard it going when it started to go... it wasn't a sudden snap.

I sold that FZJ80 - Too nice of a rig to hack up! Picked this 1991 FJ80 up for a few bucks, drove it home washed out the engine bay. Took it to the scales. With me and a tank on E - weighed in at 5020 lbs ... stay tuned.

Been A while since I've updated - whirlwind of things happening. First I tore a ligament in my right elbow, don't know how I did it, but its pretty much made me a one handed typer. Cannot push anything, only pull with right arm and its painful. Family came into town (8 peeps). So hosting that. Yesterday My 2 year old was diagnosed with appendicitis and last night he went under the knife and will now be hospitalized for the next 5 days. Its pretty much prime time to sell an RV, but I might have to hold on to it for another year at this rate. I own www.northwestcanopies.com so If I cannot finish it, it will go undercover till I can. Cheers

Put it on an 80 series land cruiser. There is no other option. Or I'll do it. How do we get your shell up to me?

Ok, that was the beer talking - But, its almost done (engine wise). I will drive it 100 miles before calling it done though. I can't keep it, bought it with intentions of selling it... just didn't think I'd have to go this deep before selling it.... but its ok, I'd rather sell something that I know is in good shape to someone that will truly enjoy it rather than worry about its condition. I haven't touched it since the weekend.... too many projects and parties and other responsibilities. I intend on getting back to it tomorrow and wrapping it up this weekend. Then I need to wash it, take pictures and will likely list on ebay with a BIN of $13,000. I guess you can say the engine has been documented here. RV's are my 2nd passion, Land Cruisers are my first (vehicle wise... I have 8). What do you drive Steve?

Oh no! They found me!

K, if you just watch 2 videos of all the videos I've taken, these two are the most important to save you some serious grief and a TON of time. Especially if you are embarking on this for the first time. Little update, today I pulled the hood off, engine out, fixed the torque on the flex plate (litterally 1/8" of movement) and I'm glad to have that piece of mind. Got the plenium back on and now need to get that pesky gasket for under it so I can finish up. The next few days are busy and I hope to get to it, but likely won't till Thursday. Video 23 http://youtu.be/uarEpBZu_EY Video 24 http://youtu.be/CdzGIWWQRbw

FAIL - FIX - Try again. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Azb7gObjmA8

Early morning wake up work http://youtu.be/oJ_OLkb6KxA End of day before I clean the garage for the night. work http://youtu.be/euQwkaJnExs I'll have it running tomorrow - maybe - when I say stuff like that, it means next week.

Hey Roy, Head gasket. Everything else it within spec. I've been pulled in other areas the last few days so didn't get anything done, however here is a video I took on Wednesday of the engine bay. http://youtu.be/zg5rbGRbnVs

The thread might need to be moved to the Engines Sub-section as well?

1. You didn't cause the problem 2. he agreed to work on it 3. he broke it (understatement) Common sense says he should pony up or close up shop. Hopefully he cares.