LJ70 Build Thread!

[Ben]

A nice way of avoiding ever having an MOT style test again Ed.

So long as I dot let my REGO (road tax) expire, neither of my cars will ever need a test again!

 

[grantw]

Looking forward to the story - hope it isn't too expensive to fix.

VIC is good for that ... but leads to some dangerous cars being on the road. South Australia is even worse.

Btw .. you should definitely get across to South Australia for a long weekend trip (at the very least) for some proper beach and dune driving.

Don't go on the beaches down that way though (especially the steep ones) blindly ... many many cars are lost each year when they get stuck.

Some pics from many moons ago:

 

[Ben]

Thanks Grant.

Great pics, must get myself over that way!

Going to try and get the thread updated tonight, just about to have my dinner.

 

[Paddler Ed]

A nice way of avoiding ever having an MOT style test again Ed.

So long as I dot let my REGO (road tax) expire, neither of my cars will ever need a test again!

More the case that VIC rego is much cheaper than NSW rego... NSW has seperate CTP charges, so it's about $600 vs $1000 on a 4Runner/Land Cruiser... big difference. NSW can be made cheaper with TPFT insurance as well as your CTP, but it's still more than VIC would be.

RWC in NSW is easy when you know people... Although I do prefer the idea of something that gets inspected every year instead of once in a blue moon!

WA is worse again than SA I think... the backpacker 'Cruisers that are WA are hanging out their _____!

 

[grantw]

These pics are taken in this area:

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=Ca...ter+Rocks+South+Australia,+Australia&t=h&z=12

The Coorong (near Robe) is quite famous too:https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=Ca...ter+Rocks+South+Australia,+Australia&t=h&z=12

 

[Ben]

Licola trip.

So Friday morning I packed LJ with all the camping gear ready for the trip.

My boss had kindly lent me his Engel fridge.





My boss's wife said she would go shopping for me and get me some food to take.



I finished work at 4pm and drove and met a few of the other guys as we had arranged to drive to Licola in convoy.

The rush hour Melbourne traffic was pretty terrible on the way.





It was late when we arrived at camp and met all the others. The tent was soon pitched and I was then sat round the campfire with the others drinking beer.

The next morning I was up early and got breakfast cooked.



I decided to fit my new aerial, and soon realized I'd need a soldering iron to solder the fitting onto the end of the coaxial cable.

Fortunately one of the guys carries a 12v soldering iron.



Aerial fitted.



We left camp and headed for Licola.

View of the campsite from the bridge over the river.





There had recently been bush fires in the area, but the trees and plants were recovering really well.







The road twisted its way round the mountains, with shear drops on every bend.









We arrived in Licola and made use of the facilities and bought drinks from the shop.

In total there were 6 LandCruiser's, 5 Patrol's, and a Defender 90.







By 10am we hit the road and headed for the tracks.







We all stopped to air down.









Pretty soon the track got interesting.

























Loads of river crossings.

At this point the track got a lot more challenging.

After one particularly steep rocky section I knocked the rear ARB air locker out and 20 meters later there was an almighty bang under the truck.

I stopped and had a look underneath but couldnt see anything unusual. I got back in and tried driving, but everytime I let the clutch out there was a loud bang and the whole truck shuddered. I tried it in 4wd and 2wd, locker in and locker out, but nothing made a difference.

As I was now stuck on a very steep section of track we decided the best thing to do would be for the guys in front to tow me up the rest of the hill to a safer, flatter section of track. We tried with one Nissan Patrol, but it just spun all its wheels, so we attached another Patrol to the front of it and this time they were able to pull me up and off the steep hill.

We still wernt sure if it was the rear diff or the transfercase. Even jacking the rear end up and turning the rear wheels we still wernt sure.

I unbolted the rear prop, and we then realized it was the read diff that had failed.

While I was under the truck unbolting the prop everyone was chatting and they asked if it was insured and maybe torching it would be the best solution.

So I told the bunch of savages that I hadnt shipped this bloody truck half way round the world for you lot to bloody torch it up a mountain in the high country!

So it was decided the safest/best thing to do would be to continue up the track with the 2 Patrol's towing me.

We got up the first hill and started going round a sharp left hand bend. But we were using a long snatch strap between me and the Patrol in front, and as we went round the bend the snatch strap cut the bend and pulled me up a bank and towards a tree. "STOP" I shouted over the radio. Still being pulled forwards and by this time my drivers side wheel was in the air and the passenger side front wheel was ontop of a 3ft bank and I was seconds from being pulled over on top my side. "STTTOOOPPPPPP" I shouted as loud as I could over the radio, and just in time the guys in front came to a stop.

So we re rigged the snatch strap and made it half the lengh.

Trying to drive up one ridiculously steep slippery climb we lost momentum and came to a stop.

We all dropped are tyre pressures and some how they managed to drag me to the top. I'm still amazed we made it, it was so steep and slippery.

The next section of track was insane. Huge rock steps on a very steep climb. This section of track would be a huge challenge to drive, let alone tow a dead cruiser up.

Some how we/they did it! I hung on for dear life and tried to steer as I was dragged up and over the rock steps.

No pictures on the way up for obvious reasons, but I did wonder back down and take some pics of some of the others coming up.

We were soon moving again and the guys towed me up steep climb after steep climb.

By now we were so high up we were in the clouds!

Very high.

After being towed for 5 hours up and down steep rocky climbs we reached a clearing in the forest and decided to make camp.

I got my tent setup and decided that I should get the rear diff out and remove any of the damaged bits, in the hope that it might take some of the resistance away from the rear end and then I may be able to drive the next day in front wheel drive.

So I asked one of the guys to cut me some logs to use as axle stands. I had a bit of a nightmare getting it jacked high enough and on axle stands. I really could have done with a wheel lift mate for the high lift. In the end I had to use one of the guys winches to stop the truck slipping off the logs.

Not many pics as it was a dirty horrible job.

Eventually it was out.

I suspect when I built this diff up with my ARB locker that I built it wrong and thats why it went bang.

Ring gear/crown wheel off and diff back together.

I worked till about 9pm to get the truck back together. A few of the guys helped me, by holding the torch and passing me tools and generally taking the piss and keeping my spirits up.

Not a pleasant job in a workshop, let alone in a cold dark forest.

I woke up at 6am feeling very cold.

As we were so high up and its Autumn it was a cold frosty morning.

With a bit of paper and plenty of WD40 I managed to get the fire going.

My souvenir from the weekend, another destroyed crown wheel and a bottle of filthy diff oil.

Removing the damaged crown wheel didnt make much difference to how LJ went off road, and pretty soon the snatch strap came back out.

This time it was one of the 105's who towed me for the next few hours.

We were still climbing up and down steep hills and were still very high up.

We got to one section which was so steep and rocky that even with 2 trucks attached to me they couldnt drag me up.

So they had to winch me up.

Beautiful mountain scenery on every side. A lot of the time the track would be along the ridge of the mountain with steep drops on each side.

We took the snatch strap off for the downhill section,s but as soon as we got to any tricky bits the snatch strap came back out. So every 10minutes or so we would stop and have to re-attach it.

We stopped for a morning break.

We passed another group of 4x4's and shortly after we rounded a bend to find a camp fire had been left burning.

Whoever it was had even stacked all there un-used fire wood on top.

Fire extinguished and we were on our way again.

Still high.

We were soon out of the forest and the ground leveled out.

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And finally back on an almost normal road!

By this point I had been towed for the best part of 30 miles up and down steep rocky hills, and was very much looking forward to getting home.



We drove for a few more k's.





We stopped at one of the "High Country Huts".











We were soon on our way again heading back towards Licola, and home.









Cruising along at 40mph, taking it steady as it felt unstable on the bends being just front wheel drive, when suddenly there was an almighty bang.

I put the hazards on and jumped out and had a look underneath.

Bloody UJ had snapped on the prop and the prop had smashed the side of the transfercase open.





So back out with the snatch strap and off we went.



The roads back to Licola were very twisty with lots of down hill sections.
As I was having to brake a lot to keep the strap tight I managed to cook the brakes.

There was steam/smoke coming off the wheels and the brakes felt very spongy.

So now I had no drive and no brakes.

So we had to attach another Patrol behind my cruiser and with both the Patrol's in 3rd low we snaked our way down the mountains back to Licola.



5 of the trucks stayed with me in Licola while I tried to work out how to get my truck and me home. I spoke to my boss and asked if I could borrow a ute, as then I could get a lift back with some one, hire a trailer(most fuel stations have them for hire over here) and go back and get my truck.

He said I will come and get you. Awesome I thought.

So I sent everyone home, and sat down with a cold beer and waited for my boss.



As there was no phone reception I had to use the phone box to call him. Anyway.....................I decided to call and find out how he was getting on as it had been a few hours.

His dad answered and said hed had to go out,, had a few problems with trailers which he was going to use to come and get me, and how it would be a 7 hour round trip for him and basically he wasnt coming tonight, and maybe not tomorrow either.

So I sat in my truck and opened another beer. At that precise moment I felt very alone. All the other guys had gone, and I was stranded and had no one to call for help.

I decided to try and get home so had another look underneath the truck at the damage. Had the transfercase not been leaking I would have used one of the UJ's off the now removed rear prop and got home that way. But with the leaking transfercase I couldnt really do that..

So I called a few towing companies but they wanted $1000/£700 which I wasnt prepared to pay.

So I thought everything through and decided to stop feeling sorry for myself and make the most of the situation. So I checked into caravan park and pitched my tent, I then went and had one of the best showers I've ever had, loads of hot water and great pressure!

I then got comfy in my tent and read a magazine for a few hours.

The next morning.









Made use of the free BBQ's and cooked breakfast.





Interesting place.













I called my boss and he apologized but said he couldnt come.

So I had to call a tow truck and pay £400 to get my truck back.







Interesting way of securing my truck down, certainly not how its done in the UK.









Once home I removed the broken bits from the air actuator for the 4wd high range bit that got smashed on the transfercase.







Not sure if the prop is salvageable?







So LJ is parked up this week and I'm having to use the Astra.

 

[Trevor]

Ouch Ben, that's pretty severe and don't envy you at all. Nice to see good team spirit from the Guys on the trip. Have you found an Aus version of Karl yet to get some of your bits? I guess another trip to ARB is on the cards too.

I hope you get it sorted and on the road soon, don't think the Metrinch are going solve this one though, but knowing you it'll be right in no time.

 

[Gav Peter]

Blummin eck Ben...

 

[Chas]

Farkin 'ell Ben, what a palaver, good job you had some great Aussie mates there with you.

 

[warrenpfo]

Bloody Hell

Do you think the locker failure is down to not being installed properly or something else as I was thinking of fitting one to mine but it seems you have not had great luck with them.

 

[froggy Steve]

Jeez, what a mare! Those new 'mates' are really good guys - towing up & down. I think I might have torched it!
I hope you get it sorted soon

Steve

 

[Roger Fairclough]

Yes, they are good guys but don't expect that sort of treatment each time you go out with them. You need to start reading between the lines. The comment about torching it may not have been in jest. When you organise a run, the last thing you want tagging along is a newcomer with an unreliable motor. That crown wheel is minus all it's teeth and that takes brutal treatment, the oil looks contaminated and the u/j that destroyed itself hasn't seen a grease gun for years. I suggest you get a professional to sort out the diff. and u/j and then give it a thorough service. This is a wake up call Ben and whilst I'm shouting in your ear, taking photos when your driving round a right hand bend in the middle of the road is not a good idea.

Roger

 

[AndyCook]

Nightmare.
Great looking trails and scenery
i drove 1000miles from alps to home with front prop removed last year and no issues with UJsafter a front CV joint was clicking.
Was a factory original UJ
i grease them 2x a year and more when i have been wading
hope you get the poor truck on roadvery lucky the guys coukd tow you

 

[Olazz]

Yes, they are good guys but don't expect that sort of treatment each time you go out with them. You need to start reading between the lines. The comment about torching it may not have been in jest. When you organise a run, the last thing you want tagging along is a newcomer with an unreliable motor. That crown wheel is minus all it's teeth and that takes brutal treatment, the oil looks contaminated and the u/j that destroyed itself hasn't seen a grease gun for years. I suggest you get a professional to sort out the diff. and u/j and then give it a thorough service. This is a wake up call Ben and whilst I'm shouting in your ear, taking photos when your driving round a right hand bend in the middle of the road is not a good idea.

Roger

Geeze Roger, you're beginning to sound like Victor Meldrew!! I'm sure when you were that age you also had to learnt from experience. Lighten up chap !

 

[clivehorridge]

Yes, they are good guys but don't expect that sort of treatment each time you go out with them. You need to start reading between the lines. The comment about torching it may not have been in jest. When you organise a run, the last thing you want tagging along is a newcomer with an unreliable motor. That crown wheel is minus all it's teeth and that takes brutal treatment, the oil looks contaminated and the u/j that destroyed itself hasn't seen a grease gun for years. I suggest you get a professional to sort out the diff. and u/j and then give it a thorough service. This is a wake up call Ben and whilst I'm shouting in your ear, taking photos when your driving round a right hand bend in the middle of the road is not a good idea.

Roger

A fantastic trip Ben, but its a shame it was almost lost had it not been for your loyal mates. Sorry, but as it appears from here I have to agree with Roger. I don't know the reason why the diff failed in the first place, but the prop failure appears to have been wholly avoidable. What a mess, I've never seen one fail quite that dramatically. I've had the needles punch out when the cages have failed and had to limp home gently, metal to metal, but yours looks like it was running with no bearings for ages

You owe your mates big time and maybe you already have something planned. A free night out for all of them in the local wouldn't go amiss, just to show your gratitude. They could have easily left you high and dry on the mountain, that would have set you back a lot more than 400 quid to get home.

Enough of the grumpy old man from me, but we're all gunning for you and I wouldn't want you to get a black mark from these guys, neither you or they deserve that. You'd never shake it off and it's early days for you.

Good luck with the re-build...

 

[wobbly]

Thats a tough break Ben.

I suspect that the underlying problem is that the LJ series of trucks are 'light duty' - if you look at what the others are driving they look to be heavier bits of kit, which is what I think you may need to undertake the sort of trips you have in mind.

I can see stuff breaking being a regular thing if you stick with the LJ, I reckon you'll get sick of it yourself soon enough, never mind the other guys.

Cheers

Pete

 

[Beau]

Thats a tough break Ben.

I suspect that the underlying problem is that the LJ series of trucks are 'light duty' - if you look at what the others are driving they look to be heavier bits of kit, which is what I think you may need to undertake the sort of trips you have in mind.

I can see stuff breaking being a regular thing if you stick with the LJ, I reckon you'll get sick of it yourself soon enough, never mind the other guys.

Cheers

Pete

Although the LJ series is seen as a light duty vehicle I would certainly not rate it as one, standard maybe... Ben's tackled some very difficult lanes in the past and his truck has proved very well, and high capable, no doubt about that.

The damage done today with the rear diff was purely because it wasn't fitted correctly, nothing to do with the diff not being strong enough. Same thing with the UJ that broke, it was obviously not greased by the looks of it which was ben's fault, but I'm sure he'll now learn from this.

Some very difficult tracks there, it's a shame you suffered the rear diff problem, I'm sure your truck would have performed well. Hope you get it sorted out soon

 

[clivehorridge]

Dunno about Roger, but I AM Victor Meldrew!

I'm sure Ben's tough enough to know what's what and learn by his mistakes like all Victor Meldrews have done. Plenty of dull things have gone on in my past. I just don't want him to get pushed out of his circle, that's all.

 

[AndyCook]

Ben - did you regear the diffs? would not doing so and running huge 37" tyres mean the diffs are a weak link?

 

[Roger Fairclough]

Geeze Roger, you're beginning to sound like Victor Meldrew!! I'm sure when you were that age you also had to learnt from experience. Lighten up chap !

You have no idea what I was doing when I was 26, so don't make assumptions.

What matters here revolves around Bens LJ, his driving methods and his servicing and modification schedule. I suppose I could add in some sugar and spice and try and soften the blow but that isn't my style and I am not going to change now.

When Ben dropped his motor on it's side in Wales, he had his mates to help him get home. This time he had new mates to drag him up hill and down dale but they didn't get him home.

That bit cost him £400.

Care to estimate how much it would cost to get him home from the middle of the Simpson Desert?

You can put it any way you like but if Ben wants to drive across, through or round some of the most inhospitable territory on the face of this earth, then he must sort out that motor properly and if the only way to do that is if enough of us keep nagging him to do it, then so be it.

Now iv'e done my bit of nagging and Clive and Wobbly have chipped in, so where are the rest of you?